RNC’s Payment of Donald Trump’s Legal Bills Shows GOP Remains Hitch on Former President

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The Republican National Committee (RNC) is paying some of President Donald Trump’s personal legal bills in a clear indication that the party remains tied to their 2020 presidential candidate.

In October, the RNC made two payments totaling $ 121,670 to the law firm of attorney Ronald Fischetti, which Trump took over in April amid investigations into the former president’s businesses in New York.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats, are investigating the Trump Organization and investigating some of the company’s property valuations.

Trump kept Fischetti in light of the investigations. He is a veteran defense attorney.

The former president has not been accused of wrongdoing.

The Washington Post reported Monday that the Republican Party’s executive committee has approved the payments in recent weeks, even as requests were made in the early summer.

The newspaper mentioned “someone with direct knowledge of the payments.”

The RNC’s decision to seize some of Trump’s personal legal bills can be seen as an indication that the GOP is still hitchhiking the former president, and a Republican Party statement in the Post appeared to confirm this.

“As a leader of our party, defending President Trump and his record of success is critical to the GOP,” the party said. “It is highly appropriate for the RNC to continue helping in the fight against the endless hunt and attacks on him by the Democrats.”

Trump has no official status within the Republican Party and is currently an unelected official, but he remains the de facto leader of the GOP and continues to offer endorsements to several Republican candidates.

A series of polls also showed that Republican voters still favor Trump as the party’s candidate for the 2024 nomination, while the former president has repeatedly hinted at another run in the White House.

While he may face opponents for the party’s nomination including former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump is the losing candidate.

Some Republicans have tried to distance themselves from the former president, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell repeatedly urging his party to move on from the 2020 election.

However, Trump remains a powerful force in the GOP and his continued claims of voter fraud in the election have found support among many of the party’s elected officials.

Even GOP candidates who kept their distance from Trump found the former president tying himself to them. Virginia governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has kept Trump at length and the former president has not campaigned for him personally.

However, Trump told the public that Youngkin’s success depended on his own supporters and expressed his role in the governor’s career.

Ongoing Role and Influence

The RNC’s willingness to pay some of Trump’s legal fees is likely an indication of his continued role and influence.

Trump spokeswoman Taylor Budowich released a statement to The Washington Post saying: “The RNC is our key partner in advancing America First policies and combating the endless search for witches.”

“Democrats are obsessed with arming their offices against President Trump, which is a complete abandonment of their Constitutional obligations,” Budowich said.

Former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg was indicted in July on 15 counts, including grand larceny, in connection with an alleged 15-year tax evasion scheme. The Trump Organization was similarly indicted on 15 counts and both Weisselberg and the company entered not guilty pleas.

The Washington Post also reported that the RNC is not paying for Trump’s other legal bills, including challenges to the House of Representatives Select Committee investigating the events on Jan. 6.

The former president said the investigations in New York were politically motivated.

Letitia James insisted her investigation into the Trump Organization was not politically driven, telling Bloomberg in January: “I took a solemn oath to follow the law.” James recently announced running as governor.

Vance will retire as Manhattan DA at the end of the year and be replaced by recently elected Alvin Bragg, also a Democrat, who will replace his investigations.

Former US President Donald Trump is preparing to speak at the Rally To Protect Our Elections conference on July 24, 2021, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Republican National Committee pays for some of Trump’s personal legal fees. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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