Hotshot lawyers helping Donald Trump fight three charges have pocketed a whopping $36 million in campaign donations to try and keep the former president out of jail.
Trump was hit this week with his third indictment, with four charges carrying a maximum of 55 years in prison.
His laundry list of legal troubles — including 40 federal indictments in Florida, the Stormy Daniels hush-hush case in Manhattan and a threatening indictment in Georgia — means he will likely face trial during the next White House campaign.
The former president’s lawyers have lined their pockets with small donations to Trump’s Save America political action committee amounting to nearly $40 million since 2021.
No one has benefited more from defending Trump in court than Christopher Kise, who pocketed $5.8 million.
The expanded legal team helping former President Donald Trump fight multiple charges has raised tens of millions of dollars aided by donors for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign
Kise, the former Florida attorney general, was paid a $3 million upfront salary to join Trump’s team in his case in the Sunshine State over allegations that he improperly filed classified documents.
That is widely regarded as the most serious charge facing the 45th president.
Kise is now preparing for the civil suit in the New York case.
His law firm also received about $2.8 million and lawyers at a firm Kise is now a partner in received an additional $2.9 million.
Alina Habba is covering the case in Manhattan, as well as Trump’s defense against rapist E. Jean Carroll.
The New Jersey-based attorney has been awarded $3.5 million, but a Florida judge fined her and Trump $1 million for filing a “frivolous” lawsuit in the state in January, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Evan Corcoran, a former district attorney, has made $3.4 million defending Trump in the Mar-a-Lago case and his charges over the January 6 riots.
Harmeet Dhillon, a Twitter firebrand who often appears on Fox News, successfully defended Trump in a libel suit against Daniels and was paid $1.1 million.
No one has benefited more from defending Trump in court than Christopher Kise, who pocketed $5.8 million
Alina Habba is covering the case in Manhattan as well as Trump’s defense against rape accuser E. Jean Carroll and has earned $3.5 million
In all, a dozen attorneys have been paid at least six figures by Save America PAC.
Campaign finance press releases indicate that about 90 percent of the organization’s day-to-day expenses are legal bills.
About 40 percent of the PAC’s donors gave less than $200, prompting complaints from campaign finance watchdogs.
Trump is still the odds-on favorite for the Republican candidate for president and could be convicted before Americans go to the polls in November 2024.
He could still serve as president even if he is in prison. The only criteria that an individual must meet to stand for election is that they be a US-born citizen over the age of 35.
Nearly half of GOP voters said they wouldn’t vote for Trump if he was convicted of a crime, and 52 percent wouldn’t vote for him if he was in jail on election day, Reuters/Ipsos found Thursday.
But there are some areas the experts agree on: that Trump can legally run for president, should be convicted and sent to prison, and that he could even have internet access to plead his case through Truth Social or other social media platforms .
Evan Corcoran, a former district attorney, made $3.4 million defending Trump in the Mar-a-Lago case and his charges over the January 6 riots
Harmeet Dhillon, a Twitter firebrand who often appears on Fox News, successfully defended Trump in a defamation suit against Daniels and was paid $1.1 million
However, he probably can’t vote for himself if he’s the nominee.
Trump was indicted Thursday on four counts — including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and obstruct the election count — in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The 45-page indictment says he was “determined to stay in power” despite “losing” the presidency to Biden.
Experts expect the trial to move quickly, as much of the evidence was uncovered by the House special committee investigating the January 6 uprising and, unlike Special Counsel Jack Smith’s other case, does not contain classified information.
The process could be completed early next year.