Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Trump’s election ‘defence fund’ will also pay off campaign debts, email fine print reveals

President trying to stop the counting of votes in several states

Andrew Buncombe
Wilmington
Saturday 07 November 2020 10:14 EST
Comments
Fulton County election worker forced into 'hiding' over misleading Twitter video

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Money raised by Donald Trump for “election defence funds” would also be used to pay off the president’s general campaign debts, it has been revealed.

In recent days, as the president has launched legal challenges to stop votes being counted in places such as Georgia and Pennsylvania, supporters have been bombarded with emails and text messages urging them to contribute to pay for the cost of lawyers.

The emails have been sent since Wednesday by the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.

“We must PROTECT the Election!” said one campaign text sent on Friday and signed by the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. “My father’s calling on YOU to help bolster our critical Election Defense Fund.”

Follow our live election updates:

Yet the Wall Street Journal reported that if an individual clicks on the link they are confronted by a disclaimer say that a full 50 per cent of the any contribution could go to paying down the campaign’s debt. 

The other half would  go to pay for the lawyers.

The Journal said that other messages from the campaign in recent days, with the president desperately trying to hold off the seemingly unstoppable surge of Joe Biden have asked for money help to “protect the integrity of this election”.

Trump fans dance and sing to Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name'

Yet those lead to a donation page for Mr Trump’s “Make America Great Again” committee. 

Further scrutiny of those pitches makes clear 60 per cent will to to the RNC and 40 per cent to pay of the campaign’s debts.

Mr Biden’s campaign has also being raising money as the stalemate ensues. None of those pitches mention paying off debts.

Mr Trump’s campaign has yet to comment on the report.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in