Trump is increasingly funneling campaign money into his own businesses. Experts say it looks bad, but is probably totes legal.

[essentialsaltes]

Trump’s joint fundraising committee wrote three checks in February and one in March to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, totaling $411,287 and another in March to Trump National Doral Miami for $62,337, according to a report filed to the Federal Election Commission this week.

Trump has been doing it for years, shifting millions in campaign cash into his sprawling business empire to pay for expenses such as using his personal aircraft for political events, rent at Trump Tower and events at his properties, which has included hotels and private clubs.

The payments Trump’s campaign has made to his businesses ... have been growing in recent months.

The Trump campaign and affiliated political committees paid businesses owned by Trump at least $4.9 million since the start of 2023, according to an analysis by USA TODAY. Trump's various campaign committees and a super PAC controlled by his supporters also spent at least $809,000 at his properties since the beginning of last year.

The primary thing Trump’s businesses need to do is charge his campaign and PACs the same amount they would charge any other paying customer for the services. But there’s also an ethical question of whether the campaign and PACs could get a better deal somewhere else.

“How much are they charging? And to what extent are they putting people up who might be staying someplace else that might be cheaper?” Briffault asked. “You could imagine that there could be cheaper venues to these things, but they’re purposely holding them there.”

Other GOP candidates also have been spending considerable campaign cash at Trump properties. Ohio Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno's campaign spent $109,000 on "event catering" at Mar-a-Lago in April, December and January of 2023, records show. Trump endorsed Moreno in December. Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Jim Marchant's campaign spent about $67,000 at Mar-a-Lago on "event venue rental and catering" in November and December.

 

[Postvieww]

DNC paid $1.7 million to Biden's lawyers in special counsel probe

The Democratic National Committee paid at least $1.7 million to law firms representing President Biden during special counsel Robert Hur's investigation.

www.cbsnews.com

What? You mean this is a common thing?

 

[essentialsaltes]

DNC paid $1.7 million to Biden's lawyers in special counsel probe

The Democratic National Committee paid at least $1.7 million to law firms representing President Biden during special counsel Robert Hur's investigation.

www.cbsnews.com

What? You mean this is a common thing?

Do you understand what "his own businesses" means?

Joe Biden doesn't own the legal firm that was given the money. This money isn't going into Joe Biden's pocket.

 

[The Barbarian]

Do you understand what "his own businesses" means?

Joe Biden doesn't own the legal firm that was given the money. This money isn't going into Joe Biden's pocket.

One does the best one can, with what one has, I suppose.

 

[SimplyMe]

Do you understand what "his own businesses" means?

Joe Biden doesn't own the legal firm that was given the money. This money isn't going into Joe Biden's pocket.

And to complain about it, you have to ignore something like $100 million that Trump has given to lawyers from his various "campaign" donations.

 

[Pommer]

And to complain about it, you have to ignore something like $100 million that Trump has given to lawyers from his various "campaign" donations.

What!? Question Trump? They’re not silly enough to do that!

 

[essentialsaltes]

Trump’s businesses are raking in millions of dollars from Republican political campaigns – including his own​

With glitzy Mar-a-Lago fundraisers, stays at Trump’s hotels, and flights on the former president’s private jet, Republican candidates and political groups are on track to spend more on Trump’s businesses this year than any year since 2016, according to a CNN analysis of federal campaign finance data.

Trump himself has been the biggest spender, both this year and over the last decade. Between his three presidential campaigns, Trump and associated political groups have funneled more than $28 million in campaign donations to his businesses – helping convert the enthusiasm of his political supporters into personal profit.

Some of the candidates who’ve spent the most money on Trump businesses in recent years have been new politicians who won the former president’s endorsement despite a lack of past electoral experience or success, including [OH senator candidate and car dealership owner Bernie] Moreno, [failed] former Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker and [failed and failing] Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake.

“He’s clearly now in complete control of the Republican Party,” said Daniel Weiner, director of the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program. “Patronizing his businesses has become one of the accepted ways that candidates and public officials express their loyalty to the party’s leader.”

And when it comes down to it, isn't that more important than winning elections?

It’s not illegal for candidates to spend campaign funds at their own businesses, provided that the businesses are charging them a fair market rate, said Weiner, the Brennan Center expert.

 

[Postvieww]

Trump’s businesses are raking in millions of dollars from Republican political campaigns – including his own​

With glitzy Mar-a-Lago fundraisers, stays at Trump’s hotels, and flights on the former president’s private jet, Republican candidates and political groups are on track to spend more on Trump’s businesses this year than any year since 2016, according to a CNN analysis of federal campaign finance data.

Trump himself has been the biggest spender, both this year and over the last decade. Between his three presidential campaigns, Trump and associated political groups have funneled more than $28 million in campaign donations to his businesses – helping convert the enthusiasm of his political supporters into personal profit.

Some of the candidates who’ve spent the most money on Trump businesses in recent years have been new politicians who won the former president’s endorsement despite a lack of past electoral experience or success, including [OH senator candidate and car dealership owner Bernie] Moreno, [failed] former Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker and [failed and failing] Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake.

“He’s clearly now in complete control of the Republican Party,” said Daniel Weiner, director of the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program. “Patronizing his businesses has become one of the accepted ways that candidates and public officials express their loyalty to the party’s leader.”

And when it comes down to it, isn't that more important than winning elections?

It’s not illegal for candidates to spend campaign funds at their own businesses, provided that the businesses are charging them a fair market rate, said Weiner, the Brennan Center expert.

When we have the same type of concern for the millions of dollars funneled to the Biden family from China and other countries we might make some progress here.

Note : the pay for play millions to the Bidens is illegal and impeachable but sadly not enough leadership has the stomach to do what should be done.

 

[essentialsaltes]

When we have the same type of concern for the millions of dollars funneled to the Biden family

Self-dealing with donors' money is a different type of concern.

 

[Pommer]

Trump’s businesses are raking in millions of dollars from Republican political campaigns – including his own​

With glitzy Mar-a-Lago fundraisers, stays at Trump’s hotels, and flights on the former president’s private jet, Republican candidates and political groups are on track to spend more on Trump’s businesses this year than any year since 2016, according to a CNN analysis of federal campaign finance data.

Trump himself has been the biggest spender, both this year and over the last decade. Between his three presidential campaigns, Trump and associated political groups have funneled more than $28 million in campaign donations to his businesses – helping convert the enthusiasm of his political supporters into personal profit.

Some of the candidates who’ve spent the most money on Trump businesses in recent years have been new politicians who won the former president’s endorsement despite a lack of past electoral experience or success, including [OH senator candidate and car dealership owner Bernie] Moreno, [failed] former Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker and [failed and failing] Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake.

“He’s clearly now in complete control of the Republican Party,” said Daniel Weiner, director of the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program. “Patronizing his businesses has become one of the accepted ways that candidates and public officials express their loyalty to the party’s leader.”

And when it comes down to it, isn't that more important than winning elections?

It’s not illegal for candidates to spend campaign funds at their own businesses, provided that the businesses are charging them a fair market rate, said Weiner, the Brennan Center expert.

It’s like a more political Amway!