Trump Campaign Spent $4 Million on Legal Fees in April: Filings

Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after leaving court during his trial for allegedly covering up nondisclosure agreement payments, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on May 20, 2024. (Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Images)

The Trump campaign spent another $4 million on legal bills in April, bringing the 2024 total north of $20 million.

On May 20, three committees associated with former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign published monthly disclosure statements with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Those committees paid about $4 million in April alone.

All told, three committees—President Trump’s principal campaign committee, Donald J. Trump For President 2024 Inc., his qualified leadership political action committee Save America, and the super PAC Make America Great Again Inc.—paid bills in April.

President Trump is currently on trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. The case, centered around alleged so-called hush money payments, dominated the political headlines since it began in April. The trial will likely conclude by the end of May.

Nevertheless, the New York trial is just one of a glut of cases facing the Republican Party’s presumed presidential nominee. In 2024, the former president already faced a ruling against him in a federal defamation trial and a New York business practices trial.

President Trump often says the charges against him are politically motivated.

Save America

As in prior months, Save America covered the majority of President Trump’s legal fees.

According to FEC records, the PAC paid about $3.3 million for “legal consulting,” “reimbursement for legal expenses,” and “reimbursement for legal fees.” Additionally, Save America reported about $1.1 million in outstanding debts at the end of the month. Most of those payments were owed for legal consulting.

In April, Save America brought in about $9 million and spent about $4.3 million. It closed the month with $8.8 million in cash on hand, more than twice the amount the same committee reported at the end of March.

According to FEC records, the largest influx of money to Save America came from another Trump committee. The Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee sent the PAC about $6 million.

Save America’s second largest individual funder was MAGA Inc. On April 2, it sent the PAC $2.75 million as a “refund of federal contribution.”

However, there is apparent evidence that a new fundraising arrangement with the Trump 47 Committee Inc. joint fundraising committee is yielding fruit for Save America. FEC records show thousands of transfers from Trump 47 to Save America.

In March, the Trump campaign shared details of a fundraising agreement that allows Trump 47 to collect funds for the Republican National Committee, various state and national Republican interests, and PACs connected to the Trump campaign.

Other Committees

MAGA Inc. and Donald J. Trump For President 2024 Inc. paid about $705,000 in legal fees in April. The super PAC covered most of that amount.

According to FEC filings, MAGA Inc. raised about $12.8 million and spent about $11.6 million in April. It ended the month with $34.5 million in cash on hand.

MAGA Inc.’s April fundraising was defined by a $10 million gift from Republican megadonor Timothy Mellon. Mr. Mellon also gave $5 million to a hybrid PAC, American Values 2024, supporting independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the month.

According to watchdog group OpenSecrets, Mr. Mellon is the third-largest individual donor of the 2024 cycle. Since the beginning of 2023, Mr. Mellon donated more than $50 million to political causes.

Meanwhile, Donald J. Trump For President 2024 Inc. collected about $9.4 million and used about $5.5 million. It closed out April with about $49.1 million in cash on hand and about $1.1 million in debts.

Closing arguments in President Trump’s current trial could come as soon as May 28. After those arguments, a jury will decide the verdict.