Former President Donald Trump said he has more than $100 million in legal fees as he faces several civil and criminal cases, ranging from his business practices in New York to his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Trump made the claim during a rally in Iowa on Saturday, where he also said he lost billions of dollars going into politics and turned down many lucrative opportunities to avoid conflicts of interest.
“It’s cost me a couple of billion dollars to be a politician. Everyone else makes, they make [money]. I said, ‘No, we can’t do that.’ I could have made a fortune. The countries are coming [and saying,] ‘We’d like to build a job and we’d like to have you involved.’ Billions. I say, I tell my kids, ‘Sorry, kids, we can’t do it. I’m president.’ I respected the office,” Trump said.
He praised his lawyers for doing a good job in defending him, especially in the impeachment trials and the election lawsuits.
“And of course, then they made it much worse with legal fees. I have $100 million worth of legal fees,” Trump said. “And they’re doing good. At least I have good lawyers, because you can spend $100 million and have lousy lawyers too. It happens.”
Trump’s legal troubles include investigations into his business practices in New York, a criminal probe into his inaugural committee, a civil lawsuit from two Capitol police officers, and several defamation cases from women who accused him of sexual misconduct.
The former president is facing an unprecedented number of legal challenges for a former president, let alone a sitting one.
Trump’s legal expenses are eating into his 2024 campaign funds, as he has spent more than $12 million on lawyers since leaving office, according to campaign finance reports.
Trump has also been raising money from his supporters to fund his legal battles, but some of the donations have been diverted to other political entities, such as his leadership PAC and the Republican National Committee.
Trump’s legal woes are not only a headache for him but also for the Republican Party, which is divided over whether to embrace him or distance itself from him as the 2024 presidential election looms.
Some Republicans fear that Trump’s legal problems could hurt the party’s chances of winning back the White House and Congress, while others see him as a powerful ally and a fundraising magnet.
Trump has not ruled out running for president again in 2024, but he has also hinted that he might not need to do so if the 2020 election results are overturned by audits or lawsuits.
However, most experts agree that there is no legal or constitutional way to reverse the outcome of the election, which was won by President Joe Biden with more than 7 million votes and 74 electoral votes.
Relevant articles:
- Trump says he has $100M in legal fees amid cascade of court battles, The Hill, October 29, 2023
- Trump Says Legal Bills Exceed $100M Amid Multiple Legal Disputes: ‘Cost Me A Couple Of Billion Dollars To Be A Politician’, MSN, October 30, 2023
- Donald Trump’s legal fees: The indictments are eating into his 2024 campaign funds., Slate, August 7, 2023
- Trump’s legal woes mount as he faces new lawsuit from Capitol police officers, CNN, October 26, 2023