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Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Sunday told CNN that the committee would not be able to pay former President Trump’s legal bills if he announces a bid for the White House. in 2024.
The RNC’s executive committee confirmed last year that it was paying for legal fees “related to the illegal political activities of President Trump,” and in recent months the committee has paid for the defense of Trump on the investigations launched by the District Attorney of Manhattan, Cy Vance Jr. D) and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).
McDaniel told CNN’s Dana Bash that the committee “cannot afford to pay legal bills for an announced candidate” after Bash asked him if the RNC would stop paying legal bills. Trump if he runs for the White House again.
“We cannot pay legal bills for an announced candidate. And these are the bills that came out of the Letitia James investigation that started when she was president,” said McDaniel. “Our executive committee elected our former president, this is a politically motivated investigation, and that’s what it is.”
“But we can’t act in kindness to any candidate at this time. He is the former president who is being attacked from all directions and lawsuits, and he has increased more under the RNC than we spent on these bills,” he added.
Trump is reportedly planning to announce another presidential bid immediately after the midterm elections. The RNC has publicly said it will remain neutral in the 2024 GOP nomination race.
The Trump Organization went on trial last week in a criminal tax fraud case launched by Vance, who is now out of office, alleging that the former president’s company evaded taxes and received money for certain of his superiors for 15 years.
Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, pleaded guilty in August and agreed to testify as a star witness in the trial in exchange for a five-month sentence.
Trump also faces a civil lawsuit against James, who claims the Trump company inflated wages and understated property values for taxes and insurance benefits.
Members of the Trump family and many Republicans have criticized the lawsuit as a “witch hunt,” citing James’ comments about spying on Trump at campaign events.
Axios reported Friday that Trump and his team are eyeing Nov. 14 as the launch date for his 2024 campaign, and Trump has said an announcement will be made “soon.”
When Bash asked if Trump read it, McDaniel said he didn’t know.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do for Thanksgiving right now, let alone think about 2024,” McDaniel said.
–Updated at 12:15 pm
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