Former President Donald Trump has been increasing his spending on legal defense, according to federal records. His fundraising committees have significantly ramped up their legal expenditures, reflecting the growing costs of his various legal challenges.
In 2023, Trump’s groups allocated around $50 million to legal consulting, with a notable $30 million spent in the second half of the year alone. This spending spree offers a glimpse into the law firms and attorneys who have been the primary beneficiaries of Trump’s political committees’ financial support.
One of the prominent recipients of these funds is Chris Kise, a Florida-based attorney and former state solicitor general. His firms, Chris Kise & Associates and Continental PLLC, collectively received nearly $9 million. Kise has been prominently involved in the New York attorney general’s civil fraud case against Trump, focusing on alleged false alterations of the Trump Organization’s business assets.
Another primary recipient of Trump’s legal funds is Clifford Robert of Robert & Robert, who earned approximately $5.3 million. Robert’s role included representing Trump’s adult sons and other entities implicated in the New York attorney general’s fraud case, which accuses them of complicity in financial misrepresentation.
Harmeet Dhillon, whose firm garnered $4.61 million, and Alina Habba, who received over $4 million, are also key legal figures in Trump’s defense. Dhillon has been defending Trump against various ballot eligibility challenges under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection ban, while Habba has been involved in multiple cases, including those initiated by E. Jean Carroll.
Trump’s increased spending on legal defense highlights the significant legal battles he continues to face even after leaving office. These legal challenges range from civil fraud cases to defamation trials and ballot eligibility challenges. As the costs of these legal battles continue to mount, Trump’s fundraising committees have been allocating substantial amounts to support his legal defense team.
It is worth noting that this article was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
