RNC Member Challenges Party Spending Millions on Trump’s Legal Defense
In a surprising move, a member of the Republican National Committee (RNC) has come forward to voice his opposition to the party’s spending millions of dollars on Donald Trump’s legal defense. Henry Barbour, an RNC member from Mississippi, has sponsored two draft resolutions that aim to put a stop to this controversial practice. Although these resolutions have a slim chance of passing, they have sparked a heated debate within the party.
The first resolution proposed by Barbour seeks to prevent the RNC from paying the legal bills of any candidate running for federal or state office. The second resolution calls for the party to remain neutral throughout the presidential primary and prohibits the RNC from hiring additional staff from active presidential campaigns until a nominee is decided. These resolutions will be voted on during the upcoming RNC meeting scheduled for March 7-9 in Houston.
The upcoming meeting is expected to bring significant changes within the RNC leadership. Current RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel is set to resign from her position, and Michael Whatley, the Trump-backed North Carolina GOP Chairman who currently serves as RNC counsel, is likely to take her place as chair. Furthermore, Lara Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, is anticipated to become the party’s vice chair. However, Lara Trump has not made it explicitly clear whether party funds would be used for Donald Trump’s legal representation.
Barbour’s resolutions, even if passed, would not be binding. However, he believes that it is crucial to make a point about the party’s responsibility. “This is not going to pass, I understand that,” Barbour admitted in an interview with The New York Times. “It’s about making a point.”
To move the resolutions forward for a full vote by all committee members, Barbour would need two cosponsors from 10 different states by Tuesday. While his chances seem slim, Barbour remains steadfast in his belief that the RNC should not be financially responsible for a candidate’s legal battles. “The RNC’s job is to win elections. It’s not to pay the legal bills for any leading candidate. He’s got to fight his own legal fight,” Barbour emphasized in an interview with Reuters.
So far, Donald Trump has primarily funded his legal expenses using donor funds from the Save America political action committee, which he controls. However, the funds of this group are rapidly depleting. In 2023 alone, Save America reported spending over $47 million on Trump’s legal defense. With the party’s financial resources at stake, it is crucial for the RNC to address this issue and decide on its stance regarding the allocation of funds for legal battles.
As the RNC meeting approaches, all eyes will be on the outcome of Barbour’s resolutions. While their passage appears unlikely, the debate surrounding the party’s responsibility in funding legal defense will undoubtedly continue. The decisions made at this meeting will shape the future of the Republican Party and its approach to supporting its candidates.
