Federal law and FEC regulations allow donor funds to be spent at a candidate’s business so long as the campaign pays fair market value, experts say.
While the practice is legal, some campaign finance experts believe it raises ethical concerns when a candidate is generating personal revenue off running for office.
The money Trump’s campaign is spending at his businesses could help the former president as he faces a big cash crunch.
Trump has been hit with a pair of large financial judgements after losing two civil lawsuits.
The New York attorney general is challenging whether the deal Trump made to post the larger bond payment is financially sound.
The Trump campaign and affiliated political committees paid businesses owned by Trump at least $4.9 million since the start of 2023, according to an analysis by USA TODAY.
Spending money on legal issues is not unusual for a campaign, but campaign finance experts say Trump has pushed the boundaries of what is allowable. »