On Wednesday, US presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign team requested donations from one million supporters. The call came two days after it emerged that Trump had not found anyone willing to guarantee the $454 million fine imposed on him in a civil fraud case. If he is unable to pay the fine, the authorities threaten to confiscate his property. Trump can still appeal the ruling, but first he must pay the fine.
Trump's team warned on the call that the former president was in danger of losing his New York property. With the text “Keep your dirty hands out of Trump Tower!”, his supporters are now being asked to donate money.
The civil fraud case, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James in September 2022, is one of several legal challenges Trump faces in the lead-up to the November 5 election of this year.
The fundraising letter references James' case, but does not literally say that the money raised will be used in the lawsuit. It is unclear whether Trump can use the money he raises from this measure to pay the fine.
Although federal law prohibits the use of campaign funds for personal expenses, Trump has used donor funds to pay some of his attorney's fees, saying his legal defense is tied to the campaign.
Trump supporters received the payment request via text message. Amounts range from $20 to more than $3,000. The campaign team portrays the lawsuit as part of a broader effort by current President Joe Biden and Democrats to hurt Trump's reelection. Biden said he is not involved in the cases against Trump. His campaign team did not respond. (Reuters/Norwegian Refugee Council)
