New campaign finance records reveal that former President Donald Trump’s political action committee, Save America, paid $50,000 to a law firm representing his longtime adviser Boris Epshteyn before his pending criminal trial in Arizona. The payments were made to the Phoenix-based law firm Tully Bailey LLP, with named partner Michael Bailey representing Epshteyn in the Arizona case. Epshteyn was indicted in April on state charges related to an alleged fake elector scheme in Arizona after the 2020 election.
It is unclear if the payments were directly tied to Epshteyn’s representation, but they were the PAC’s first disbursements to the firm. Since last year, none of the other co-defendants with ties to Trump in Arizona or Georgia have received financial support from Save America for legal expenses. The PAC has spent over $90 million covering legal expenses primarily on Trump’s behalf.
Epshteyn, who maintains his innocence, continues to be active on the campaign trail for Trump and has coordinated legal teams for Trump’s ongoing legal battles. Save America has also made payments to law firms representing other Trump associates, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in the Jan. 6 congressional investigation.
Critics, including the Biden campaign, have raised concerns about Trump’s efforts to maintain his grip on power by covering legal bills for individuals involved in election-related controversies. The PAC’s expenditures on legal consulting for Trump and his associates have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and misuse of campaign funds. The organization did not respond to requests for comment on whether other co-defendants in Georgia or Arizona have had legal expenses covered by Save America.
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