猩球崛起

As of earlier this month, former President Donald Trump’s political action committee, Save America, had already spent more than $40 million dating back to 2021 on his legal fees stemming from dozens of federal and state charges related to his mishandling of classified documents and hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, among many other things.

The costs were so staggering that the leadership PAC, which has been bankrolling Trump’s legal defense, also reportedly requested a refund on a $60 million contribution – signaling it knew those fees were set to balloon.

Now, the twice-impeached former president is staring down 91 criminal charges stemming from four indictments – the latest of which also names 18 of his closest allies as co-defendants in a sprawling racketeering scheme in Georgia to spread conspiracy theories, pressure elected officials and prop up fake electors in an attempt to remain in power despite having lost the 2020 presidential election in a free and fair vote.

The 18 co-defendants include former Trump administration officials, such as former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark, and a host of high-profile attorneys – among them, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis.

But the list also includes much lesser known individuals – a former public school teacher, a pastor, a publicist, a bond bail businessman – all of whom put their personal lives and professional careers on the line for Trump and now want to know who will cover their legal fees.

“While you may know me as an alternate elector and former County GAGOP Chair, I am also a retired public school teacher living on a teacher's pension,” Cathy Lathom, one of the co-defendants, posted to a crowdfunding website she’s using to raise money.

Lathom, former GOP chairwoman for Coffee County and a member of the Georgia Republican Party's executive committee, was indicted for her role as a fake elector and for allowing unauthorized forensics experts and Trump allies to examine voting systems in Coffee County for an extended period.

“I am asking for your help today to help me cover legal fees during this time,” she wrote. At the time of publication she’s received $3,905 in donations out of the $500,000 she’s attempting to raise.

Trump, who has a checkered history of paying in full for his own legal defenses, appeared open to helping Giuliani cover at least a portion of his legal fees. According to reporting from The New York Times, Trump has directed more than $340,000 to help with what’s expected to be a $3 million tab – though that was only after multiple attempts by Giuliani, his lawyers and his son to secure such support.

But Trump has yet to announce any type of aid for others caught up in his attempt to undermine the 2020 election, despite the fact that he’s been campaigning and fundraising off his mounting legal woes. His various PACs, Save America and Make American Great Again, also known as MAGA Inc, have similarly been mum on the issue.

Ellis, who had raised $92,515 at the time of this publication through a crowdfunding site to support her legal defense, took to social media earlier this week to call out Trump.

“I was reliably informed Trump isn’t funding any of us who are indicted,” she said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "Would this change if he becomes the nominee? Why then, not now?”

“Why isn’t MAGA, Inc. funding everyone’s defense?”