Trump Campaign Used Campaign Funds to Finance Efforts to Subvert Biden's Victory

Strategic Insights -

A month after the 2020 presidential election, former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik and his friend Rudolph W. Giuliani began shelling out thousands of dollars for hotel rooms and travel in their efforts to find evidence of voting fraud and persuade state legislators to overturn Joe Biden's victory. The bills were initially unpaid until after Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro intervened on their behalf. The campaign subsequently reimbursed Kerik and Giuliani for their expenses, which included more than $225,000 in campaign payments to firms owned by Kerik and Giuliani.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump campaign used campaign funds to finance efforts to subvert Biden's victory, including over $225,000 in payments to firms owned by Kerik and Giuliani.
  • The campaign reimbursed Kerik and Giuliani for their expenses, including $20,130.13 for "Room/Board/Meals/Travel for Legal/Investigative Team" from November 5 to December 5.
  • The campaign made a payment of $63,423.63 to Giuliani's firm, Giuliani Partners, on December 18, listed as "recount: travel reimbursement."
  • The team at the Willard hotel commanded by Kerik and Giuliani included lawyer Jenna Ellis, who had traveled around the country with Giuliani presenting legislators in key states with alleged evidence of fraud.
  • The team also included lawyer Katherine Friess, whose firm -- Seven Good Stones -- was used to reserve the rooms at the Willard.
  • The team was joined by Eastman, the legal scholar, on January 3, who met with Trump and Pence the following day in the Oval Office, urging Pence to delay the counting of electoral votes.

Statistics:

  • The Trump campaign used over $225,000 in campaign funds to finance efforts to subvert Biden's victory.
  • The campaign reimbursed Kernik and Giuliani for over $140,000 in expenses, including travel, meals, and hotel stays.
  • The campaign made a payment of $63,423.63 to Giuliani's firm, Giuliani Partners, on December 18.
  • The team at the Willard hotel was commanded by Kerik and Giuliani, including lawyer Jenna Ellis and lawyer Katherine Friess.
  • The team was joined by Eastman on January 3, who met with Trump and Pence the following day in the Oval Office.

Sources:

  • The Washington Post, "Campaign Files Reveal Details of Trump's Bid to Reverse Biden's Victory" by Jacqueline Alemany, Josh Dawsey, Emma Brown, and Tom Hamburger.
  • The Post's account of what happened at the campaign headquarters in Arlington after the election is based on interviews with people familiar with the operation.