AP Lawyers, Trump and money: Ex-president spends millions in donor cash on attorneys as legal woes grow RICHARD LARDNER, TRENTON DANIEL and AARON KESSLER Associated Press Oct 17, 2023 Oct 17, 2023 Updated Apr 21, 2024 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAm(p$wx}v%~} — s@?2=5 %CF>AVD A@=:E:42= 7F?5C2:D:?8 >249:?6 :D C2<:?8 :? 5@?2E:@?D 2E 2 AC@5:8:@FD A246[ 3FE 96VD DA6?5:?8 E6?D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD 96VD 3C:?8:?8 :? E@ A2J 2EE@C?6JD E@ 562= H:E9 E96 6D42=2E:?8 4@DED @7 E96 G2C:@FD 4C:>:?2= 42D6D 96 :D 4@?E6?5:?8 H:E9 2D 96 >@G6D 7FCE96C :?E@ E96 a_ac AC6D:56?E:2= 42>A2:8?]k^AmkAmr2>A2:8? 7:?2?46 6IA6CED D2J FD:?8 E96 >@?6J E@ A2J 7@C =2HJ6CD :? 42D6D ?@E C6=2E65 E@ E96 42>A2:8? @C @77:469@=56C 5FE:6D 2AA62CD E@ 4@?7=:4E H:E9 2 7656C2= 32? @? E96 A6CD@?2= FD6 @7 5@?@C 5@==2CD[ 6G6? E9@F89 E96 u656C2= t=64E:@? r@>>:DD:@? 92D CF=65 E96 AC@9:3:E:@? 5@6D?VE 2AA=J E@ D@\42==65 =6256CD9:A A@=:E:42= 24E:@? 4@>>:EE66D]k^Am kAm%96 >2DD:G6 2>@F?E @7 >@?6J 8@:?8 E@ =2HJ6CD 2=D@ 2>A=:7:6D E96 FC86?4J %CF>A 766=D E@ C2:D6 >@?6J 3@E9 7@C E96 42>A2:8? 2?5 9:D =682= 5676?D6[ H9:49 :D F?7@=5:?8 @? >F=E:A=6 7C@?ED]k^Am People are also reading… Update: Old Fort man killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 identified 1 person killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 eastbound near Old Fort McDowell County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing classic car This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer This WNC family lost their home in Hurricane Helene. 19 months later, they're getting a new one. Morganton man charged with raping child; placed under $1 million bond City of Marion issues water shortage advisory due to drought McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes Ingles board fight: Proxy advisors back Sackler-linked firm for board Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering U.S. Department of Agriculture declares 2026 drought a disaster for western NC 5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley FEMA provides $1.4 million to rebuild from Old Fort’s Hurricane Helene damage kAm%CF>AVD $2G6 p>6C:42 A@=:E:42= 24E:@? 4@>>:EE66 92D A2:5 2=>@DE Sbf >:==:@? E@ >@C6 E92? e_ =2H 7:C>D 2?5 :?5:G:5F2= 2EE@C?6JD D:?46 y2?F2CJ a_aa[ u656C2= t=64E:@? r@>>:DD:@? C64@C5D D9@H] %92E 2>@F?ED E@ >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 E96 !prVD 6IA6?5:EFC6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2? pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD 2?2=JD:D @7 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46 7:=:?8D]k^Am kAmsFC:?8 E96 7:CDE 92=7 @7 a_ab[ $2G6 p>6C:42 DA6?E >@C6 @? =682=\C6=2E65 4@DED[ >@C6 E92? Sa_ >:==:@?[ E92? 2?J @E96C A@=:E:42= 4@>>:EE66 E92E 5:D4=@D6D E@ E96 utr — >@C6 E92? E96 #6AF3=:42? }2E:@?2= r@>>:EE66[ s6>@4C2E:4 }2E:@?2= r@>>:EE66 2?5 }2E:@?2= #6AF3=:42? $6?2E@C:2= r@>>:EE66 DA6?E 5FC:?8 E92E A6C:@5 4@>3:?65]k^Am kAm%96 3F=< @7 E96 %CF>A !pr >@?6J H6?E E@ =2H 7:C>D E92E 5676?565 %CF>A 282:?DE 4C:>:?2= 492C86D @C :? 4:G:= =2HDF:ED] ~E96C 2EE@C?6JD A2:5 H:E9 E96 4@?EC:3FE:@?D H@C<65 @? 3692=7 @7 %CF>AVD 3FD:?6DD6D[ 9:D 49:=5C6?[ 7@C>6C (9:E6 w@FD6 2:56D 2?5 6>A=@J66D @7 E96 6I\AC6D:56?E]k^Am kAmu@@E:?8 E96 =682= 3:==D 7@C 4@\5676?52?ED 2?5 A@E6?E:2= H:E?6DD6D C2:D6D 255:E:@?2= E9@C?J 6E9:42= BF6DE:@?Di (:== E96 2EE@C?6JD A2:5 3J %CF>A 36 >@C6 =@J2= E@ 9:> @C E96:C 4=:6?EDn x7 4=:6?ED 766= :?563E65 E@ %CF>A[ H:== E96J 36 =6DD 7@CE94@>:?8 23@FE H92E E96J <?@Hnk^AmkAmQ%96 H2J E96D6 42D6D 86E 3F:=E :D J@F A6CDF256 E96 =:EE=6 7:D9 E@ E6DE:7J 282:?DE E96 3:8 7:D9[Q D2:5 #2?52== t=:2D@?[ 2 7@C>6C 7656C2= AC@D64FE@C 2?5 4C:>:?2= =2H AC@76DD@C 2E v6@C86 (2D9:?8E@? &?:G6CD:EJ {2H $49@@=] Q(6==[ :7 E96 =:EE=6 7:D9VD =2HJ6C :D 36:?8 A2:5 3J E96 3:8 7:D9 E92EVD =6DD =:<6=J E@ 92AA6? A@E6?E:2==J]Qk^Am kAm%96 %CF>A 42>A2:8? 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^AmkAm%CF>AVD DE2EFD 2D E96 7:CDE 7@C>6C AC6D:56?E E@ 36 4C:>:?2==J :?5:4E65[ 9:D CF? 7@C 2?@E96C (9:E6 w@FD6 E6C> H9:=6 5676?5:?8 9:>D6=7 :? >F=E:A=6 4@FCE 42D6D[ 2?5 E96 =@25D @7 5@?@C >@?6J 7=@H:?8 E@ =2HJ6CD 2C6 2 EC:764E2 F?A2C2==6=65 :? &]$] 9:DE@CJ]k^AmkAm%CF>A 56?:6D HC@?85@:?8 2?5 96 2?5 9:D 2==:6D 3=2DE65 E96 =@?8 =:DE @7 76=@?J 492C86D 2?5 =2HDF:ED 2D A@=:E:42= 2EE24<D >62?E E@ 56C2:= 9:D a_ac 42>A2:8?]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmqFE E96 =682= ;6@A2C5J 92D 364@>6 9:D >@DE A@E6?E 7F?5C2:D:?8 E@@=] %CF>AVD 4=2:> E92E 96VD E96 G:4E:> @7 2 4@CCFAE ;FDE:46 DJDE6> 56E6C>:?65 E@ D:=6?46 9:> 2?5 9:D DFAA@CE6CD :D 2 AC:>2CJ A=2?< :? 9:D A=2E7@C>]k^Am kAmpD %CF>AVD 4:G:= 7C2F5 EC:2= :? }6H *@C< 8@E F?56CH2J E9:D >@?E9[ 96 FD65 E96 962GJ >65:2 4@G6C286 2D 2 >682A9@?6] %@ E96 42>6C2D DE2E:@?65 :? E96 4@FCE9@FD6 92==H2JD[ %CF>A 56?@F?465 DE2E6 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= {6E:E:2 y2>6DV 42D6 2D Q2 H:E49 9F?E 2?5 2 5:D8C246]Q w6 2?5 9:D 4@>A2?J 2C6 244FD65 3J y2>6D @7 :?7=2E:?8 E96 G2=F6 @7 9:D C62= 6DE2E6 6>A:C6 E@ 5646:G6 32?<D 2?5 :?DFC6CD]k^Am kAm%CF>A 2=D@ EFC?65 9:D DFCC6?56C :? v6@C8:2 @? 492C86D E92E 96 :==682==J D496>65 E@ @G6CEFC? E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@? :?E@ 2 7F?5C2:D:?8 3@?2?K2] w:D AC6D:56?E:2= 42>A2:8? D2:5 :E 92D D@=5 23@FE cf[___ %\D9:CED[ 4@7766 >F8D 2?5 A@DE6CD 762EFC:?8 E96 >F8 D9@E @7 E96 7@C>6C AC6D:56?E H96? 96 H2D 3@@<65 :? pF8FDE 2E E96 uF=E@? r@F?EJ y2:=]k^Am kAm~G6C2==[ E96 42>A2:8? D2:5 :E C2:D65 Sh]c >:==:@? :? E96 52JD 7@==@H:?8 E96 A9@E@VD C6=62D6] %@ 96=A A2J E96 =682= 766D[ %CF>AVD A@=:E:42= @A6C2E:@? 92D 2=D@ >@G65 >:==:@?D 7C@> 9:D DFA6C !pr[ |pvp x?4]k^Am kAmQ%96 :?5:4E>6?ED 2C6 AC@323=J ?@E 6IA2?5:?8 9:D 4@2=:E:@?[ 3FE :EVD 46CE2:?=J 8:G:?8 :E 8C62E6C :?E6?D:EJ[Q D2:5 p?E9@?J |:4926= zC6:D[ 2 =2H AC@76DD@C 2E v6@C8:2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ] Q$@ A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 2=C625J DFAA@CE:?8 s@?2=5 %CF>A 2C6 AC@323=J 8@:?8 E@ 5:8 :? E96:C 966=D 2?5 DFAA@CE 9:> >@C6]Qk^Am kAm%92EVD ECF6 @7 2E =62DE D@>6 5@?@CD[ H9@ D2J E96J 92G6 ?@ AC@3=6> H:E9 E96:C >@?6J 8@:?8 E@ =2HJ6CD]k^AmkAmQu:CDE E9:?8 x E9@F89Ei (92E 2 4C@4<[Q D2:5 #@36CE {66[ 2 >@E@C4J4=6 C6A2:C>2? :? q@42 #2E@?[ u=@C:52[ H9@ >256 2 D>2== 5@?2E:@? 27E6C E96 uqxVD |2C\2\{28@ D62C49] Q}@?6 @7 E9:D 6G6C 92AA6?65 E@ 2?J@?6 H9@ H2D?VE %CF>A]Qk^Am kAmpD<65 23@FE 2 42>A2:8? E92E DA6?5D D@ >F49 @? =682= 6IA6?D6D[ {66 D2:5[ Q%92E H@F=5 36 7:?6 H:E9 >6]Qk^AmkAm%96 utr 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E 7@C E9:D DE@CJ[ 3FE :E D66>D F?=:<6=J E@ 24E 2?JE:>6 D@@?] %96 286?4J :D =65 3J D:I 4@>>:DD:@?6CD[ 6G6?=J DA=:E 36EH66? #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 s6>@4C2ED] %CF>A ?@>:?2E65 2== E96 v~! 4@>>:DD:@?6CD] ~?6 @7 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 4@>>:DD:@?6CD ;@:?65 H:E9 E96 #6AF3=:42?D E@ 564=2C6 :? |2C49 E96 A6CD@?2= FD6 32? 5:5?VE 2AA=J E@ =6256CD9:A !prD]k^Am kAm$2FC2G v9@D9[ 5:C64E@C @7 7656C2= 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46 C67@C> 2E E96 ?@?\AC@7:E r2>A2:8? {682= r6?E6C[ 4C:E:4:K65 H92E 96 42==65 E96 utrVD Q 3=:?<6C65 2?5 ?2CC@H G:6H @7 E96 A6CD@?2= FD6 AC@9:3:E:@?]Qk^Am kAmQ%96 utr :D 2 5JD7F?4E:@?2= 286?4J E92E @7E6? 72:=D E@ 6?7@C46 E96 =2H 3642FD6 D6G6C2= 4@>>:DD:@?6CD 5@?VE 86?F:?6=J DFAA@CE E96 >:DD:@? @7 E96 286?4J 2?5 72G@C 2 56C68F=2E@CJ 2AAC@249 E@ 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46 =2HD[Q v9@D9 D2:5]k^Am kAm%96 92?5D\@77 2AAC@249[ 96 25565[ 92D 2==@H65 %CF>A E@ 6IA=@:E A6@A=6 H9@ 8:G6 9:> >@?6J]k^Am kAmQxE 5@6D 766= =:<6 5@?@CD 2C6 36:?8 E2<6? 25G2?E286 @7 E@ 25G2?46 s@?2=5 y] %CF>AVD A6CD@?2= :?E6C6DED[Q v9@D9 D2:5]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody An armed man fired at a Secret Service agent, an FBI official said, hitting the agent in an area covered by protective gear. 'Congress must investigate': Pics of gross Navy food spark outrage Gut-turning pictures of food served to service members on two major U.S. warships fighting the Iran war prompted an outcry online and outrage … Timeline shows gunman's attempt to enter press dinner featuring Trump Cole Tomas Allen is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court two days after authorities said they foiled an attack at the White… Trumps tell ABC to 'take a stand' on Kimmel after 'hateful' joke President Donald Trump said Monday that Jimmy Kimmel should be fired, joining his wife Melania in calling out the talk show host for a monolog… Jimmy Kimmel responds to White House calls for his firing Kimmel responded to calls from the White House for him to be fired by telling first lady Melania Trump to speak to President Donald Trump abou… Watch Now: Related Video N.C. Wildlife ranger teaches students about black bears See High school students release trout in Catawba River tributary See High school students release trout in Catawba River tributary Hickory High School students share their experience raising trout Hickory High School students share their experience raising trout Morganton woman speaks against proposed increase of Duke Energy rates Morganton woman speaks against proposed increase of Duke Energy rates Recommended for you
Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody An armed man fired at a Secret Service agent, an FBI official said, hitting the agent in an area covered by protective gear.
'Congress must investigate': Pics of gross Navy food spark outrage Gut-turning pictures of food served to service members on two major U.S. warships fighting the Iran war prompted an outcry online and outrage …
Timeline shows gunman's attempt to enter press dinner featuring Trump Cole Tomas Allen is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court two days after authorities said they foiled an attack at the White…
Trumps tell ABC to 'take a stand' on Kimmel after 'hateful' joke President Donald Trump said Monday that Jimmy Kimmel should be fired, joining his wife Melania in calling out the talk show host for a monolog…
Jimmy Kimmel responds to White House calls for his firing Kimmel responded to calls from the White House for him to be fired by telling first lady Melania Trump to speak to President Donald Trump abou…
