Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley warned Friday that former President Donald Trump would use the RNC to pay for mounting legal fees if he wins the 2024 Republican nomination.
In an interview with CNN, Haley said she did not want President Trump to use the Republican National Committee (RNC), which solicits donations from Republican voters, as a personal “piggy bank.”
“My biggest issue is I don’t want the RNC to become his legal defense fund,” Haley told CNN’s Caitlan Collins. “I don’t want the RNC to become a piggy bank for his personal lawsuits. We’ve already seen him spend $50 million worth of campaign funds on personal lawsuits. I’m here.”
“Right now, we see him trying to take control of the RNC and avoid having to continue paying his own legal fees,” she added.
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Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
Haley’s comments came after a New York judge ordered Trump to pay more than $350 million in a civil fraud case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James. Judge Arthur Engoron said Trump and the other defendants committed “persistent and repeated fraud,” “falsifying business records,” “issuing false financial statements,” “conspiring to falsify false financial statements,” and “conspiring to falsify false financial statements.” The court ruled that he was charged with “insurance fraud” and “conspiracy to commit fraud.” commit insurance fraud. ”
The judge also barred Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump from serving as officers or directors of any New York business or corporation for two years.
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Former President Donald Trump announced his support for a leadership position on the Republican National Committee on February 12, 2024. The former president endorsed Michael Whatley (left) to be the next chairman of the RNC. Lara Trump becomes vice chair. Chris LaCivita will become his RNC chief operating officer. (Associated Press and Getty Images)
The Engoron ruling comes weeks after Trump was ordered to pay more than $83 million in a defamation lawsuit brought by author E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault.
The Hill reported that the RNC had previously been involved in investigations, including an investigation by then-Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. and the New York State Attorney General, “related to politically motivated lawsuits brought against President Trump.” “He admitted that he had paid certain legal fees.” Letitia James.
But in 2022, the RNC announced it would not pay Trump’s legal fees after he declared his candidacy for the White House.
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A courtroom sketch depicts attorney Jesús Suárez questioning Eli Bartov as former President Donald Trump and Judge Arthur Engoron listen in a Manhattan civil courtroom on Thursday, December 7, 2023 in New York. (Jane Rosenberg)
Haley expressed concern that if Trump were to win the 2024 Republican nomination, he would command the RNC and loyal Republican donors to receive compensation for civil judgments. President Trump has already confirmed North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley to replace current RNC Chairman Ronna McDaniel, and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump will also serve as vice chair. there is a possibility.
“The problem is, winning the House, the Senate, and other seats won’t help if the RNC is focused on its own legal fees,” Haley said on CNN.
“He has made his daughter-in-law his co-chair and his campaign manager the director of operations. He is the one trying to control the RNC after trying to remove me from the campaign. So that he can be a powerful man.’ All of this is so that he has the right to pay his legal fees,” she continued.
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“That’s the fear every Republican should have, because if he continues down that path, we won’t win anything.”
The Trump campaign and RNC did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump and Haley will face off in the South Carolina Republican primary next Saturday, February 24, 2024.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Lee contributed to this report.
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