Crowdsourcing platform GoFundMe is braving pressure from the left to halt fundraising efforts aimed at paying former President Donald Trump’s fine from last week’s New York civil fraud ruling.
Countless netizens agitated and called for a boycott before GoFundMe canceled the fundraiser, which had raised more than $965,000 as of Thursday afternoon, but the company has so far refused to do so.
“This fundraiser is currently within our terms of service,” GoFundMe communications director Jalen Drummond told the Post. Drummond previously served as assistant White House press secretary under the Trump administration.
Hans von Spakovsky, a former member of the Federal Election Commission and current director of the Heritage Foundation’s Election Law Reform Initiative, said the fundraising campaign launched by Florida has legal issues and concerns about federal campaign funds. He told the Post he found no violations of the law. Female Elena Cardone.
“This GoFundMe campaign is not considered a campaign contribution to Donald Trump because it pays for legal expenses that would exist independently of the campaign,” he said. “Remember all the prosecutors in these cases saying, ‘Oh, these cases have nothing to do with his candidacy’?”
“If they used it for some campaign expenses, that would be a problem. But if they just stick to paying legal costs, I don’t think there would be a problem.”
Cardone is the wife of private equity fund manager Grant Cardone.
“I stand firmly with President Donald Trump in the face of unprecedented mistreatment by some members of New York’s judiciary,” she wrote on the fundraising organization’s webpage.
“The latest legal battle he faces is not just an attack on him, but an attack on the very ideals of fairness and due process that all Americans deserve.”
The fundraiser was created in the wake of a devastating civil fraud verdict against Trump, in which he was ordered to collect $355 million in interest plus $450 million in expenses. There is a possibility that it will jump beyond the dollar.
Representatives from the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who filed the lawsuit, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Cardone’s GoFundMe was ridiculed by social media critics, some of whom called for the site to be taken down.
“How many billionaires do you know who have @gofundme accounts to pay for legal fees? #BoycottGoFundMe,” David Leavitt, a self-described multimedia journalist, wrote about X.
“I would like everyone to #BoycottGoFundMe. Do you agree that potential tax and campaign fraud should be investigated? Why are all donations to President Trump’s fine made public? Instead, it can be used to evade taxes and campaign laws,” user My2Cents wrote.
“Again, the Go Fund Me to collect Trump’s fraud settlement money was run by the wife of a 2x billionaire who could easily write a check for the full amount without feeling anything herself. Please think about that before you sell your trailer, MAGA. #BoycottGoFundMe,” user Scary Larry wrote.
Some users fought back against the boycott efforts.
“We’re tired of the boycott and cancel culture. Please stop calling out #BoycottGoFundMe just because you’re allowing a campaign you don’t like to exist,” said Brian, a so-called “resistance” figure. Mr. Klassenstein spat.
“And stop trying to boycott New York because a judge has independently decided that Trump should be fined for fraud.”
“#BoycottGoFundMe Another liberal whining. I love it. I don’t usually do things like this. But I think I’ll go just to donate,” Dwight Brosious wrote on X.
Trump’s net worth hovers around $2.6 billion, and he has liquid assets worth $640 million. Forbes estimates last year.
The former president has long disputed those estimates, claiming his personal wealth is actually much larger.
In addition to the punishment, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron banned President Trump from leading any business in the Empire State for three years.
“Their complete lack of remorse and remorse borders on the pathological. They are only accused of inflating asset values to make more money. Documents prove this repeatedly.” In his ruling, Engoron mentioned Trump, his two adult sons, the Trump Organization and other business associates.
“This is a venial crime, not a capital crime. The defendant did not commit murder or arson,” he continued. “Donald Trump is no Bernard Madoff. But the defendants cannot admit the error of their ways.”
President Trump is expected to challenge the decision, weeks after he was awarded $83.3 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit against advice columnist E. Jean Carroll.
In response to questions about the backlash GoFundMe has endured, Trump campaign spokesman Stephen Chan told the Post: [Republican presidential candidate] Nikki Haley loves to cry about everything. ”
President Trump faces 91 criminal charges across four indictments. He denies any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Last year, he funneled $48 million from a super PAC to cover legal costs, according to the newspaper’s analysis. wall street journal last month.
