Fresh facts have emerged how immediate past U.S President, Donald Trump shifted money from his political donors to his personal businesses.
According to a review of the latest Federal Election Commission filings, Trump’s reelection campaign paid his private companies for rent, food, lodging and other expenses.
The richest president in American history moved over $2.3 million of contributions from other people into his private companies.
Trump accepted $38,000 in rent through Trump Tower Commercial LLC, the entity that owns his Fifth Avenue skyscraper.
Since he took office, his campaign paid that company $1.5 million, more than any other property in the Trump empire, according to an analysis of federal filings.
The Republican National Committee also coordinated with the campaign to pay Trump Tower Commercial LLC an additional $225,000.
Trump got another $8,000 in July via the Trump Corporation, a management company that he owns.
The precise reason for those payments is unclear. Campaign filings describe the rationale as “legal & IT consulting” but it’s still a mystery why Trump’s management company is providing such services.
More money went to Trump Restaurants LLC, another company the president owns outright.
Those payments may be connected to a kiosk in the basement of Trump Tower that sells campaign memorabilia.
It’s hard to imagine that the kiosk has been doing much business amid the coronavirus crisis, but the campaign has continued to pay its rent, $3,000 per month.
Trump Restaurants LLC has gotten $117,000 since its owner became president.
Trump Hotel Collection, in which Trump also owns a 100% interest, received another $1,000 in July.
The campaign has paid Trump’s hotel properties $226,000 since Inauguration Day, according to the analysis of federal filings.
In addition to the campaign, the Republican National Committee and the president’s joint-fundraising committees have also paid millions of dollars to Trump’s businesses.
The ex-president’s total haul—from his campaign, party and joint fundraising committees—now stands at more than $6.9 million.
