TOPLINE Former President Donald Trump’s political action committee donated $1 million to the Conservative Partnership Institute, a conservative non-profit organization where his loyal former chief of staff Mark Meadows is a senior partner— just a few weeks after a congressional probe into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was announced, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday evening.
Trump’s Save America PAC made the $1 million contribution on July 26, according to a filing to the Federal Election Commission, which was first reported by NBC News.
The donation came weeks after the House voted to create a committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the Capitol on July 1.
The House of Representatives have since recommended for the Department of Justice to pursue contempt of Congress charges against Meadows for his refusal to comply with the investigation.
BIG NUMBER
$122 million. That’s how much cash on hand Trump’s political operation had at the start of 2022, according to filings to the FEC. The amount is more than double the cash the Republican National Committee has on hand, the New York Times reports. Trump raised $51 million in the second half of 2021, according to the filing.
KEY BACKGROUND
The January 6 committee has subpoenaed or requested information from dozens of Trump allies as part of its investigation into the attack. Steve Bannon, a former White House strategist, was hit with criminal contempt charges in November for his refusal to comply with the investigation, and has pleaded not guilty. Meadows could also face charges, after the House recommended to hold him in contempt of Congress in December. Several Trump aides have cooperated with the committee, while others like Alex Jones and Roger Stone, plead the fifth during their depositions.
TANGENT
Trump reportedly had a direct role in an attempt to seize voting machines in key swing states following the results of the 2020 Election, the Times reports. Trump reportedly ordered his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to call the Department of Homeland Security to inquire about the legality of taking voting machines six weeks after Election Day. Politico reported earlier this month at least one executive order had been drafted to obtain the voting machines, though it was never enacted.
FURTHER READING
Trump gave $1M to Meadows nonprofit weeks after Jan. 6 panel's creation (NBC News)
Trump Entered 2022 With $122 Million in the Bank (The New York Times)
House Votes To Hold Mark Meadows In Contempt—Indictment Could Follow (Forbes)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2022/02/01/trumps-pac-gave-chief-of-staff-mark-meadows-group-1-million-weeks-after-jan-6-probe-launched/?sh=3899d45de14a
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