Hotelier Robert Bigelow disclosed to Reuters on Tuesday that he contributed $1 million to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his legal expenses and pledged an additional $20 million to support a pro-Trump outside group for campaign-related activities.
In an interview, the owner of Budget Suites of America, based in Nevada, revealed, "I provided him with $1 million towards his legal fees a few weeks ago. I also committed to donating another $20 million to the super PAC." These contributions, which had not been previously disclosed, signify a substantial amount of funding rallying behind Trump, who is currently the leading contender to secure the Republican presidential nomination for the upcoming November general election against Democrat Joe Biden.
Bigelow's financial commitments also underscore the unique role some political donors are assuming as Trump faces four pending criminal cases this year. These legal matters encompass legal challenges related to his attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, allegations concerning mishandling of classified documents upon leaving office, and controversies surrounding hush money payments to a adult film actress.
Expressing sympathy towards the former president, Bigelow stated, "I was just sympathetic. They didn't solicit anything from me." He emphasized that the decision to contribute was motivated by his belief that Trump was unfairly targeted in the criminal cases. The pledged $20 million will be disbursed gradually, with Bigelow indicating that the allocation would commence promptly.
Despite Trump's legal challenges, he remains the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, with most of his rivals having withdrawn from the race. Trump's campaign team has been actively seeking to attract wealthy donors, aiming to sway them away from supporting former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Initially supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the Republican nomination, Bigelow shifted his allegiance, in part due to DeSantis's stringent anti-abortion stance.
However, despite Trump's political ascendancy, his legal expenditures continue to mount rapidly. Recent developments include an $83 million defamation verdict against him and the impending ruling on a request by the New York Attorney General for $370 million in penalties for his financial misrepresentations.
Pro-Trump groups reportedly spent approximately $50 million on legal fees and investigation-related expenses in 2023, although Reuters could not immediately verify this figure.
When queried about the entity to which he transferred the $1 million, Bigelow mentioned that Trump's Save America PAC has been instrumental in financing his legal fees. Regarding potential future contributions to support Trump's legal defense, Bigelow refrained from commenting.
Highlighting his recent interaction with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Bigelow expressed confidence in Trump's crisis management capabilities, particularly in addressing turmoil in the Middle East, drawing from his tenure as president from 2017 to 2021.
