Election-Defense Solicitations and Recurring Donations

2020-11-04

Election-Defense Solicitations and Recurring Donations

contradicted

Promised: 2020-11-04Trump campaign solicitations told donors their money would support an Official Election Defense Fund.Open cited record · 1 source
The record: 2020-11-11The committee found that no election-defense fund existed as described and that allocation language routed much of the money to Save America and other political committees.Open cited record · 1 source2021-04-03An analysis of FEC records reported $122.7 million in Trump campaign refunds during 2020 after recurring-payment complaints.Open cited record · 2 sources
Who gained: 2021-01-06The House committee reported that the campaign and Republican allies raised approximately $250 million after the election, with allocations to Save America and other political committees.Open cited record
Trump political donors
Save America
Trump political donors
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
Save America
Republican National Committee
Who paid: Trump political donors
Trump political donors
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
Audit finding: contradicted
The destination and interface design contradicted the solicitations' prominent message; the post-election $250 million and full-year $122.7 million refund totals overlap in time and measure different things, so they are never added.
Causal strength: source attributed

Evidence chronology

promise2020-11-04documented
Trump campaign solicitations told donors their money would support an Official Election Defense Fund.
- U.S. House of Representatives: Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol2022-12-22 · Appendix 3, pages 798-806, solicitation examples
Open underlying ledger entry
action2020-11-11documented
The committee found that no election-defense fund existed as described and that allocation language routed much of the money to Save America and other political committees.
- U.S. House of Representatives: Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol2022-12-22 · Appendix 3, pages 799-803, fund structure and transfers
Open underlying ledger entry
beneficiary2021-01-06documented
The House committee reported that the campaign and Republican allies raised approximately $250 million after the election, with allocations to Save America and other political committees.
- U.S. House of Representatives: Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol2022-12-22 · Appendix 3, post-election receipts and committee allocations
- U.S. House of Representatives: Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol2022-12-22 · Appendix 3, pages 798-806, solicitation examples
Open underlying ledger entry
outcome2021-04-03reported
An analysis of FEC records reported $122.7 million in Trump campaign refunds during 2020 after recurring-payment complaints.
- Forbes: Trump Campaign Reportedly Forced To Refund More Than $122 Million To Donors2021-04-03 · Refund total, rate and recurring-box paragraphs
- Forbes: Trump Campaign Reportedly Forced To Refund More Than $122 Million To Donors2021-04-03 · Campaign response near end
Open underlying ledger entry
administration response2021-04-03reported
The campaign said its dispute rate was below one percent and that the fundraising operation was lawful and highly successful.
- Forbes: Trump Campaign Reportedly Forced To Refund More Than $122 Million To Donors2021-04-03 · Campaign response near end
Open underlying ledger entry

Responses, contrary evidence, and limitations

administration response
The campaign said its dispute rate was below one percent and that the fundraising operation was lawful and highly successful.