Former President Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, is openly criticizing her uncle following reports that a legal defense fund set up to aid him with his mounting legal fees has not actually been used for its stated purpose. According to a recent expose by Raw Story, the fund, which collected almost $1.6 million in over six months of 2023, spent a minimal amount on legal bills, with the largest expense being a lavish party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.
The fund, initiated by long-time Trump advisor Michael Glassner, was reportedly established to support Donald Trump amidst his numerous legal battles. However, The Daily Beast highlighted that of the fund’s expenditures, which totaled less than $30,000, none were allocated to legal services. Instead, $18,136 was spent on hosting an event at Mar-a-Lago, raising questions about the fund’s management and integrity.
Mary Trump, a psychologist and vocal critic of her uncle, discussed these findings on her Substack with attorney Joe Gallina, who pointed out several “red flags” in the fund’s financial activities. “The stated purpose of the fund is to help Donald with his enormous legal fees. However, it has spent ZERO dollars on legal fees. Instead, the fund’s largest expense was $18,136 for a party at Mar-a-Lago—while the rest of the money is NOT being used for its intended purpose,” Mary wrote.
Gallina emphasized the breach of trust involved, noting, “Non-profits like the Patriot Legal Defense Fund have a fiduciary duty to their donors to use their resources for their stated purpose. This is a fundamental principle of non-profit law. If a non-profit misuses funds, it is FRAUD.”
The controversy extends beyond just the misuse of funds. The fund’s largest single donation came from the Caryn L. Hildenbrand Living Trust, linked to Caryn and Michael Borland, known supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory. This connection adds another layer of complexity to the fund’s optics, especially since the Trump campaign had previously distanced itself from an event involving the Borlands due to their QAnon affiliations.
Mary Trump also reflected on past controversies surrounding Trump-related fundraising efforts, drawing parallels to the BUILD THE WALL campaign, which led to prison sentences for its founders, except for Steve Bannon who was pardoned by Donald Trump. Bannon, however, faces unrelated state charges in New York, which are beyond the reach of a presidential pardon. Mary Trump underscores the potential legal ramifications of the fund’s mismanagement, hinting at a pattern of behavior that has previously led to significant legal consequences for those involved.