President Joe Biden’s criticism of former President Donald Trump for using campaign funds to cover his legal expenses contrasts with reports suggesting that the Democratic National Committee has also paid for some of Biden’s legal fees. According to Axios, the DNC’s financial filings revealed that the organization paid more than $1.5 million to lawyers or firms representing Biden in the special counsel investigation into his classified documents case. Although Special Counsel Robert Hur ultimately did not pursue charges against Biden, the DNC covered some of his legal costs.
From July 2023 to February 2024, the DNC paid $1.05 million to Bob Bauer PLLC, the professional limited liability company of Biden’s lead attorney, Bob Bauer. Additionally, the DNC increased its monthly payments to law firm Hemenway & Barnes from $15,000 to $100,000 starting last July. The firm employs Jennifer Miller, who was identified in Hur’s final report as one of Biden’s attorneys.
While the DNC declined to specify how much it spent on legal work related to Hur’s investigation, DNC spokesperson Alex Floyd stated that the DNC does not use grassroots donors’ money on legal bills, contrasting that with Trump’s solicitation of legal fees from his supporters. Nonetheless, Biden’s situation does bear some similarities to Trump’s, as Biden’s legal expenses were partially covered by the DNC, just as Trump’s legal fees were covered by his campaign and the Republican National Committee.
The report highlights Trump’s significant spending on legal fees, estimated at over $100 million, as he faces numerous legal challenges, including criminal and civil investigations into his actions on January 6, his handling of classified documents, and more. Trump’s solicitation of funds for legal fees continues, despite some denials from RNC officials regarding their support for Trump’s legal costs.
From July 2023 to February 2024, the DNC paid $1.05 million to Bob Bauer PLLC — the professional limited liability company for Biden’s lead attorney, Bob Bauer.
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Starting last July, the DNC increased its monthly payments to law firm Hemenway & Barnes from $15,000 to $100,000.
Special counsel Hur’s final report, released in February, identified Jennifer Miller — who works at Hemenway & Barnes — as one of Biden’s attorneys.
It’s unclear how much of the increased payments were for Miller and her work on Biden’s case, and the expanded role the firm was taking in DNC work.
The DNC declined to say exactly how much money it spent on legal work related to Hur’s probe.
