Trump’s election ‘defence fund’ will also pay off campaign debts, email fine print reveals

President trying to stop the counting of votes in several states

Money raised by Donald Trump for “election defence funds” would also be used to pay off the president’s general campaign debts, it has been revealed.

In recent days, as the president has launched legal challenges to stop votes being counted in places such as Georgia and Pennsylvania, supporters have been bombarded with emails and text messages urging them to contribute to pay for the cost of lawyers.

The emails have been sent since Wednesday by the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.

“We must PROTECT the Election!” said one campaign text sent on Friday and signed by the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. “My father’s calling on YOU to help bolster our critical Election Defense Fund.”

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Yet the Wall Street Journal reported that if an individual clicks on the link they are confronted by a disclaimer say that a full 50 per cent of the any contribution could go to paying down the campaign’s debt. 

The other half would  go to pay for the lawyers.

The Journal said that other messages from the campaign in recent days, with the president desperately trying to hold off the seemingly unstoppable surge of Joe Biden have asked for money help to “protect the integrity of this election”.

Yet those lead to a donation page for Mr Trump’s “Make America Great Again” committee. 

Further scrutiny of those pitches makes clear 60 per cent will to to the RNC and 40 per cent to pay of the campaign’s debts.

Mr Biden’s campaign has also being raising money as the stalemate ensues. None of those pitches mention paying off debts.

Mr Trump’s campaign has yet to comment on the report.