MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JUNE 06: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at a town-hall-style event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College on June 06, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Christie, who filed paperwork earlier in the day that he would seek the 2024 Republican nomination, announced his candidacy at the event. Christie took aim at early frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, declaring that Trump had not delivered on a number of promises and saying his actions leading up to the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol had crossed a line. It is Christie's second run for president. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie condemned opponent Donald Trump for diverting campaign money towards a fund used for paying Trump’s mounting legal fees.
Trump’s political action committee, Save America, has been paying bills related to investigations into the former president since last year. It has spent at least $3 million paying for Trump’s lawyers and is even paying for the lawyers of some of the witnesses testifying in favor of Trump as he faces 37 counts for willful retention of national security information.
When supporters make online donations to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, only 90% of their funding goes toward his re-election efforts; 10% is diverted to Save America.
In an interview with Politico, Christie called the former president out for being the “cheapest S.O.B.” he has ever met.
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While he expressed disappointment in Trump’s actions, Christie did not seem surprised.
“This is a billionaire who refused to pay his lawyers with his own personal money, and instead, men and women out there who believe in him and wanted him to be elected president are donating money to try to forward his candidacy… and he’s diverting that money to pay his legal fees,” said Christie.
Since announcing his bid for the 2024 presidential election, Christie has established himself as one of Trump’s most vocal Republican critics. To appeal to moderate voters and earn support from Democrats, Christie has consistently harped on Trump’s character and reminded people of his current legal troubles.
Despite this, Christie has found little success in the polls thus far, though his support has shown more growth than others in the race. A New Hampshire Journal poll taken this month showed only 9% of support for Christie, a stark difference from the 47% supporting Trump and 13% supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida).
Christie urged Trump to stop diverting his campaign money to his PAC.
“He should take a pledge today to instruct his campaign to no longer spend any public money on his legal fees. He is the richest candidate in this race, yet he is using public money to pay his legal fees. He should be ashamed of himself.”
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