COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — At least one member of the Republican National Committee is working to slow down. Attempted takeover by Donald Trump He urges the committee to remain neutral and avoid taking up Trump's legal bills until he is officially nominated as the presidential candidate.
Two draft resolutions are being circulated by National Commissioner Henry Barber of Mississippi for consideration at the RNC's March meeting in Houston. Barbour said there was growing support for the resolution among RNC members, but the necessary co-sponsors were not yet available, and any resolution would ultimately not be binding.
The effort comes after President Trump last week publicly called for replacing the RNC's current leadership and installing one of his senior campaign advisers and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, in the top post. Ta.lara trump suggested earlier in the week Republican voters will support the commission. pay father-in-law's legal fees He faces numerous criminal and civil charges.
Chris Lacivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser who the former president wants to make the party's chief operating officer, told reporters Friday night that the RNC has no intention of paying Trump's legal costs. .
One of Mr. Barbour's resolutions would require the RNC and its leadership to remain neutral throughout the presidential primary and to provide additional staff from active campaigns until a candidate has garnered the necessary delegates to become a candidate. The company plans to not adopt
The second resolution says the group will not pay legal fees for candidates for federal and state office and will instead focus its spending on efforts directly related to the 2024 election.
“The RNC has one job, and that's to win elections,” Barbour said. “I believe RNC funds should be used only for winning elections and political expenses, not legal fees.”
The RNC was paying some of the legal fees for the New York case, which began during Trump's presidency. The Washington Post reportedHowever, current chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in November 2022 that the RNC would stop paying once Trump becomes a candidate again and begins running for president in 2024.
Trump is spend millions on lawyers He has been indicted on four civil and criminal charges, and his legal debt has also reached its highest level. 500 million dollars.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump's last viable challenger in the Republican primary and who will face him in her home state on Saturday, said her family and campaign manager should not lead the RNC. He said no.
“I want people at the RNC to know that they have a responsibility to put people in the RNC who are going to have the best interests of the entire Republican Party, not just one person,” Haley said. He said.
The resolution was first reported by the Dispatch on Saturday.
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Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in Columbia, South Carolina, and Meg Kinard in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, contributed to this report.