Launches 'Election Defense Fund' fundraising - would raise $255M from donors claiming to fight fraud

Beginning election night and continuing through January, Trump sent supporters up to 25 emails per day requesting money to fight the 'stolen election.' The fine print revealed most donations went to Save America PAC and RNC debt, not litigation. The Jan 6 Committee found Trump raised $255.4 million from donors who believed they were funding legal battles. Per FEC filings, the 'Official Election Defense Fund' that Trump touted in fundraising emails didn't actually exist - it was a marketing fiction. The money funded his post-presidency operation while small donors contributed believing they were supporting election litigation.

"The Left will try to STEAL this election! ... I'm asking you to make an EMERGENCY contribution to my Official Election Defense Fund." — Fundraising email sent starting Nov 4, 2020, part of 25+ emails per day blitz