Trump email deluge demanding cash for ‘slush fund’
Donald Trump’s new political fund is bombarding people with hundreds of emails demanding cash for what amounts to a political “slush fund”.
Donald Trump’s campaign is bombarding people with up to 15 emails daily urgently demanding money to fight Joe Biden’s victory in the courts.
Subscribers to Trump’s mailing list received 175 emails over 11 days from his “Election Defence Fund” following the Republican electoral loss, some with veiled threats.
And the newly branded Save America campaign is asking for donations to pay for the Georgia recount, which is actually funded by Georgia taxpayers.
Some emails contain what amounts to emotional blackmail, questioning the patriotism of Trump supporters who have not yet donated.
One of the emails addressed to “Friend” said: “This is your FINAL NOTICE. So far you’ve ignored our emails asking you to join us in DEFENDING THE ELECTION.
“You’ve ignored Team Trump, Eric, Lara, Don, the Vice President AND you’ve even ignore the President of the United States.
“TENS OF THOUSANDS of Patriots have stepped up for the VERY FIRST TIME in the last 48 hours – why haven’t you?
“The integrity of our election is being COMPROMISED, and its going to take EVERY Patriot stepping up.”
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The fine print of Save America fundraising campaign suggests that less than half the funds raised would go to legally contesting electoral results.
The contribution “formula” dictates 60 per cent goes to the Donald J Trump campaign “for the retirement of general election debt”.
The Twitter site @TrumpEmail has documented the torrent of campaign fund requests, as well as responses to Trump’s increasingly desperate perpetuation of the “I won” myth.
One retweet by @TrumpEmail of a campaign email exhorting subscribers to “Contribute Now” sources (far right English language Chinese media newspaper) The Epoch Times claiming Trump as the victor over Biden.
One email includes angry rants from Donald Trump Jnr, claiming “The Left will try to STEAL this Election!”
The tone is so aggressive in some of the emails, that people have questioned whether they were actually from Trump’s campaign.
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The Trump bait-and-switch con continues. Says he wants your money for the Georgia recount. Spoiler: GA taxpayers are paying for the recount. Solicitation fine print makes clear first $5,000 any donor gives goes to Trump’s new slush fund Save America PAC, NOT to his recount fund. pic.twitter.com/mXtH6NjShE
— Paul Seamus Ryan (@ThePaulSRyan) November 15, 2020
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It appears they are and have been flooding inboxes around the world, raising questions about the legitimacy of the fund requests.
Under US federal law “campaigns may not solicit or accept contributions … directly or indirectly by or from foreign nationals in connection with any election – federal, state or local”
The deluge of emails, into inboxes of people in Australia and other countries have been described as a “slush fund”.
And as the small print reveals, a donation for example of $5000, will deposit $2800 of that into Trump’s new Save America, or Political Action Committee (PAC) with unspecified guidelines on how it will be spent.
Washington policy and litigation lawyer Paul Seamus Ryan described the emails in a tweet on Sunday as the “Trump bait-and-switch con” and said it was continuing in Georgia.
“Says he wants your money for the Georgia recount. Spoiler: GA taxpayers are paying for the recount,” Mr Ryan said.
“Solicitation fine print makes clear first $5000 any donor gives goes to Trump’s new slush fund Save America PAC, NOT to his recount fund.”
Oh God they're citing the epoch times https://t.co/kIhVH0QbLX pic.twitter.com/qGD6zTnYy8
— Brett Banditelli is tired - it ain't over yet (@banditelli) November 15, 2020
One of the fundraising emails, with the headline “Breaking! Democrats Plan to Steal The Election!” in capital letters and in red, exhorts the recipient, “Friend, President Trump needs your help.
“Anytime the Radical Left came after him YOU have been there to defend him.
“We’re emailing you now to ask for you to step up ONE MORE TIME … and DEFEND the election and increase your impact by 1000 per cent.
“Please contribute $5 RIGHT NOW to DEFEND the integrity of our Election …”
Recipients can then click on a red box with a green “ACTIVATED” above the words “DEADLINE: IMMEDIATELY” which claims a $5 contribution will be equal to $55, and a $20 contribution equal to $220.
Another email says, presumably for the subscriber who has clicked on the donate button, “CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE THE TRUMP PATRIOT OF THE WEEK!”
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This may include funding a future Trump – fill in the first name – campaign for the 2024 US election.
The rhetoric in the emails is still concentrated on the “we were robbed” theme and the President’s refusal to concede defeat.
Another email, also addressed to “Friend” says: “President Trump was right. Mail-in ballots have led to total and complete CHAOS. They are finding Biden votes all over the place.”
It continued: “So bad for our Country and for the MILLIONS of voters who want to know the results.
“We must DEFEND the integrity of the election.”
But the subtle switch from Make America Great Againto Save America could signify a concession in the Trump camp that it’s time to lick the wounds of defeat and prepare the revenge comeback.
Mr Trump has pursued legal battles in several states questioning the legitimacy of the election, and in several cases, judges have issued withering smackdowns to his lawyers.
The President’s legal team has not won a single case which has alleged voter fraud and the majority of the nearly 20 lawsuits have either been withdrawn or denounced by the judge.
One judge challenging a Trump case described the fraud claims as “hearsay within hearsay”.
On Sunday, a few thousand Trump supporters took to the streets of Washington D.C. for the “million MAGA” march.
Trump himself made a drive-past, en route to the golf course, in an armoured motorcade, predictably raising wild cheers from crowds bearing placards saying “Best Prez Ever”.
The march ended badly in a clash with leftist groups.
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