Donald Trump’s presidential bid for the US 2024 election is “nothing more” than a way for the former president to raise money, which he may use to pay off the legal costs of his business, Trump Organization, faces, a politics expert has claimed to Express .co.uk.
Irina Tsukerman, political analyst and president of Scarab Rising, told Express.co.uk: “Trump’s campaign seems to be nothing more than a way to try to protect the former president from legal problems and to raise funding.”
She said, in the event of the campaign’s failure, the money will revert under the control of Trump, which he can use to “offset legal costs resulting from the various lawsuits, scandals, and investigations” he faces.
The former president is facing legal pressure on multiple fronts as his business is put on trial for tax fraud.
The Trump Organization operates hotels, golf courses, and other real estates around the world.
Trump also faces other legal headaches including a federal criminal investigation into the removal of government documents from the White House when he leaves office in 2021.
In December, a Manhattan jury found two Trump Organization companies guilty on multiple charges of criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records connected to a 15-year scheme to defraud tax authorities by failing to report and pay taxes on compensation for top executives.
Trump wasn’t charged but was mentioned repeatedly throughout the trial about his connection to the benefits handed out to certain executives such as company-funded apartments and car leases.
The company was fined $1.6 million (£1.3 million) last month. A judge could only impose a fine on the Trump Organization after its conviction last month for 17 tax crimes, including conspiracy and falsifying business records.
According to financial statements analyzed by Forbes magazine, Trump’s finances have taken a significant hit since 2016 and as of last month, the review revealed that he had less than $93 million in the bank.
But much of his wealth is tied up in real estate, golf courses and other ventures.
Mathew Kerbis, a lawyer from Illinois, previously told Express.co.uk that Trump’s 2024 presidential announcement is a “well-timed, strategic move”.
He said: “As an attorney, looking from the outside, I think he got legal counsel to run for office because it would prevent him from being criminally indicted.
“I think that’s why he did it as early as he did because he got word through the Trump Organization’s attorneys that this result was probably going to happen so he announced his candidacy for president to avoid criminal liability.
“I don’t know if he actually wants to be president again, but whether or not he does, this is the best move he could have made to at least delay his potential criminal liability”.
Ms Tsukerman added: “While Trump’s fundraising efforts have been successful (such as the buyout of the NFTs) they are limited to his increasingly narrowing base
