Trump says he has $100M in legal fees amid cascade of court battles

Former President Trump said in Iowa that he has more than $100 million in legal fees as he faces a cascade of court battles.

In a speech to supporters in Sioux City, Iowa, Trump claimed he lost billions of dollars going into politics and lamented the cost of his legal fees. 

Trump claimed he turned down multiple opportunities to make money during his presidency because, he said, it would be a conflict of interest, and “I have too much respect for the office.”

“It’s cost me a couple of billion dollars to be a politician. Everyone else makes, they make [money]. I said, ‘No, we can’t do that.’ I could have made a fortune. The countries are coming [and saying,] ‘We’d like to build a job and we’d like to have you involved.’ Billions. I say, I tell my kids, ‘Sorry, kids, we can’t do it. I’m president.’ I respected the office,” Trump said.

“And of course, then they made it much worse with legal fees. I have $100 million worth of legal fees,” Trump said. “And they’re doing good. At least I have good lawyers, because you can spend $100 million and have lousy lawyers too. It happens.”

Trump’s comments come as he faces several civil and criminal cases. The cases have flooded his calendar as Trump presses on in his campaign for president. 

The four criminal cases against Trump include two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, who charged Trump with 37 felony counts related to his retention of classified documents and refusal to hand them over. The second case charges Trump with four felonies stemming from his efforts to stay in power after the 2020 election. 

Trump was also charged in two state criminal cases, including one in Georgia, where Trump faces 13 charges in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act case related to his efforts to overturn the election results in that state. 

In New York, Trump faces 34 felony counts related to his alleged falsifying of business records in connection to a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. 

This past week, Trump has voluntarily appeared in court for a separate case in New York related to allegedly fraudulent business practices.