Friday, a New York judge ordered Donald Trump to pay an approximately $350 million fine in a civil fraud trial.

BACKGROUND:

BREAKING: Judge Orders Trump to Pay Over $350 Million, Bars From NY Business in Civil Fraud Case

NEW: Trump Makes Fiery Response to Judge's Decision in NY Civil Fraud Case

This fine has caused Trump's political opponents to raise the alarm about Trump using RNC funds to pay his fine.

Speaking to CNN's Kaitlan Collins, presidential hopeful and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley expressed concern that Trump would turn to the RNC to pay the fine.

Nikki Haley says she doesn't want the RNC to become Trump's legal defense fund: "I don't want the RNC to become his piggy bank for his personal court cases...Now we see him trying to get control of the RNC, so he can continue not to have to pay his own legal fees.” pic.twitter.com/fTyWWGEt79

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 17, 2024

Former Arkansas governor and presidential primary contender (for an hour or two) Asa Hutchinson had the same concerns.

No one should be leader of RNC unless they pledge not to use its limited resources to pay legal fees and judgements of Donald Trump.

They were not alone in expressing some anxiety over Trump controlling the RNC.

Henry Barbour, a Mississippi committeeman, said he believed “most RNC members will go along” with Trump’s vision for the committee, “unless there is a play to use RNC funds for President Trump’s legal bills.”

Oscar Brock, another committee member who has been critical of Trump, said the budget that the RNC passed two weeks ago during a meeting in Las Vegas did not allocate any money to cover Trump’s legal fees. But he acknowledged the possibility of the committee eventually amending its financial plan to do so, were Trump to ask — a measure Brock, the Tennessee committeeman and a member of the RNC budget committee, said he would not support.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for the committee to pay the legal bills for things done outside the work of the committee,” Brock said.

Politico notes, "The RNC spent nearly $2 million on two legal firms working on Trump cases in 2021 and 2022 before stopping once Trump jumped into the presidential campaign."

Adding to the lack of trust is the recent shakeup in the RNC. Ronna McDaniel was forced out by Trump after a cascade of reports, mainly by RedState's Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar, documenting the obscene use of RNC donor funds to support a luxurious lifestyle for some RNC members.

BACKGROUND:

RNC Shut Down 75 Percent of Its Hispanic Outreach Centers, Claims Money Isn't the Issue

EXCLUSIVE: RNC Spent $1.5 Million on Floral Arrangements, Limos, Management/Media Consultants

NEW: Trump's 2+ Hour Mar-a-Lago Meeting With Ronna McDaniel About the Future of the RNC

BREAKING: Ronna McDaniel's Chief of Staff Is Heading for the Exit

UPDATED: After RedState's Reporting Rocked RNC Winter Meeting, Ronna McDaniel Is Stepping Down

Trump Hints RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel Will Soon Be Looking for a New Place to Fail

Looks Like Ronna McDaniel Is Out After All: Trump Releases Endorsements of New RNC Slate

There are fears that by stocking the RNC leadership with handpicked Trump loyalists the RNC will continue to bleed cash, except on Trump's legal bills instead of luxury items.

Several senior Republican officials have expressed concern that Trump’s expected takeover of the RNC will ultimately pave the way for the committee to once again cover his legal bills.

This past week, Trump endorsed Michael Whatley, the head of the North Carolina state GOP, to be the RNC’s next chair. He also endorsed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as co-chair and Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to his campaign, to serve as the RNC’s chief operating officer.

There is ample room to fear that the RNC will end up using donor money to cover the cost of Trump's legal defense in the same way that his Save America PAC has done little but pay his lawyers.

BACKGROUND: 

Trump’s Campaign Is Drowning in Legal Fees: Can His Candidacy Survive?

FEC Reports Confirm Legal Expenses Are Crushing Trump's Massive Fundraising Operation

REPORT: Legal Fees Dominate Spending by Trump's PAC.

Former President Trump Should Pay His Own Legal Bills and Use Campaign Donations to Fight Democrats

Trump's Super PAC Is Short on Cash, Burning $50 Million on His Legal Fees 

The RNC is already in a lot of trouble in the fundraising department. One whiff of the money being diverted to Trump's legal defense will make more potential contributors close their wallets.