The Republican National Committee raised $15.9 million in April, according to new campaign finance disclosures, as the committee prepared for President Donald Trump’s reelection — a sum that is more than double the $6.6 million raised by the Democratic National Committee during the same time period.
The RNC ended the month with $34.7 million cash on hand, while the DNC ended the month with $7.6 million cash on hand.
But the RNC raised big money from two donors who are embroiled in recent controversies. Financier John Childs — who has been accused of being involved in a Florida prostitution ring — gave the committee $100,000. Childs also donated to the RNC in February shortly before news of his alleged involvement in the prostitution ring broke. He has denied the allegations.
And casino mogul Steve Wynn — who was accused of sexually assaulting employees at his casinos — donated $248,500 the RNC. Investigations into Wynn have concluded and Wynn denies all wrongdoing, and “at this point, there is no reason for refusing his support,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told POLITICO last week. The RNC did not respond to a request for comment on Childs.
Other big-ticket donors to the RNC in April included GOP megadonors Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, who combined gave the committee $710,000.
The DNC‘s big donors included Silicon Valley philanthropist Karla Jurvetson, who gave the committee $100,000; financier Bernard Schwartz, who also gave the committee $100,000; and Zumiez chairman Thomas Campion, who gave the committee $75,000.
The RNC spent $14.3 million overall and ended the month with $34.7 million cash on hand. The RNC spent $2.1 million on legal bills in April, making legal fees one of the committee’s biggest expenses. Of the $2.1 million, the committee paid $2 million to the law firm Jones Day, the Trump campaign’s go-to law firm.
The RNC also spent heavily on ramping up its texting capabilities in April: The committee spent $384,000 on “list acquisition ” — $294,000 of which was paid to two companies specializing in peer-to-peer texting and text message marketing, Opn Sesame and Tatango.
Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine