Federal Judge Halts Trump Fund Over Constitutional Concerns
- A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump-aligned "Save America" fund from distributing millions, citing potential violations of donation laws and constitutional restrictions on political fundraising.
- The ruling stems from a lawsuit alleging the fund misused contributions meant for campaign activities to cover personal legal fees for former President Trump and his allies, with over $50 million already traced to such expenses.
- Judge Amina Hassan ruled the fund's structure "raises serious questions about accountability," ordering a halt until a hearing in mid-November to determine if the operation violates the First Amendment's protections for unlimited political spending.
- Legal experts say this pause could impact upcoming GOP primaries, as the fund was a key source for attack ads and voter outreach; Trump's team has vowed an immediate appeal, calling it "a partisan attack on free speech."
- This move adds pressure to ongoing investigations by the FEC and DOJ into the fund's practices, with potential fines or dissolution if the court finds evidence of fraud or illegal coordination with candidates.