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Just this morning, we published details we uncovered about witnesses – people who have or are likely to testify in the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump – receiving significant financial benefits at critical moments in the legal proceedings against him. In all, we found nine witnesses in the criminal cases against Trump who received significant financial benefits, including large raises from his campaign, severance packages, new jobs, and a grant of shares or cash from Trump’s media company. One aide who was given a plum position on the board of Truth Social, for example, got the seat after he was subpoenaed but before he testified.

Significant changes to a staffer’s work situation, such as bonuses, pay raises, firings or promotions, can be evidence of a crime if they come outside the normal course of business. To prove witness tampering, prosecutors would need to show that perks or punishments were intended to influence testimony. But even if these financial benefits were not intended to influence witnesses, they could prove troublesome for Trump in any future trials. Prosecutors could point to the benefits to undermine the credibility of those aides on the witness stand.

In response to questions from ProPublica, a Trump campaign official said that any raises or other benefits provided to witnesses were the result of their taking on more work. The official added that Trump himself isn’t involved in determining how much campaign staffers are paid.

Trump’s attorney, David Warrington, sent ProPublica a cease-and-desist letter demanding that our article not be published. The letter warned that if we “continue [our] reckless campaign of defamation, President Trump will evaluate all legal remedies.”

We have the time and the ability to look into the behavior of powerful people and institutions because we’re reader-supported. Tens of thousands of readers donate to ProPublica each year to ensure that we continue to have the freedom and resources we need to keep a watchful eye on important matters that are in the public interest. 

Join us today with your donation of any amount. Your gift will ensure we can keep digging into the actions of the powerful, no matter how difficult or time-consuming they make it. Together, we’re making a difference, and I’d be grateful if you joined us too. 

Thank you,

Robin Sparkman
President, ProPublica

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