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The Republican National Committee responded to a cease and desist letter from former President Trump demanding that the RNC and other GOP campaign committees cease using his name and likeness in their fundraising materials of funds.
The RNC told the ex-president’s lawyer that it “has every right to refer to public figures as it engages in grassroots political discourse protected by the First Amendment.” The RNC’s response was first reported by Politico.
RNC attorney Justin Riemer claimed the party would continue to refer to public figures, and he said Mr. Trump had in fact “reaffirmed” with RNC President Ronna McDaniel last weekend that ‘He approves of the RNC’s use of his name to raise funds. The RNC continued to use Mr. Trump’s name in its correspondence, including an email Sunday urging supporters to “DEFEND President Trump’s America first policy.”
Last week, Politico reported that Mr. Trump’s attorneys had sent cease-and-desist letters to the RNC, the Congressional Republican National Committee and the Republican National Senate Committee for – they say – using his name in articles by fundraising and emails. Other “fake PACs” that also used Mr. Trump’s name also received letters.
The cease-and-desist letter to the RNC called on the committee to “immediately cease and refrain from unauthorized use of the name, image and / or likeness of President Donald J. Trump in any fundraising. fund, persuasion and / or speech delivered ”.
The Trump campaign and the joint RNC fundraising committee Trump Victory raised $ 366 million in 2019 and 2020. In his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Mr. Trump encouraged donors to donate to his new PAC, Save America, which will have him competing with other GOP groups for money.
“There is only one way to contribute to our efforts to elect America’s first conservative Republican and in turn make America great again and that is through Save America PAC and DonaldJTrump .com, “Trump said. He repeated the fundraising speech in a statement Monday night and said, “More money for RINOS (Republican in name only). They only hurt the Republican Party and our large voting base – they don’t will never lead to greatness. “
His decision to control the use of his image sets up a competition with the GOP for donations that could result in giving Mr. Trump more power to recast the Republican Party in his image. While in many cases their interests will be aligned, the former president and Republicans could clash in the primaries. The RNC does not take a position in the primaries, and the Senate and House GOP campaign arms are likely to stand alongside all GOP incumbents, although their levels of support may vary.
But Mr Trump has previously signaled that he is seeking revenge and looking for people to challenge Republican lawmakers who voted to impeach him earlier this year. He has already endorsed Max Miller, a former aide running to overthrow Ohio Congressman Anthony Gonzalez, one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump.
“Get rid of them all,” Mr. Trump said during his speech to CPAC, referring to Republicans who supported impeachment.
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