WASHINGTON – A large cache of new evidence made public in the federal election interference case against former President Donald Trump outlines how funds were allocated for his “Stop the Steal” rally held near the White House on January 6, 2021.

This information is part of 1,900 pages of evidence regarding federal charges against Trump for allegedly attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It includes insights into how his supporters spent election night at the White House and Trump’s response to the Capitol riots.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is currently assessing the evidence to ascertain if Trump is shielded from federal prosecution under a Supreme Court decision made in July.

As the Republican nominee for president, Trump has criticized the document release as a tactic that could bias potential jurors and jeopardize witnesses, particularly with the election looming just weeks away.

However, Judge Chutkan has stated that maintaining the confidentiality of these documents could also constitute interference in the electoral process.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, condemned the release of the evidence as a method of election interference and urged for the case to be dismissed entirely, labeling it as a politically motivated pursuit.

Funding documents reveal up to $3 million allocated for Jan. 6 rally and associated activities

The newly disclosed documents indicate that an unidentified organization allocated as much as $3 million for the January 6 rally and related events. This expenditure covered expenses for bringing VIPs and demonstrators to Washington, as well as advertisement purchases aimed at showcasing strength.

Included in the release are various versions of a document marked “Confidential – Not To Be Disclosed,” some of which have been redacted, and these documents seem to have been created for the House Jan. 6 Select Committee, which had already unveiled some related information.

Documents released on Friday revealed that $1 million was designated for Turning Point Action, a grassroots nonprofit organization that was established in 2019 by Charlie Kirk to encourage young conservatives through community activism.

The funds were intended for deploying social media influencers and students from across the nation to participate in the rally, to generate “all video content at the event,” and to advertise “the importance of January 6th for President Trump” to millions nationwide.

Additionally, $500,000 was allocated to a group founded by Donald Trump Jr. called “Save the U.S. Senate,” which aimed to combat purported voter fraud in Georgia and help re-elect Republican Senate candidates Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. This funding was designated to support attendance at a rally with Trump in Georgia on January 4 and to facilitate additional advertisements featuring Trump Jr. urging the Senators to act against the alleged voter fraud on January 6.

According to the budget documents, $400,000 was also set aside for Tea Party Express to develop a centralized website promoting January 5th and 6th events, which included targeted ads, as well as campaigns across TV, radio, and digital platforms to encourage participation in the January 6 rally.

Another $200,000 was earmarked for a person whose name and business were not disclosed, aimed at assisting with organizational tasks. A separate unidentified group was also budgeted for $100,000 to cover their expected costs for hotels, private flights, car services, and security for about 10 to 15 members.

The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) Rule of Law Defense initiative was allocated $200,000 to support their legal efforts against alleged election fraud and legal battles.

There was also a budget of $300,000 for speaker fees and travel expenses for prominent speakers, as well as a busing program to transport rally attendees from within a 180-mile radius.

Witness accounts reveal uncertainty at the White House on election night

Many of the documents that were unsealed include transcripts from depositions taken by the House committee which investigated the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. The testimonies illustrate the confusion present at Trump’s White House during election night regarding the election outcome, as well as Trump’s response to the Capitol riots on January 6.

A guest in the residential area of the White House on election night recounted how about 15 to 20 people gathered in the Green Room to await the results with Trump. One person loudly informed the president that the election had been stolen, while others suggested, “hold on, let’s wait; there’s still time to count, we’ll look at this in the morning.”

Later that day, on January 6, a White House staff member recalled telling Trump at 1:21 p.m. that just after his outdoor speech on the Ellipse, television coverage switched to report on the riots. The staffer noted that Trump was astonished.

“I got the TV ready for him and handed him the remote, and he started watching it,” the staffer said. “I then stepped out briefly to grab him a Diet Coke, and when I returned, that was pretty much the end of it for as he observes the events firsthand.”

Why are the documents being released now?

Trump faces charges accusing him of conspiring to unlawfully alter the results of the 2020 election by pressuring state officials to change voting outcomes, arranging alternate presidential electors in states that supported President Joe Biden, and obstructing Congress during the counting of Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021. He has pleaded not guilty.

Included in the evidence, such as witness testimony, was the recent explanation of the case against Trump submitted by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. This public filing, spanning 165 pages, also contained an appendix of sealed evidence that remains confidential while Judge Chutkan considers whether to make it public.

The ongoing dispute over these documents might be the last chance for disclosures in this case ahead of the November 5 deadline, particularly as any trial is likely several months or years away.

The Supreme Court has determined that Trump can be protected from charges related to his official duties but remains open to prosecution for his personal actions. Trump maintains that he is immune from all charges, whereas Smith argues that Trump’s actions were personal, aimed at retaining his position after his election loss.

Using Trump’s statements against him?

The documents reveal numerous social media posts by Trump questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election. However, Trump’s team has consistently failed to show substantial fraud in court, and numerous audits and recounts have confirmed Biden’s victory.

These posts may provide insight into how Smith intends to leverage Trump’s own words to support his claims of an effort to overturn the election if the case reaches trial.

For example, in a tweet dated November 6, 2020, Trump seemed to advocate for disqualifying certain votes and allowing the Supreme Court to decide the outcome.

“The OBSERVERS were not allowed to do their jobs, so votes accepted during this period should be considered ILLEGAL VOTES,” Trump tweeted. “The U.S. Supreme Court must decide!”

On the day of the Capitol attack, Trump suggested he wanted Mike Pence to reject the results and involve state legislatures.

“Numerous States want to overturn the incorrect and possibly fraudulent numbers certified in a manner not approved by their State Legislatures. Mike can send it back!” Trump tweeted on January 6, 2021, tagging his vice president.

Smith may also aim to utilize Trump’s declaration to “liberate” those convicted of crimes related to January 6 as evidence of Trump’s involvement in a 2020-2021 criminal scheme.

“My first actions as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages who are wrongfully imprisoned!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on March 11 of this year. This statement is part of the documentation.