Melania Trump’s Fashion Designer Was Reportedly Paid $60,000 By Trump PAC

Former President Donald Trump's Save America political action committee (PAC), which claims to be an election defense fund, paid $60,000 to a fashion designer for former First Lady Melania Trump, according to Federal Elections Commission filings.

Four payments were made to Hervé Pierre Braillard allegedly for "strategy consulting," the filings show. It started on April 7 and went on till June 24, reported USA Today. While a $6,000 payment was made in April, three payments of $18,000 each were disbursed from the Trump PAC in May and June this year.

Taylor Budowich, a senior official with Save America, said that Pierre serves as a senior adviser to "Save America, involved in event management and special projects."

According to UPI, the Trump PAC has raised more than $100 million. It was done in part through emails claiming that the money would go to an "Official Election Defense Fund." But that election defense fund never existed, according to investigative counsel for the Jan. 6 committee that is investigating a pro-Trump mob's deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol that happened last year. During the Jan. 6 committee hearings, two former Trump aides testified that an election defense fund never existed and it was just a marketing tactic.

Trump's PAC was founded in November 2020, just days after President Joe Biden's election win. It raises money to fight against baseless claims of election fraud. It also raises money to back the former President's preferred candidates in races. The Federal Elections Commission doesn't allow PACs to spend money on personal items, but Save America is a leadership PAC. It has fewer spending restrictions and has raised $250 million.

Amid Jan. 6 hearings, Save America PAC has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks, reported Business Insider. In June, Representative Zoe Logfren, California Democrat who serves on the Jan. 6 committee, accused the political fundraising operation of "intentionally" misleading donors. It was also in news for asking fans to donate money while announcing Trump’s first wife Ivana Trump's death.

As for Braillard, he is a French-American New York-based designer. He is known for styling Melania's when she was in the White House. Apart from Melania, he has worked with other former First Ladies like Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush as well.