Elections in the United States: Donated $ 2.5 million to Donald Trump’s legal fund. Now he wants his money back

A man who donated $ 2.5 million to the Texas “True the Vote” campaign, which aimed to prove voter fraud, wants his money and is demanding a refund.

Fred Eshelman, 71, says he doesn’t know what his millions were spent on after donating to the campaign.

The pro-Trump donor says he hoped the money would go to show that Donald Trump had his victory stolen due to election fraud.

But now Eshelman has filed a lawsuit in Texas alleging that he does not know where his money was spent.

He said that, prior to the donation, he spoke with one of the campaign leaders, Catherine Engelbrecht, who told him that the goal of “Truly the vote” was “to ensure that the 2020 election results reflect a vote cast by a eligible voter and therefore protect the right to vote and the integrity of the election. “

Engelbrecht reportedly told the donor that the plan included collecting whistleblower testimonies and “boosting Republican legislative support,” among other things.

In his lawsuit, the disgruntled donor says she told him it would all cost $ 7.95 million, even though she had a budget of just $ 750,000.

Eshelman says he donated $ 2 million on Nov. 5 “on the condition that the money is used” to further the cause. He donated another $ 500,000 on November 13, after Engelbrecht told him that legal expenses meant they needed additional funds.

He says he has repeatedly asked for information on how his money is being spent, but has received only “vague answers, clichés and empty promises.”

“In response to requests for specific and related data on potential whistleblowers and how their allegations fit into a general narrative, Engelbrecht would simply respond with vague comments such as: ‘We are investigating’ or ‘They are solid,'” the suit alleges.

“Ms. Engelbrecht also routinely ignored repeated requests for written memoranda and reports to summarize the defendant’s efforts to identify and obtain information from complaining witnesses.”

Eshelman says Engelbrecht voluntarily dismissed four lawsuits filed in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan on Nov. 16.

He says she made that decision “in concert” with Trump’s campaign attorney.

He says they “couldn’t execute” what he had given them money to do.

Eshelman, a North Carolina venture capitalist, is now suing True the Vote for breach of contract and conversion.