(CNN)Former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have refunded nearly $13 million to donors in the first half of the year, after deploying fundraising tactics in the 2020 election that duped donors into giving more money than they intended or believed they were, The New York Times reported.
What's more, the Times reported Saturday that more than $135 million has been refunded to donors by Trump's reelection campaign, the Republican National Committee and their shared accounts in the 2020 cycle through June 2021.
A Times investigation earlier this year found that Trump's political operation last year automatically enrolled their online donors into recurring donations every week until Election Day.
Donors would have to manually uncheck a box on digital donation forms if they wished to opt out of the weekly donation, the Times reported. A second pre-selected box withdrew another donation. The Trump campaign made the disclaimer "increasingly opaque" by including it amongst bold and capitalized text, according to the newspaper.
The tactic led to demands for refunds from supporters and a slew of credit card fraud complaints, the Times reported.
Read More
Citing newly released records from the Federal Election Commission, the Times reported that of the $12.8 million in refunds issued this year, $8.1 million came from Trump and the RNC's shared account, $2.2 million from Trump's reelection committee, and $2.5 million from the RNC.
The Times previously reported that the Trump's political operation and RNC refunded $122 million, or more than 10% of what it raised in 2020 through WinRed, which processes online donations for Republicans.
In comparison, President Joe Biden's committees refunded more than 2% of what they raised online last year through the Democratic donation-processing site, ActBlue, the Times reported.
According to the Times, Republicans using WinRed continue to deploy the prechecked box for online donations, including Trump's political action committee Save America, while Democrats have moved to stop using the tactic.
The Trump campaign has previously defended its online tactics. Jason Miller, a spokesman for the campaign, had told the Times that less than 1% of transactions -- about 200,000 transactions -- were subjected to credit card disputes last year.
Miller did not respond to the Times about the refunds issued this year.
Four Democratic state attorneys general of New York, Connecticut, Maryland and Minnesota are examining the fundraising practices of WinRed and ActBlue.
WinRed sued last month in Minnesota to stop the investigations, arguing that its activities are governed by federal law, not any state consumer protection laws. It slammed the inquiries as "unlawful, partisan and hypocritical."
CNN's Fredreka Schouten contributed to this report.
Paid Content
China: 3 growth themes and potential not to be overlooked Funds by J.P. Morgan
Diabetics: Here's How To Lower Blood Sugar (It's Genius!) Diabetes Freedom
Plastic Surgeon Reveals The 1 Thing Every Woman Should Be… Skin Care Guru
Doctors Baffled: Simple Tip Relieves Years of Joint Pain and… Health Today
World's top level data center in Japan AT TOKYO
Former Vice President Mike Pence Buys $1.93 Million Mansion in Home State of… Mansion Global
Doctors Baffled: Simple Tip Relieves Years of Joint Pain (Try Tonight) iamhealth.cc
Fox News host mocked officer with fake trophy. See his response CNN International - Videos
CNN tracked down a super-spreader of Covid-19 misinformation. See how he reacted Health
Vaccines are a 'personal decision,' Hillsong Church founder says after congregant refuses shot and dies of Covid-19 U.S.
GOP Senate candidates align with Trump in bashing bipartisan infrastructure bill Politics
U.S. Fentanyl exposure knocks officer off his feet in seconds
Business Bill Gates says he regrets the time spent with Jeffrey Epstein:…
Politics New Jersey gym owner is first US Capitol rioter to plead guilty…
China consumers and their 3Cs: choice, convenience & comfort Sponsored: Funds by J.P. Morgan
查看Central 眼袋手术, 去黑眼圈,去眼袋的搜索结果。 Sponsored: 去眼袋手术 | 搜寻广告
我们正在寻找 1970 年之前出生的人来试戴新的小巧而犟大的助听器。 Sponsored: Hearmore.asia
Central : Online Jobs in the USA May Pay More Than You Think Sponsored: Sponsored Listings
这个新可携式冷气可能是2021年最天才的发明 FlakeAir 菲利克空调
Doctors Baffled: CDB Oil Relieves Years of Joint Pain (Try Tonight) healthandlive.live
The cost of storage units in Hong Kong might surprise you Storage units | Sponsored links
Paid Content
7-Figure Investor Reveals Market-Beating Tactics Beat The Market | Adam Khoo | Piranha Profits World's top level data center in Japan AT TOKYO Former Vice President Mike Pence Buys $1.93 Million Mansion in… Mansion Global Doctors Baffled: Simple Tip Relieves Years of Joint Pain and… Health Today
More from CNN
St. Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters pardoned by… Why Olympians bite their medals and what they do with them 'Women who have bodies like me can be celebrated:' Megan Thee… Mike Lindell got owned in the worst possible way on his…
Recommended by