★ Private Action
Trump PAC paid Otis Law $2M before Sauer became Solicitor General
Donations In, Favors OutHis Lawyers, Now at Justice
Filed January 2025$2,021,192
★ The Brief
What happened
Between November 2023 and Trump's second inauguration, his Save America leadership PAC made 14 payments totaling $2,021,192 to the James Otis Law Group, whose founder, John Sauer, argued Trump's presidential-immunity case before the Supreme Court in 2024.
Who enabled it
Deal or steal?
After the payments, two of the firm's lawyers took senior government posts: founder John Sauer became U.S. Solicitor General, the government's top Supreme Court advocate, and Will Scharf became White House Staff Secretary.
★ Cast your vote
Between November 2, 2023 and the day before Trump's second inauguration, Save America PAC made 14 disbursements to the James Otis Law Group totaling $2,021,192, per Federal Election Commission Schedule B records. D. John Sauer founded the firm in 2015; Will Scharf joined as Of Counsel in August 2023. Sauer argued Trump v. United States -- the presidential-immunity case -- before the Supreme Court in April 2024. Sauer was nominated as U.S. Solicitor General in November 2024 and confirmed in April 2025; Scharf became White House Staff Secretary at the start of the second Trump administration. Save America has continued to pay the firm in 2025 and 2026, but those post-inauguration payments are not included in this total.
Further reading
- ★ Private ActionJanuary 2025Trump committees paid Dhillon Law $13.9M before founders joined admin
- ★ Private ActionJanuary 2025Trump PAC paid Blanche Law $9.3M before Blanche became Deputy AG
- ★ Private ActionJanuary 2025Trump PACs paid Habba's firm $8.9M before Habba joined White House
- ★ Private ActionJuly 2026FIFA reverses a US player's World Cup ban after Trump's call
- ★ Private ActionJune 2026Trump owns private-prison stocks his deportation drive is enriching
- ★ Government ActionMay 2026Trump's DOJ forever-bars IRS claims against Trump and family