CEASE AND DESIST! Trump Tells Supporters ‘No more money for RINOS’

Former President Donald Trump is trying to squeeze money away from three of the most integral fundraising and electoral organizations in Republican politics as he aims to ensure Republican donors’ money doesn’t go to candidates who are disloyal to him.

The former president over the weekend sent “cease-and-desist” letters to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC) demanding that they stop using his name and likeness to raise money, Politico first reported.

The RNC was the first to publicly respond on Monday. RNC Chief Counsel J. Justin Riemer said in a letter to the counsel for Trump’s “Save America PAC” that it will not stop using Trump in its fundraising pitches.

“Like President Trump, the NRC remains focused on electing Republican candidates and advancing conservative policies,” the letter said. “The RNC, of course, has every right to refer to public figures as it engages in core, First Amendment political speech, and it will continue to do so in pursuit of these common goals.”

Then mere hours later, Trump sent an email to his supporters telling them to ensure that their political donations go to the political action committee (PAC) directly controlled by him instead of organizations that may support Republicans who are critical of the former president.

“No more money for RINOS. They do nothing but hurt the Republican Party and our great voting base—they will never lead us to Greatness,” Trump said, telling donors to give their money to his Save America PAC. “We will bring it all back stronger than ever before.”

This was not the first time Trump has told his followers that they should starve traditional Republican organizations of money. During his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), he said “there’s only one way to contribute to our efforts to elect America First Republican conservatives and in turn to Make America Great Again, and that’s through” his Save America PAC.

The NRSC did not comment on the cease and desist letter from Trump’s legal team. The NRCC did not immediately respond to requests for comment for this story.

Trump’s attacks on the groups, including the NRSC, come as NRSC Chairman Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., continues to insist that there is no civil war within the Republican Party. Scott is in an especially awkward position of being committed to defending incumbent senators in primaries through his job leading the NRSC even as Trump has promised to support primary challenges against Republican incumbents.