The Art of the StealA project of the Save America Movement
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★ Private Action

Trump PAC paid Otis Law $2M before Sauer became Solicitor General

DOJ Political InterferenceDonor Influence and Access

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

Who benefits

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.

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.

Actors

Who pushed it · 1

Who initiated, paid, or pushed the action.

  • Save America PAC
    Save America PAC

    Made 14 disbursements totaling $2,021,192 to the James Otis Law Group between November 2023 and January 2025 -- the sole Trump-committee source of revenue to the firm. Payments to the firm have continued in 2025 and 2026 after Sauer's confirmation as Solicitor General.

Beneficiaries

Who gained · 4

Who stood to gain.

  • Donald Trump
    Donald Trump

    Personal beneficiary of the appellate representation James Otis Law Group provided, including the Supreme Court immunity case. The fees were paid by his own leadership PAC.

  • John Sauer
    John Sauer

    Founder of James Otis Law Group and the attorney who argued Trump v. United States -- the presidential-immunity case -- before the Supreme Court in April 2024. Nominated as U.S. Solicitor General in November 2024 and confirmed in April 2025.

  • Will Scharf
    Will Scharf

    Of Counsel at James Otis Law Group since August 2023 and member of Trump's appellate legal team. Named White House Staff Secretary at the start of the second Trump administration.

  • James Otis Law Group

    Recipient of $2,021,192 from Save America PAC across 14 payments between November 2023 and January 2025. Founded in 2015 by D. John Sauer; Will Scharf joined as Of Counsel in August 2023. Both principals subsequently took senior administration roles.

Sources

Further reading