Trump campaign required to pay $145,000 deposit ahead of Thursday’s event in Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Before former President Donald Trump could make a second appearance in Tucson, his campaign had to pay a deposit of $145,222.70.

The required deposit occurred because Trump Failed to Pay $81,837 Campaign Event Bill took place at the Tucson Convention Center in 2016.

The bill envisaged 180 police officers patrolling the TCC area and its surroundings for 6 and a half hours.

“You know, the former president has the right to go anywhere he wants in Arizona,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “The Trump campaign has to pay the bills.”

Trump’s last visit here turned out to be a violent event with a protester punched in the face during a speech by the former president.

But even with the violence, what is most memorable about the 2016 event is that campaigners left the city without paying their bills.

Tucson is just one of many locations where the Trump campaign has held events but has not funded local police protection.

Mesa still owes more than $64,000. In El Paso, Texas, the bill exceeds $400,000.

“It’s important to provide these services,” Romero said. “In conclusion, the most important thing we have to provide as a government is to be able to protect the former president.”

“The city sent a letter to the campaign six months after the event stating that ‘this letter constitutes a demand for payment,’ which was ignored.

The city will, however, send out police again on Thursday for another Trump event, but to avoid being fooled again, officials have changed their policy.

The statement said all payments for use of city facilities must be made in advance. The city says the Trump campaign has done so. A copy of the agreement between the two sides can be read here HERE and at the bottom of this storm.

“It’s also fair that taxpayers get the reimbursement we need to provide these services,” Romero said. “It’s absolutely necessary to have these services, but we need to make sure it pays its bills.”

The city issued the following statement this afternoon:

“We currently require TCC users to cover all costs associated with responding to public safety emergencies so taxpayers do not have to foot the bill. Users must deposit an estimated amount of the city’s public safety response costs and use of TCC prior to the event. The Trump campaign has posted a deposit of $145,222.70 for the estimated costs to use the Music Hall this Thursday.”

Trump wasn’t the only reason the city changed its rules and required payment.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders passed over a $45,000 bill in 2016.

The city decided not to spend a lot of money on legal fees chasing both campaigns for what they owed. The city figured it would be easier to change the rules.

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