Trump had to put up $145,000 to secure a venue for a rally in Arizona after reports that he left an unpaid bill at the same venue in 2016.

• Trump's campaign paid over $145,000 to secure a spot for a rally at the Tucson Convention Center.

• Local media reported that Trump failed to pay a bill for an event at the same venue in 2016.

• The rally in Arizona followed Trump's first debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Trump team had to post a deposit of more than $145,000 to secure a spot for a rally on Thursday at the Tucson Convention Center.

In a statement to Business Insider, the Tucson City Manager's Office confirmed that the Trump campaign team had paid a deposit of an estimated $145,222.70 to use the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall at the venue.

“In accordance with City of Tucson policy enacted following campaign visits by then-candidates Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders in 2016, we now require TCC users to cover all costs associated with the public safety response, so taxpayers do not have to bear these expenses,” the statement said.

“Users must deposit the city's estimated amount for the cost of public safety measures and TCC usage prior to an event,” it said.

According to local media reports, the city of Tucson had requested the bail because the former president had failed to pay a bill of $81,837 following a campaign event at the convention center in 2016.

“You know, the former president has the right to go anywhere he wants in Arizona,” Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said, according to KOLD News 13. “It's up to the Trump campaign to pay their bills.”

In response to a request from BI about the alleged failed payment, a Trump campaign official stated: “It is the U.S. Secret Service, not the campaign team, that coordinates with local law enforcement.”

“The campaign itself has not entered into any direct contracts with local governments for security or police operations. All billing inquiries should be directed to the U.S. Secret Service,” they added.

BI has contacted the Tucson Convention Center for comment.

This is not the first time Trump's team has been accused of leaving campaign bills unpaid.

The Washington Post reported in 2019 that Trump's campaign team had at least $1 million in outstanding bills from U.S. cities at the time, including $569,000 for a rally in El Paso, Texas.

The rally in Tucson marked Trump's return to the campaign trail this week after facing Vice President Kamala Harris in his first presidential debate.

Although Harris increased her lead in the polls after the debate, Trump insisted he had won the debate and told his supporters it was a “monumental victory.”

The former president has stated that he would not agree to another debate with Harris.

Read the original article on Business Insider