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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWH cuts ties with Melania Trump aide after inauguration contract controversy - paid $26Million
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/27/politics/melania-trump-inauguration/index.htmlThe White House has cut ties with a senior adviser to first lady Melania Trump after it was revealed the aide's firm was paid close to $26 million to plan events around President Donald Trump's inauguration.
The first lady's office said in a statement that it ended its contract with Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who had been working as a special government employee.
"The Office of the First Lady severed the gratuitous services contract with Ms. Wolkoff. We thank her for her hard work and wish her all the best," said spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.
The New York Times first reported Wolkoff's departure.
Inauguration committee tax documents revealed last week showed WIS Media Partners, a company based in Marina Del Ray, California, and founded by Wolkoff, received $25,843,509 for "event production services."
Trump inaugural committee pays $26 million to firm founded by first lady's friend
Trump inaugural committee pays $26 million to firm founded by first lady's friend
The roughly $26 million the company received for its work on the inauguration was likely passed through to other vendors and event coordinators. The New York Times reported that Wolkoff personally received $1.62 million for her work.
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Who got the kickback, Melania's divorce fund.?
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)Lots of money has somehow been given to t-rump's cronies with no accountability.
underpants
(182,925 posts)Little information is available about the company itself. A filing with the California Secretary of State's office shows it was incorporated in December 2016.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/341053002
shraby
(21,946 posts)just found out it was gone.
sunonmars
(8,656 posts)LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,600 posts)A big, fat, $26 million horse.
As Rachel has pointed out, the inaugural committee also paid about that much to the long-existing company which has been putting on the inaugural every time since Truman became president. Why the extra money needed to be paid to this woman is a mystery.
But the inaugural fund is an unregulated and unaccountable slush fund, so I guess that's all that matters to these crooks. It still doesn't account for the remaining millions, which was supposed to be (and hasn't been) donated to charity.
ProfessorGAC
(65,227 posts)An almost 1 and two-thirds million dollar organizer fee? Is it just me or does that seem ridiculous? 7% to manage cash for a few weeks?
sunonmars
(8,656 posts)LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,600 posts)also known as "f*ck you money."
I don't know, though. Melania seems to me to be a high maintenance woman, and she could probably blow through $25 million in a year or two if left to her own devices.
struggle4progress
(118,378 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)That's not the way he usually does business.
BoneyardDem
(1,202 posts)Imagine the bill if they had been able to get actual big headliners to perform!!!!