‘It’s a Grift’: Kimberly Guilfoyle Made $60,000 Introducing Don Jr. at Coup Rally
Kimberly Guilfoyle was paid $60,000 to introduce Donald Trump Jr. at the rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol last Jan. 6.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) broke the news to CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday after the Jan. 6 committee’s second hearing, during which Lofgren presented evidence detailing how the Trump campaign used the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen to con supporters to the tune of $250 million. Tapper asked Lofgren about a comment she made after the hearing about Trump and his family benefitting from donations meant to fund election integrity, and if they did so to the extent that it was criminal. “I don’t know. We’re a legislative committee, so that’s for somebody else to decide,” Lofgren replied. “But, for example, we know that [Kimberly] Guilfoyle was paid for the introduction she gave at the speech on January 6th. She received compensation for that.”
“$60,000 for two-and-a-half minutes,” Lofgren added.
The Washington Post clarified on Tuesdsay that though Guilfoyle did indeed receive $60,000 for speaking for less than three minutes, the money came from right-wing group Turning Point USA, which is led by Trump Jr. pal Charlie Kirk. The money that went Guilfoyle came initially from Julie Fancelli, a Publix grocery store heiress who pumped $650,000 into the rally, according to the Post.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren says the 1/6 Committee has evidence that Trump and his family were paid from donations based on the big lie. Lofgren tells Jake Tapper that Kimberly Guilfoyle was paid $60,000 to introduce Trump at the 1/6 rally. pic.twitter.com/rGWTKyUJDA
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 13, 2022
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and Donald Trump Jr.’s fiance, helped organize and fundraise for the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally. She also worked for then-President Trump’s 2020 campaign. In March, Guilfoyle was subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 committee, and she testified before the panel the following month.
According to the Jan. 6 committee, the Trump campaign sent “millions” of emails to supporters about protecting election integrity by donating to the “Official Election Defense Fund,” though most of that money went to Trump’s Save America PAC rather than election litigation.
This post has been updated.