WSJ - Jan. 6 Rally Funded by Top Trump Donor, Helped by Alex Jones, Organizers Say
Publix Super Markets heiress donated about $300,000 to the Ellipse event, organizers say.
The rally in Washington's Ellipse that preceded the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was arranged and funded by a small group including a top Trump campaign fundraiser and donor facilitated by far-right show host Alex Jones.
Mr. Jones personally pledged more than $50,000 in seed money for a planned Jan. 6 event in exchange for a guaranteed "top speaking slot of his choice," according to a funding document outlining a deal between his company and an early organizer for the event.
Mr. Jones also helped arrange for Julie Jenkins Fancelli, a prominent donor to the Trump campaign and heiress to the Publix Super Markets Inc. chain, to commit about $300,000 through a top fundraising official for former President Trump's 2020 campaign, according to organizers. Her money paid for the lion's share of the roughly $500,000 rally at the Ellipse where Mr. Trump spoke.
Ms. Fancelli tapped the fundraising official, Caroline Wren, to handle funding for the Ellipse event, according to organizers. Ms. Fancelli donated more than $980,000 in the 2020 election cycle to a joint account for the Trump campaign and Republican Party, records show.
Neither Mr. Jones nor Ms. Fancelli responded to several requests for comment. In a statement, Ms. Wren said her role for the event "was to assist many others in providing and arranging for a professionally produced event at the Ellipse."
Shalini Ramachandran at shalini.ramachandran@wsj.com, Alexandra Berzon at alexandra.berzon@wsj.com and Rebecca Ballhaus at Rebecca.Ballhaus@wsj.com, Wall Street Journal, January 30, 2021.
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January 30, 2021
Voices4America Post Script. Breaking news - Alex Jones and the heiress to Publix through the Trump campaign paid for “a professionally produced event” at the Ellipse. Once all the Trumpers got the violent crowd together on January 6, #CriminalTrump said, go to the Capitol. Can you never shop at Publix again? I can.
