Melania Trump v. New York Times is Far From Over
Just when you think one of the most watched legal cases is wrapping up, new fireworks are shot into the sky.
Melania Trump slammed a New York Times report that a high-dollar fundraiser she was attending was canceled after an investigation found the charity hosting it didn’t exist.
The former first lady said the fundraiser, originally planned for April, was rescheduled for December. And, she claimed, it had to be done because attention brought by an earlier Times piece caused a high demand for tickets.
‘The High Tea event is not canceled. It is scheduled for December 4, 2022,’ Melania Trump’s office tweeted on Thursday night.
‘As a result of the New York Times’ inaccurate reporting, we captured the attention of way more people than expected and required a larger venue. Thank you to all of the incredible supporters of foster care children,’ she added.
Melania Trump in January promoted a ‘Tulips & Topiaries’ fundraiser in Naples, Fla. with flowers, tea and ‘bubbles.’
Tickets went as high as $50,000 for a VIP table with the money going to scholarships to children emerging from childcare.
But the New York Times reported the event was canceled because Whip Fundraising, the company behind the fundraiser, didn’t properly register as a charity until Florida officials began investigating the matter.
Florida requires that certain organizations asking for donations register with the state first.
‘They were not registered as a professional solicitor or a fund-raising consultant, and they are working to rectify that,’ Erin Moffet, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees charitable organizations in the state, told the Times.
She said the event planned for April 9 had been canceled and that any money that had been raised through ticket sales would given to GenJustice, a nonprofit group that is registered in Florida as a charity, and that helps foster children.
The state’s investigation into the matter is closed.
The website for the ‘Tulips & Topiaries’ event, however, states in large letters ‘We didn’t cancel.’
It notes the new December date and adds: ‘Big thanks to Eric Lipton and Shane Goldsmacher at the New York Times, thanks to your story – we needed a bigger venue!’
Brad Keltner, the head of Whip Fundraising, told the Times his company hadn’t broken any rules and had originally been advised it didn’t need to register with the state.
He said after being contacted by state investigators he worked to get registered. And he echoed Melania’s claim the event was rescheduled so a bigger venue could be booked.
‘Florida state did not shut us down,’ he said. ‘This was an internal decision made due to overwhelming response that we were not prepared to handle.’