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Scott Walker to forfeit donations from group cited in Dylann Roof 'manifesto' Scott Walker to forfeit donations from group cited in Dylann Roof 'manifesto'
(about 1 hour later)
Related: Leader of group cited in 'Dylann Roof manifesto' donated to top RepublicansRelated: Leader of group cited in 'Dylann Roof manifesto' donated to top Republicans
Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin has become the latest Republican presidential hopeful to forfeit thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the leader of a rightwing group said to have influenced the Charleston church shooting suspect Dylann Roof.Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin has become the latest Republican presidential hopeful to forfeit thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the leader of a rightwing group said to have influenced the Charleston church shooting suspect Dylann Roof.
Following an inquiry from the Guardian, a spokeswoman for Walker said he would be giving up money he received in recent years from Earl Holt, the president of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CofCC).Following an inquiry from the Guardian, a spokeswoman for Walker said he would be giving up money he received in recent years from Earl Holt, the president of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CofCC).
“The governor will be donating this money to charity,” the spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, said in an email.“The governor will be donating this money to charity,” the spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, said in an email.
Walker, who is expected to officially join the 2016 party primary contest soon, received $3,500 for gubernatorial campaigns in his state from Holt, whose activist organisation is classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.Walker, who is expected to officially join the 2016 party primary contest soon, received $3,500 for gubernatorial campaigns in his state from Holt, whose activist organisation is classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The author of a manifesto that surfaced on a website registered in Roof’s name and hosting photographs of the 21-year-old said he had been influenced by the CofCC website. “At this moment I realized that something was very wrong,” the text said.The author of a manifesto that surfaced on a website registered in Roof’s name and hosting photographs of the 21-year-old said he had been influenced by the CofCC website. “At this moment I realized that something was very wrong,” the text said.
The Wisconsin governor’s decision follows similar moves by senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, both candidates for the presidential nomination, who received more than $10,000 between them from Holt, who has also posted dozens of racist comments online.The Wisconsin governor’s decision follows similar moves by senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, both candidates for the presidential nomination, who received more than $10,000 between them from Holt, who has also posted dozens of racist comments online.
Rick Santorum, the 2012 presidential primary runner-up and former US senator for Pennsylvania who is again running for president, and Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, announced on Monday they would be giving up a cumulative $2,500 received from Holt following the publication of a Guardian article.Rick Santorum, the 2012 presidential primary runner-up and former US senator for Pennsylvania who is again running for president, and Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, announced on Monday they would be giving up a cumulative $2,500 received from Holt following the publication of a Guardian article.
“It was brought to my attention late Sunday evening that an individual who led a group cited by the murderer who terrorized the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston had given to one of my past political campaigns,” Santorum said in a statement.“It was brought to my attention late Sunday evening that an individual who led a group cited by the murderer who terrorized the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston had given to one of my past political campaigns,” Santorum said in a statement.
Santorum said he abhorred Holt’s views, which he described as “unacceptable. Period. End of sentence.”Santorum said he abhorred Holt’s views, which he described as “unacceptable. Period. End of sentence.”
After a spokesman for Cruz said on Sunday evening that the Texas senator would be refunding Holt with $8,500 in campaign contributions, Santorum made a point of stressing that he would instead be passing the money to a fundraising campaign for the church in Charleston where Roof is charged with killing nine people.After a spokesman for Cruz said on Sunday evening that the Texas senator would be refunding Holt with $8,500 in campaign contributions, Santorum made a point of stressing that he would instead be passing the money to a fundraising campaign for the church in Charleston where Roof is charged with killing nine people.
“Rather than put more money back in the pockets of such an individual, my 2012 campaign committee will be donating the amount of his past donations to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund to support the victims of this tragedy,” said Santorum.“Rather than put more money back in the pockets of such an individual, my 2012 campaign committee will be donating the amount of his past donations to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund to support the victims of this tragedy,” said Santorum.
Spokesmen for Paul and Flake said they, too, would be passing Holt’s campaign contributions to the church fund.Spokesmen for Paul and Flake said they, too, would be passing Holt’s campaign contributions to the church fund.
A spokesman for Cruz said later on Monday that the senator had decided not to return the contributions to Holt after all and would instead be making an $11,000 donation to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund.A spokesman for Cruz said later on Monday that the senator had decided not to return the contributions to Holt after all and would instead be making an $11,000 donation to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund.
“Upon learning Mr Holt’s background, Senator Cruz made an immediate decision to return his contributions,” said the spokesman.“Upon learning Mr Holt’s background, Senator Cruz made an immediate decision to return his contributions,” said the spokesman.
“However after reflection, he decided that the best use of that money would not be to return it but instead use it to help support the families of victims from the Charleston shooting.”“However after reflection, he decided that the best use of that money would not be to return it but instead use it to help support the families of victims from the Charleston shooting.”
In a statement published on Sunday, Holt said it was “not surprising” that Roof was apparently informed by the group’s website as it reported race relations “accurately and honestly”.In a statement published on Sunday, Holt said it was “not surprising” that Roof was apparently informed by the group’s website as it reported race relations “accurately and honestly”.
However, he added: “The CofCC is hardly responsible for the actions of this deranged individual merely because he gleaned accurate information from our website.”However, he added: “The CofCC is hardly responsible for the actions of this deranged individual merely because he gleaned accurate information from our website.”
Current members of congress, state officials, or candidates who received campaign contributions from Earl Holt, president of Council of Conservative Citizens, according to FEC and state filings:Current members of congress, state officials, or candidates who received campaign contributions from Earl Holt, president of Council of Conservative Citizens, according to FEC and state filings:
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas* – $8,500 – donating to Charleston church fund Senator Ted Cruz of Texas* – $8,500 – donating $11,000 to Charleston church fund
Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin – $3,500 – donating to charityGovernor Scott Walker of Wisconsin – $3,500 – donating to charity
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas – $3,000 – donating to Salvation Army in AustinGovernor Greg Abbott of Texas – $3,000 – donating to Salvation Army in Austin
Representative Steve King of Iowa – $2,500Representative Steve King of Iowa – $2,500
Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska – $2,000 Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska – $2,000 donating to community centre
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky* – $1,750 – donating to Charleston church fundSenator Rand Paul of Kentucky* – $1,750 – donating to Charleston church fund
Former Senator Rick Santorum – $1,500 – donating to Charleston church fundFormer Senator Rick Santorum – $1,500 – donating to Charleston church fund
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas – $1,500 Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas – $1,500 returning contributions
Representative Louie Gohmert of Texas* – $1,250 Representative Louie Gohmert of Texas* – $1,250 donating to Charleston church fund
Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin – $1,250 Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin – $1,250 donating to Charleston church fund
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa – $1,000 Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa – $1,000 donating to Charleston church fund
Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona – $1,000 Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona – $1,000 donating to Charleston church fund
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina – $1,000 Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina – $1,000 donating to Charleston church fund
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana – $1,000Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana – $1,000
Representative Mia Love of Utah – $1,000 – returning contributionsRepresentative Mia Love of Utah – $1,000 – returning contributions
Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin* – $1,000Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin* – $1,000
State representative David Simpson of Texas – $750State representative David Simpson of Texas – $750
State senator Konni Burton of Texas – $750
Representative Thomas Emmer of Minnesota – $500Representative Thomas Emmer of Minnesota – $500
Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana – $500 – donating to Charleston church fund
Senator Dean Heller of Nevada – $500Senator Dean Heller of Nevada – $500
Senator Jim Risch of Idaho – $500Senator Jim Risch of Idaho – $500
Representative Kenneth Buck of Colorado – $500Representative Kenneth Buck of Colorado – $500
Senator Rob Portman of Ohio – $250 – donating to Charleston church fundSenator Rob Portman of Ohio – $250 – donating to Charleston church fund
Representative Mark Sanford of South Carolina – $250Representative Mark Sanford of South Carolina – $250
State representative Matthew Schaefer of Texas – $250State representative Matthew Schaefer of Texas – $250
Texas supreme court judge Jeff Brown – $250
Former candidates and members of congress who received campaign contributions from Holt
Todd Akin, US senate candidate in Missouri – $3,500
Michele Bachmann, US representative for Minnesota and US presidential primary candidate – $3,200
Richard Mourdock, US senate candidate in Indiana – $2,500
Mitt Romney, US presidential candidate – $2,000
Chris McDaniel, US senate primary candidate in Mississippi – $2,000
Charles Djou, US house candidate in Hawaii – $2,000
Josh Mandel, US senate candidate in Ohio – $1,500
Linda McMahon, US senate candidate in Connecticut – $1,500
Allen West*, US representative for Florida – $1,250
Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia governor candidate – $1,000
George Allen, US senate candidate in Virginia – $1,000
Rick Berg, US representative and US senate candidate for North Dakota – $1,000
Dennis Rehberg, US representative and US senate candidate for Montana – $1,000
Mark Neumann, US senate candidate in Wisconsin – $1,000
Sharron Angle, US senate candidate in Nevada – $1,000
Paul Broun, US representative and US senate primary candidate for Georgia – $1,000
Rob Maness, US senate primary candidate in Louisiana – $1,000
Quico Canseco, US representative and US house primary candidate for Texas – $750
Peter Hoekstra, US representative and US senate candidate for Michigan – $500
Tom Smith, US senate candidate in Pennsylvania – $500
Dan Liljenquist, state senator and US senate primary candidate in Utah – $500
JD Hayworth, US representative and US senate primary candidate for Arizona – $500
Dino Rossi, state senator and US senate candidate in Washington – $500
Philip Eby, state house primary candidate in Texas – $500
Jeff Bell, US senate candidate in New Jersey – $500
Donald Webb, US house candidate in North Carolina – $500
Joe Miller, US senate primary candidate in Alaska – $500
Jim Oberweis, state senator and US senate candidate in Illinois – $500
Steve Lonegan, US senate candidate in New Jersey – $500
John Raese, US senate candidate in West Virginia – $500
Conservative campaign committees that received contributions from Holt
Senate Conservatives Fund PAC – $1,000
Actright PAC – $1,000
TeaPartyExpress.org PAC – $800
Madison Project PAC – $250
*Total includes contributions to candidate’s leadership Pac*Total includes contributions to candidate’s leadership Pac