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Phil Rizzo, a pastor who lost in the Republican primary for New Jersey governor, spent more than 7% of his campaign’s money at Trump properties.
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Phil Rizzo, a Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey, spent more than $40,000 of his campaign’s money—7 percent of the contributions it received through May 28—at Donald Trump’s golf courses in the state, according to state election documents.
Rizzo’s campaign only spent $538,000 on all expenses from mid-January to June 3. The campaign made two $5,000 payments to Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, where it held a fundraiser on March 25.
A pricier event, at Trump’s Bedminster property, followed on May 25. Mercedes Schlapp, a former senior official in Trump’s White House, served as a featured guest, along with her husband Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union. The Rizzo campaign ended up cutting a $34,000 check after that night.
In both cases, the money flowed into businesses in which Donald Trump retained a 100% interest when he became president. For Rizzo, supporting Trump is nothing new. According to the New Jersey Globe, he is a member at the Bedminster club. In May, he posted a photo of himself with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
It’s not clear that Trump feels as strongly about Rizzo. The former president did not endorse anyone in the GOP primary. A more moderate candidate, Jack Ciattarelli, ended up winning, capturing 49% of the vote.
The Rizzo campaign did not respond to inquiries about why it chose to patronize Trump’s properties. Similarly, the Trump Organization did not reply when asked if it solicits business from political campaigns.
Phil Rizzo’s loyalty to former President Donald Trump is not in doubt.
Twitter/Phil Rizzo
I took an unusual route to get here. In a past life, I worked as a travel and food writer, which is how I got the assignment in 2016 to cover the grand opening of the
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I took an unusual route to get here. In a past life, I worked as a travel and food writer, which is how I got the assignment in 2016 to cover the grand opening of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., just a couple miles from my home. When Trump won the election and refused to divest his business, I stayed on the story, starting a newsletter called 1100 Pennsylvania (named after the hotel’s address) and contributed to Vanity Fair, Politico and NBC News. I’m still interested in Trump, but I’ve broadened my focus to follow the money connected to other politicians as well—both Republicans and Democrats.