Trump's inauguration team paid $26 million to firm owned by first lady's friend

The organization tasked with putting on President Donald Trump’s inauguration last year paid nearly $26 million to an event planning firm run by an adviser and close friend of Melania Trump, according to tax filings made public Thursday.  The adviser, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, created a company, WIS Media Partners based in California that handled some of the festivities throughout the days leading up to the president’s inauguration.

The firm, as described by a source with knowledge of Winston-Wolkoff’s dealings, paid out contracts to other sub-contractors that were hired, used some of the funds to hire sub-contractors. But Winston-Wolkoff was paid $1.62 million directly for her work, according to the source.

Winston-Wolkoff has not responded to an inquiry from ABC News. She is currently a member of the first lady’s staff.

The news of the filing was first reported by the New York Times.

“Mrs. Trump had no involvement with the PIC, and had no knowledge of how funds were spent,” said the first lady’s spokesperson Stephanie Grisham in a statement to ABC News. The first lady’s office went on to describe Winston-Wolkoff as a “special government employee with the Office of the First Lady. She volunteers her time and receives no salary for her efforts.”

Source :- abcnews