Fate of leftover money for inauguration a mystery

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee raised an unprecedented $107 million for the ceremony, and the committee pledged to give leftover funds to charity. Nearly eight months later, the group has helped pay for redecorating at the White House and the vice president’s residence in Washington.

But nothing has yet gone to charity.

What is left from the fundraising haul remains a mystery, and the private fund requires little public disclosure. Eight people — vendors, donors and Trump associates — involved in the planning and political fundraising for the celebration described a chaotic process marked by last-minute decisions, staffing turnover and little financial oversight.

Among the line items was the pre-inaugural Lincoln Memorial concert, which came with a $25 million price tag, according to four of the people. One person familiar with the committee’s thinking said the $25 million included broadcasting costs and other events, complicating any comparison with past inaugural concert expenses.

Tom Barrack, chairman of the private Presidential Inaugural Committee, and other former committee officials declined to answer questions about how money was spent. Barrack said that keeping the books closed was no different from any past inauguration.

In a recent statement, he said that the committee’s donations to charity “surely will exceed any previous inauguration” but will have to wait until the end of November, when he said the committee will publicly disclose details about its finances.

Three people familiar with efforts to sort out the inaugural committee’s financing said there is ongoing confusion about how much is left after the Jan. 20 celebration.

Tom Barrack