An event planner for Bob Dole's funeral was dismissed over accusations of involvement in the Capitol riot
- An event planner working on former Sen. Bob Dole's funeral preparations was dismissed because of his alleged ties to the Capitol riot, The New York Times reported.
- Tim Unes helped plan this week's ceremonial events in Washington, DC, to honor Dole.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation has let go of Tim Unes, an event planner working on former Sen. Bob Dole's funeral, because the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot had subpoenaed him, according to The New York Times.
Dole, who died on Sunday at age 98, lied in state at the Capitol on Thursday, and his funeral will be held at the Washington National Cathedral on Friday, per The Times. A spokesperson for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation told The Times that Unes helped plan the events in Washington, DC.
But Unes was removed from the preparations after the Dole family became aware of his alleged ties to January 6. Representatives to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke with a contact for the Dole family about Unes' reported involvement in the riot, according to The Times.
"I made Senator Elizabeth Dole aware of Mr. Unes's alleged involvement in the events of Jan. 6, 2021," a spokesperson for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation told the news outlet. "Senator Dole was previously unaware of his participation and terminated his volunteer role."
Unes received a letter from the January 6 committee on September 29, which said that he "assisted in organizing the rally" that took place shortly before a crowd of supporters to then-President Donald Trump violently stormed the Capitol complex, The Times reported.
"The investigation has revealed credible evidence of your involvement in events within the scope of the select committee's inquiry," the January 6 committee wrote to Unes, per The Times. "According to documents provided to the select committee ... you assisted in organizing the rally held on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, in support of then-President Trump and his allegations of election fraud."
Unes did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.
Unes is the president of Event Strategies, an event-planning company that he founded in 2000, according to its website. He had previously worked with the Dole family, and served as a tour director for Dole's presidential campaign in 1996, according to The Times.