- Publix supermarket heiress Julie Fancelli was willing to contribute up to $3 million for the Jan. 6 pro-Trump rally, a transcript shows.
- Trump spoke to supporters at the rally before they stormed the Capitol.
Publix grocery heiress Julie Fancelli offered up $3 million to fund the pro-Trump rally in Washington DC that led to storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, according to transcripts released Wednesday by the House select committee investigating the insurrection.
Fancelli, also a top donor to former President Donald Trump, contributed $1.25 million to right-wing figure Charlie Kirk's groups Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, and $200,000 to conspiracy theorist and right-wing talk show host Alex Jones, to facilitate the rally and transportation, The Washington Post reported.
"Charlie Kirk is my hero," Fancelli wrote in a text message revealed in a panel hearing.
Documents indicate that Fancelli also paid for Trump advisor Roger Stone to fly into Washington DC for the rally, the Post reported.
Trump used the rally to promote baseless claims of election fraud before a group of supporters stormed the Capitol with plans to stop President Joe Biden's election certification. The event turned deadly, and five people died.
Some of Fancelli's political donations were used for other Republican causes, including a PAC for Georgia's 2021 runoff elections. Another $60,000 went towards speaking fees Donald Trump Jr's fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, per the transcript.
Fancelli, 73 is the daughter of the founder of the Publix chain of grocery stores. The Jenkins family, which Fancelli is a part of, has a fortune of $8.8 billion according to Forbes estimates.
Publix has 1,200 locations in the southern US, with a concentration in Florida, and is known for its loyal customers. The chain didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, but previously said "Mrs. Fancelli is not an employee of Publix Super Markets, and is neither involved in our business operations, nor does she represent the company in any way. We cannot comment on Mrs. Fancelli's actions."
"The violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a national tragedy. The deplorable actions that occurred that day do not represent the values, work or opinions of Publix Super Markets," the statement said.
When the House panel asked Fancelli if she intended for the rally to become violent, she said "no."