Media Leak of Trump’s Silicon Valley Fundraiser Forces Cancelation

Brian Krzanich (Mike Windle / Getty)
Mike Windle / Getty

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich had scheduled a fundraiser with Donald Trump at his Silicon Valley home on June 1, but it had to be canceled after someone leaked it to the media.

On Wednesday May 31, The Hill obtained a copy of an invitation sent by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus to Silicon Valley supporters of the GOP for a June 1 Trump fundraiser being hosted by Krzanich and his wife at their home in Atherton, California the following evening.

Billed as “an exciting dinner with our Republican presidential nominee” and “a full exchange of views,” the event also featured the Trump campaigns’ finance chairman, Steve Mnuchin, and vice chairman, Elliott Broidy.

But once the New York Times challenged Intel Director of Government Relations Lisa Malloy for event details, Malloy responded a couple of hours later that “Brian is not hosting an event.”

Malloy stated: “We are interested in engaging both campaigns in open dialogue on issues important to the technology industry, but added: “Brian Krzanich is not endorsing any Presidential candidate.”

The name of the person that leaked the invite has not been revealed, but Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican, is part of a group of notable tech people that are vowing never to support Trump. In a statement earlier this year, Whitman called Trump a “demagogue” who is unfit to be President.

Most observers view Silicon Valley as the Democratic Party’s unofficial ATM. The chief executives of Amazon and Facebook have both taken shots at Trump’s candidacy.

Intel has a stated policy giving equally to both major parties. Brian Krzanich has personally made about $27,400 in political contributions to the Intel PAC since 2009.

Trump responded over the next 24 hours by organizing a June 3 campaign rally in San Jose, where TV cameras filmed protesters waving Mexican flags, stomping on vehicles, burning American flags, and beating up young Trump supporters.

The liberal Washington Post ran a front page headline: “Democrats fear that violent anti-Trump protesters are only helping him.” Hillary Clinton at first attacked Trump for inciting violence. But later in the day her campaign was forced to shift gears and she told CBS News: “It’s deplorable, no matter who’s doing it.”

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