Autographed photo of Cindy Yang and Donald Trump (screengrab)
The now-infamous autographed photo of South Florida massage parlor owner Li "Cindy" Yang and President Donald Trump came with a hefty price tag — one she reportedly paid with the help of her employees.
The New York Times reported Saturday that Yang paid $50,000 to the Republican National Committee for an autographed photo and two seats at a Mar-a-Lago reception with Trump last March.
There was one "hurdle" involved in getting it, however: "the invitation limited campaign contributions to $5,400 per person."
"Over the weeks leading up to the event, at least nine people in Ms. Yang’s orbit, some of them with modest incomes, made donations at exactly $5,400," the report noted. "She ended up at the dinner."
Bingbing Peranio, a receptionist at a massage parlor owned by Yang's husband who donated $5,400 who donated the maximum, told the Times the now-controversial businesswoman did not force her to make the donation. She also described herself as a fan of both Trump and Yang's, and would not say whether she was reimbursed.
"In addition to the spa workers, the federal records show three relatives of Ms. Yang — including her husband and her mother — and two business associates who donated $5,400," the report added. "In total, the donations from Ms. Yang and the others came to at least $54,000."
Read the entire report via the New York Times.
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