Photos from Buttigieg’s closed-door Sunday fundraiser were posted to the Internet on Monday, amid wide criticism by other Democratic candidates for his lack of transparency regarding donors.
The leaked photos, tweeted by Recode writer Teddy Schleifer, show the presidential hopeful dining with donors in a glitzy hall decorated with a chandelier containing 1,500 “Swarovski crystals”.
“Here are some photos of the Buttigieg fundraiser in Napa -- with the famous wine cave and the chandelier with 1,500 Swarovski crystals -- that @BrianSlodysko wrote about,” Schleifer tweeted.
Here are some photos of the Buttigieg fundraiser in Napa -- with the famous wine cave and the chandelier with 1,500 Swarovski crystals -- that @BrianSlodysko wrote about.https://t.co/0sprQ3aDsy pic.twitter.com/3waO6jO93L
— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) December 16, 2019
Faiz Shakir, Bernie Sanders’s campaign manager, retweeted the photos with the caption “Not $18 dollar donors?” in reference to the average Sanders donation which is reportedly $18 per donor during the third quarter of 2019. Sanders reportedly pulled in some $18 million in donations - made up mostly of small amounts - in the second quarter, to Buttigieg's $24 million.
Not $18 dollar donors? https://t.co/C87CDHjHmz
— Faiz (@fshakir) December 16, 2019
Presidential hopeful Buttigieg has recently faced criticism from fellow candidates Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren over big-money donors and closed-door fundraisers, accusing him of hiding his donors.
“I think that Mayor Pete should open up the doors so that anyone can come in and report on what’s being said. Those doors shouldn’t be closed, and no one should be left to wonder what kind of promises are being made to the people that then pony up big bucks to be in the room,” Warren said earlier this month.
