Steven Witkoff, a notable fundraiser for former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been handed a cease and desist letter from the organizers of the Miami Grand Prix, amidst plans to hold a fundraiser for Trump during the Grand Prix event. This legal drama marks another point of interest for fans of Formula 1, a sport known for its behind-the-scenes stories concerning driver contracts, team controversies, and unexpected crashes.
The terms of the cease and desist letter, as reported by The Washington Post, hint towards violations of the suite license agreement at the race event. The agreement stipulates restrictions against using suites for “advertising, promotional or commercial purposes (including without limitation, prizes, competitions, contests, or sweepstakes).” The violation being that the rooftop view of the race, costing guests $250,000 per ticket, would be used to raise funds for a federal election.
It is reported that Trump himself is planning to attend the Miami Grand Prix. The reported fundraiser was said to be organized as part of an event through the Shell Bay golf club. Despite the controversy, Witkoff has played down the entirety of the matter, providing a cryptic comment insisting, “This is something fake, for sure.”