McHenry County GOP PAC paid $30,000 for books from Donald Trump Jr.’s publishing house around his fall visit

The McHenry County GOP political action committee spent $30,000 on books from a publishing firm co-founded by Donald Trump Jr. around the time he appeared at the Republican Party committee’s event in October, records show.

The McHenry County GOP PAC, which hosted the former president’s son Oct. 27 in Addison, paid Winning Team Publishing $15,000 for books on Oct. 24, and then spent another $15,000 on books from the publisher on Nov. 2, according to newly released campaign spending disclosure documents.

[ Photo gallery: Donald Trump Jr. appears at McHenry County GOP PAC event ]

The Winning Team website lists Trump Jr. as a co-founder. He also is executive vice president at the Trump Organization, his father’s real estate, hotel and golf business.

Supporters paid $150 to $1,500 to attend the Trump Jr. event, with the highest ticket including a photo opportunity with him and a seat at his table.

At the event, which was open to the media, the younger Trump discussed inflation, which he blamed on President Joe Biden, as well as the war in Ukraine. Trump targeted with his criticism Biden and his son, but also “the weak Republicans” in Washington who vote with Democrats.

“Because they understand it’s easy to actually be a Republican in Washington ... as long as [Democrats] know you will fold when it matters,” he said.

He also told a cheering crowd that he “didn’t realize there were this many sane people in Illinois.”

Winning Team Publishing is “the nation’s premier conservative publishing house,” which “aims to promote authors who represent the Silent Majority, America First patriots, and liberty-minded readers,” according to its website.

Its titles include two coffee table books from former President Donald Trump, including “Letters to Trump” – which is $99, while a signed version is offered for $399 – and “Our Journey Together.”

Among those whose photos are featured on the publisher’s homepage are Trump, Trump Jr., U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kari Lake, who ran for Arizona governor and now is running for U.S. Senate.

Karen Tirio, the chair of MCGOPAC, explained that the books were provided as part of the ticket price for the event.

Tirio also chairs the McHenry County Regional Office of Education Board of Trustees.

Her husband, Joe Tirio, is the McHenry County clerk.

In its campaign disclosures for the final quarter of 2023, MCGOPAC reported about $41,600 in expenditures, including the $30,000 worth of books, and about $41,000 in contributions. It ended the quarter with a balance of almost $50,000 on hand, which is virtually the same as when it started.