2024 has been a turbulent year for former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel.
After leaving the RNC — where the new ultra-MAGA leadership includes Chairman Michael Whatley and Co-Chair Lara Trump — McDaniel was planning to work as an NBC News contributor. But because of her past support of former President Donald Trump's false, repeatedly debunked claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him, a long list of MSNBC hosts — from conservative Joe Scarborough to liberal Rachel Maddow — were vehemently critical of the decision to hire her. And NBC News fired McDaniel less than a week after she started.
But despite all this turbulence, McDaniel is not struggling financially.
READ MORE:'This was a really specific case': Rachel Maddow responds to NBC’s 'bold' Ronna McDaniel ouster
According to Daily Beast reporters Roger Sollenberger and Mini Racker, McDaniel "has a nice financial cushion from the RNC to fall back on" while she "fights for full payment on her unfulfilled six-figure NBC contract."
Sollenberger and Racker report that on March 6, McDaniel "received a payment of $118,769.99" from the RNC, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) disclosures.
"Those records show that the sum is the single largest payment to McDaniel that the Committee has ever reported, amounting to nearly half of her combined regular payroll earnings last year," the Daily Beast journalists explain. "A person with knowledge of the RNC told The Daily Beast that in addition to potentially contracted or negotiated severance pay, typical exit packages include payout for accrued vacation time and expense reimbursements, along with other untapped benefits."
McDaniel, a niece of Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), was hired as RNC chair in 2017 after having spent two years chairing the Michigan GOP.
READ MORE: 'Stop butchering songs': Lara Trump bashed for latest musical venture
Sollenberger and Racker note that during her seven years leading the RNC, McDaniel "received regular biweekly payments ranging from about $5000 to about $12,000" and was given "year-end or fundraising bonuses" as well — although the biweekly payments "dwindled to just under $8900 in recent months."
The reporters add that McDaniel's substantial "payout" from the RNC "will help tide her over between roles" and that her "brief tenure" at NBC News "may earn her a pretty penny."
"According to reporting from multiple outlets," Sollenberger and Racker observe, "McDaniel still expects to be paid out for her full contract — $300,000 a year for two years — and is reportedly considering legal action to make sure she gets it."
Read the Daily Beast's full report at this link (subscription required).
