The family of a prominent Republican donor has reportedly perished in a plane crash in Washington, D.C. on Sunday.
John Rumpel, a Florida businessman and political donor, confirmed that the Cessna passenger aircraft that flew into restricted U.S. airspace over Washington was his.
🚨#WATCH: As a dc resident captured the Sonic boom on a home security camera
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) June 4, 2023
📌#Washington | #DC
Earlier this evening, incredible video was captured on a home security camera showing a loud sonic boom which was caused by fighter jets that quickly took off to intercept an… pic.twitter.com/NYyRpcQPoy
“The civilian aircraft was intercepted at approximately 3:20 p.m.,” the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said shortly after the incident, adding that the operator of the Cessna had “passed out.”
Rumpel said that his “entire family” was on the plane at the time, including his daughter and grandchild.
“We know nothing about the crash,” he told The Washington Post. “We are talking to the FAA now… I’ve got to keep the line clear.”
Although neither John nor Barbara Rumpel were on board at the time of the crash, federal aviation records show that the plane was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne, a Florida-based company owned by the Rumpels.
Barbara, who is described as the president of Encore Motors in Melbourne, declined to comment when contacted by reporters.
According to records reviewed by The Daily Beast, Barbara and her spouse have been revealed to have made substantial contributions to a range of Republican candidates seeking federal office in recent years.
Their donations have amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a notable $250,000 donation made to former President Donald Trump in 2020 alone. Over the next two years, Barbara made several contributions to controversial candidates such as Herschel Walker, a Senate hopeful from Georgia, with $2,900 and far-right influencer Laura Loomer with a $500 donation.
Barbara’s connections to the Trump administration are also evident, as she was listed as a co-chair for the former president’s 2016 firearms rights campaign, “Second Amendment Coalition for Trump-Pence.”
Additionally, she has a longstanding affiliation with the National Rifle Association (NRA), having been a member of the organization’s Women’s Leadership Council since 2002. Her LinkedIn profile notes that she served on the NRA’s executive committee for over six years.
“We want to leave a legacy that will help preserve this country as we know it and as it is meant to be,” Barbara said at the time.
