Trump supporter Thiel finally puts his cash behind his candidate

Controversial Donald Trump supporter Peter Thiel finally put his cash behind his candidate in October with $1.25 million in contributions.

The billionaire venture capitalist gave $250,000 in early October to Trump Victory, the presidential candidate's joint fundraising committee with the Republican Party, according to Federal Election Commission data reported Thursday. He also gave $1 million to pro-Trump super PAC Make America Number 1, but it was received after the FEC filing deadline for the Oct. 1 to Oct. 19 period so it did not immediately show up in reports, a spokesman for Thiel said.

The New York Times first reported that Thiel planned to give $1.25 million backing Trump.

Most of the $250,000 joint fundraising donation will not go to Trump directly but to the GOP and other candidates.

Thiel has fueled controversy in Silicon Valley, where very few influential business people support Trump. Thiel spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of the billionaire developer.

Facebook has stood by Thiel, a board member at the social media company, after he supported Trump, though some in Silicon Valley have called for him to be removed from the board.

Thiel sparked more recent controversy after the surfacing of decades-old book passages in which he appeared to downplay rape accusations. He later apologized.

Thiel also made headlines this year for funding Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker, which contributed to the media company's eventual sale.

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