Nationwide — George Floyd’s family is demanding answers about nearly $19 million raised in his name after his death. Three of his siblings are now seeking financial records from their brother Philonise Floyd, saying they want answers about how the GoFundMe donations were handled and distributed. A Houston-based attorney sent Philonise a letter on August 11 representing the three siblings. The relatives say they are among George’s heirs and believe they should have received a portion of the money raised through the George Floyd Memorial GoFundMe campaign. They also say they have not received what they consider a fair amount and want more information about where the donations went, TMZ reports.
The siblings are asking for a full accounting of the fundraiser. Their request includes GoFundMe reports, financial statements, transaction records, tax filings, and other documents connected to the campaign. The letter gave Philonise 20 days from the date he received it to provide the requested records. The family’s attorney also said she hoped the issue could be resolved amicably.
The relatives say they had already made several requests for the same information but did not receive the documents or an explanation they were seeking. They also said they contacted civil rights attorney Ben Crump for help getting answers but received no response. Rodney said the family wants to understand how decisions about the money were made. “We want to see the records, understand how decisions were made, and make sure the family’s questions are answered. We’re speaking up because transparency matters,” he said.
The GoFundMe campaign drew donations from hundreds of thousands of people after Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020. More than $13 million reportedly came in from nearly 500,000 donors within a little more than a week after the fundraiser launched. That made it a record-setting campaign on GoFundMe at the time. The fundraiser ultimately collected about $19 million, according to the family’s attorney.
When the campaign was launched, Philonise said the money would help pay for Floyd’s funeral and burial, counseling, travel related to court proceedings, and other needs facing the family. He also said part of the funds would go to George Floyd’s estate to support his children and help pay for their education. The latest request from his siblings centers on getting records that can show how the money was managed and distributed and provide answers to their questions about the donations raised in George’s name.