Leandro Rizzuto Jr.

Leandro Rizzuto Jr. (born March 20, 1962) is an American businessman who was US Consul General in Hamilton, Bermuda during the Trump administration. He was unsuccessfully nominated by President Donald Trump to become the next United States Ambassador to Barbados. Trump subsequently appointed him to the diplomatic post in Bermuda, a position which did not require confirmation by the Senate.

Leandro Rizzuto Jr.
Born (1962-03-20) March 20, 1962
New York City, U.S.
Alma materArizona State University (did not finish)
OccupationBusinessman
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDenise Rizzuto
Children3
Parent(s)Leandro Rizzuto
Rita Rizzuto

He is the son of Leandro Rizzuto, billionaire founder of Conair Corporation. Rizzuto previously worked as a senior executive in his father's company.

Early life

Leandro Rizzuto Jr was born on March 20, 1962, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Leandro Rizzuto and his wife Rita Rizzuto.[1][2]

Rizzuto studied marketing at Arizona State University from 1980 to 1982, but left to work for the family businesses.[3][1]

Career

Rizzuto spent his entire career with Conair Corporation, of which his father was chairman and near 100% owner until his death in December 2017, rising to senior vice president for professional global business units.[3][4]

During the 2016 presidential campaign, he spread fringe conspiracy theories and made inflammatory comments about Trump's political opponents, such as Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Scott Walker.[5]

In January 2018, Donald Trump nominated Rizzuto to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.[3] Just two weeks later, Rizzuto pledged more than $15,000 to fund Trump's club at Mar-a-Lago.[6] Rizzuto had donated over $345,000 to the Trump campaign and state and national Republican parties in the 2016 cycle.[7] Rizzuto's nomination failed, as the Senate sent Rizzuto's nomination back in January 2020.[8]

In May 2020, Trump gave Rizzuto the position of principal officer at the US Consulate General in Hamilton, Bermuda. This position did not require confirmation by the Senate.[8]

His appointment to the role in Bermuda was met with resistance and protest.[9]

Personal life

He is married to Denise Rizzuto and they have three children.[1][10][11]

References
  1. "Ambassador of the U.S. to Barbados, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines: Who Is Lee Rizzuto, Jr.?". allgov.com. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  2. "Prominent Businessman Leandro Rizzuto Jr to be Ambassador to Barbados, But Wait – #ForgotSomething?". diplopundit.net. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  3. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration - The White House". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 5 January 2018 – via National Archives.
  4. Conair Corporation, of which his father was chairman and near 100% owner until his death in December 2017
  5. Nathan McDermott; Andrew Kaczynski. "Trump ambassador nominee promoted fringe conspiracy theories on Twitter". CNN. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  6. David, Farenthold (February 22, 2018). "Two weeks after Trump chose him for ambassador, nominee pledged money for a gala at Trump's club". Washington Post.
  7. "Donor Lookup". OpenSecrets. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  8. Zachary Cohen; Andrew Kaczynski (27 May 2020). "Trump administration taps failed ambassador nominee who spread fringe conspiracies for diplomatic post". CNN. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  9. "Trump appointee sparks US Consulate protest | The Royal Gazette:Bermuda News". mobile.royalgazette.com. 2 June 2020.
  10. "Newsletter Archives > National > Affordable Housing > Mon, January 24".
  11. "When I say to my fabulous Trumpettes get out and make things happen, they really start at the top!". trumpettesusa.com. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2018.


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