King will give campaign money from white supremacist to South Carolina victims’ fund

U.S. Rep. Steve King will donate the $2,500 he received from a white supremacist to a South Carolina church where nine people were gunned down June 17 and to a victims' fund.

King, a Republican from Kiron, in northwest Iowa, joined other prominent Republicans, including 2016 GOP presidential hopefuls, who said they wouldn't keep donations from Earl P. Holt III, whose Missouri-based activist group is cited in a manifesto believed to have been written by Dylann Roof, the 21 year old accused of fatally shooting nine people at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.

King has received $2,500 from Holt since 2012. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, received one $1,000 donation from Holt, who lives in Texas.

King will donate to 'King for Congress will be donating the amount of past donations received from Earl Holt, President of the Council for Conservative Citizens, to both the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund and to the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, his website states.

A representative for Ernst said Monday her money would go to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund. 'Our prayers are with the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.”

Holt also gave money to U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky and to former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania - all 2016 GOP presidential candidates. Those contributions, among more to other politicians, were reported first by The Guardian, a British newspaper.

Cruz's staff told reporters he would return the contribution. Santorum said he - like King and Ernst - would donate it on behalf of the victims.