Meghan Markle‘s Archewell Foundation forked over more than $100,000 to Michelle Obama’s former press chief — fueling speculation that the Duchess of Sussex could run for office.
The nonprofit foundation, run by Markle and Prince Harry, paid $109,870 to a public relations firm run by Katie McCormick Lelyveld in 2021, according to tax returns obtained by The Sun.
Lelyveld worked for Michelle from 2007 to 2011, and has also done public relations work for Hillary Clinton and former presidential candidate John Kerry. Archewell’s payment to her PR firm, KMLSA LLC, was listed as “strategic support for social impact PR.”
KMLSA touts Lelyveld’s connections with “influential leaders” around the globe and the firm’s expertise in helping clients “navigate challenges with reputational, political, philanthropic, legal and financial lenses.”
The Archewell Foundation and KMLSA did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
The payment to a politically-connected PR firm was just the latest hint at Markle’s possible foray into politics. The Duchess issued a letter in 2021 that called on Congress to pass a federal paid parental leave program.
It was also revealed that year that Meghan and Harry had held a private meeting with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020.
Although the meeting sparked a frenzy of speculation over Meghan’s political ambition, Newsom’s office said it was just a welcoming meeting after the Duke and Duchess decided to settle down in California.
The Archewell Foundation’s newly released 2021 tax returns also revealed that it received the bulk of the more than $13 million it raised from just two philanthropists, with one donating $10 million and another giving $3 million.
