Washington, June 22 (RHC)-- The leader of a U.S. white supremacist group cited in Dylann Roof’s manifesto has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republicans, including presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Rick Santorum.

The Guardian reports Earl Holt has given $65,000 to Republican campaign funds in recent years while apparently openly posting racist remarks online. Holt is the president of the Council of Conservative Citizens, whose website Roof cites in his manifesto as the first place he learned about "brutal black on white murders."

After The Guardian approached Ted Cruz’s campaign with the revelations, he vowed to return $8,500 from Holt. Holt has also donated to current and former Republican congressional members including Arizona Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, Ohio Senator Rob Portman, former Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann, Iowa Congressional representative Steve King and former Missouri Congress member Todd Akin.