Three companies that cut political donations after Jan.6 Capitol riots could fund GOP objectors
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Top line
At least three companies that have said they will forgo donating to members of Congress involved in various ways in the political uproar around the Jan.6 riots on Capitol Hill have made donations to groups that can benefit Republicans who voted against Joe Biden’s certification as president.
Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Is seen outside the chamber as the Senate votes to open debate on the … [+]
CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Highlights
As the first reported By the liberal Popular Information political bulletin, Intel and AT&T – companies that both pledged to halt donations to all Republican opponents in early January – sent thousands through their PACs to GOP groups with ties to them. members of Congress in February.
Intel, which declared he would “not contribute” to GOP objectors but would continue to “contribute bipartisan,” donated $ 15,000 to the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), the fundraising arm of the GOP House conference, whose two-thirds voted against certifying Biden’s victory.
The company told Popular Information that its policy against contributions to opponents of the GOP “still applies,” explaining that Intel “distributes its political contributions equally between Republicans and Democrats, including individual candidates, campaign committees and governing bodies’ (Intel did not respond to a request for comment from Forbes).
AT&T, which also announcement he would indefinitely “suspend” donations to Republican objectors but did not specify the parameters of that policy, donated $ 5,000 to the House Conservatives Fund, a leadership PAC led by the Jan. 6 objector, Rep. Mike Johnson ( R-La.) Which serves as the political arm of the Republican Study Committee, Capitol Hill’s largest conservative caucus, whose members voted overwhelmingly against BIden’s certification of victory.
AT&T said in a statement to Forbes that he continues to “respect” his freeze on political donations for opponents and confirmed to the House Conservatives Fund that none of the contributions “would contribute to the re-election of these members of Congress”, but did not specify how it will happen. to be applied.
Cigna, who noted On January 13, he would “end support” for any member of Congress who “hindered a peaceful transition of power,” sent $ 15,000 to the NRCC and $ 15,000 to the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC), the branch of GOP fundraiser for the Senate, although in a statement to Forbes, said his original pledge never promised to stop donating to Republican objectors.
Crucial quote
“In January, our PAC stopped supporting any elected official who encouraged or supported violence against [Jan. 6], and it remains true, ”said Justine Sessions, spokesperson for Cigna. Forbes in an email.
Key context
Dozens of major companies, including Disney, Amazon, Best Buy, and Verizon, have all pledged to reassess their political donations in the days following the siege on Capitol Hill on January 6, with some cutting all political donations indefinitely and others. specifically cutting off the 145 Republicans. who voted in line with former President Donald Trump’s election objections. It will become clearer in April, when every candidate for Congress is due to file their first report of the year, whether other companies stick to their new political donation policies.
What to watch out for
CNBC reported Last week, fundraisers for congressional candidates and party campaign groups pressured companies to take back political donations from rejected members of Congress.
Further reading
“Amazon and Intel join other big companies suspending donations to Republicans involved in Biden certification challenge” (Forbes)
“These companies have broken their commitment to stop donating to Republican objectors” (Popular information)
