MLB suspends political donations after US Capitol attack
As many other companiesMLB is rethinking its political ties in the wake of last week’s deadly attack on the US Capitol.
MLB announced on Wednesday that it was suspending all political contributions in a statement to the Associated Press.
“In light of the unprecedented events of the past week on the United States Capitol, MLB is suspending contributions from its Political Action Committee pending a review of our political contribution policy going forward,” the statement read. .
MLB decision comes amid Trump impeachment debate
News of MLB’s decision broke just before a majority of the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump for the second time in the wake of the attack. Trump enticed his supporters to march on the US Capitol last week before breaking through its walls in an insurgent attack that left five dead and several others injured in a bid to overthrow President-elect Joe Biden’s election.
The attack upended an already tumultuous political landscape with other political leaders like Sens Republicans. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley in the crosshairs after joining Trump in his effort to undermine Biden’s Electoral College victory.
Some companies have chosen to suspend contributions specifically to politicians who voted against certifying Biden’s election. Others, like MLB, shut down political contributions altogether.
Who MLB gave money to
According to AP, MLB has made contributions in the past to two senators and nine representatives who voted against Biden’s certification last week. They include Senate Republicans Cruz and Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi) as well as House Republicans Roger Williams (Texas), Kevin McCarthy (California), David Schweikert (Arizona), Steve Chabot (Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (Oklahoma ), Adrian Smith (Nebraska), Michael Burgess (Texas), Rick Crawford (Arkansas) and Elise Stefanik (New York).
Past political controversy for MLB
MLB found itself in hot water in 2018 for its contributions to Hyde-Smith. He asked his campaign to return $5,000 after the Mississippi senator said of a supporter, “If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be front row.”
According to The Center for Responsive PolicyMajor League Baseball’s Political Action Committee commissioner donated a total of $112,500 to candidates in the 2019-20 federal election, with 59.11% going to Democratic candidates and 40.89% going to Republicans .
Since 2016, the PAC has donated a total of $669,375 to Senate and House candidates with 52.4 percent going to Republican candidates.
MLB is the first major American sports league to announce a change in its political donation strategy since the attacks last week.
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