The Hidden Way Corporations, Billionaire Execs, Fund Republicans Who Claimed Voter Fraud
By David Sirota, Andrew Perez, Walker Bragman and Julia Rock
On 1/14/21 at 2:53 PM EST
In response to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the Charles Schwab Corporation yesterday announced it will shut down its political action committee, which gave less than a quarter million dollars to Republican lawmakers in 2020. In light of a divided political climate and an increase in attacks on those participating in the political process, the company said, we believe a clear and apolitical position is in the best interest of our clients, employees, stockholders and the communities in which we operate.
On Monday, CNBC reported that the Black Conservatives Fund, a super PAC that Robert Mercer gave $150,000 to in 2014, promoted the march on Capitol Hill. Alexander, one of the siege organizers, was a former “senior adviser” to the Black Conservatives Fund.
In 2017, the Mercers gave $200,000 to the Gatestone Institute, which has advanced theories about a stolen election. The following year, they gave $8.1 million to DonorsTrust, which recently donated $1.5 million to white nationalist hate group VDARE, which has also advanced evidence-free theories surrounding the 2020 election results. In 2017, the Mercer Family Foundation donated $1.725 million to the Government Accountability Institute, whose research director, Eric Eggers, appeared on Sean Hannity’s radio show at the end of November, suggesting that fraudulent activity had tilted the election to Joe Biden. In 2018, they followed up with an additional $500,000. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., who has also used violent rhetoric
The Hill: Pompeo accused of politicizing VOA in speech calling for press freedom
Pompeo accused of politicizing VOA in speech calling for press freedom
This article features our Senior Counsel David Seide and was originally published here.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo set off alarms among ethics experts and whistleblowers this week when he leaned into his criticism of Voice of America (VOA) during a speech broadcast live by the government-funded media outlet.
Even before Pompeo stepped into VOA headquarters on Monday, there had been concerns he was trying to politicize the outlet. Reporters protested his visit, arguing the Trump administration was seeking to use the outlet as a propaganda tool while its journalists were blocked from questioning the secretary.
After the riot at the US Capitol, fear lingers about what could happen in the future, given how far President Trump, his congressional allies, and his supporters were willing to go to attempt to stay in power.