The watchdog group CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) issued a report yesterday on big-money donor contributions to members of the “Sedition Caucus.”
Since January 6th the following entities have donated approximately $2.6 million to Congressional Republicans who attempted to block the establishment of the commission to investigate the insurrection.
| Entity | Recipient members and party committees | Total to NRSC and NRCC | Total to Members and Leadership PACs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers | 21 | 135,000 | 47,000 | 182,000 |
| National Association of Realtors | 33 | 120,000 | 33,500 | 153,500 |
| Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America | 11 | 100,000 | 38,500 | 138,500 |
| Koch Industries | 6 | 105,000 | 12,500 | 117,500 |
| American Crystal Sugar | 5 | 60,000 | 15,000 | 75,000 |
| Mortgage Bankers Association | 2 | 75,000 | 0 | 75,000 |
| Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. | 5 | 60,000 | 10,000 | 70,000 |
| American Council of Engineering Companies | 3 | 60,000 | 1,000 | 61,000 |
| National Association Of Mutual Insurance Companies | 19 | 30,000 | 27,500 | 57,500 |
| PNC | 1 | 55,000 | 0 | 55,000 |
It is recommended and educational to read and study the entire CREW report.
According to CREW,
In just the first few months since the insurrection, corporate and industry PACs have contributed more than $2.6 million to campaigns, leadership PACs, and party committees allied with the 147 members of Congress who fed the Big Lie that led to the deadly attack on the Capitol. In all, 170 business PACs—some of which had previously committed to stop giving—have donated to political committees that support and defend the members who voted not to certify the election results.
Corporate political giving has long been a corrupting force in Washington—with lawmakers depending on it for their political survival, while businesses use the donations to gain access to the officials who make decisions that will impact their bottom line. In the wake of the attack on the Capitol, the situation is worse: Corporate contributions are now increasingly an obstacle to holding elected officials accountable—not only for pushing the baseless conspiracy theories that caused the attack, but also for continuing to make excuses for it.
Like anything else that seems to be completely crazy in Washington, D.C., there is money driving it. It is actually appalling that American companies are apparently comfortable with financing the burgeoning fiction that the January 6th riot was something other than the attempted overthrow of our government.
