Press Releases

ECU Calls on Corporations to Demand Seditious Members of Congress Return Campaign Cash

Jan 11, 2021

20 top corporations – including Google, Amazon, and Walmart – gave ~$16 million to >100 members of Congress who sought to overturn election results, ultimately inciting a violent and deadly assault on the Capitol

ECU also calls for corporations to demand campaign contributions back from the Republican Attorneys General Association, which helped recruit for and incite the riot through its dark money organization 

Three corporations have already decided to no longer give to these seditious Members of Congress, but have not asked for their contributions back 

End Citizens United (ECU) President Tiffany Muller today called on corporations to demand a return of campaign donations from Members of Congress who incited a violent and deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol Building in an attempt to overthrow the election. ECU also called on the corporations to demand the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), which helped recruit for and organize the riot through its dark money arm, The Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF), return contributions.  

“The corporations that donated to these members of Congress, as well as RAGA, have essentially funded this violent and deadly attempted coup.” Muller said. “In America, the people choose their leaders, not a handful of political extremists using misinformation and violence to grab power and override the will of the voters. Without requesting a return of the millions in campaign cash they have donated, these corporations have both literally and symbolically funded this violent insurrection.”

Prior to the vote, Popular Information revealed the top 20 corporations that gave roughly $16 million to Members of Congress who had planned to challenge the results of the Electoral College. Those corporations include AT&T, Comcast, UPS, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, UnitedHealth Group, Walmart, Pfizer, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Lowe’s, Bank of America, Capital One, and Wells Fargo, among others.

Since the attack on the Capitol, Popular Information has reported that 3 corporations, The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Marriott International, and Commerce Bancshares have decided that they will no longer give to these Members of Congress; however, none have yet asked for their money back. Their reporting includes the full list of 144 corporations that gave to the senators who voted to challenge the Electoral College.

Members of Congress who sought to overturn the election and spread misinformation about its legitimacy include Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO), who egged on the rioters earlier in the day, Ted Cruz (R-TX), who served as the ring-leader for a number of senators, Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), John Kennedy (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Rick Scott (R-FL). On the House side, 139 Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise voted to overturn the election. A full list can be found here.

Corporations have also funded RAGA, which helped recruit for and organize the insurrection through its dark money arm, RLDF.  RAGA is the association that helps elect Republican Attorneys General (AG) and also helped organize a group of Republican AGs who filed failed lawsuits seeking to overturn the election.

Corporations that have funded RAGA include Koch Industries, Comcast, Walmart, Home Depot, Amazon, TikTok, 1-800 Contacts, Chevron, Monsanto, Facebook, Fox Corporation, Uber, Coca Cola, Exxon, and Google, according to Documented.

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