ThinkProgress

These corporations are helping elect an alleged child sex abuser to the U.S. Senate

Follow the money.

Josh Israel, Danielle McLean,     December 5, 2017

ALABAMA REPUBLICAN SENATE NOMINEE ROY MOORE AT A NOVEMBER RALLY. CREDIT: AP PHOTO/BRYNN ANDERSON

Last month, after several women came forward and accused Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore of child sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct, the Republican National Committee (RNC) said it had cut ties with the candidate and terminated a joint fundraising program aimed at helping his campaign. In the time since, more women have come forward with similar stories and evidence of their relationships. Yesterday, after Donald Trump offered his full support to Moore anyway, the RNC reversed course and reportedly will resume its efforts to elect Moore in next Tuesday’s special election and will devote party resources to the effort.

A ThinkProgress review of contributions to the Republican National Committee so far in this 2017 to 2018 campaign cycle, at least 15 companies have donated $15,000 or more each from their corporate political action committees (PACs) to the party, and are thus contributing to the pro-Moore efforts. The totals include donations through the end of September. According to Federal Election Commission data from the subscription online Political MoneyLine, these include:

• Comcast Corporation & NBCUniversal with at least $100,000.
• AT&T Inc with at least $60,000.
• Leo A Daly Company with at least $30,000.
• Amerisourcebergen Corporation with at least $15,000.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation with at least $15,000.
• Honeywell International with at least $15,000.
• Pricewaterhousecoopers with at least $15,000.
• AFLAC with at least $15,000.
• Pfizer Inc. with at least $15,000.
• Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company with at least $15,000.
• Textron Inc with at least $15,000.
• Exelon Corporation with at least $15,000.
• The Boeing Company with at least $15,000.
• Microsoft Corporation with at least $15,000.
• BNSF Railway Company with at least $15,000.

While federal campaign finance law prohibits corporations from donating directly to national parties and federal candidates out of their company treasuries, corporations have long influenced politics by establishing political action committees and pooling donations from executives and other employees.

ThinkProgress reached out to each of these companies to ask them if they are comfortable with their donations being used to help elect Moore. None immediately responded.