Toyota is the top donor to the 'Sedition Caucus' of Republicans who wouldn't certify Biden's win
After the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and the decision immediately after by 147 members of Congress to still vote against certifying President Biden's electoral victory, "nearly 200 corporations and industry groups said they would pause or altogether stop making political contributions" to these lawmakers, "also known as the Sedition Caucus," the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) wrote in a report that found some of those corporations reneged on that promise and others just continued "giving like nothing ever happened."
Nearly three dozen corporate PACs gave at least $5,000 to these Republicans since Jan. 6, Axios reported Sunday, using CREW's data, and "Toyota leads by a substantial margin." Toyota's corporate PAC gave to 37 GOP election objectors this year, more than doubling what the runner-up, San Diego defense contractor Cubic Corp., donated to Republicans who voted to nullify Biden's victory.
"We do not believe it is appropriate to judge members of Congress solely based on their votes on the electoral certification," a Toyota spokesperson told Axios. "Based on our thorough review, we decided against giving to some members who, through their statements and actions, undermine the legitimacy of our elections and institutions." Toyota declined to elaborate on their criteria for choosing which Republicans are sufficiently pro-democracy, but among their PAC's contributions is a February check to Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), one of the most vocal election conspiracy theorists and an allleged organizer of the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" rally.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
When including post-Jan. 6 donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), "the two main Republican party committees supporting these members," CREW says, the top donor is Koch Industries, which gave $17,500 to individual members of the "Sedition Caucus" and $105,000 to the NRCC and NRSC.
"By continuing to fund members of Congress who would undermine American democracy, these corporations and industry groups are sacrificing democratic government for access and influence," CREW said. You can see some of the numbers at CREW.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Magazine solutions - November 29, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 29, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - November 29, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 29, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
What are Trump's plans for public health?
Today's Big Question From abortion access to vaccine mandates
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published