Corporate America, including a mix of tech and telecom companies, is responding to last week’s riots at the U.S. Capitol by pausing political donations or stopping them altogether.
USTelecom – The Broadband Association, said its members share a common mission: “creating opportunity and connecting communities everywhere.” USTelecom President/CEO Jonathan Spalter said in a statement: “As we pursue these objectives, and in light of the tragic and horrifying events last week in Washington, D.C., we have chosen to pause our political contributions while we assess these troubling developments and their implications.”
AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, are pausing donations as well. AT&T said its federal PAC board held a call Monday and decided to halt contributions “to members of Congress who voted to object to the certification of Electoral College votes last week,” according to Bloomberg.
Verizon told Bloomberg the telecom will suspend contributions to any member of Congress who voted to object to the election results. “We watched last week’s events and were saddened,” spokesman Rich Young said.
Comcast will suspend all political contributions to elected officials who voted against certification. The move, “will give us the opportunity to review our political giving policies and practices,” the company said, citing, “the appalling violence we witnessed at the U.S. Capitol last week.”
How long these donation pauses last remains unclear. It’s another 22 months until the next congressional election.
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