In a shock to Washington Inc.,several corporations are restricting or suspending political contributions after the Capitol siege.
Why it matters: The politics of pandering to the mob have become too dangerous for many of America's business leaders.
What's happening:
- JPMorgan Chase is pausing all giving to both parties for six months. "The country is facing unprecedented health, economic and political crises," said Peter Scher, chair of the Mid-Atlantic Region and head of corporate responsibility. "There will be plenty of time for campaigning later."
- Citi's head of global government affairs, Candi Wolff, said in a letter to colleagues that the bank will pause all contributions in Q1, and that after that, "[W]e will not support candidates who do not respect the rule of law."
- Marriott International said the hotel giant will pause donations "to those who voted against certification of the election."
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Association said it will suspend contributions to "lawmakers who voted to undermine our democracy" by challenging Electoral College results.
- Boston Scientific, the medical device maker, is pausing all federal gifts.
- Goldman Sachs is freezing donations through its PAC. The company told The New York Times it will conduct “a thorough assessment of how people acted during this period."
- Dow, the chemical giant, told Bloomberg it will not donate to lawmakers who voted to object to the certification for one election cycle — two years for those in the House and six years for senators.
- BlackRock said it will pause all PAC donations, and will meanwhile "conduct a thorough review of the events and evaluate how we will focus our political activity going forward," according to a company memo obtained by Axios.
- Airbnb said its PAC will withhold donations to lawmakers "who voted against the certification of the presidential election results.”