Clarence Thomas' billionaire benefactor Harlan Crow has also spent thousands boosting Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and an anti-Trump super PAC
Kyle Mazza/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images; Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Phelan M. Ebenhack for The Washington Post via Getty Images
- Texas billionaire Harlan Crow has spent lavishly on undisclosed trips with Justice Clarence Thomas.
- Crow, a major GOP megadonor, has also donated thousands to prominent Republicans' campaigns.
- They include Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign, major Senate campaigns, and an anti-Trump PAC.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas remains under scrutiny for failing to disclose the lavish vacations he's taken with Harlan Crow — a Texas-based real estate developer and major GOP megadonor.
Republicans have largely defended both Thomas and Crow, with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas characterizing the reporting as a "smear" driven by left-wing fury at losing "control of the Supreme Court."
Yet Cornyn himself has benefitted significantly from Crow's largesse — including over $290,000 in contributions since 2001 to various political action committees associated with the Texas Republican.
—Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) April 8, 2023
But Cornyn isn't the only one.
An Insider review of Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings shows that Crow, a Dallas-based real estate developer, has contributed heavily to Republicans campaigns and causes— along with a handful of moderate Democrats.
Altogether, Crow has given $12 million to various campaigns since he began donating in the 1970s. And that's just what's trackable via disclosures made to the FEC.
Furthermore, the donations offer a window into the political preferences of the man now at the center of a political firestorm — a staunch conservative, but one who tends to support less hardline Republicans, and who has apparently never spent money on former President Donald Trump.
Supporting Marco Rubio in 2016 — and trying to stop Trump
Crow's favored 2016 GOP presidential candidate was apparently Sen. Marco Rubio.
In 2015, the Florida Republican faced criticism for holding a fundraiser at Crow's home — where the Texas billionaire displays Nazi memorabilia that he's collected.
Crow went on to donate $350,000 to "Conservative Solutions PAC," an organization set up to support Sen. Marco Rubio's ill-fated presidential campaign, before pouring another $350,000 into "Our Principles PAC," a super PAC that spent millions in an effort to defeat Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
The Texas billionaire also gave $50,000 in 2015 to "Right to Rise," a super PAC associated with Jeb Bush.
And in 2011, as Mitt Romney faced off against a series of conservative challengers, Crow contributed $150,000 to Restore Our Future, a super-PAC established to benefit Romney's campaign.
Conspicuously absent from FEC filings: any contributions to campaign accounts linked to Trump.
Senate super PAC spending
In addition to being a major super PAC spender at the presidential level, Crow has given thousands to outside spending groups supporting the party's Senate candidates over the years.
In 2022, he contributed $225,000 to Honor Pennsylvania, Inc, a super PAC that supported hedge fund investor Dave McCormick's ill-fated Senate primary campaign. McCormick has since expressed interest in running for the Senate again in 2024.
He also gave $50,000 to "Show Me Values PAC," a super PAC set up to prevent the scandal-plagued former Gov. Eric Greitens from winning the GOP Senate nomination in Missouri.
Crow has also come to the aid of big-name Senate Republicans as they've faced well-funded challengers.
In 2020, he gave $17,800 to a joint fundraising committee established to support Sen. Lindsey Graham's re-election campaign as he faced a challenge from Jaime Harrison.
In 2018, he gave $75,000 to "Texans Are," a super PAC supporting Sen. Ted Cruz's re-election in Texas as he faced a challenge from then-congressman Beto O'Rourke.
And in 2016, he gave $55,000 to "Let America Work," a super PAC boosting Sen. Ron Johnson against former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold.
Aside from his Senate spending, Crow has also contributed to some of the party's more hawkish figures.
In 2014, he gave $100,000 to a super PAC run by John Bolton, Trump's former national security advisor and a noted proponent of regime change in Iran.
And since 2021, he's contributed $10,000 to Stand for America, a leadership PAC run by current 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who served as Trump's US Ambassador the United Nations.
A reliable friend to the GOP's congressional committees
In between, Crow has been a reliable contributor to the GOP's main congressional campaign arms.
Since 2016, he's given more than $1,400,000 to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC historically run by the top House Republican. Currently, the PAC is overseen by allies of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In just the last three years, Crow has also given $725,000 to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
And the Texas billionaire has also contributed heavily to the party's traditional House and Senate campaign committees, including more than $885,000 to accounts run by the National Republican Congressional Committee and more than $800,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan has also been a major benefactor of Crow's, receiving over $740,000 in donations from 2016 to 2018, when the Wisconsin Republican served in the top job.
Contributer : Business Insider https://ift.tt/2BRYZWk
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Wednesday, April 12, 2023
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