The matter is further complicated for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC), whose father, Rep. Peter Meyer (R-Mich.), a Never-Trump supporter in the 2022 presidential election, is under investigation for making large donations to tax-exempt groups during his son’s primary campaign, which came shortly after the group endorsed the former congressman.
of Hills Taylor Giorno was first report The company announced the revelations Tuesday after reviewing internal emails about the timing and nature of the donations.
According to the media, just days after the USCC announced it would endorse Major in the July 11, 2022 primary against President Trump-backed candidate John Gibbs, Major’s father, Hank Major, sent $800,000 to the organization on July 15. Notably, Major was one of only 10 Republicans who voted in favor of impeaching President Trump.
The donation was followed by a $381,000 ad purchase by the USCC on July 21 that portrayed Major in a favorable light.
But because of the nature of the ads and the USCC’s nonprofit status, it is under no legal obligation to disclose its donors, Giorno noted.
But this ad “Thank you, Senator Peter Meyer.” — a pro-business lobbying giant that has not explicitly called for his election or defeat. There was no legal requirement to disclose and a donation from Hank Meyer, co-chairman and CEO of supermarket chain Meyer. He also wasn’t required to disclose other potential contributions behind the $1.8 million he reported to the FEC that he spent on “campaign communications” in the race.
Federal Election Commission (FEC) form details “purpose of expenditure” for $381,000 payment state“Media Advertising – Energy and Taxes – Mentioning Rep. Peter Meyer” Although this ad does not directly call for votes for or against Meyer, it does serve to paint a favorable impression of him.
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“A fourth-generation West Michigander and unwavering conservative leader,” a narrator says at the beginning of the clip, accompanied by an image of Major. “In Congress, Peter always puts West Michigan first.”
The ad ends by instructing voters to “call Peter Meyer” and “ask him to keep fighting for West Michigan.”
Anna Massolia, a dark money enthusiast and editorial and research manager at OpenSecrets, noted the closeness of the wire transfer from Hank Meyer and the Chamber of Commerce’s approval.
“The big question is what agreements, if any, have been made behind the scenes,” Massolier said. hill“Is this clearly giving money as an endorsement or support? Or is it just a big coincidence that the timing is so close?”
A USCC spokesperson “insisted that the donation complied with all applicable laws,” but, according to Giorno, did not answer the outlet’s “specific questions about the timing, discussions, terms of the donation or how the money will be used.”
This is the latest headache for the USCC.
As first reported by Breitbart News in March, public disclosure documents from the Soros-funded Tides Foundation show that it has given the Chamber $12 million between 2018 and 2022. The explosive reporting by Breitbart News’ Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle highlighted the lobbying giant’s sharp shift to the left in recent years, despite its claims to defend corporate America.
Boyle’s report sparked an investigation into the USCC and its affiliated foundations by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) in May. A few weeks later, on May 31, in the midst of the investigation, USCC President and CEO Suzanne Clark said in an internal memo that Carolyn Corley, president of the USCC Foundation (USCCF), would be leaving the Chamber “at the end of the summer.”
Shortly thereafter hillAfter the report was released on Tuesday, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) slammed the Chamber in a post on X as a “front service for woke corporations,” adding that it had “received millions of dollars from George Soros’ organizations.”
The Chamber of Commerce is a front for woke corporations and has received millions of dollars from George Soros’ organizations.
Accepting these donations proves that the Chamber is not the pro-business, apolitical organization it portrays itself as.https://t.co/BQCdaGeMGc
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 11, 2024
