A former Klansman and Cindy Hyde-Smith
Welcome to a special edition of Popular Information, a newsletter with original research and fresh insight into the political news that matters most — written by me, Judd Legum.
Corporations are sick of Cindy Hyde-Smith
First, here’s an update on the impact Popular Information is having on national politics this week.
On Monday morning, I reported on a new FEC filing by Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who said she'd attend a "public hanging." The filing revealed recent donations to Hyde-Smith from major corporations including Walmart ($2000), Union Pacific ($5000), Leidos ($5000) and Boston Scientific ($2500).
This information spread rapidly on social media. Then things started to happen.
On Monday at 4 PM, Union Pacific, the multi-billion dollar railroad company, said that it did not condone Hyde-Smith's "divisive statements" and will "request a refund of our contribution."
On Monday at 5 PM, Boston Scientific, the multi-billion dollar manufacturer, said Hyde-Smith's comments "are not aligned with our company’s core values" and the company has "requested a refund."
On Tuesday at 9 AM, Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, said Hyde-Smith's remarks "do not reflect the values of our company and associates" and the company is "withdrawing our support and requesting a refund of all campaign donations.”
Also on Tuesday, Leidos announced it would ask for a refund of its $5000 contribution.
Later Tuesday, three major corporations who donated in the months before Hyde-Smith's remarks -- AT&T, Pfizer, and Amgen -- said they would ask for their donations to Hyde-Smith to be returned. “We condemn racism and bigotry in all its forms. We are withdrawing our support and have requested a full refund of our contributions, which were made months in advance of the senator’s comments,” Pfizer said in a statement.
The move by companies in the medical industry is particularly notable since Hyde-Smith sits on "the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Food and Drug Administration."
Hyde-Smith faces Democrat Mike Espy in a runoff election on November 27.
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Former Klansman donates to Cindy Hyde-Smith
A former member of the Ku Klux Klan, George Malvaney, donated $1000 to Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) on November 20. The contribution was dated nine days after a video emerged of Hyde-Smith saying she would be willing to attend a "public hanging."
Malvaney was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1979 after he organized a Klavern aboard a combat ship. Following his release from the military, Malvaney was part of a failed plot by white supremacists to overthrow the small Caribbean island of Dominica. The bungled operation is known as the Bayou of Pigs.
The attempted coup was disrupted by federal agents in Lousiana before it started. Malvaney and his co-conspirators were found with "eight Bushmaster automatic rifles, 10 shotguns, five rifles, 10 handguns, 10 pounds of dynamite and 5,246 rounds of ammunition." The men also had "a large red and black Nazi flag."
Malvaney pled guilty and was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison. As part of his plea deal, Malvaney was able to get the felony expunged from his record, and his checkered history did not reemerge until 2010 when he was prominently involved in the cleanup from the explosion at BP's Deepwater Horizon well.
"It's something that happened 30 years ago. I have an unblemished record. My work speaks for itself. My reputation speaks for itself," Malvaney said at the time.
This year, Malvaney published a book about his experiences. In media appearances, he is somewhat vague about how his views have changed since his time in the Klan. In an interview with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, he described it as a "long gradual process" that took "decades."
Malvaney also donated $2700 to Hyde-Smith in May.
Popular Information previously reported that Hyde-Smith accepted a $2700 contribution from a notorious racist in Washington State, Peter Zieve. After that report, Hyde-Smith's campaign told NBC News it was returning the money.
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