2 companies scrap Rep. Hagedorn donations after BLM comments
Some companies that have supported U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn's campaign are disavowing his recent comments about the Black Lives Matter movement and are asking for their money back or vowing not to contribute to his campaign in the future.
Hagedorn in a post on Facebook in June, wrote:
"The Democrat 'Black Lives Matter' Party, along with armies of rioters, are at war with our country, our beliefs and western culture. Their radical movement is orchestrated and growing. We must never let them take power. We must stand up and defend our country, our nation’s identity, our Judeo-Christian values and our American way of life."
Critics say the notion of protecting "western culture" has been linked to the white nationalist movement, and has been invoked, among others, controversial Iowa Rep. Steve King, who has a long history of racist remarks. Now the Minnesota Republican's remarks have led to at least two companies who've donated to his campaign disavowing his remarks.
UnitedHealth Group has donated $7,500 to his reelection campaign (one of his largest corporate contributors), including $2,500 on June 30, and Intel last donated $4,000 to his campaign in late 2018, Popular Information said.
In a statement to BMTN on Thursday, Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group said:
"We were unaware of these egregious and hurtful statements attributed to Rep. Hagedorn and they in no way reflect the values of our company. We regret our past contributions, and will not make any future contributions to him."
Meanwhile, Intel told Popular Information that it will not make future contributions to Hagedorn's campaign and has asked for his campaign to return the $4,000.
Hagedorn represents Minnesota's First District in the U.S. House of Representatives. BMTN has reached out to Hagedorn's office and Intel for comment.
