As Political Strife Intensifies, CUNA Delays Political Contributions

CUNA — whose Political Action Committee was among the largest contributors to members of Congress objecting to the Electoral College count last week — has decided to temporarily suspend all campaign contributions.

“This moment calls for reflection,” Jeff Olson, chairman of CUNA’s Credit Union Legislative Action Committee, said. “In response to the violence on Capitol Hill last week, we have decided to temporarily suspend CULAC contributions to all candidates until further notice.” Olson also is president/CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association.

NAFCU did not respond to repeated attempts to discuss its political giving in light of last week’s events.

In announcing the suspension, CUNA joined many large corporate and trade group contributors that have decided to halt campaign giving following the invasion of the Capitol by rioters who supported overthrowing the election and reelecting President Trump.

CUNA was the 12th largest contributor to the 147 House members and senators who objected last week to the counting of the electoral votes that gave President-elect Joe Biden his victor, according to a tally kept by the Center for Responsive Politics. CUNA contributed a total of $679,500 to the candidates, the center said.

The American Bankers Association was the second-largest contributor to the candidates, giving more than $1.3 million to the Republicans who voted against the vote counting.

In total, CUNA spent more than $5.6 million on the election, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission in November. NAFCU operates a much smaller PAC, spending $280,000 on the 2020 election.

Because it operates a much smaller PAC, the Center for Responsive Politics did not break out NAFCU’s campaign giving to the objectors.

CUNA contributed to some of the most strident leaders of the effort to delay the counting.

CUNA contributed $2,000 to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who, with Sen Ted Cruz (R-Texas), was a leader of the vote challenge in the Senate. Hawley was photographed raising a fist in support of the Capitol protesters on Jan. 6.

One of Hawley’s main political supporters, former Sen. John Danforth (R-Mo.) placed some of the blame for the riot on Hawley’s shoulders. As a result of the challenge and riot, Simon and Schuster, which planned to publish a book by Hawley, canceled the contract. And Hallmark Cards requested that Hawley return campaign contributions its PAC had made to him.

Hallmark also requested that Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) return campaign contributions it had made to the senator. CUNA contributed $10,000 to Marshall’s campaign.

CUNA contributed $10,000 to Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas), who had said that GOP members were in a battle for freedom.

For instance, on Jan. 4 — two days before the Capitol was invaded — Williams tweeted, “We’re in a battle between freedom and socialism. We know just how much the Democrats’ far-left agenda would devastate America. That’s why House Republicans won’t stop fighting for our freedom.”

Following the riot, Williams condemned the violence,

CUNA also contributed $2,500 to Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), one of the House leaders of the effort to stall the Electoral College reporting. Ali Alexander, one of the organizers of the march on the Capitol, said in December that Biggs was one of three House members who were planning “something big.”

A Biggs spokesman has denied that the congressman was cooperating with anyone planning a march on the Capitol.

However, The Intercept reported Monday that at a Dec. 19 rally in Arizona, Biggs told protesters, “We’re going to keep fighting. And I implore you to keep fighting too.”