Oct 03, 2011
New Report: Rob Cornilles Campaign Supporter Koch Industries Benefits from Doing Business with Iran
In a new investigative report released today, Bloomberg revealed that Rob Cornilles’ campaign contributor Koch Industries did business with Iran despite Iran being known for financing terrorists and calls of “death to America.”
Bloomberg reports that “Koch Industries -- in addition to being involved in improper payments to win business in Africa, India and the Middle East -- has sold millions of dollars of petrochemical equipment to Iran, a country the U.S. identifies as a sponsor of global terrorism.” Rob Cornilles has accepted $2,500 from Koch Industries, which has ties to or has funded ultra conservative causes including the Tea Party, John Birch Society, and ending Social Security.
“Rob Cornilles’ ties to Koch Industries raise serious questions about whether he supports Koch Industries’ business with Iran while it received American tax breaks for its Big Oil business,” said Amber Moon, Western Regional Press Secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Will Rob Cornilles return this Iran-tainted money from Koch Industries or will he stand with the Kochs’ Big Oil tax breaks and plans to end Social Security?”
Background:
Koch Brothers Flout Law Getting Richer With Secret Iran Sales. “A Bloomberg Markets investigation has found that Koch Industries -- in addition to being involved in improper payments to win business in Africa, India and the Middle East -- has sold millions of dollars of petrochemical equipment to Iran, a country the U.S. identifies as a sponsor of global terrorism.” [Bloomberg, 10/3/11]
Cornilles Received $2,500 from Koch Industries. In the 2010 campaign Cornilles received $2,500 from Koch Industries. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 9/29/11]
Koch Industry Leaders Had Ties to John Birch Society, Pledged to Abolish Social Security and Backed Tea Party. The father of the Koch Brothers was a founder of the anti- communist John Birch Society. David Koch ran for vice president on the Libertarian ticket, pledging to abolish Social Security. And the Koch brothers also backed a foundation that has trained thousands of Tea Party activists. [Bloomberg, 10/3/11]
Cornilles Called Himself “The Original Tea Party Candidate.” In 2010, Cornilles called himself “the original Tea Party candidate” because he had been running the longest of any candidate running in Oregon and epitomized Tea Party values. [Executive Club forum, 5/5/10]
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