Oct 11, 2011
Profits from Iran Funding American Elections?
According to a new Politico story, the controversial billionaire conservative Koch Brothers are planning to spend a record breaking $200 million – or more – in the 2012 elections through their network of conservative groups across the country. Last week, a new Bloomberg investigation revealed that Koch Industries profited from business with Iran, despite U.S. sanctions, and paid bribes to get business in six different countries.
“Republicans have a choice to make – do they accept record amounts of campaign cash from these right wing financiers who did business with the Iranian regime, known for their sponsorship of terrorism and calls of ‘death to America’ or do they stand up for American values?” said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “What’s more important to House Republicans – the army of right wing groups funding their campaigns or standing firm against America’s enemies?”
Bloomberg reported that “Koch Industries -- in addition to being involved in improper payments [bribes] 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.” While Koch Industries profited in Iran, they have defended taxpayer subsidies for their own Big Oil interests here at home.
Background
Koch Plans to Play Bigger Role in 2012. “The billionaire industrialist brothers David and Charles Koch plan to steer more than $200 million — potentially much more — to conservative groups ahead of Election Day, POLITICO has learned.” [Politico, 10/10/11]
Koch Industries Sold Millions Worth of Petrochemical Equipment to Iran. “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. […] Internal company documents show that the company made those sales through foreign subsidiaries, thwarting a U.S. trade ban.” [Bloomberg, 10/3/11]
Koch Industries Did Business with Iran the Day After Bush Told Congress Iran Supported Terror. In 2011, ABC News reported that Koch industries did business with Iran the “day after President Bush told Congress in his State of the Union message that Iran continued to be an enemy of the U.S. that ‘represses its people, pursues weapons of mass destruction and supports terror.’” [ABC News, 10/7/11]
The Kochs are “America’s richest brothers, and notorious underwriters of the right-wing” and have “spent untold millions on right-wing candidates and causes.” [Forbes, 1/18/11]
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