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Judd Legum Profile picture
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25 Jan, 9 tweets, 5 min read
1. @Microsoft has released new information in an attempt to justify its late-December donation to @HawleyMO

But does its story add up?

No.

And I have receipts.

Follow along if interested.

popular.info/p/microsofts-u…
@Microsoft @HawleyMO 2. @HawleyMO announced he would object to the Electoral College and attempt to overturn Biden's victory on 12/30

On 12/31 Hawley's joint fundraising committee reported a $2500 contribution from @Microsoft

But Microsoft claims this is a distortion

popular.info/p/microsofts-u…
3. @Microsoft says it APPROVED to donation to Hawley on 12/10 and mailed the check on 12/17

The implication is if it had known Hawley was contesting the legitimacy of the election it wouldn't have donated the money

But Microsoft's story doesn't hold up

popular.info/p/microsofts-u…
4. By the time Microsoft approved the donation on 12/20, Hawley had been contesting the legitimacy of the election and promoting Trump's lies about election fraud for WEEKS.

Let's review.

popular.info/p/microsofts-u…
5. In a NOV 5 interview on Tucker Carlson, Hawley promoted reports that illegitimate ballots were being dumped into polling places in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

popular.info/p/microsofts-u…
6. On November 7, after all media outlets projected Biden as the winner, Hawley tweeted that the election was still up in the air because of "allegations of fraud."

popular.info/p/microsofts-u…
7. On NOV 10, Hawley introduced a bill that experts said was "aimed at bolstering the president's unsubstantiated claims of fraud"

It would have required 24/7 video surveillance of drop boxes, among other things

popular.info/p/microsofts-u…
8. "Trump's fraud claims are false and toxic. Hawley must stop endorsing them," the St. Louis Dispatch wrote in an editorial on NOV 11.

I could go on and on. The point is, by the time @Microsoft approved the donations, Hawley's posture was well-known

popular.info/p/microsofts-u…
9. @Microsoft is trying to navigate a reputational crisis.

But spin that is inconsistent with the facts won't cut it.

For more accountability journalism, sign up for the newsletter.

popular.info/subscribe

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More from @JuddLegum

Judd Legum Profile picture
26 Jan
1. Senate Republicans do not want to defend Trump's conduct because he incited a riot that killed 5 people

But they also don't want to convict Trump because Trump is still popular with the GOP base

So they've invented a third way: IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL

popular.info/p/threading-th…
2. This argument is appealing politically, but legally it's bunk.

The Constitution's text does not limit impeachment to sitting Presidents.

It also explicitly says the Senate can try ALL impeachments. And Trump was impeached.

popular.info/p/threading-th…
3. It's also happened before. In 1876, War Secretary William Belknap ran over to the White House and submitted his resignation to avoid impeachment and trial. It didn't work. The Senate conducted a trial more than a month after his resignation.

popular.info/p/threading-th…
Read 4 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
26 Jan
UPDATE: @Google says its PAC will "it will not be making any contributions this cycle to any member of Congress who voted against certification of the election results"

popular.info/p/three-major-…
@Google 2. This is significant because @Google, like dozens of other companies, announced a pause of all political giving while it conducted a review.

Google's move makes it harder for other companies not to act

popular.info/p/three-major-…
3. We will continue monitoring all these companies.

The ones that have made pledges.

The ones that are still reviewing the pledges.

The ones that haven't said anything.

For updates and accountability journalism, sign up for the newsletter.

popular.info/subscribe
Read 6 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
23 Jan
UPDATE: @Microsoft will announce by FEBRUARY 15 whether it will “suspend further donations to individuals who voted against certification of the Electoral College.”

(All donations are suspended for now.)
@Microsoft 2. Unclear why @Microsoft isn't making a decision now but it appears to be signaling that it will cut off donations to this group: "The company believes that opposition to the Electoral College undermined American democracy and should have consequences."
3. The announcement comes the day after a leaked transcript showed @Microsoft President Brad Smith defending PAC donations as "important" because they allow Microsoft to get access and "help" from politicians

Read 4 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
23 Jan
1. @Microsoft is one of the largest contributors to the members of Congress who tried to subvert the Democratic process

Microsoft has made NO COMMITMENTS to stop funding this group

At a company meeting on Thursday, Prez Brad Smith explained why.

And it's pretty appalling
@Microsoft 2. In a transcript of the meeting leaked to CNBC, Smith said that @Microsoft needs to make contributions to politicians because sending these politicians money allows him to "pick up the phone" and get "help"

cnbc.com/2021/01/22/mic…
@Microsoft 3. Smith says @Microsoft is going to continuing to give lots of politicians money because this "help" -- which includes help on "tax issues" -- is "important"

Apparently more important than the integrity of the democratic process.
Read 9 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
21 Jan
On DECEMBER 30, 2020: Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) announced he would object to the certification of the electoral college

On DECEMBER 31, 2020: @Microsoft donated $2500 to Hawley
@HawleyMO @Microsoft On DECEMBER 30, 2020: Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) announced he would object to the certification of the electoral college

On DECEMBER 31, 2020: @WellsFargo donated $1500 to Hawley
For updates and accountability journalism, sign up for the newsletter:

popular.info/subscribe
Read 5 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
21 Jan
1. A top DC lobbying firm hired a controversial Trump advisor and tried to keep it under wraps.

When I reached out for comment, the firm attempted to cover up the cover up.

But I have receipts.

popular.info/p/top-dc-lobby…

Follow along if interested.

popular.info/p/top-dc-lobby…
2. The firm @forbestate hired Trump advisor Tate Bennett on January 5 as an SVP at the firm.

Normally, when @forbestate hires someone at that level there is a press release, a tweet, and an article in Politico.

But with Bennett NOTHING.

popular.info/p/top-dc-lobby…
@forbestate 3. I reached out to @ForbesJeffrey, the co-founder of the firm, and asked why the firm was keeping Bennett's hiring quiet.

I gave him a deadline of 5PM on 1/20 to respond.

Forbes never responded

But on January 20 at 4:04 PM an article on Bennett's hiring appeared in Politico
Read 8 tweets

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