Donald Trump Jr., who identified the individual as Deloitte employee Kevin Gallagher, suggested that Republicans reevaluate the government’s nearly $3 billion in contracts with the consulting firm.
Deloitte noted in a statement that it is a nonpartisan firm and that Gallagher “shared private personal messages on his own volition without the knowledge of Deloitte.”
“Deloitte is deeply committed to supporting our government and commercial clients and we have a long track record of doing so across parties and administrations,” the company added.
The saga began shortly after The Washington Post published Vance’s direct messages from 2020 in which he criticized his now running mate.
Vance reached out to Gallagher on X, then known as Twitter, in October 2019 to praise an essay he had written, leading to a series of messages between the two over a stretch of 11 months, the Post reported after Gallagher’s identity had been revealed.
Gallagher said he was a consultant working with investment managers during the nearly yearlong conversation with Vance but did not mention Deloitte, according to the Post.
Kedric Payne, vice president, general counsel and senior director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, said it is “clear” a government contractor like Deloitte would not lose a government contract under the circumstances.
“It’s possible that those who are bringing this clearly realize that there are no legal grounds for it, but they’re just trying to discourage anyone from making comments because they think their job might be in jeopardy,” Payne told The Hill.
The Hill’s Julia Shapero has more here.
