Technology

AT&T will ‘take all concerns very seriously’ when considering future contributions to Steve King

AT&T said Wednesday that it will “take all concerns very seriously” when considering whether to make future campaign contributions to Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa).

The AT&T statement comes after King has come under fire in recent days for past comments in support of parties and people linked to white nationalists.

“Our PAC contributions are managed and approved by a committee of employees who represent various levels and business units throughout the company. Since the 2018 contribution cycle is completed, we will not be making any further contributions to Congressman King this year,” an AT&T spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill.

{mosads} “When the PAC committee meets next year to decide future contributions for 2019 and beyond, they will take all concerns very seriously,” the spokesperson added.

In recent days, other companies including dairy company Land O’Lakes and tech giant Intel Corp.have said they won’t make future contributions to King. 

AT&T’s statement was first reported Wednesday by Buzzfeed News.

The company’s comments come after Jewish leaders in Iowa called on AT&T, Berkshire Hathaway and the American Bankers Association to stop supporting King in a letter to the Des Moines Register this week.

King has in recent days faced criticism for comments he has made against diversity and in support of people or parties with links to white nationalism.
 
On Saturday, he defended the Austria Freedom Party in an interview with The Washington Post. He said the party, which was founded by a former Nazi SS officer, would be Republican if it were in the United States.

He has also previously said “diversity is not our strength” and supported a white nationalist candidate in Canada.

The chairman of the House GOP campaign arm, Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), on Tuesday condemned King for his “recent comments, actions, and retweets,” writing on Twitter that “we must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms.”

King is seeking reelection in next week’s midterm and faces a potentially difficult race against Democratic J.D. Scholten in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District.

A poll published this week showed the incumbent with just a 1-point advantage in the race.