A new review of presidential donations finds that Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has decried the influence of lobbyists, has accepted nearly two dozen donations from corporate influencers.
The Center for Public Integrity found that lobbyists for mostly left-leaning groups such as labor unions and the marijuana industry have coughed up checks for Sanders.
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“Unlike President Barack Obama, who refused campaign contributions from registered lobbyists, Sanders’ campaign confirmed it does not ban lobbyists from making contributions — even as Sanders has called on the Democratic Party to maintain a ban, implemented by Obama, on lobbyists giving to the Democratic National Committee,” said the report from Center political reporter Michael Beckel.
However, the donations are a small fraction of the more than $96 million Sanders has raised for his bid against Hillary Rodham Clinton, mostly from small dollar donations.
The Center put the price at “about $3,200 overall” from the lobbyists.
Three lobbyists featured in the report are from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the American Federation of Government Employees, the Teamsters, and the National Cannabis Industry Association.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
