Toyota defends donating $55,000 to 37 Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 Presidential election result
Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has defended its decision to donate $55,000 to 37 Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 Presidential election result.
Toyota donated more than any other corporate PAC to the politicians who voted against the result - and even gave more than twice as much as the second-biggest donor Cubic Corp.
It comes after the Toyota, alongside other corporations across the US, had said they would 'assess' their political donations in response to the Capitol Hill attacks on June 6 and growing divisiveness over the election results.
But data from watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and acquired by Axios paints a different picture.
Toyota donated more than any other corporate PAC to the politicians who voted against the result - and even gave more than twice as much as the second-biggest donor Cubic Corp
The data shows that at least 103 of the 147 members who voted against the election result received donations from corporations including Walmart and Koch Industries.
But Toyota is the company who has donated far more than other businesses, with its $55,000 worth of donations being more than double than the second-biggest donor Cubic Corp.
Just a month after the Capitol Hill attack, Toyota donated $1,000 to Republican Congressman and hardline Trump supporter Andy Biggs, according to official filings to the Federal Election Commission.
Mr Biggs was one of Congress' most vocal election conspiracy theorists and came under fire after going forward with voting against the election results even after the violent Capitol riot forced him to evacuate the chamber and delayed proceedings for hours.
The Arizona Rep. was also involved in the 'Stop the Steal' rally ahead of the storming of the Capitol.
Toyota donated $1,000 to Republican Congressman and hardline Trump supporter Andy Biggs , according to official filings to the Federal Election Commission
Rep. Luetkemeyer of Missouri has previously told donors that if corporations were going to put him in an enemies list for voting against the results, he would put them on his own, reports Bloomberg
In March this year, Toyota also donated $1,000 to Republican Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer and Rep. Alex Mooney, both of whom voted against certifying the election result.
Rep. Luetkemeyer of Missouri has previously told donors that if corporations were going to put him in an enemies list for voting against the results, he would put them on his own, reports Bloomberg.
The data shows that Toyota gave $55,000 to 37 Republicans who voted against the election results, which equates to a quarter of the group who objected to the President Biden's win. Meanwhile, just 8 donations were given by Cubic Corp.
'We do not believe it is appropriate to judge members of Congress solely based on their votes on the electoral certification,' a Toyota spokesperson told Axios in a statement.
'Based on our thorough review, we decided against giving to some members who, through their statements and actions, undermine the legitimacy of our elections and institutions.'
The spokesperson did not respond to the news site's questions about what counts as a statement which would be deemed to have undermined the election's legitimacy.
It comes after the Toyota, alongside other corporations across the US, had said they would 'assess' their political donations in response to the Capitol Hill attacks on June 6 and growing divisiveness over the election results
Other companies who have said they would boycott their political donations in response to the Capitol Hill attacks have continued to give a total of $2.6 million to those who voted to object the result.
For instance, Cigna donated $30,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee despite announcing a boycott.
PACs tied to at least six companies or industry groups—including AT&T, Pfizer, Jetblue, and the National Association of Realtors—have started giving again, forsaking commitments they made after January 6, according to CREW.
'By continuing to fund members of Congress who would undermine American democracy, these corporations and industry groups are sacrificing democratic government for access and influence,' CREW said.
In response to Toyota defending its decision to continue with their political donations, social media users have called for their boycott.
One user tweeted: 'Toyota, my husband and I have been driving your vehicles for nearly 20 years. Your response to Axios shows us a side that warrants us having to rethink continued vehicle ownership under your brand. #GoodbyeToyota.'
Another tweeted: 'This response is arguably even more disturbing than the initial donations, Toyota. Just a terrible, terrible look.'
One tweeted: 'I'm in the market to buy a new car, and .@Toyota was at the top of my list, but definitely not anymore. Wow. Shameful.' Another tweeted: 'I'm saddened that Toyota supports the election deniers, as I like their cars. Crossing Toyota off my list when I buy my next car.'
THE REPUBLICANS SO LOYAL TO TRUMP THEY VOTED TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION - AFTER HIS MOB SMASHED UP THE CAPITOL
SENATORS
Ted Cruz – Texas
Josh Hawley – Missouri
Cindy Hyde-Smith – Mississippi
John Kennedy – Louisiana
Cynthia Lummis – Wyoming
Roger Marshall – Kansas
Rick Scott – Florida
Tommy Tuberville – Alabama
HOUSE
Robert B. Aderholt – Alabama
Rick Allen – Georgia
Jodey Arrington – Texas
Brian Babin – Texas
Jim Baird – Indiana
Jim Banks – Indiana
Jack Bergman – Michigan
Cliff Bentz – Oregon
Stephanie Bice – Oklahoma
Andy Biggs – Arizona
Dan Bishop – North Carolina
Lauren Boebert – Colorado
Mike Bost – Illinois
Ted Budd – North Carolina
Michael C. Burgess – Texas
Mo Brooks – Alabama
Tim Burchett – Tennessee
Ken Calvert – California
Kat Cammack – Florida
Jerry Carl - Alabama
Earl L. 'Buddy' Carter – Georgia
John R. Carter – Texas
Madison Cawthorn – North Carolina
Steve Chabot – Ohio
Ben Cline – Virginia
Michael Cloud – Texas
Andrew Clyde – Georgia
Tom Cole – Oklahoma
Rick Crawford – Arkansas
Warren Davidson – Ohio
Scott DesJarlais - Tennessee
Mario Diaz-Balart – Florida
Byron Donalds – Florida
Jeff Duncan – South Carolina
Neal Dunn – Florida
Ron Estes – Kansas
Pat Fallon – Texas
Michelle Fischbach – Minnesota
Scott Fitzgerald – Wisconsin
Chuck Fleischmann – Tennessee
Virginia Foxx – North Carolina
Russ Fulcher - Idaho
Scott Franklin – Florida
Matt Gaetz – Florida
Mike Garcia – California
Bob Gibbs – Ohio
Carlos Gimenez – Florida
Louie Gohmert – Texas
Bob Good – Virginia
Lance Gooden – Texas
Paul Gosar – Arizona
Garret Graves – Louisiana
Sam Graves – Missouri
Marjorie Taylor Greene – Georgia
Mark E. Green – Tennessee
Morgan Griffith – Virginia
Michael Guest – Mississippi
Jim Hagedorn – Minnesota
Andy Harris – Maryland
Diana Harshbarger – Tennessee
Vicky Hartzler – Missouri
Kevin Hern – Oklahoma
Jody Hice – Georgia
Clay Higgins – Louisiana
Yvette Herrell – New Mexico
Richard Hudson – North Carolina
Darrell Issa – California
Chris Jacobs – New York
Ronny Jackson – Texas
Bill Johnson – Ohio
Mike Johnson – Louisiana
Jim Jordan – Ohio
John Joyce – Pennsylvania
Fred Keller – Pennsylvania
Mike Kelly – Pennsylvania
Trent Kelly – Mississippi
David Kustoff – Tennessee
Doug LaMalfa – California
Brian Mast – Florida
Doug Lamborn – Colorado
Jacob LaTurner – Kansas
Debbie Lesko – Arizona
Billy Long – Missouri
Barry Loudermilk – Georgia
Frank Lucas – Oklahoma
Blaine Luetkemeyer – Missouri
Nicole Malliotakis – New York
Tracey Mann – Kansas
Kevin McCarthy – California
Lisa McClain – Michigan
Daniel Meuser – Pennsylvania
Carol Miller – West Virginia
Mary Miller – Illinois
Alexander Mooney – West Virginia
Barry Moore – Alabama
Markwayne Mullin – Oklahoma
Gregory Murphy – North Carolina
Troy Nehls – Texas
Ralph Norman – South Carolina
Devin Nunes – California
Jay Obernolte – California
Burgess Owens – Utah
Steven Palazzo – Mississippi
Gary Palmer – Alabama
Greg Pence – Indiana
Scott Perry – Pennsylvania
August Pfluger – Texas
Bill Posey – Florida
Guy Reschenthaler – Pennsylvania
Tom Rice – South Carolina
Harold Rogers – Kentucky
Mike Rogers – Alabama
John Rose – Tennessee
Matt Rosendale – Montana
David Rouzer – North Carolina
John Rutherford – Florida
Steve Scalise – Louisiana
David Schweikert – Arizona
Pete Sessions – Texas
Adrian Smith – Nebraska
Jason Smith – Missouri
Lloyd Smucker – Pennsylvania
Elise Stefanik – New York
Greg Steube – Florida
Chris Stewart – Utah
Glenn Thompson – Pennsylvania
Tom Tiffany – Wisconsin
William Timmons – South Carolina
Jeff Van Drew – New Jersey
Beth Van Duyne – Texas
Tim Walberg – Michigan
Jackie Walorski – Indiana
Randy Weber – Texas
Daniel Webster – Florida
Roger Williams – Texas
Joe Wilson – South Carolina
Robert Wittman – Virginia
Ron Wright – Texas
Lee Zeldin – New York