Press Releases
REPORT: AT&T Hypocritically Fueling Anti-Democratic Efforts With Over $244K To Anti-Voter TX Lawmakers and $96K To ‘Sedition Caucus’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, AT&T Inc.’s shareholders will vote on a proposal — which the Board of Directors “unanimously recommends” shareholders vote against — that was submitted criticizing the company’s “politically focused expenditures” that “appear to be misaligned with its public statements on Company values, views, and operational practices.” As AT&T continues to state how important its reputation and political activity are to its shareholder value, government watchdog Accountable.US released a new report and video revealing AT&T’s rampant hypocrisy surrounding its stated values versus its actions funding anti-democratic and far-right efforts.
The new report found that AT&T had donated at least $96,000 to the members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election results following the insurrection on January 6th, 2021 — all after it had previously claimed it was suspending contributions to this very same group of lawmakers. The analysis also digs into the company’s over $244,000 in donations to Texas legislators after they voted in favor of two restrictive voting bills — SB 1 And SB 1111 — and to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed both bills into law. These donations are a stark contrast to AT&T’s CEO’s own words stating that “’we believe the right to vote is sacred and we support voting laws that make it easier for more Americans to vote in free, fair and secure elections.’”
For far too long, AT&T has been playing both sides, telling its customers and shareholders they embrace voting rights while its affiliated PACs dump thousands into the campaigns of those objecting to our election results and to lawmakers denying the freedom to vote. In its shareholder’s meeting, will AT&T continue risking its reputation by misleading the public about what the company truly values, or will it finally be honest with its customers, shareholders, and employees that protecting its political influence comes before all else? A healthy democracy will always be what’s best for business, and it’s time that AT&T proves what side it’s on.”
Kyle Herrig, President of Accountable.US
Specifically, the shareholder proposal — which cites prior Accountable.US research — calls on AT&T to “publish a report, at reasonable expense, analyzing the congruence of the Company’s political and electioneering expenditures during the preceding year against publicly stated company values and policies, listing and explaining any instances of incongruent expenditures, and stating whether the Company has made, or plans to make, changes in contributions or communications to candidates as a result of identified incongruences.” The resolution also states that the report “include management’s analysis of risks to the Company brand, reputation, or shareholder value associated with expenditures in conflict with its publicly stated company values.”
SEE THE FULL REPORT ON AT&T’S HYPOCRISY:
- AT&T has donated over $244,000 to Texas legislators after they voted in favor of two restrictive voting bills — SB 1 And SB 1111 — and to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed both bills into law. Hypocritically, AT&T’s CEO has stated, “‘we believe the right to vote is sacred and we support voting laws that make it easier for more Americans to vote in free, fair and secure elections.’”
- As of March 2022, AT&T had donated at least $96,000 to the members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election results following the insurrection on January 6th, 2021. The corporation had previously claimed it was suspending contributions to members of Congress who voted to object to the certification of electoral college votes.
