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Dallas-based AT&T pledged to cut funding to GOP objectors after Jan. 6, but gave to PACs tied to them

The company maintains that it is continuing to suspend contributions to members who objected.

Dallas-based AT&T sent thousands of dollars through its PAC to Republican groups with ties to members of Congress who objected to certifying President Joe Biden’s victory on Jan. 6, after announcing it would no longer contribute to those members in the days after the Capitol riot that day.

AT&T was one of several major companies that halted cash flow to objectors, including Intel and Cigna, both of which have also donated to Republican political action committees supporting members who objected to the Electoral College vote, according to a report by Popular Information.

“Employees on our federal PAC board convened a call today and decided to suspend contributions to members of Congress who voted to object to the certification of Electoral College votes last week,” the AT&T spokesperson told The Dallas Morning News at the time.

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Texans cut off included the 17 Republicans in the House who voted to object to the Electoral College votes, as well as Sen. Ted Cruz.

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The move was one aspect of the fallout from the deadly riot and failed effort to overturn Biden’s victory. But recent filings with the Federal Election Commission hint that it wasn’t for the long run.

In February, the AT&T Federal Political Action Committee donated up to $15,000 to Republican PACs with members who voted to overturn the Electoral College results in contributions to the House Conservatives Fund, Republican Main Street Partnership PAC and the Tuesday Group PAC.

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The House Conservatives Fund is chaired by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., who voted to overturn the election results, and it also lists Texas Rep. John Carter of Round Rock on its website as a member. Carter also voted against the Electoral College results.

AT&T’s PAC also donated to the Republican Main Street Partnership PAC and the Tuesday Group PAC, both of which include members who voted to overturn the Electoral College vote.

AT&T spokesman Michael Balmoris said the PAC is still adhering to the policy it adopted in January “of suspending contributions to the reelection campaigns of members of Congress who voted to object to the certification of Electoral College votes.”

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“We have been assured that none of the employee PAC’s contributions will go toward the reelection of any of those members of Congress,” Balmoris said. “Any future contributions to multi-candidate PACs will require such consistency with the policy suspending individual contributions.”

AT&T will no longer donate to groups with members who voted to overturn the election results.

The Dallas-based internet and cell service provider has come under scrutiny for its PAC donations, as Reuters reported more fundraisers for congressional candidates are lobbying corporations to open their pocketbooks again. But some corporations won’t bite. Microsoft announced it is suspending all contributions for objectors until the 2022 election cycle

AT&T’s PAC made more than $2.6 million in contributions to politicians just in 2020, making it one of the biggest players in Washington. The Center for Responsive Politics ranked it the fifth-most active PAC in the country.

In Dallas, AT&T is ever present, from the city’s skyline to the AT&T Performing Arts Center to its name inscribed on the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington.

The PAC came under fire from Democrats and activists for its campaign donations to Cruz, who objected to the Electoral College votes for the state of Arizona, right before rioters broke into the Capitol.

In the 2020 election cycle, 11 Republicans in Texas received money from the PAC, including Reps. Lance Gooden of Terrell, Jodey Arrington of Lubbock, Michael Burgess of Pilot Point, John Carter of Round Rock, Ronny Jackson of Amarillo, Troy Nehls of Richmond, Pete Sessions of Waco, Beth Van Duyne of Irving, Randy Weber of Friendswood, Roger Williams of Austin and Ron Wright of Arlington, who died last month.