New report “adds to a growing list of questionable financial ties that have dogged Rogers’ campaign.”
LANSING — American Journal News reported today that Mike Rogers has more “questionable financial ties that have dogged [his] campaign” and details another example of Rogers “using his political connections to advance the interests of private companies.”
The new report follows a series of reports about Rogers selling out Michigan to American adversaries including China and Saudi Arabia to enrich himself.
Read American Journal News’ reporting on Rogers “using his political connections to advance the interests of private companies:”
American Journal News: Republican Mike Rogers used campaign cash to promote defense contractor interests
- U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers funneled political donations to a national security group that wants more American intervention abroad. The revelation adds to a growing list of questionable financial ties that have dogged Rogers’ campaign.
- Rogers served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2015.
- Every candidate for federal office has a principal campaign committee responsible for managing campaign finances. In January 2015, immediately after leaving office, Rogers converted his committee into a PAC called Securing America’s Future. This allowed Rogers to use funds he raised as a candidate for broader political purposes.
- In February 2015, Rogers started a group called Americans for Peace, Prosperity and Security (APPS). The group was financed by a $200,000 donation from Securing America’s Future. In a press release, Rogers said the group would encourage presidential candidates to adopt more hawkish foreign policy positions.
- In May 2015, The Intercept reported the APPS was staffed by a cadre of defense contractors who would benefit from increased militarism. This included Stephen Hadley, who served on the board of directors of Raytheon, and John Engler, who ran a lobbying group that represented Lockheed Martin.
- The Intercept identified six other APPS staffers with ties to the defense industry.
- Securing America’s Future transferred an additional $660,000 to APPS between 2015 and 2016. Andy Keiser, who served as Rogers chief of staff in Congress, was listed as APPS’s director. Keiser was paid $116,333 in this same period.
- This is not the first time Rogers has been accused of using his political connections to advance the interests of private companies. In 2016, he became an advisor for IP3, a nuclear technology company. IP3 unsuccessfully lobbied the Trump administration to relax regulations on nuclear power in the Middle East. Rogers was also a security advisor for AT&T.
- Since leaving office, Rogers’ net worth has ballooned from $655,000 to $13 million.
See also: Detroit News: Mike Rogers targets China in Senate campaign, but his own connections draw criticism, Business Insider: 9 years through the revolving door: How the GOP’s top Senate recruit in Michigan got rich after leaving Congress, Heartland Signal: Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers connected to Saudi companies, including one with nuclear ambitions, Michigan Independent: Bankrolled by pharmaceuticals, Mike Rogers helped block Medicare price negotiation, Michigan Independent: Mike Rogers says he supports UAW strike but fought against union consistently in Congress, Heartland Signal: Michigan Senate candidate spews anti-China rhetoric despite working to expand Chinese companies and personal wealth, The Gander: Mike Rogers voted against reining in special interests. Now he’s running for US Senate, American Journal News: Mike Rogers’ ties to Chinese telecom giants fuel hypocrisy scandal, American Journal News: Michigan Republican Mike Rogers has repeatedly dodged questions about his work at AT&T, American Journal News: Michigan Republican Mike Rogers worked for organization that threatened privacy rights.
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