Kroger and Cintas said Tuesday they will halt political donations and Procter & Gamble said it may change who it supports a week after rioting in the nation's capital.
The Cincinnati Fortune 500 companies are joining several corporations across America that are rethinking their financial support for politicians after a mob of Trump supporters ransacked the Capitol as Congress voted to certify the election of Joe Biden to the presidency.
"We are against violence in all its forms, including the riots last week in Washington, D.C. We are pausing PAC donations while we review our PAC-giving philosophy," said Matt Perin, Kroger’s head of government relations, in a statement. "We plan to resume contributions once this assessment is completed."
Kroger's PAC has spent $137,500 in the 2019-2020 election cycle with 67% of its federal contributions going to Republican candidates, according to nonprofit watchdog the Center for Responsive Politics.
Cintas officials said it was also halting contributions, without specifically citing the riots.
"(We) have suspended all activities in order to review our criteria and strategy for the future in light of recent events," Cintas said in a statement.
Cintas' PAC has spent $52,500 in the 2019-2020 election cycle with 77% of its federal contributions going to Republican candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Cintas' announcement is real potential blow to U.S. Steve Chabot, one of five Congressmen who voted against certifying at least one state's electoral votes in favor of Biden.
Donations by Cintas' PAC or from individuals affiliated with the company were Chabot's fourth-largest source of campaign money in the latest election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Meanwhile, P&G stopped short of cutting off its money but signaled it could shift its support going forward. It indicated those changes could result from President Donald Trump's and his supporters' attempts to thwart the results of the November election, which Trump lost.
"Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy and must be protected and respected. We will take into account any failure to do so when determining future support. Our previous decisions on contributions do not dictate choices going forward," P&G said in a statement.
P&G's PAC has spent $429,480 in the 2019-2020 election cycle with 56% of its federal contributions going to Republican candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Fifth Third Bank and Western & Southern Financial did not respond to The Enquirer's emails regarding potential changes to their political donation plans. PACs for the regional bank and insurance company respectively contributed spent $165,000 and $14,800 mostly to Republicans in the last election cycle.
American Financial Group, meanwhile, acknowledged last week's violence but declined to discuss political contributions. Individuals associated with the company made almost $1.3 million in campaign contributions in the latest election cycle.
“We are troubled and saddened by the recent acts of violence in the United States Capitol and extend our deepest sympathy to those injured or killed in the wake of these events," the insurer said in a statement. "We... hope for healing and peace for our great country.”
Other companies temporarily suspending, reducing or reviewing their political contributions reportedly include Citigroup, Visa, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Marriott, American Express, Dow, Best Buy, Airbnb and FedEx.
Some, like Marriott, Airbnb and AT&T, are only stopping donations to the 147 Republicans who opposed certifying President-elect Joe Biden's election.
USA Today contributed to this report.
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