Timothy Mellon’s $5 Million Contribution to American Values 2024 Highlights Bipartisan Help for Kennedy
In a stunning flip of occasions, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of the late New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, has launched into a journey to safe the Democratic presidential nomination. Nevertheless, his marketing campaign has raised eyebrows as a consequence of its monetary backing from an surprising supply – a serious Republican donor.
In keeping with information filed with the Federal Election Fee, Timothy Mellon, the top of a outstanding transportation holding firm and the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, made a considerable contribution of $5 million to American Values 2024 in April. This tremendous political motion committee (PAC) has been fervently supporting Kennedy’s bid for the nomination. Furthermore, Mellon, who has beforehand donated tens of tens of millions to tremendous PACs related to former President Donald Trump and GOP congressional leaders, selected to lend his assist to Kennedy.
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Though Mellon’s donation has raised eyebrows, it’s not with out controversy. In a e-book revealed in 2015, Mellon expressed conservative views and controversially referred to social security web packages as “Slavery Redux.” He additional argued that authorities efforts to alleviate poverty and deal with racism within the Nineteen Sixties and Seventies had the unintended consequence of creating Black folks “much more belligerent.”
The surprising assist Kennedy has garnered from Republican donors has considerably influenced his marketing campaign. Whereas operating towards President Joe Biden within the Democratic main, Kennedy has grow to be considerably of a figurehead for these on the precise who view him as a invaluable software to create divisions inside the Democratic Occasion. Distinguished GOP presidential candidates, resembling Trump, have publicly praised Kennedy and inspired him to proceed difficult Biden. Trump even went so far as calling Kennedy a “commonsense man” and urged him to “cling in” the race. Equally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his assist by suggesting Kennedy ought to examine the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention and the Meals and Drug Administration’s roles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the approval of vaccines.
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American Values 2024, the tremendous PAC supporting Kennedy, has been fast to tout Mellon’s contribution as a logo of “bipartisan assist” that showcases Kennedy’s skill to unite the nation. Mellon’s donation will not be the one important contribution the PAC has acquired. The second-largest donor, Gavin de Becker, a famend safety guide identified for his work with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has contributed a formidable $4.5 million to the trigger.
Extra substantial donations have additionally come from different notable figures. Skyhorse Publishing, an organization owned by Tony Lyons, co-founder of American Values 2024, has contributed over $150,000 to Kennedy’s marketing campaign. Moreover, environmental activist Abby Rockefeller, the great-granddaughter of Commonplace Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, has donated $100,000 to assist Kennedy’s bid for the nomination.
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These important contributions increase a number of questions in regards to the alliances being cast and the dynamics at play in Kennedy’s marketing campaign. Because the Democratic main continues, it stays to be seen how these monetary backers will affect the trajectory of Kennedy’s candidacy and its impression on the political panorama.