WASHINGTON, DC – Today, The Tech Oversight Project issued the following statement amid Washington Republicans’ bogus response to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. GOP politicians are using tech as a cudgel to slander the Biden Administration, yet House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Washington Republicans have repeatedly done Big Tech’s bidding by blocking bipartisan antitrust reform and pocketing Big Tech’s campaign donations.
“House Republicans like Kevin McCarthy and Jim Jordan talk a big game about fighting the tech industry, but they routinely cozy up to Silicon Valley and pocket their money, while refusing to hold Big Tech accountable through bipartisan reforms,” said Kyle Morse, Deputy Executive Director of The Tech Oversight Project. “Spewing bad faith arguments does not make them true and, in this case, is a smoke-and-mirrors campaign to hide who the GOP’s best friends really are.”
RESEARCH:
Kevin McCarthy
- McCarthy said he opposed House antitrust legislation targeting Big Tech after receiving tens of thousands of dollars from Big Tech. LINK
- Bill Whalen, a GOP strategist, said McCarthy had “worked [Silicon] Valley more so than almost any other Republican.” LINK
- McCarthy was considered an “unofficial ambassador” to Silicon Valley for House Republicans, trying to woo the industry. LINK
- Carl Guardino, President of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, said McCarthy “Recognizes…that Silicon Valley is integral to the state’s and nation’s success.” LINK
- McCarthy courted support from Silicon Valley since he was a California State Legislator. LINK
- The Internet Association awarded McCarthy its 2015 “Congressional Internet Freedom Award.” LINK
- The Information Technology Industry Council named McCarthy its 2012 “Tech Sector Legislator Of The Year.” LINK
- Facebook Lobbyist Katie Harbath: She said, off camera or out of earshot, McCarthy acknowledges that he rails against Big Tech due to pressure from his fellow members. “But at the end of the day, I think he understands more than most that Facebook’s got to do what they’ve got to do, and he’s got to do what he’s got to do, and it’s all part of the political game of Washington. LINK
- McCarthy’s long-time political advisor and ally Jeff Miller was a lobbyist for Apple and Amazon. Miller aggressively lobbied against the 2021 Big Tech antitrust legislation that McCarthy came out against. LINK
- Headline: Politico: “He has ‘Kevin’s ear’ and could become the most powerful unelected man in DC.” LINK
- Republican Lobbyist: “Jeff has an amazing ability to monetize whatever circumstances he finds himself in.” LINK
- Miller sought out Republican lawmakers in person and via phone to pressure them to oppose antitrust legislation including leaving a “particularly aggressive voicemail on a lawmaker’s phone.” LINK
- McCarthy announced his opposition to antitrust legislation in the midst of Miller’s pressure campaign on Congress. LINK
- Miller helped run dark money scheme for California ballot initiatives that resulted in millions of dollars in fines. LINK
Jim Jordan
- Jim Jordan refused to sign a campaign pledge to reject campaign contributions from Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, and Twitter. LINK
- Jim Jordan and his staff accepted 17 trips sponsored by Big Tech and allied organizations – totaling almost $39,000. Those organizations include ALEC, the Consumer Technology Association, the Information Technology Innovation Foundation, the Internet Association, Technology Policy Institute. LINK
- From 2006 to today, Jim Jordan has accepted over $400,000 in campaign contributions from the communications and technology sector. Groups include: Amazon, CTA/CEA, CTIA, Google. LINK
- Former Google Lobbyist and now-CEO of the Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich, personally gave Jim Jordan $1,000 in 2018. LINK
- Jim Jordan and his staff have participated in over 40 trips funded by the Heritage Foundation, which opposed antitrust reform and received $1.55 million from Google and $275,000 from Meta. LINK to Heritage Funding. LINK to Travel Disclosure.
- Koch Industries is funding organizations attacking antitrust reform and antitrust enforcement. They were the 4th largest donor for Jordan’s Congressional Campaigns. LINK
- Tyler Grimm, Jordan’s top advisor on tech issues, is a graduate of the George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law, which has received at least $3.4 million in donations from Big Tech companies like Google and Amazon.
- Grimm received nearly $18,000 in travel expenses from Big Tech companies and allies that were opposed to antitrust, groups include CTA, ACT, ITIF, Pandora, TPI.
- From 2017-2018, Grimm received $4,300 in trip expenses paid by the ITIF.
- From 2016 to 2023, Grimm received $8,400 in travel expenses from CTA.
- Adam Cella, an attorney advisor for soon-to-be former FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson, was detailed to Jordan’s office to do antitrust work.
- Chris Hixon, Judiciary Committee Staff Director, and his family had investments worth up to $1.08 million in a mutual fund whose largest holdings were Big Tech companies.