With Controversy Growing Over His $10 Million Payout, Sen. Johnson Attends a Fundraiser Hosted By Lobbyists and Super PAC Supporters

Johnson is Attending a Fundraiser Hosted by Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour – Who Also Sits on the Board of a super PAC Supporting Johnson.

Senator Johnson had a busy day in Washington…raising money from lobbyists. As the legal scrutiny around his $10 million corporate payout grows, Senator Johnson is laser focused on shaking the pockets of Washington insiders. His fundraiser tonight is hosted by former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour – a key player in a super PAC supporting Johnson. Barbour sits on the steering committee of Citizen PAC, a super PAC solely devoted to propping up Senator Johnson’s campaign. Super PACs and candidates are not allowed to coordinate, and the fundraiser may raise more ethical issues for Senator Johnson.

Barbour is infamous for a series of racially charged comments he made as Governor. He once referred to President Obama’s policies as ‘tar babies‘ andcalled white citizens councils of the 1960’s ‘positive forces.‘ He didn’t request a pro-segregation group take his photo down from their website and said it wasn’t a big deal that Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell failed to reference slavery in a speech commemorating the confederacy. 

In addition to Barbour, the fundraiser will bring together a who’s who of Washington lobbyists. Not invited? Don’t take it personally. Only the most elite of the Washington elite made the cut. Just take a look at who’s on the host committee:

• Lanny Griffith and Bob Wood — both lobbyists at Gov. Barbour’s lobbying firm BGR

• David Tamasi – Rasky Baerlein lobbyist and Trump Victory Fund chair

• Frank Carlucci – former executive at the Wall Street private equity firm the Carlyle Group

• Peter Madigan – lobbyist  

• Bruce Gates – Former big-tobacco lobbyist

“You can’t blame Senator Johnson for not reading the TPP or putting forward a  plan to combat ISIS; he’s too busy raising money from lobbyists in Washington. A look at the roster of Washington insiders attending Johnson’s fundraiser sums up his campaign mantra: Washington first, Wisconsin last. It’s just another reminder that Senator Johnson’s priority is protecting a rigged systems that helps Washington insiders at the expense of middle and working class Wisconsinites,” said Harry Hartfield, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.