Fox News

Fox's Parent Company Not The Only News Outlet Funding Gov Races

Ryan J. Reilly | August 19, 2010, 1:35PM

CBS, GE, Walk Disney, News Corporation.

News Corp's $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association was one of the largest single donations to any American political party this campaign season.

The company, headed by chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch, owns the Fox News Channel, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, the Fox Business Network and more than two dozen local television stations.

In a statement, News Corp. said it "believes in the power of free markets, and the RGA's pro-business agenda supports our priorities at this most critical time for our economy."

But it's not the only news company that has delved into financing campaigns.

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Republican Governors Association

Florida GOP Gov Hopeful To RGA: Time To Give Back Rothstein's $200K

Justin Elliott | November 19, 2009, 3:06PM

Bill McCollum and Scott Rothstein (inset)

Bill McCollum, the likely GOP nominee in the Florida gubernatorial race, is calling on the Republican Governors Association to give back a $200,000 donation from accused fraudster attorney Scott Rothstein, whose political support has become a hot issue in the race.

The statement from McCollum, who is in Austin for the RGA conference this week, comes on the heels of a demand from the Democratic Governors Association that McCollum ask the RGA to give the money back.

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Scott Rothstein

That Was Quick: Jindal Giving $10K From Accused Fraudster To Victims' Fund

Justin Elliott | November 18, 2009, 7:35PM

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Scott Rothstein (inset)

Gov. Bobby Jindal will give $10,000 in contributions that he received from accused fraud attorney Scott Rothstein (and from his law firm) to a victims' compensation fund once one is created, says Kyle Plotkin, the governor's press secretary.

The move comes just four hours after TPMmuckraker first reported the news of the donations from Rothstein. The money was given at a pre-game reception held in Jindal's honor before the UF-LSU game in Florida in October 2008. Rothstein was one of nine co-chairs for the event.

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Scott Rothstein

Dem Govs Group Blasts Florida GOP Candidate Over $200K Rothstein Donation

Justin Elliott | November 18, 2009, 5:12PM

Scott Rothstein (inset)

The Democratic Governors Association is going after Bill McCollum, the likely GOP nominee in the race for Florida governor, in the wake of TPMmuckraker's report that the Republican Governors Association got a $200,000 from accused fraudster Scott Rothstein.

"Bill McCollum is spending the week with RGA leadership at their annual fundraiser - in fact, this is the same fundraiser where Rothstein contributed his $200K last year," said DGA communications director Emily DeRose in a statement. "McCollum has two choices: Will he ask the RGA to return the fraudulent money, or will he thank them for using it to boost his chances in Florida?"

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Scott Rothstein

Hut, Hut! Jindal Chomped Up $10K From Accused Fraudster Before Big UF-LSU Game

Justin Elliott | November 18, 2009, 3:18PM

Florida's Jeffrey Demps leaves LSU defenders in the dust, 10/11/08; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Scott Rothstein (inset).

Just hours before the University of Florida Gators administered a 51-21 trouncing of LSU last year, Gov. Bobby Jindal was rubbing elbows with well-heeled Florida supporters at a fundraiser-cum-tailgate party held in a private home north of Gainesville.

One of the co-chairs of the October 2008 reception was none other than Scott Rothstein, then a prominent Fort Lauderdale attorney, now accused of a fraud worth $1 billion.

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Scott Rothstein

GOP Govs Group Got Whopping $200,000 From Accused Fraudster

Justin Elliott | November 17, 2009, 9:56AM

Scott Rothstein (inset)

The Republican Governors Association got a $200,000 donation last year from Fort Lauderdale attorney Scott Rothstein, who is being accused of a fraud worth as much as $1 billion. The RGA did not respond to requests for comment about the contribution, and it's not known whether the money has, or will be, returned.

Rothstein was until his fall a top donor and fundraiser for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who is now locked in a hotly contested U.S. Senate primary with conservative Marco Rubio.

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