Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Donates $10 Million to Nonpartisan Group to Elect Veterans
With Honor is backing 19 Democrats and 14 Republicans running for the House this year
Sean Burch | September 5, 2018 @ 7:07 AM
Last Updated: September 5, 2018 @ 10:23 AM
Jeff Bezos has made his first big political donation.
Amazon’s founder and chief executive has donated $10 million to With Honor, a nonpartisan Super PAC aiming to elect military veterans from both the right and the left to Congress, according to the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. Amazon did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
With Honor is backing 19 Democrats and 14 Republicans running for the House later this year. Rye Barcott, founder of With Honor Fund, told the WSJ the organization does “no screening for ideology,” but seeks a “common bond of service and commitment to the country.”
As Amazon has enjoyed a banner year in 2018, becoming the second company to hit a $1 trillion valuation after Apple, on Tuesday, Bezos’ net worth has continued to swell. The 54-year-old is now worth upwards of $160 billion — making him the richest person on earth.
The $10 million donated to With Honor marks Bezos’ biggest public donation to date. He donated $2.5 million to a group working to keep same-sex marriage legal in Amazon’s home state of Washington in 2012.
Bezos has said he’s taking a different, more immediate approach to charity, in comparison to his “long-term” investments in the Washington Post and Blue Origin, his space exploration company.
“I like long-term — it’s a huge lever: Blue Origin, Amazon, Washington Post — all of these are contributing to society and civilization in their own ways,” Bezos tweeted last year. “But I’m thinking I want much of my philanthropic activity to be helping people in the here and now — short term — at the intersection of urgent need and lasting impact.”
10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos)
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.
House Intelligence Committee
Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President.
House Intelligence Committee
This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child.
House Intelligence Committee
Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said.
House Intelligence Committee
President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme.
House Intelligence Committee
Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem.
House Intelligence Committee
"Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters."
House Intelligence Committee
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Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.