U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) is facing questions from voters after campaign finance reports reveal one of his campaign’s largest financial contributors is a law firm closely connected to Democrats.
During the 2020 election cycle, Brady received $17,700 from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLC, an international law firm headquartered in New York City that is a large financial contributor to Democrats. Loretta Lynch, who was formerly the U.S. Attorney General under the Obama administration, is a partner at the firm. Paul, Weiss et al. are Brady’s fourth-largest donor this cycle.
During the 2018 election cycle, Paul, Weiss et al. contributed more money to federal candidates and political action committees than any other law firm. Out of the $2.7 million donated by the firm that cycle, 93 percent of it went to Democrats.
Some of the top recipients of money from Paul, Weiss et al. in 2020 include Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) ($188,147), Joe Biden ($159,896), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) ($143,133), South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg ($127,819), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) ($59,000), and New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio ($49,250). The firm has made somewhat smaller donations to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) ($8,877), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) ($7,200), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) ($6,025), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) ($1,040), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) ($794).
In addition to being a major funder to Democrats, Paul, Weiss et al. has championed several left-wing causes pro-bono in high-profile cases. The firm filed a Supreme Court brief supporting a “constitutional right to abortion,” and sued to overturn Missouri’s 8-week abortion ban and to hold gun manufacturers responsible for the Sandy Hook shooting.
Paul, Weiss et al. has come under recent scrutiny over its connection to former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who is currently a fugitive in Lebanon after escaping arrest in Japan for allegations of embezzlement and misreporting funds. Ghosn paid Paul, Weiss et al. over a million dollars in 2019.
“This is par for the course,” said Kirk Osborn, who is challenging Brady in the Republican primary. “Brady talks about how he is against Planned Parenthood but then takes money from a law firm that funds Planned Parenthood’s candidates. I call it the Texas two-step.”
Brady’s campaign did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment.
