The Orlando Magic basketball crew made a $50,000 donation to By no means Again Down Inc., a brilliant PAC that helps Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s working for the Republican presidential nomination.
The receipt date is famous as June 26, 2023, on the Federal Election Fee’s web site. Nonetheless, a consultant claims the donation was made on Might 19, simply days earlier than DeSantis introduced his bid for president on Might 24.
“To clarify, this gift was given before Gov. DeSantis entered the presidential race. It was given as a Florida business in support of a Florida governor for the continued prosperity of Central Florida,” Joel Glass, the chief communications officer for the NBA crew, instructed HuffPost.
The By no means Again Down tremendous PAC’s sole focus is to help DeSantis’ presidential run, in line with its web site. A consultant for By no means Again Down didn’t instantly reply to HuffPost’s request for remark.
The crew has made donations beforehand, in line with FEC data. In Might 2016, the FEC reported that the crew donated $500 to Conservative Outcomes. In August 2014, the crew reportedly donated $2,000 to a conservative political motion committee, Maverick PAC USA. And in 2000, the crew reportedly donated $500 to help Democrat Linda Chapin’s failed run for Congress.
The Orlando Magic is owned by the DeVos household, in-laws of former Training Secretary Betsy DeVos, who served in Donald Trump’s Cupboard. The present chair of the franchise is Betsy DeVos’ brother-in-law, Dan DeVos, who has made the third-largest contribution to political causes out of all sports activities crew house owners, USA At the moment reported in 2020.
The Orlando Magic has ties to the Disney Co., which has been concerned in a authorized dispute with DeSantis stemming from the state’s anti-LGBTQ legal guidelines. The crew has additionally hosted public occasions to help the LGBTQ group. Disney and DeSantis are in the course of a authorized dispute since Disney spoke out towards the governor’s “Don’t Say Gay” laws and drew what the corporate alleges is politically motivated retribution.
“The @OrlandoMagic needs to pick a side,” former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) tweeted Wednesday in response to information of the crew’s donation to DeSantis.
“You can’t have Pride Night and claim to celebrate and support the LGBTQ community, and then donate $50,000 to a presidential candidate running against the LGBTQ community and promoting a platform to take away our rights.”
