Giants owner Charles B. Johnson, criticized by many fans of the team for supporting Rep. Lauren Boebert, said Monday night that he asked for his and his wife’s donations to be returned.
In a statement released by the Giants, Johnson said he and his wife, Ann, will also seek reimbursement from others who “have been involved in similar behavior”.
Boebert, a new Colorado Republican Republican, expressed support for conspiracy theory group QAnon and tweeted about the location of Mayor Nancy Pelosi in the midst of the January 6 violent attack on the U.S. Capitol building.
Johnson, 88, and his wife donated $ 2,800, the maximum amount, each to Boebert’s campaign, according to the Federal Electoral Commission files. The Giants said Johnson, the team’s main owner, contacted Boebert to request a refund of September contributions.
“As I stated last week,” said Johnson in the statement, “I am shocked by the violence that broke out on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021 and the destructive efforts to interrupt the certification of the 2020 Presidential Elections. My wife Ann and I reject and we denounce any individuals, candidates or elected officials who do not honor our constitution or who defend or assist in violence of any kind. I contacted Representative Lauren Boebert’s office to request a full refund of our contribution. I will continue to monitor the ongoing investigation closely and will request reimbursement from any other individuals who have engaged in similar behavior. And I promise to do my part to help heal our nation and restore peace and respect in our democratic system. “
On Friday, Johnson released his first statement and said that “I would never have imagined that any legitimate candidate would participate in the weakening of the central values of our great country. Nor was I aware that any candidate I contributed to was associated with QAnon. “
In the initial statement, Johnson did not say he would ask for a refund.
On Thursday, the Giants issued a statement condemning the attack and saying that the team’s policy prohibits company contributions to candidates for federal positions and added: “Individual contributions from employees and investors are considered to be of a personal nature.”
Christine Pelosi, Nancy’s daughter on the Giants ‘Community Fund board, told columnist Marcos Breton of Sacramento Bee that she was furious at the Giants’ response and asked Johnson to demand a refund. She said she would leave the board if Johnson and the Giants did not address the issue on Monday, the day she honors Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
After Johnson’s statement on Monday night, Pelosi told The Chronicle: “It has been a very intense and scary period. I thank Mr. Johnson and the Giants for their commitment to justice and healing. “
She also said she was grateful for the support of Giants fans and credited Giants announcer Renel Brooks-Moon and Breton for speaking up “despite risking access and comfort”.
“As you know, part of the magic of baseball is that it brings people from all walks of life together,” said Pelosi, “and while we try to keep politics out of the game and we are all friends at ballyard, we must draw the line in violence and sedition. “
Johnson also asked in 2018 for a donation to be returned. He supported then-Senate candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Who said she would be on the “front row” if invited to a public hanging. Civil rights leaders called for a boycott of the Giants, and Johnson said in an interview with the Chronicle that his comments were “stupid” and “offensive”. He said the donation was returned.
Johnson has donated nearly $ 11 million to Republican candidates and political action committees in federal elections since 2015, according to a 2020 analysis by ESPN and FiveThirtyEight. He gave the Democrats $ 5,200.
John Shea covers the Giants for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @JohnSheaHey