The Orlando Magic basketball group 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. Nevertheless, a consultant claims the donation was made on Could 19, simply days earlier than DeSantis introduced his bid for president on Could 24.
“To make clear, this reward was given earlier than Gov. DeSantis entered the presidential race. It was given as a Florida enterprise in assist of a Florida governor for the continued prosperity of Central Florida,” Joel Glass, the chief communications officer for the NBA group, informed JS.
The By no means Again Down tremendous PAC’s sole focus is to assist DeSantis’ presidential run, in accordance with its website. A consultant for By no means Again Down didn’t instantly reply to JS’s request for remark.
The group has made donations beforehand, in accordance with FEC records. In Could 2016, the FEC reported that the group donated $500 to Conservative Results. In August 2014, the group reportedly donated $2,000 to a conservative political motion committee, Maverick PAC USA. And in 2000, the group reportedly donated $500 to assist Democrat Linda Chapin’s failed run for Congress.
The Orlando Magic is owned by the DeVos family, 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 group house owners, USA Today 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 laws. The group has additionally hosted public occasions to assist the LGBTQ community. Disney and DeSantis are in the course of a authorized dispute since Disney spoke out against the governor’s “Don’t Say Homosexual” laws and drew what the corporate alleges is politically motivated retribution.
“The @OrlandoMagic wants to choose a facet,” former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) tweeted Wednesday in response to information of the group’s donation to DeSantis.
“You possibly can’t have Delight Night time and declare to have a good time and assist the LGBTQ neighborhood, after which donate $50,000 to a presidential candidate working towards the LGBTQ neighborhood and selling a platform to remove our rights.”
