Rogers in 2012 called for political nonprofits to “get back to full disclosure.”
A new report from Politico Influence reveals that Mike Rogers sold out to dark money groups to do their bidding to deregulate 5G. Before flirting with a presidential run, then launching a Senate run, Rogers was paid over half a million dollars by two dark money organizations: 5G Action Now and Keeping America Safe.
Besides personally being paid, Rogers started another 501(c)4 in 2021 called “LEAD America” which received over $1 million in contributions in 2021 and 2022, but were not required to disclose the source. Rogers used the organization to promote his name in the four early GOP presidential nominating states.
Despite accepting large sums of dark money, Rogers in 2012 called for political nonprofits to “get back to full disclosure.”
“This is typical behavior for politicians like Mike Rogers who used Congress to personally enrich himself,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Nico Delgado. “With just a month to go before Election Day, Rogers is proving to Michiganders that he is willing to continue his corrupt pattern of selling out to the highest bidder. If Rogers wants to represent Michigan, he should disclose who was enriching him.”
Politico Influence: 500 Gs to deregulate 5G
Mike Rogers, the Republican running for Senate in Michigan, several years ago received more than a half million dollars from two dark money groups that were in favor of a deregulatory policy on 5G that he advocated in press hits and op-eds, Daniel reports.
— In 2020, the former representative was announced as the chair of 5G Action Now, a group that was urging the Federal Communications Commission to move faster on approving fifth-generation wireless technology. He warned that China was going to be the leader in 5G unless government agencies removed barriers to 5G implementation. Rogers was paid $225,000 by the coalition in 2020, according to a 990 form from the organization seen by POLITICO.
— 5G Action Now described itself as a “501(c)4 advocacy organization that works to educate members of Congress and the American people” about the issue but did not disclose its donors. Rogers declined to tell the Washington Post back in 2020 who was funding the effort but said he expected the group to release more details soon.
— Rogers wrote several op-eds about 5G policy during his time as chair of the coalition, although one he did for DefenseOne in 2020 didn’t disclose his connection with the group. When Rogers was asked by NextTV if “wireless ISPs, ISPs, satellite companies” backed the group, he said: “Yeah, you can assume people who are interested in clearing the space responsibly” wanted to inform the public about 5G.
— While the group never released its donors, Intelsat, a global satellite provider, was a primary backer of the group, a person directly familiar with the matter told PI. 5G Action Now was pushing for an outcome that Intelsat had a direct financial stake in, allowing a quick sale of its C-band spectrum for 5G. In 2020, Rogers also defended Intelsat’s financial status when asked how its bankruptcy affected the terms of any spectrum sale.
— Intelsat spokesperson Steve Lott said that because he and most of the executive leadership team are relatively new to the company, he didn’t have any insight into the company’s former connection to 5G Action Now. “But generally speaking, Intelsat has long committed to educating the industry and developing guidelines for the use of 5G in frequencies allocated for C-band Fixed Satellite Services.”
— Rogers’ campaign has touted his work for the group during this campaign in pushback to claims made by his opponent Elissa Slotkin in an ad that accused him of “helping Chinese tech companies” and “giving them access to the U.S.”
— He was also paid $380,000 by another dark-money group called Keeping America Safe, according to the organization’s 2021 and 2022 990s seen by POLITICO. The 501(c4) group called itself a “coalition of local and state public safety organizations, businesses, and concerned citizens across the nation” that wanted to encourage innovation and investment in wireless networks as well as provide spectrum to wireless providers to make sure that consumers and public safety officials had access to “high-speed, next-generation wireless services.”
— Rogers and his wife also launched a group called Leadership to Ensure the American Dream, which described its top activity as “strategic media placements” and was used by Rogers to message-test his political principles. The group, which didn’t disclose its donors, received more than a million dollars in donations in 2021 and 2022, according to its 990. Rogers didn’t end up running for president.
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— Rogers previously said in 2012 that “we ought to get back to full disclosure” when asked about nonprofits funding advertising in the presidential race. “You have no idea where the money is coming from. None. I think that’s wrong.”
Published: Oct 4, 2024 | Last Modified: Oct 20, 2024