AP Exclusive: MLB suspends political donations after DC riot

Major League Baseball is suspending all political contributions in wake of last week's invasion of U.S. Capitol by a mob loyal to President Donald Trump, joining a wave of major corporations rethinking ir efforts to lobby Washington.

“In light of unprecedented events last week at U.S. Capitol, MLB is suspending contributions from its Political Action Committee pending a review of our political contribution policy going forward,” league said in a statement to Associated Press on Wednesday.

Following insurrection last week by Trump supporters while Congress attempted to certify results of presidential election, many companies have said y will avoid making donations to members of House and Senate who voted to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. Ors, like MLB, have postponed political giving to both political parties altoger.

MLB is first of major professional sports leagues to say it would alter its lobbying strategy in wake of dely Capitol riots.

Office of Commissioner of Major League Baseball Political Action Committee has donated $669,375 to Senate and House candidates since 2016 election cycle, with 52.4% of that money going to Republican candidates, according to Center for Responsive Politics .

Among its lobbying successes was a bill in 2018 that exempted mir league baseball players making as little as $5,500 per season from federal minimum w laws, preempting a lawsuit from three players filed four years earlier. “Save America’s Pastime Act” appeared on p 1,967 of a $1.3 trillion spending bill.

Since 2016 election cycle, MLB has me contributions to two senators and nine representatives who were among those opposing certification of Biden's victory.

Senate Republicans are Ted Cruz (Texas) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi), and House Republicans are Roger Williams (Texas), Kevin McCarthy (California), David Schweikert (Arizona), Steve Chabot (Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (Oklahoma), rian Smith (Nebraska), Michael Burgess (Texas), Rick Crawford (Arkansas) and Elise Stefanik (New York).

Im credits: AP