Technology giant Intel Corp. said it will no longer donate to the reelection campaign of Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa).
Dawn Jones, Intel’s director of policy and external partnerships, told employees about the decision in an internal email last week. In the email, Jones said the company reviewed the lawmaker’s public remarks and determined they are at odds with Intel’s principles.
{mosads}”We had engaged with Rep. King because of his support for IP theft protections, which is important to Intel’s business,” Jones said in the email, according to a copy obtained by Popular Information. “However, an Intel employee raised concerns about the donations earlier this month. We looked into the congressman’s public statements and determined that they conflict with Intel values. As a result, we are no longer donating to his campaigns.”
A spokesperson for Intel confirmed the veracity of the email on Monday. The Hill has reached out to the company for further comment.
Intel had donated $2,000 to King’s campaign, Popular Information reported.
King’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
The Iowa Republican is seeking a ninth term in office and faces a challenge from J.D. Scholten (D) in the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
King has faced scrutiny in recent years for his divisive comments on subjects such as immigration. He once tweeted that diversity is not America’s strength.
He recently defended his association with a far-right Austrian group with links to the Nazi party and hard-line views on immigration.
“If they were in America pushing the platform that they push, they would be Republicans,” King told The Washington Post on Saturday.