CANADA BRIEFING

Canada: The connection between Canada-headquartered companies and U.S. Congress members who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election – Democracy, human rights and rule of law concerns

• Donations and Democracy
• 10 March 2026
• sources are cited in the footnotes

Contents

1. Canada-headquartered companies connected with donations to U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results 

• 1.1 16 Canada-headquartered companies whose U.S. subsidiary's PAC has donated directly
• 1.2 The connection between Canada-headquartered companies and U.S. trade associations whose PACs have donated
• 1.3 Our communications with the companies and trade associations 
• 1.4 Why it would be misleading for a company or trade association to disclaim responsibility for which candidates receive donations from its PAC
• 1.5 Other types of company and trade association donations not covered in this briefing

2. Storming of U.S. Capitol halts certification proceedings

3. Congressional votes to certify presidential election results

4. Concerns about the attempt to deny certification of the election results

5. Concerns about company donations to Congress members who voted against certification

6. Democracy, human rights and rule of law concerns

7. Details of 16 Canada-headquartered companies whose U.S. subsidiary's PAC has donated directly

8. Details of U.S. trade association donations mentioned in section 1.2 of this briefing 

Footnotes

1. Canada-headquartered companies connected with donations to U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results

• 1.1  16 Canada-headquartered companies whose U.S. subsidiary's PAC has donated directly

According to the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) website, the following 16 large Canada-headquartered international companies have a U.S. subsidiary whose Political Action Committee (PAC) has donated directly to the political campaigns of U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.[1] Those certification votes were held after the courts had ruled the election was fair,[2] and after William Barr, Attorney General in the Trump administration at that time, stated that the Justice Department had not uncovered evidence of widespread voter fraud that would change the outcome of the election.[3] Those Congress members have been strongly criticized for attempting to undermine democracy by voting against certification. 

• See section 7 of this briefing for a list of Congress members who received donations, after they voted against certifying the election results, from the subsidiary PAC of each of these companies.
• The list below reflects donations made after the relevant congressional votes on 6 and 7 January 2021, and covers donations recorded on the FEC website as of 2 March 2026. (Note: There is a bit of a time lag between the date a donation is made and the date it appears on the FEC website.) We aim to track and report on future donations linked to these and other Canada-headquartered companies. 
• There may be other Canada-headquartered companies whose subsidiary PAC has donated directly to the campaigns of U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the election results; for this briefing, with regard to such direct donations, Donations and Democracy researched many of the largest Canada-headquartered companies. 

- AtkinsRéalis Group (formerly known as SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., it is an engineering, procurement and construction multinational): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary AtkinsRéalis USA Holdings[4] has donated to the political campaigns of 3 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Bank of Montreal (BMO) (a multinational investment bank and financial services company): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary BMO Financial[5] has donated to the political campaigns of 6 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Bombardier (a multinational aerospace manufacturer that produces business jets): The PAC of a U.S. subsidiary of Bombardier[6] has donated to the political campaigns of 6 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Brookfield: The PAC of Westinghouse Electric Company[7], a U.S. nuclear power company currently majority owned by Brookfield Renewable Partners (Brookfield Business Partners owned Westinghouse in 2018–2023), has donated to the political campaigns of 14 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. Brookfield Renewable Partners (headquartered in Toronto) is majority owned by Brookfield Asset Management (headquartered in New York City since December 2024). Brookfield Corporation (headquartered in Toronto) is the parent company and controlling shareholder of both Brookfield Business Partners (headquartered in Toronto) and Brookfield Asset Management.[8]

- Canadian National Railway Company (a freight railway company with operations in Canada and USA): The PAC of its subsidiary holding company for its properties in the U.S. and Canada, Grand Trunk Corporation[9], has donated to the political campaigns of 5 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- CGI (a multinational information technology consulting and software development company): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc.[10] has donated to the political campaigns of 8 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Domtar (a multinational pulp and paper company): The PAC of a U.S. subsidiary of Domtar[11] has donated since 1 March 2023 (the date Domtar acquired Resolute Forest Products) to the political campaigns of 14 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. (See also the listing for Resolute Forest Products below, covering donations its PAC made before it was acquired by Domtar.)

- Enbridge (a multinational pipeline and energy company): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Enbridge (U.S.)[12] has donated to the political campaigns of 21 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Fortis (a multinational electric utility holding company): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary ITC Holdings[13] has donated to the political campaigns of 8 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Great-West Lifeco (a multinational holding company primarily focused on insurance; its subsidiaries include Canada Life in Canada, and Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America in the U.S.): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Empower[14] has donated to the political campaigns of 3 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Nutrien (a multinational fertilizer company): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Nutrien Ag Solutions[15]  has donated to the political campaigns of 14 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Resolute Forest Products (a pulp and paper company acquired by Domtar on 1 March 2023): Before the acquisition by Domtar, the PAC of the U.S. subsidiary of Resolute Forest Products[16] had donated directly to the campaigns of 15 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. See also the entry on Domtar above, noting donations made by Domtar's PAC after it acquired Resolute Forest Products (after 1 March 2023).

- Sun Life Financial (a financial services multinational, primarily focused on life insurance): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Sun Life Financial (U.S.) Services Company Inc.[17] has donated to the political campaigns of 5 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- TC Energy (formerly known as TransCanada Corporation, it is a North American energy and pipeline company): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Transcanada USA Services Inc.[18] has donated to the political campaigns of 28 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group) (a multinational banking and financial services company): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary TD Bank[19] has donated to the political campaigns of 23 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- WSP Global (a multinational consulting firm focused on engineering and construction): The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary WSP USA[20] has donated to the political campaigns of 10 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

• 1.2  The connection between Canada-headquartered companies and U.S. trade associations whose PACs have donated

In addition to the direct donations listed above in section 1.1, many Canada-headquartered companies reportedly are connected (usually through their U.S. subsidiaries) with U.S. trade associations whose PACs have donated to the campaigns of U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. Trade associations are industry lobby groups that represent companies and are normally funded by companies. The section of this website entitled "Companies' indirect connections to donations via trade associations" explains various forms of connection between companies and trade associations, most of which involve providing funding to the associations.

For example, the following Canada-headquartered companies or their subsidiaries reportedly currently have (or regarding the various utility companies, recently had) a connection with the U.S. trade associations cited. According to the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) website, the PACs of all of the trade associations below have donated to the campaigns of U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. As indicated, the PACs of some of the trade associations below have donated to a very large number of those Congress members. 

We include in our briefing these companies connected with trade associations for three reasons:

1. Trade associations represent their company members, and lobby on their behalf.
2. Members and partners of trade associations typically fund their trade associations, including by paying dues or paying to be a sponsor. We invited each of the companies named below to notify us if they are not helping to fund the trade association listed; as of the date of this briefing, none of the companies named below contacted us to deny that they help to fund the named trade association to which they belong. Regarding the companies listed below under "Various utility companies", as of the date of this briefing none of the named companies contacted us to deny that they helped to fund Edison Electric Institute (EEI) when they were International Members of EEI.
3. If a company disapproves of donations by their trade association's PAC to Congress members who voted against certifying the results of a democratic election, they could terminate their connections with that trade association, or they could speak out about their disapproval of those donations. We invited each of the companies named below to inform us if they have terminated their relationship with the trade association, or if they have issued any such public statement; as of the date of this briefing, none of the companies named below responded that they had issued a public statement expressing disapproval of those donations by their trade association. As noted below under "Various utility companies", two companies responded to us to clarify when they ceased being members of Edison Electric Institute (EEI); neither indicated that they were no longer EEI members because of the donations by EEI.

• See section 8 of this briefing for a list of Congress members who received donations, after they voted against certifying the election results, from PACs of the U.S. trade associations named below.
• The list below reflects donations made after the relevant congressional votes on 6 and 7 January 2021; the list covers donations recorded on the FEC website as of 2 March 2026. Regarding the last entry below ("Various utility companies"), Edison Electric Institute (EEI) donations are covered through 31 December 2025; EEI said it ceased its International Member program effective 1 January 2026.
• These are a small number of examples; many other Canada-headquartered companies or their subsidiaries have connections with U.S. trade associations whose PACs have made such donations; we aim to report on them in the future.  

- Alimentation Couche-Tard: Its subsidiary Circle K is reportedly a member of International Franchise Association.

• International Franchise Association's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 74 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 
• Alimentation Couche-Tard/Circle K sent the following statement to Donations and Democracy: "Alimentation Couche-Tard is among the many franchisor companies that are dues-paying members of the International Franchise Association; however, we are not a contributor to the IFA’s Political Action Committee."
• Comments by Donations and Democracy pertaining to the Alimentation Couche-Tard/Circle K statement: “As noted in section 1.4 of our briefing, while U.S. trade associations cannot donate to their Political Action Committees (PACs) from their central funds, they can use central funds (including dues received from member companies) to pay for the costs of establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions for their PAC; these are considered "administrative expenses.” International Franchise Association represents its members, including Alimentation Couche-Tard, and lobbies on behalf of its members. We invited Alimentation Couche-Tard to let us know if it has issued a public statement expressing disapproval of donations by International Franchise Association to Congress members who attempted to overturn the election results; as of the date of this briefing, Alimentation Couche-Tard has not responded on that point.”

- Bank of Montreal (BMO): Bank of Montreal and/or its U.S. subsidiary are reportedly members of American Bankers Association.

• American Bankers Association's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 121 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Barrick Mining Corporation: Its subsidiary Barrick Gold of North America is reportedly a member of National Mining Association.

• National Mining Association's two PACs have between them donated to the political campaigns of a total of 36 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Brookfield: Brookfield Properties (a subsidiary of Brookfield Property Partners, which is a subsidiary of Brookfield Corporation)[20A] is reportedly a Silver Industry Partner of Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP).

• The PAC of Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) has donated to the political campaigns of 22 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Canadian National Railway Company: Canadian National Railway Company (U.S. operations) is reportedly a member of Association of American Railroads.

• Association of American Railroads' PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 33 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Canadian Pacific Kansas City: Canadian Pacific Kansas City (U.S. operations) is reportedly a member of Association of American Railroads.

• Association of American Railroads' PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 33 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce): CIBC's subsidiary CIBC Bank USA is reportedly a member of American Bankers Association.

• American Bankers Association's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 121 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Fortis: See below, under "Various electric utility companies".

- Intact Financial: Intact Financial's subsidiary Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions is reportedly a member of Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.

• Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers' PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 97 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Manulife Financial: Manulife John Hancock Investments, a subsidiary of Manulife Financial, is reportedly a member of Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

• Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 33 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Royal Bank of Canada: Royal Bank of Canada and/or its subsidiary RBC Capital Markets are reportedly members of Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association; a Vice President of Royal Bank of Canada's subsidiary RBC Capital Markets is reportedly on the board of Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

• Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 33 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Shopify: Shopify is reportedly a member of Business Software Alliance; the General Counsel of Shopify is reportedly on the board of Business Software Alliance.

• Business Software Alliance's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 3 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Suncor Energy: Suncor Energy is reportedly a member of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.

• American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers' PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 47 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Teck Resources: Teck Resources is reportedly a member of National Mining Association.

• National Mining Association's two PACs have between them donated to the political campaigns of a total of 36 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Thomson Reuters: Thomson Reuters Confirmation, a division of Thomson Reuters, is reportedly a Platinum Member of the American Bankers Association Partner Network.

• American Bankers Association's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 121 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group): Toronto-Dominion Bank's subsidiary TD Bank is reportedly a member of American Bankers Association.

• American Bankers Association's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 121 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group): Toronto-Dominion Bank's subsidiary TD Asset Management USA Funds Inc. is reportedly a member of Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

• Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 33 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group): Toronto-Dominion Bank's subsidiary TD Bank is reportedly a member of U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce's PAC has donated to the political campaigns of 48 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

- Various utility companies: The utility companies listed below were reportedly International Members of Edison Electric Institute (EEI) before 1 January 2026; according to EEI its International Members program was discontinued in 2026. 

• As of 31 December 2025, Edison Electric Institute's PAC had donated to the political campaigns of 47 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

- List of relevant utility companies: The following utility companies listed below were reportedly International Members of Edison Electric Institute (EEI) before 1 January 2026: Alectra Utilities Corporation (owners include the following cities in the province of Ontario: Mississauga, Vaughan, Hamilton, Markham, Barrie, Guelph, St. Catharines); ATCO Ltd. and its subsidiary Canadian Utilities Limited; Capital Power; Emera Incorporated (subsidiaries include Nova Scotia Power, Emera Newfoundland & Labrador); ENMAX Corporation (owned by the City of Calgary); Entegrus Powerlines (majority owned by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent [Ontario]; the City of St. Thomas [Ontario] is the second largest shareholder); EPCOR Utilities (owned by the City of Edmonton); Fortis (subsidiaries include: FortisAlberta; FortisBC; FortisOntario; Maritime Electric; Newfoundland Power); Hydro One (Government of Ontario is largest shareholder, reportedly with over 40% ownership)[20B]; Hydro Ottawa (owned by the City of Ottawa); ITC Holdings (U.S. subsidiary of Fortis); Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and subsidiary Atura Power (both wholly owned by the Government of Ontario); SaskPower (owned by the Government of Saskatchewan); Toronto Hydro (owned by the City of Toronto).

- EEI statement: When we communicated with EEI in advance of finalizing this briefing, inviting it to comment on the draft text about the trade association, it sent the following statement to Donations and Democracy: "EEI’s International Programs transitioned out of EEI at the end of last year [2025], so we no longer have international members and do not collect international dues."

- EEI also sent the following statement to Donations and Democracy: "EEI does not, and has not, used any member dues to fund federal political campaigns. Contributions to federal candidates are made from EEI’s PAC, which is funded by individual and PAC-to-PAC contributions. EEI complies with federal election laws, which prohibit the use of corporate funds as well as funds from foreign nationals in direct federal campaigns."

- Comments by Donations and Democracy pertaining to the EEI statement: “As noted in section 1.4 of our briefing, while U.S. trade associations cannot donate to their Political Action Committees (PACs) from their central funds, they can use central funds (including dues received from member companies) to pay for the costs of establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions for their PAC; these are considered 'administrative expenses.' EEI represents its company members and lobbies on behalf of its company members. As mentioned, we invited Canadian-headquartered companies that have been International Members of EEI to let us know if they had issued a public statement expressing disapproval of donations by EEI’s PAC to Congress members who attempted to overturn the election results; none of those companies responded on that point.”

- Entegrus Powerlines (majority owned by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent [Ontario]; the City of St. Thomas [Ontario] is the second largest shareholder) responded to us, stating that it did not renew its Edison Electric Institute International Membership for 2026, therefore confirming that its last day of that membership was 31 December 2025.

- Hydro Québec (owned by the Government of Québec) responded to us, stating that it had a trial International Membership of Edison Electric Institute during calendar year 2024, but did not renew that membership in 2025.

• 1.3  Our communications with the companies and trade associations

We communicated with each of the companies and trade associations listed above in sections 1.1 and 1.2 in advance of finalizing this briefing, inviting them to respond to the publicly-available information about donations to the campaigns of Congress members who had voted against certifying the 2020 election results. 

As of the date of this briefing, we had received comments from the following:

• Alimentation Couche-Tard: See the Alimentation Couche-Tard comments in section 1.2 of this briefing.
• Entegrus Powerlines: See the Entegrus Powerlines comments in section 1.2 of this briefing, under "Various utility companies".
• Hydro Québec: See the Hydro Québec comments in section 1.2 of this briefing, under "Various utility companies".
• Edison Electric Institute (EEI): See the EEI comments in section 1.2 of this briefing, under "Various utility companies".

• 1.4  Why it would be misleading for a company or trade association to disclaim responsibility for which candidates receive donations from its PAC 

If a company or trade association tries to disclaim responsibility for which candidates receive donations from its PAC (Political Action Committee), that would be misleading.  

Here are the facts:

• A PAC is a political committee in the United States "organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates."[21] Each company PAC and trade association PAC decides to which candidates it will donate.

• “A PAC is somewhat different from other entities associated with a corporation. It is a separate entity, but still managed by, and part of, the corporation. ... Establishing the PAC: ... First, a corporation’s Board should approve the creation of the PAC. ... As part of this step, the corporation should select PAC officers and adopt bylaws for the PAC’s administration.”[22] 

• In the case of a U.S. company (including a U.S. subsidiary of a foreign-headquartered company), the company selects the PAC’s governing body: a treasurer, and often also a PAC board. Company PAC boards are usually composed of senior executives/professionals of the company; sometimes company board members also serve on the PAC board; often the company’s lobbyists and/or government affairs staff serve on the PAC board. The PAC's governing body decides which candidates the company PAC will donate to.[22A] 

• In the case of a U.S. trade association, often the trade association's board selects the PAC's governing body: a treasurer, and often also a PAC board. Trade association PAC boards tend to be composed of senior executives/professionals of some member companies of the trade association, board members of the trade association, and/or senior staff of the trade association. The PAC's governing body decides which candidates the trade association's PAC will donate to.[22B]  

• By law, U.S. companies (including U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies) and U.S. trade associations cannot donate to their PACs from their central funds, but they can use central funds to pay for the costs of establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions for their PAC; these are considered "administrative expenses." For example, the company or trade association may pay out of its central funds "all legal fees for the PAC, postage for mailings, staff time to compose solicitations, credit card processing fees, and virtually any other cost associated with the PAC.”[22C]

• Most of the larger donations to company PACs tend to be made by the company's board members, executives and senior professionals, and their families; donations can also be made by other employees and their families, and by shareholders. Most of the larger donations to trade association PACs tend to be made by board members, executives and senior professionals of some member companies and their families, and by board members and senior staff of the trade association and their families.[22D]

• For both companies and trade associations, donations by their PACs are made only to candidates selected/approved by the PAC's governing body.[22E]

• As stated in the Reuters article entitled "The new U.S. office politics: funding your boss's political causes,” some companies reportedly pressure and/or induce their employees to contribute to the company PAC.[23] 

For further information, see the section entitled "Further information about PACs" at the end of the following page of our website: “The facts about PACs (Political Action Committees)."

• 1.5 Other types of company and trade association donations not covered in this briefing

As stated in section 9 on our homepage: “Unfortunately we are only able to cover direct donations by company and trade association PACs to the campaigns of those members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results. It is important to recognize that some companies and trade associations have assisted these same politicians in other ways, including by making donations to other PACs and committees that turn around and fund these politicians' campaigns, and by making donations to Super PACs which advocate for these politicians or against their opponents.”[24]

2. Storming of U.S. Capitol halts certification proceedings

When a mob of President Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building on 6 January 2021, that forced an emergency recess in the congressional proceedings to officially certify the results of the 3 November 2020 presidential election, which is usually a routine process. The proceedings were halted and the Capitol was locked down.[25] Some of the rioters assaulted Capitol Police officers and reporters, and attempted to capture and harm lawmakers.[26] More than 2000 rioters reportedly entered the building after security was breached and windows were broken.[27] Among those attacking the Capitol were leaders of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia groups, who conspired to use violence and block the peaceful transfer of power.[28] Four people died on the day of the attack on the Capitol; one shot by Capitol Police, one of a drug overdose, and two of heart attacks.[29] A Capitol Police officer died the following day of two strokes.[30] 140 police officers reported being injured that day; Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said that number undercounts how many officers were physically injured and said the attack was likely “the largest single-day, mass assault of law enforcement officers in our nation’s history.”[31] Four officers who responded to the attack reportedly died by suicide within seven months after the assault.[32] The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it considered the attack on the Capitol that day to be an act of domestic terrorism.[33] The Department of Justice launched the largest criminal investigation in U.S. history.[34] As of 1 March 2024, 1309 people reportedly had been charged with federal crimes relating to the attack.[35] On 28 June 2024 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that the charge of obstructing an official proceeding must include proof that defendants tried to tamper with or destroy documents. That decision affected some cases of people charged or convicted in relation to the attack on the Capitol, but as noted in an Associated Press article about the decision, the “overwhelming majority…who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to Capitol riot-related federal crimes were not charged with obstruction and will not be affected by the outcome.”[36] On 20 January 2025, the first day of his second term,  President Trump issued a proclamation granting clemency (pardons or commutation of sentences), and dismissal of pending cases, to all of the nearly 1600 people who had been charged in connection with the 6 January 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.[37] Included in those covered by the clemency were those who had been found guilty of assaulting police, and members of the far-right militant organizations Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who had been found guilty of seditious conspiracy.[38]

3. Congressional votes to certify presidential election results

The Senate and House of Representatives (the two bodies comprising the U.S. Congress) reconvened on the evening of 6 January 2021, after the Capitol building had been secured, and there were eventually votes on what the New York Times called “highly unusual objections, based on spurious allegations of widespread voter fraud"[39] in Arizona and Pennsylvania (states that Biden had won) – allegations that had been soundly rejected by courts during the weeks between the election and the certification votes.[40] Eight senators (out of 100 total Senate members) and 139 House members (out of 435 total House members) voted against certifying the results from one or both of those states; those 147 members of Congress are listed here.[41] The page of our website entitled "Explanation of the certification votes in Congress, 6-7 January 2021" provides further information about those votes, including a link to the official record of the full congressional proceedings and debates on 6 and 7 January 2021.

4. Concerns about the attempt to deny certification of the election results

Leaders from across the political spectrum expressed grave concern about the attempt to deny certification of the election results. For example, Republican Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader at the time of the certification votes, said before voting started: "The voters, the courts and the states have all spoken. If we overrule them all, it would damage our republic forever.”[42]

On 12 November 2020, a joint statement had been issued by the U.S. Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council and the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Executive Committees, saying: “The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history. …”[43]

Prominent constitutional law experts spoke out strongly. Laurence Tribe, Professor of Constitutional Law Emeritus at Harvard Law School, remarked in a tweet while the attack on the Capitol building was taking place: "Any halfway decent member of the House or Senate who was planning to object to the Electoral Vote count must now desist. They’ve had not just their day in court but months in court …. This has crossed the line past sedition...."[44] Constitutional law expert and Harvard Law School Professor Richard H. Fallon Jr., commenting on the 147 Congress members who voted against certification of the election results, said: “None cited any plausible evidence of substantial inaccuracy in the vote counts …. [I]f the events of that day teach anything, it is that our institutions cannot be more reliable than the men and women who populate them.”[45]

Professor Tribe, and Professor of Constitutional Law Michael Klarman (also of Harvard Law School), were among the thousands of lawyers, law professors and law students who signed a petition calling for the disbarment of Senators (and lawyers) Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz. The petition said it was calling for their right to practice law to be revoked for reasons including:

• “In leading the efforts to undermine the peaceful transition of power after a free and fair election, Senators Hawley and Cruz attacked the foundations of our democracy.”
• By announcing their intentions to object to certification of the election results, “Senators Hawley and Cruz directly incited the January 6th insurrection, repeating dangerous and unsubstantiated statements regarding the election.”

Both Hawley and Cruz condemned the violence and denied any role in inciting it. The footnote provides further details about the petition, endeavors to disbar the senators, calls for their resignations, and each senator’s defense of his conduct.[46]

Key United States business organizations and business leaders issued statements calling for the election results to be certified by Congress. On 4 January 2021, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO issued a statement that said: “… Efforts by some members of Congress to disregard ... election results in an effort to change the election outcome or to try a make a long-term political point undermines our democracy and the rule of law and will only result in further division across our nation. …”[47] The National Association of Manufacturers issued a statement the same day, declaring: “… Manufacturers fight vigorously for the four pillars that have made America exceptional: Free Enterprise, Competitiveness, Individual Liberty and Equal Opportunity. But holding all of this together is the basic form of government, which has enabled us to protect those pillars: Democracy. Manufacturers stand with members of Congress who intend to uphold their constitutional responsibility and vote to certify the Electoral College tallies that resulted from free, fair and legal elections in the states. Election officials in both parties, as well as state and federal courts in more than 60 cases, have determined that the outcome is not in doubt. Joe Biden is our next President, and Congress must heed the voice of the American people.”[48] Business Roundtable’s 4 January 2021 statement said: "… [T]he integrity of the 2020 presidential election is not in doubt. There is no authority for Congress to reject or overturn electoral votes lawfully certified by the states and affirmed by the Electoral College. The peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of our democracy and should proceed unimpeded. …"[49]

On 4 January 2021, 22 leading U.S. historians and constitutional scholars issued a joint statement that said: “Never before in our history has a president who lost re-election tried to stay in office by subverting the democratic process set down by the Constitution. That is what President Trump has been doing since November 3 …. The People have spoken. The State Legislatures have spoken. The Supreme Court has spoken. The Electoral College has spoken. Yet now, some members of Congress are disrupting the orderly acceptance of the election result, which is the single most important principle of democratic government.”[50]

The page of our website entitled "Statements about the attempt by some members of Congress to deny certification of election results" also provides comments by others about the votes, including a bipartisan group of senators; all 10 living former defense secretaries; and the League of Women Voters.

5. Concerns about company donations to Congress members who voted against certification

Strong concerns have been raised about companies that have donated to members of Congress after they voted against certification. The Boston Globe Editorial Board wrote after the votes that 147 Congress members had voted to overturn the election, “opting to reject democracy simply because their candidate lost.” The editorial said that as long as members of Congress “are not punished for their assaults on voting rights and democracy, they will continue to promote conspiracy theories with abandon and could very well redo their attempt to overturn a legitimate election come 2022 or 2024. And if, or when, they do, every company that has decided to donate to their campaigns will be just as guilty in destroying the fabric of American democracy.”[51]  

The Lincoln Project, a U.S. political action committee "dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy,"[52] founded by moderate conservatives and former Republican Party members who oppose Trumpism, in July 2021 reportedly announced a new strategy to confront “the Sedition Caucus and its enablers”[53] by calling attention to corporations that donate to the campaigns of lawmakers who voted against certifying the presidential election results. As reported by The Hill, Lincoln Project co-founder Reed Galen said that the Lincoln Project would be informing employees, shareholders and customers about those companies’ “egregious anti-American behavior.” He continued: “The Lincoln Project will not sit by and watch as companies like Toyota — companies that have benefited from America’s economic strength and freedom — give money to politicians who are working to overthrow that same system. This is no longer a fight between two political parties or entrenched interests. It is no less than a fight to preserve American democracy.”[54]

The page of our website entitled "Comments about companies that donate to members of Congress after they voted against certification" also includes statements of concern by others about donations by companies.

6. Democracy, human rights and rule of law concerns

When companies or trade associations fund the campaigns of candidates after they voted to overturn results of an election which the courts had ruled was fair, this raises concerns about respect for internationally-recognized standards on free and fair elections, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The United Nations has emphasized the inextricable links between democracy and human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that “the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government.”[55] The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights require all companies to respect human rights.[56] The United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights,[57] in a 2022 report, stated that corporate financial political contributions can have an adverse impact on human rights, and said: “When businesses make contributions to individual politicians, political parties or political causes, they should assess the potential adverse human rights impacts linked to those decisions and also consider stances taken by politicians or political organizations that may run counter to respect for human rights.”[58] Relevant international standards are explained on the page of our website entitled "Human rights, democracy and rule of law concerns based on internationally-recognized standards."

7. Details of 16 Canada-headquartered companies whose U.S. subsidiary's PAC has donated directly

Below is detailed information, drawn from the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) website, about 16 Canada-headquartered international companies (described in section 1.1 of this briefing) whose U.S. subsidiary's Political Action Committee (PAC) has donated directly to the political campaigns of U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The list below reflects donations made after the relevant congressional votes on 6 and 7 January 2021, and covers donations recorded on the FEC website as of 2 March 2026.

• In nearly all cases below the donation was for the politician's campaign for re-election to the Senate or House. In a few cases the donation was to the campaign for a different office, for example a House member running for Senate.

AtkinsRéalis Group:

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary AtkinsRéalis USA Holdings has donated to the political campaigns of the following 3 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Tom Cole, Chuck Fleischmann, Hal Rogers.

Bank of Montreal (BMO): 

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary BMO Financial has donated to the political campaigns of the following 6 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senator (at the time of the certification votes): Cynthia Lummis House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Scott Fitzgerald, Richard Hudson, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Daniel Meuser, Jason Smith.

Bombardier:

• The PAC of a U.S. subsidiary of Bombardier has donated to the political campaigns of the following 6 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senator (at the time of the certification votes): Roger Marshall House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Ron Estes, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Mike Rogers, Rob Wittman.

Brookfield: 

• The PAC of U.S. firm Westinghouse Electric Company (section 1.1 above explains ownership connections of Westinghouse by Brookfield entities) has donated to the political campaigns of the following 14 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: 
• Donations made by the Westinghouse PAC (to the political campaigns of U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results) since becoming majority owned by Brookfield Renewable Partners on 7 November 2023: House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Rick Allen, Cliff Bentz, Buddy Carter, Mario Diaz-Balart, Chuck Fleischmann, John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Guy Reschenthaler, Hal Rogers.
• Donations made by the Westinghouse PAC (to the political campaigns of U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results) while Westinghouse was owned by Brookfield Business Partners (before 7 November 2023): Senator (at the time of the certification votes): John Kennedy House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Ken Calvert, Mario Diaz-Balart, Jeff Duncan, Chuck Fleischmann, John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Guy Reschenthaler, Chris Stewart, Joe Wilson.

Canadian National Railway Company: 

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Grand Trunk Corporation has donated to the political campaigns of the following 5 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Jack Bergman, Mike Bost, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Lisa McClain.

CGI:

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc. has donated to the political campaigns of the following 8 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Mike Bost, Tom Cole, Mario Diaz-Balart, Michael Guest, Darrell Issa, Mike Rogers, Pete Sessions, Rob Wittman.

Domtar:

• The PAC of a U.S. subsidiary of Domtar has donated, since 1 March 2023 (the date Domtar acquired Resolute Forest Products), to the political campaigns of the following 14 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Rick Scott, Tommy Tuberville House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Jack Bergman, Ted Budd, Kat Cammack, Buddy Carter, Mario Diaz-Balart, Chuck Fleischmann, Diana Harshbarger, David Kustoff, Ralph Norman, Mike Rogers, Glenn Thompson, Tom Tiffany.
• See also the listing for Resolute Forest Products below, covering donations its PAC made before it was acquired by Domtar.

Enbridge: 

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Enbridge (U.S.) has donated to the political campaigns of the following 21 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senator (at the time of the certification votes): Ted Cruz House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Brian Babin, Jack Bergman, Michael Cloud, Michelle Fischbach, Chuck Fleischmann, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Yvette Herrell, Bill Johnson, Mike Johnson, John Joyce, Tracey Mann, Markwayne Mullin, Troy Nehls, August Pfluger, Guy Reschenthaler, John Rose, Jason Smith, Tom Tiffany, Randy Weber.

Fortis:

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary ITC Holdings has donated to the political campaigns of the following 8 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Jack Bergman, Ron Estes, Kevin Hern, Lisa McClain, Markwayne Mullin, August Pfluger, Jason Smith, Tim Walberg.

Great-West Lifeco:

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Empower has donated to the political campaigns of the following 3 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Kevin Hern, Steve Scalise, Tim Walberg.

Nutrien:

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Nutrien Ag Solutions has donated to the political campaigns of the following 14 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Kennedy, Roger Marshall House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Rick Allen, Jim Baird, Ted Budd, Kat Cammack, Michelle Fischbach, Garret Graves, Mike Johnson (the donations were to Johnson Leadership Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it allocates the first part of any donation to the Mike Johnson campaign[59], David Rouzer, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Glenn Thompson.

Resolute Forest Products:

• The PAC of the U.S. subsidiary of Resolute Forest Products had donated, before Domtar acquired Resolute Forest Products on 1 March 2023, to the political campaigns of the following 15 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Cindy Hyde-Smith, Rick Scott, Tommy Tuberville House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Jack Bergman, Kat Cammack, Buddy Carter, Mario Diaz-Balart, Neal Dunn, Chuck Fleischmann, David Kustoff, Brian Mast, Barry Moore, Ralph Norman, Mike Rogers, Glenn Thompson. 
• See also the listing for Domtar above, covering donations its PAC made after acquiring Resolute Forest Products.

Sun Life Financial:

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Sun Life Financial (U.S.) Services Company Inc. has donated to the political campaigns of the following 5 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senator (at the time of the certification votes): Roger Marshall House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Stephanie Bice, Scott Fitzgerald, Jason Smith, Tim Walberg.

TC Energy 

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary Transcanada USA Services Inc. has donated to the political campaigns of the following 28 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Ted Cruz (the donation was to Ted Cruz Victory Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which made significant donations to the Ted Cruz for Senate campaign)[60], Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Kennedy, Roger Marshall House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Cliff Bentz, Stephanie Bice, Lauren Boebert, Tom Cole, Rick Crawford, Scott Fitzgerald, Russ Fulcher, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Bill Johnson, Jim Jordan, Tracey Mann, Kevin McCarthy, Carol Miller, Markwayne Mullin, Troy Nehls, Scott Perry, August Pfluger, Guy Reschenthaler, Hal Rogers, Steve Scalise (the donations were to Scalise Leadership Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it allocates the first part of any donation to the Steve Scalise campaign)[61], Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Elise Stefanik.

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group):

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary TD Bank has donated to the political campaigns of the following 23 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senator (at the time of the certification votes): Rick Scott House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Robert Aderholt, Jodey Arrington, Ted Budd, John Carter, Warren Davidson, Byron Donalds, Ron Estes, Scott Fitzgerald, Scott Franklin, Richard Hudson, Mike Johnson, Barry Loudermilk, Frank Lucas, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Nicole Malliotakis, Kevin McCarthy, Daniel Meuser, Pete Sessions, Jason Smith, Lloyd Smucker, William Timmons, Roger Williams.

WSP Global:

• The PAC of its U.S. subsidiary WSP USA has donated to the political campaigns of the following 10 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results:  Senator (at the time of the certification votes): Cindy Hyde-Smith House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Tom Cole, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Mike Johnson, Nicole Malliotakis, Troy Nehls, David Rouzer, Jason Smith, Jefferson Van Drew.

8. Details of U.S. trade association donations mentioned in section 1.2 of this briefing 

Below is detailed information, drawn from the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) website, about donations by the PACs of the U.S. trade associations mentioned in section 1.2 of this briefing: donations to the campaigns of U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. The list below reflects donations made by PACs of these trade associations after the relevant congressional votes on 6 and 7 January 2021, and covers donations recorded on the FEC website as of 2 March 2026; our list for Edison Electric Institute (EEI) covers donations through 31 December 2025, the date which EEI says was the final day of its International Members program. As noted in section 1.2 and below, these are examples of U.S. trade associations to which Canada-headquartered companies or their subsidiaries reportedly have connections (or in the case of Edison Electric Institute, recently had connections). These are a small number of examples; many other Canada-headquartered companies or their subsidiaries have connections with U.S. trade associations whose PACs have made such donations; we aim to report on them in the future.  

• In nearly all cases below the donation was for the politician's campaign for re-election to the Senate or House. In a few cases the donation was to the campaign for a different office, for example a House member running for Senate.

American Bankers Association

• The following Canada-headquartered companies or their subsidiaries reportedly have connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Bank of Montreal (BMO); CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce); Thomson Reuters; Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group).
• The PAC of American Bankers Association has donated to the political campaigns of the following 121 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Ted Cruz, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Kennedy, Rick Scott House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Robert Aderholt, Rick Allen, Jodey Arrington, Brian Babin, Jim Baird, Jim Banks, Cliff Bentz, Jack Bergman, Stephanie Bice, Dan Bishop, Mike Bost, Ted Budd, Tim Burchett, Michael Burgess, Ken Calvert, Kat Cammack, Jerry Carl, Buddy Carter, John Carter, Steve Chabot, Ben Cline, Michael Cloud, Tom Cole, Rick Crawford, Warren Davidson, Scott DesJarlais, Mario Diaz-Balart, Byron Donalds, Jeff Duncan, Neal Dunn, Ron Estes, Pat Fallon, Michelle Fischbach, Scott Fitzgerald, Chuck Fleischmann, Virginia Foxx, Scott Franklin, Russ Fulcher, Mike Garcia, Bob Gibbs, Carlos Gimenez, Bob Good, Lance Gooden, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Mark Green, Morgan Griffith, Michael Guest, Diana Harshbarger, Kevin Hern, Yvette Herrell, Clay Higgins, Richard Hudson, Darrell Issa, Ronny Jackson, Chris Jacobs, Bill Johnson, Mike Johnson, Jim Jordan, John Joyce, Fred Keller, Mike Kelly, Trent Kelly, David Kustoff, Doug LaMalfa, Jacob LaTurner, Barry Loudermilk, Frank Lucas, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Nicole Malliotakis, Tracey Mann, Brian Mast, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa McClain, Daniel Meuser, Carol Miller, Alex Mooney, Barry Moore, Markwayne Mullin, Gregory Murphy, Troy Nehls, Ralph Norman, Devin Nunes, Jay Obernolte, Burgess Owens, Gary Palmer, Greg Pence, August Pfluger, Bill Posey, Guy Reschenthaler, Tom Rice, Hal Rogers, Mike Rogers, John Rose, Matt Rosendale, David Rouzer, John Rutherford, Steve Scalise, David Schweikert, Pete Sessions, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Lloyd Smucker, Elise Stefanik, Greg Steube, Chris Stewart, Glenn Thompson, Tom Tiffany, William Timmons, Beth Van Duyne, Tim Walberg, Jackie Walorski, Randy Weber, Daniel Webster, Roger Williams, Joe Wilson, Rob Wittman.

American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Association

• The following Canada-headquartered company reportedly has connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Suncor Energy.
• The PAC of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers has donated to the political campaigns of the following 47 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Ted Cruz (the donation was to Ted Cruz Victory Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which made significant donations to the Ted Cruz for Senate campaign)[62]; John Kennedy House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Jodey Arrington, Brian Babin, Jim Banks, Stephanie Bice, Ken Calvert, Kat Cammack, Buddy Carter, Michael Cloud, Tom Cole, Byron Donalds, Jeff Duncan, Ron Estes, Russ Fulcher, Mike Garcia, Lance Gooden, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Morgan Griffith, Kevin Hern, Yvette Herrell, Richard Hudson, Mike Johnson, John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Trent Kelly, Frank Lucas, Kevin McCarthy (the donation was to McCarthy Victory Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it donates the first part of any donation to the Kevin McCarthy campaign)[63], Lisa McClain, Carol Miller, Markwayne Mullin, Troy Nehls, Jay Obernolte, Gary Palmer, Greg Pence, August Pfluger, Guy Reschenthaler, Steve Scalise, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Elise Stefanik, Glenn Thompson, Beth Van Duyne, Tim Walberg, Randy Weber, Roger Williams.

Association of American Railroads 

• The following Canada-headquartered companies reportedly have connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Canadian National Railway Company (U.S. operations); Canadian Pacific Kansas City (U.S. operations).
• The PAC of Association of American Railroads has donated to the political campaigns of the following 33 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Ted Cruz, Cynthia Lummis, Rick Scott House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Brian Babin, Stephanie Bice, Mike Bost, Tim Burchett, Tom Cole, Rick Crawford, Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez, Lance Gooden, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Michael Guest, Richard Hudson, Jim Jordan, Doug LaMalfa, Nicole Malliotakis, Tracey Mann, Brian Mast, Kevin McCarthy (the donation was to McCarthy Victory Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it donates the first part of any donation to the Kevin McCarthy campaign)[64], Troy Nehls, Burgess Owens, Gary Palmer, Hal Rogers, David Rouzer, John Rutherford, Steve Scalise, Jason Smith, Elise Stefanik (the donation was to Elise Victory Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it donates the first part of any donation to the Elise Stefanik campaign)[65], Jefferson Van Drew, Daniel Webster.

Business Software Alliance (BSA)

• The following Canada-headquartered company or its subsidiary reportedly has connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Shopify.
• The PAC of Business Software Alliance has donated to the political campaigns of the following 3 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Darrell Issa, Jay Obernolte, William Timmons.

Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP)

• A subsidiary of the following Canada-headquartered company reportedly has connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Brookfield.
• The PAC of Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) has donated to the political campaigns of the following 22 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Roger Marshall House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Jodey Arrington, Ken Calvert, Tom Cole, Mario Diaz-Balart, Ron Estes, Scott Fitzgerald, Mike Johnson, Mike Kelly, David Kustoff, Nicole Malliotakis, Tracey Mann, Kevin McCarthy, Carol Miller, Greg Murphy, Steve Scalise (the donations were to Scalise Leadership Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it allocates the first part of any donation to the Steve Scalise campaign)[66], David Schweikert, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Lloyd Smucker, Tom Tiffany, Beth Van Duyne.

Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers

• A subsidiary of the following Canada-headquartered company reportedly has connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Intact Financial.
• The PAC of Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers has donated to the political campaigns of the following 97 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Kennedy, Roger Marshall, Rick Scott House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Robert Aderholt, Jodey Arrington, Brian Babin, Jim Banks, Jack Bergman, Stephanie Bice, Mike Bost, Ted Budd, Ken Calvert, Kat Cammack, Jerry Carl, Buddy Carter, Steve Chabot, Ben Cline, Tom Cole, Warren Davidson, Mario Diaz-Balart, Byron Donalds, Jeff Duncan, Neal Dunn, Ron Estes, Pat Fallon, Michelle Fischbach, Scott Fitzgerald, Virginia Foxx, Scott Franklin, Russ Fulcher, Mike Garcia, Bob Gibbs, Carlos Gimenez, Lance Gooden, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Michael Guest, Diana Harshbarger, Vicky Hartzler, Kevin Hern, Yvette Herrell, Richard Hudson, Darrell Issa, Ronny Jackson, Bill Johnson, Mike Johnson, John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Trent Kelly, David Kustoff, Jacob LaTurner, Debbie Lesko, Billy Long, Barry Loudermilk, Frank Lucas, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Nicole Malliotakis, Tracey Mann, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa McClain, Daniel Meuser, Carol Miller, Alex Mooney, Markwayne Mullin, Greg Murphy, Ralph Norman, Jay Obernolte, Steven Palazzo, Gary Palmer, Greg Pence, August Pfluger, Guy Reschenthaler, Tom Rice, Hal Rogers, Mike Rogers, John Rose, David Rouzer, Steve Scalise, David Schweikert, Pete Sessions, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Lloyd Smucker, Elise Stefanik, Greg Steube, Chris Stewart, Glenn Thompson, Tom Tiffany, William Timmons, Jefferson Van Drew, Beth Van Duyne, Tim Walberg, Jackie Walorski, Daniel Webster, Roger Williams, Rob Wittman.

Edison Electric Institute

• Section 1.2 of this briefing, under the entry "Various utility companies", explains which companies were reportedly International Members of this trade association before 1 January 2026, the date on which EEI says it ceased its International Members program.
• The PAC of Edison Electric Institute had donated through 31 December 2025 to the political campaigns of the following 47 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results and before 1 January 2026: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Cynthia Lummis House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Rick Allen, Jodey Arrington, Jim Banks, Cliff Bentz, Kat Cammack, Buddy Carter, Tom Cole, Byron Donalds, Jeff Duncan, Ron Estes, Michelle Fischbach, Chuck Fleischmann, Russ Fulcher, Carlos Gimenez, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Morgan Griffith, Michael Guest, Diana Harshbarger, Kevin Hern, Richard Hudson, Bill Johnson, Mike Johnson, John Joyce, Debbie Lesko, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Nicole Malliotakis, Kevin McCarthy, Carol Miller, Markwayne Mullin, Jay Obernolte, Gary Palmer, Greg Pence, August Pfluger, Guy Reschenthaler, Tom Rice, Steve Scalise, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Lloyd Smucker, Elise Stefanik, Greg Steube, William Timmons, Tim Walberg, Jackie Walorski, Joe Wilson.

International Franchise Association

• A subsidiary of the following Canada-headquartered company reportedly has connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Alimentation Couche-Tard.
• The PAC of International Franchise Association has donated to the political campaigns of the following 74 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senators (at the time of the certification votes): Ted Cruz, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall (this donation was to Team Marshall II, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which donated to the Roger Marshall campaign)[67], Rick Scott House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Robert Aderholt, Rick Allen, Jim Banks, Cliff Bentz, Jack Bergman, Stephanie Bice, Mike Bost, Ted Budd, Kat Cammack, Jerry Carl, Buddy Carter, Steve Chabot, Ben Cline, Michael Cloud, Tom Cole, Rick Crawford, Byron Donalds, Jeff Duncan, Neal Dunn, Ron Estes, Michelle Fischbach, Scott Fitzgerald, Virginia Foxx, Carlos Gimenez, Lance Gooden, Garret Graves, Diana Harshbarger, Kevin Hern, Richard Hudson, Chris Jacobs, Bill Johnson, Mike Johnson, John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Trent Kelly, Jacob LaTurner, Debbie Lesko, Barry Loudermilk, Frank Lucas, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Nicole Malliotakis, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa McClain, Carol Miller, Daniel Meuser, Barry Moore, Markwayne Mullin, Greg Murphy, Troy Nehls, Jay Obernolte, Burgess Owens, Gary Palmer, Greg Pence, August Pfluger, Guy Reschenthaler, Tom Rice, David Rouzer, Steve Scalise, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Lloyd Smucker, Elise Stefanik, Greg Steube, Glenn Thompson, William Timmons, Jefferson Van Drew, Beth Van Duyne, Tim Walberg, Roger Williams, Joe Wilson.

National Mining Association 

• The following Canada-headquartered companies or their subsidiaries reportedly have connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Barrick Mining Corporation; Teck Resources.
• The two PACs of National Mining Association (MINEPAC AND COALPAC) have between them donated to the political campaigns of the following 36 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Rick Allen, Ted Budd, Buddy Carter, Tom Cole, Virginia Foxx, Russ Fulcher, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Morgan Griffith, Kevin Hern, Yvette Herrell, Richard Hudson, Bill Johnson, Mike Johnson (the donations were to Johnson Leadership Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it allocates the first part of any donation to the Mike Johnson campaign)[68], Mike Kelly, Doug Lamborn, Debbie Lesko, Frank Lucas, Kevin McCarthy (the donation was to McCarthy Victory Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it donates the first part of any donation to the Kevin McCarthy campaign)[69], Daniel Meuser, Carol Miller, Alex Mooney, Markwayne Mullin, Burgess Owens, Greg Pence, Guy Reschenthaler, Matt Rosendale, David Rouzer, Steve Scalise (the donations were to Scalise Leadership Fund, a PAC/joint fundraising committee which said it allocates the first part of any donation to the Steve Scalise campaign)[70], David Schweikert, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Chris Stewart, Tom Tiffany, Tim Walberg, Rob Wittman.

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association 

• The following Canada-headquartered companies or their subsidiaries reportedly have connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Manulife Financial (Manulife John Hancock Investments); Royal Bank of Canada; Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group).
• The PAC of Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association has donated to the political campaigns of the following 33 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senator (at the time of the certification votes): Cynthia Lummis House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Rick Allen, Jodey Arrington, Jim Banks, Ted Budd, Jerry Carl, Warren Davidson, Byron Donalds, Ron Estes, Scott Fitzgerald, Kevin Hern, Mike Kelly, David Kustoff, Barry Loudermilk, Frank Lucas, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Nicole Malliotakis, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa McClain, Daniel Meuser, Carol Miller, Greg Murphy, Steve Scalise, David Schweikert, Pete Sessions, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Lloyd Smucker, Greg Steube, Glenn Thompson, William Timmons, Beth Van Duyne, Roger Williams.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• The following Canada-headquartered company or its subsidiary reportedly has connections with this trade association as noted in section 1.2 of this briefing: Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank Group).
• The PAC of U.S. Chamber of Commerce has donated to the political campaigns of the following 48 U.S. Congress members after they voted against certifying the 2020 election results: Senator (at the time of the certification votes): Ted Cruz House of Representatives members (at the time of the certification votes): Robert Aderholt, Jodey Arrington, Cliff Bentz, Stephanie Bice, Mike Bost, Ted Budd, Ken Calvert, Jerry Carl, Buddy Carter, Steve Chabot, Tom Cole, Virginia Foxx, Mike Garcia, Carlos Gimenez, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Mark Green, Morgan Griffith, Diana Harshbarger, Kevin Hern, Darrel Issa, Mike Johnson, Mike Kelly, David Kustoff, Jacob LaTurner, Frank Lucas, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Nicole Malliotakis, Tracey Mann, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa McClain, Carol Miller, Greg Pence, August Pfluger, Tom Rice, Mike Rogers, David Rouzer, Steve Scalise, David Schweikert, Pete Sessions, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Lloyd Smucker, Elise Stefanik, Greg Steube, Glenn Thompson, Jefferson Van Drew. 

[1] As noted in section 7 of this briefing, in a few cases the donations were to the PACs or joint fundraising committees of U.S. Congress members who had voted against certifying the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election -- PACs or joint fundraising committees that stated the first part of any donation would go directly to that candidate's campaign. Donations to such candidate PACs or joint fundraising committees are included in the term "direct donations".

[2] “Results of Lawsuits Regarding the 2020 Elections,” Campaign Legal Center, accessed 3 March 2026; “Post-election lawsuits related to the 2020 U.S. presidential election,” Wikipedia, accessed 3 March 2026.

[3] “Barr says Justice Department has no evidence of widespread fraud in election,” CBS News, 1 December 2020; “William Barr says there is no evidence of widespread fraud in presidential election,” Evan Perez and Devan Cole, CNN, 1 December 2020.

[4] PAC entitled "AtkinsRealis USA Holdings, LLC Political Action Committee"; previously entitled "Atkins US Holdings Inc. PAC," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[5] PAC entitled "BMO Financial Corp Good Governance Fund: Federal (BMO PAC)," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[6] PAC entitled "Bombardier Aerospace (Holdings) USA Inc. PAC (Bombardier PAC)," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[7] PAC entitled "Westinghouse Electric Company LLC PAC," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[8] Wikipedia entries on "Westinghouse Electric Company," "Brookfield Renewable Partners," "Brookfield Asset Management," "Brookfield Business Partners" and "Brookfield Corporation," accessed 3 March 2026. "Westinghouse Acquisition by Brookfield and Cameco Complete," Westinghouse Electric Company, 7 November 2023.

[9] PAC entitled "Grand Trunk Western Railroad Co - Illinois Central Railroad Co GTW-IC PAC (CN PAC)," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[10] PAC entitled "CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc. PAC," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[11] PAC entitled "Resolute Forest Products Inc. Political Action Committee AKA Domtar PAC," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[12] PAC entitled "Enbridge (U.S.) Inc. Political Action Committee (Enbridge PAC)," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[13] PAC entitled "ITC Holdings Corp. PAC (ITC PAC)," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[14] PAC entitled "Empower Retirement LLC Political Action Committee ('Empower PAC')," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[15] PAC entitled "Nutrien Ag Solutions Employee Citizenship Fund Political Action Committee ('Nutrien Citizenship Fund PAC')," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[16] PAC at that time entitled "Resolute FP US Inc. Political Action Committee," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[17] PAC entitled "Sun Life Financial (U.S.) Services Company Inc PAC Sun Life PAC," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[18] PAC entitled "Transcanada USA Services, Inc. PAC (TC PAC)," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[19] PAC entitled "TD Bank US Holding Company Political Action Committee (TD Bank PAC)," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[20] PAC entitled "WSP USA Inc. PAC," Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[20A] Wikipedia entries on "Brookfield Properties" and "Brookfield Property Partners," accessed 3 March 2026.

[20B] "Corporate information," Hydro One website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[21] “What Is a PAC?” OpenSecrets, accessed 3 March 2026.

[22] “Forming a Corporate Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026; "Forming an Association Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026.

[22A] “Forming a Corporate Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026; Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[22B] "Forming an Association Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026.

[22C] "Forming a Corporate Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026; "Forming an Association Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026.

[22D] "Forming a Corporate Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026; "Forming an Association Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026; Federal Election Commission website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[22E] "Forming a Corporate Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026; "Forming an Association Political Action Committee," Venable LLP law firm, accessed 3 March 2026.

[23] “The new U.S. office politics: funding your boss's political causes,” Michelle Conlin and Lucas Iberico Lozada, Reuters, 11 May 2015.

[24] “Outside spending - Summary," OpenSecrets, accessed 3 March 2026; “Corporate Contributions to Outside Groups," OpenSecrets, accessed 3 March 2026; “Super PACs," OpenSecrets, accessed 3 March 2026; "Citizens United Explained: The 2010 Supreme Court decision further tilted political influence toward wealthy donors and corporations,” Daniel I. Weiner and Tim Lau, Brennan Center for Justice, published 12 December 2019, last updated 29 January 2025.

[25] “Massive Protests Halt Congress Certification With U.S. Capitol Evacuated,” Lisa Hagen, U.S. News & World Report, 6 January 2021; “January 6 United States Capitol attack,” Wikipedia, accessed 3 March 2026; “2021 United States Electoral College vote count”, Wikipedia, accessed 3 March 2026.

[26] “Officers’ Injuries, Including Concussions, Show Scope of Violence at Capitol Riot,” Michael S. Schmidt and Luke Broadwater, New York Times, 11 February 2021 updated 12 July 2021; “‘Murder the media’: What the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol meant for US journalists,” Committee to Protect Journalists, 6 January 2023; “US Capitol riot mob wanted to kill Mike Pence, run Pelosi over with a car,” Alex Turner-Cohen, news.com.au, 11 January 2021.

[27] “41 minutes of fear: A video timeline from inside the Capitol siege,” Dalton Bennett, Emma Brown, Atthar Mirza, Sarah Cahlan, Joyce Sohyun Lee, Meg Kelly, Elyse Samuels and Jon Swaine, Washington Post, 16 January 2021; “Where the Jan. 6 insurrection investigation stands, one year later,” Ryan Lucas, NPR, 6 January 2022.

[28] “Oath Keepers, Proud Boys subpoenaed by Jan. 6 House panel,” Farnoush Amiri, Associated Press, on PBS NewsHour website, 23 November 2021; “What seditious conspiracy means in Proud Boys’ Jan. 6 case,” Alanna Durkin Richer and Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press, 4 May 2023.

[29] “These Are the People Who Died in Connection With the Capitol Riot,” Chris Cameron, New York Times, 5 January 2022 updated 13 October 2022; “January 6 United States Capitol attack,” Wikipedia, accessed 3 March 2026.

[30] “Sicknick had two strokes, died of natural causes after Capitol riot,” Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 19 April 2021.

[31] “Jan. 6 'likely the largest single-day mass assault' on law enforcement in US history: DC US attorney,” Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 4 January 2024; “Prosecutor says many more police officers likely injured on Jan. 6 than reported,” Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 5 January 2024.

[32] “Four officers who responded to U.S. Capitol attack have died by suicide,” Jan Wolfe, Reuters, 2 August 2021; “DOJ finds police officer’s suicide after Jan. 6 attack was a death in the line of duty,” Ryan J. Reilly, NBC News, 18 August 2023.

[33] "WATCH: FBI chief Chris Wray calls Jan. 6 'domestic terrorism,' defends intel," PBS News, 2 March 2021; "The Jan. 6 attack: The cases behind the biggest criminal investigation in U.S. history,” NPR, on North State Public Radio website, updated 14 March 2025. 

[34] "The Jan. 6 attack: The cases behind the biggest criminal investigation in U.S. history,” NPR, on North State Public Radio website, updated 14 March 2025. 

[35] "The Jan. 6 attack: The cases behind the biggest criminal investigation in U.S. history,” NPR, on North State Public Radio website, updated 14 March 2025. 

[36] “Supreme Court makes it harder to charge Capitol riot defendants with obstruction, charge Trump faces,” Mark Sherman, Associated Press, 28 June 2024. See also “Supreme Court says prosecutors improperly charged some Jan. 6 defendants,” Nina Totenberg, NPR, 28 June 2024; "Justice Department drops some January 6 obstruction charges and retools plea deals after Supreme Court ruling," Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN, 18 July 2024.

[37] "Trump gave broad clemency to all Jan. 6 rioters. See their cases in 3 charts," Annette Choi, Alex Leeds Matthews and Marshall Cohen, CNN, 26 January 2025; "What to Know About Trump’s Broad Grant of Clemency to Jan. 6 Rioters: He issued formal pardons to more than 1,550 rioters charged with a wide range of crimes and commuted the sentences of 14 members of far-right groups," Alan Feuer, New York Times, 20 January 2025, updated 23 January 2025.

[38] "Trump gave broad clemency to all Jan. 6 rioters. See their cases in 3 charts," Annette Choi, Alex Leeds Matthews and Marshall Cohen, CNN, 26 January 2025; "What to Know About Trump’s Broad Grant of Clemency to Jan. 6 Rioters: He issued formal pardons to more than 1,550 rioters charged with a wide range of crimes and commuted the sentences of 14 members of far-right groups," Alan Feuer, New York Times, 20 January 2025, updated 23 January 2025.

[39] “The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results,” Karen Yourish, Larry Buchanan and Denise Lu, New York Times, 7 January 2021.

[40] “Results of Lawsuits Regarding the 2020 Elections,” Campaign Legal Center, accessed 3 March 2026; “Post-election lawsuits related to the 2020 U.S. presidential election,” Wikipedia, accessed 3 March 2026.

[41] “The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results,” Karen Yourish, Larry Buchanan and Denise Lu, New York Times, 7 January 2021.

[42] “McConnell Remarks on the Electoral College Count,” delivered by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on 6 January 2021, on website of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, accessed 3 March 2026.

[43] "Joint statement from Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council & the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Executive Committees," U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 12 November 2020.

[44] Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw), Twitter/X, 6 January 2021. https://x.com/tribelaw/status/1346969439573602310

[45] “January 6, 2021: Harvard Law experts reflect a year later,” Jeff Neal, Harvard Law Today, 4 January 2022.

[46] “Thousands of law school alumni and students push for disbarment of Sens. Hawley and Cruz,” Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, 10 January 2021; “Thousands of lawyers and law students petition to disbar US Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz,” Angela Mauroni, in Jurist, 14 January 2021. 

- Neither Senator Hawley nor Senator Cruz have been disbarred by their bar associations, and neither has resigned. 

- A legal watchdog organization filed a complaint against Senator Cruz with the Texas Bar Association, seeking his disbarment for aiding what it called an “anti-democratic” plot to keep President Trump in power despite his election defeat. The Texas Bar Association dismissed the complaint on the ground that it lacked jurisdiction. The Bar Association’s Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel wrote that the allegations against Cruz showed no misconduct within the scope of professional rules that apply to Texas lawyers “in the discharge of any responsibilities owed to a client, a court, or the legal profession.” Renee Knake Jefferson, a legal ethics expert at University of Houston Law Center who also advises the organization that lodged the complaint against Cruz, said ethics rules should apply even when an attorney is not representing a party in a dispute: “Lawyer lies designed to sabotage valid election results should not be considered protected political speech,” reflecting commentary she published in Yale Law Review. “Group that tried to disbar Ted Cruz over 2020 wants ban on election lies by lawyers”, Todd J. Gillman, Dallas Morning News, 12 October 2022 updated 13 October 2022. 

-  See also the following articles about calls for Senator Cruz to resign, and Senator Cruz’s defense of his conduct: “Texas newspapers call for resignation of state’s senator Ted Cruz after Capitol riots,” Danielle Zoellner, Independent, 9 January 2021; “Calls Grow For Sens. Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz To Resign For Subverting Democracy,” Arthur Delaney and Igor Bobic, HuffPost, 8 January 2021; “Ted Cruz urges critics of presidential election challenge to calm down,” David Cohen, Politico, 3 January 2021; “Sen. Ted Cruz responds after video showed Capitol rioter saying senator 'would want us to do this'," ABC 13 News, 17 January 2021; “Ted Cruz called the Jan. 6 riot a “terrorist attack.” Now he says he misspoke.” Karen Brooks Harper, The Texas Tribune, 6 January 2022.

-  For reports about Senator Hawley’s refusal to certify the election results, complaints brought in Missouri seeking his disbarment, calls for his resignation, and Hawley’s defense of his conduct, see: “Attorneys urge Missouri Supreme Court to probe Hawley’s actions before Capitol riot,” Celine Castronuovo, The Hill, 19 January 2021; “Missouri paper urges disbarment proceedings against Josh Hawley: 'He must answer for his treasonous misdeeds',” Tom Boggioni, Raw Story, 19 January 2021; “Could Sen. Josh Hawley’s ‘reckless disregard for truth’ cost him Missouri law license?,” Editorial Board, Kansas City Star, 19 January 2021; “‘Poster Boy Of The Radical Right’: Missouri’s Two Biggest Newspapers Call For Sen. Josh Hawley’s Resignation,” Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 8 January 2021; “Calls Grow For Sens. Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz To Resign For Subverting Democracy,” Arthur Delaney and Igor Bobic, HuffPost, 8 January 2021; “Hawley Defends Decision To Object To Electoral Votes," Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 13 January 2021; Sen. Josh Hawley: “Why I objected to the electoral vote,” Senator Josh Hawley, in Columbia Daily Tribune, 13 January 2021.

-  In February, 2021, a group in Missouri (including lawyers) filed a complaint against Senator Hawley with Alan Pratzel, chief disciplinary counsel of the Missouri Supreme Court, who is responsible for investigating alleged legal misconduct. The complaint said that Hawley’s statements seeking to overturn the presidential election results “were false and known by Senator Hawley to be false at the time made or were made with reckless disregard for truth or falsity,” thereby violating the oaths Hawley took as a Senator to uphold the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions and to practice law in Missouri. In August 2022 Pratzel informed the group that he had found "insufficient probable cause to believe that Senator Hawley was guilty of professional misconduct that would justify discipline", and that Hawley's public statements "were constitutionally protected." The group appealed to the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri, saying that Pratzel had not offered sufficient reasons for his decision and had failed to provide “analysis of the facts or applicable law … to support these conclusions.” The Advisory Committee held that it agreed with the decision to close the case file, without giving specifics explaining its reasoning. The complainant group’s leader said: “The system for enforcing the ethical rules governing Missouri lawyers appears to be opaque, arbitrary, and lacking in meaningful oversight and accountability. That’s a disservice to the citizens of this State. It would seem that reform is needed.” “Effort to discipline Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley ends in failure; critic says ethics process is ‘opaque, arbitrary’,” Paul Wagman, Gateway Journalism Review, 17 November 2022.

-  See also: “Senate Democrats file ethics complaint against Republicans Hawley, Cruz over roles in Capitol riot,” Dareh Gregorian, Julie Tsirkin and Frank Thorp V, NBC News, 21 January 2021; “Democratic Senators File Ethics Complaint Against Cruz, Hawley After Capitol Riot,” Susan Davis, NPR, 22 January 2021.

[47] “U.S. Chamber CEO on Electoral College Vote Counting," U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 4 January 2021.

[48] "Manufacturers to Congress: Respect Democracy, Elections," National Association of Manufacturers, 4 January 2021.

[49] "Business Roundtable Statement on January 6 Joint Session of Congress to Count Electoral Votes," Business Roundtable, 4 January 2021.

[50] “Historians’ statement on congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election,” 4 January 2021.

[51] “Corporate donors, the lifeblood of the GOP, need to stand up for democracy,” Editorial Board, Boston Globe, 14 May 2021.

[52] Homepage, Lincoln Project website, accessed 3 March 2026.

[53] “Lincoln Project shifting focus to corporations that have donated to ‘Sedition Caucus’,” Joseph Choi, The Hill, 8 July 2021.

[54] “Lincoln Project shifting focus to corporations that have donated to ‘Sedition Caucus’,” Joseph Choi, The Hill, 8 July 2021.

[55] Article 21, United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

[56] Principle 11, United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights [PDF], unanimously endorsed by United Nations Human Rights Council in 2011. 

[57] This United Nations body is usually referred to as the Working Group on Business and Human Rights. Its full formal title is the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. Further information can be found on the following page of the United Nations website: "Working Group on Business and Human Rights."

[58] Paragraph 50, “Corporate influence in the political and regulatory sphere: ensuring business practice in line with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,” Report of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights to the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations document A/77/201, 20 July 2022.

[59] Johnson Leadership Fund explanation of how donations are allocated, accessed 3 March 2026.

[60]  Ted Cruz Victory Fund disbursements, U.S. Federal Election Committee (FEC) website, accessed 3 March 2026. 

[61] Donation page of Scalise Leadership Fund website, accessed 3 March 2026. 

[62] Ted Cruz Victory Fund disbursements, U.S. Federal Election Committee (FEC) website, accessed 3 March 2026. 

[63] "McCarthy Victory Fund Fundraising Notice," accessed 3 March 2026.

[64] "McCarthy Victory Fund Fundraising Notice," accessed 3 March 2026.

[65] See explanation of Elise Victory Fund on final page of this document, accessed 3 March 2026.

[66] Donation page of Scalise Leadership Fund website, accessed 3 March 2026. 

[67] U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) website, accessed 3 March 2026. "Team Marshall II PAC Expenditures," Open Secrets, accessed 3 March 2026. 

[68] Johnson Leadership Fund explanation of how donations are allocated, accessed 3 March 2026.

[69] "McCarthy Victory Fund Fundraising Notice," accessed 3 March 2026.

[70] Donation page of Scalise Leadership Fund website, accessed 3 March 2026.