Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s progressive brand is under fire after financial records revealed hundreds of thousands in corporate PAC donations and foreign-funded travel she previously disavowed.
AT A GLANCE
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett claimed she took “zero dollars” from corporate PACs but accepted nearly $400,000
- Disclosures show support from companies like BlackRock, Lockheed Martin, and Goldman Sachs
- Foreign-funded travel includes trips paid by pro-Qatari and UAE-linked organizations
- Crockett mocked Gov. Greg Abbott’s disability, sparking backlash and a censure resolution
- Critics say her silence amid ethics questions undermines her public stance on corporate influence
Progressive Rhetoric, Corporate Cash
Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett has come under intense scrutiny following reports that her public denouncement of corporate influence contradicts her own campaign financing. While Crockett frequently rails against “corporate greed,” campaign finance records reviewed by the New York Post show she accepted nearly $400,000 from corporate and association PACs since 2022.
These contributions came from a wide array of major corporations, including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, AbbVie, Gilead Sciences, Lockheed Martin, and top telecommunications providers—firms typically lambasted by progressives for their lobbying power and profit motives. This fundraising stands in sharp contrast to Crockett’s earlier political image, when she entered the Texas House in 2020 relying heavily on small-dollar donations.
Super PAC support further bolstered her ascent. Crypto-backed groups like Protect Our Future PAC and WEB3 Forward, both linked to disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, reportedly spent more than $2 million on Crockett’s behalf during her 2022 congressional campaign.
Jet-Setting on Foreign Dimes
Crockett’s financial disclosures also detail high-end travel funded by foreign interests, raising additional ethical questions. Her trips include visits to Qatar paid for by the U.S.-Qatar Business Council and excursions funded by the governments of India and the United Arab Emirates, under the guise of cultural exchanges. Critics argue such trips create potential conflicts of interest and diminish her credibility as a self-styled advocate for working-class Americans.
“Even if it’s just travel expenses covered and a place to stay overnight it looks horrible,” said Professor Matthew Foster, a campaign finance expert, in comments to the New York Post.
Watch video coverage of the Crockett PAC controversy.
Offensive Remarks Add Fuel to Fire
The controversy surrounding Crockett escalated further when she publicly mocked Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s disability, calling him “Governor Hot Wheels.” Abbott, who uses a wheelchair following a spinal cord injury, has not commented, but a censure resolution against Crockett has already been introduced in response to her remarks.
The insult, first reported by the Washington Examiner, has drawn comparisons to the kind of rhetoric that typically results in swift consequences for Republican lawmakers—yet Crockett remains largely unchallenged by her own party or major media outlets.
Dodging Accountability
When pressed for comment, Crockett has remained silent on the discrepancies between her public persona and private financial behavior. Her office stated only that all travel and donations comply with federal laws. Critics argue that legal compliance does not equate to ethical consistency, especially for someone whose political identity is built on fighting corruption and special interest influence.
“Democrats are more sensitive to this… The average person finds this very icky and sleazy and corrupt,” Foster added.
Crockett’s silence—and apparent unwillingness to address her financial contradictions—continues to fuel bipartisan calls for transparency. Whether her constituents will accept “progressive” branding backed by corporate dollars remains an open question.
