One other Democrat lawmaker within the U.S. has moved to distance themself from Koch Industries, because of the firm's ties with Russia.

Henry Cuellar, a U.S. Consultant from Texas, stated in a press release on Tuesday that he'll now not be accepting Koch political motion committee (PAC) marketing campaign contributions, resulting from its choice to proceed operations in Russia regardless of its invasion of Ukraine. His crew additionally claimed that the lawmaker has not acquired donations from the corporate all through 2022, in accordance with CNBC.

"Congressman Cuellar has not acquired any cash from the Koch Brothers this 12 months and won't settle for any future marketing campaign contributions till they disassociate from Russia," Jake Hochberg, a chief advisor for Cuellar, informed the outlet.

henry cuellar koch russia
U.S. Democrat Henry Cuellar, seen above, is not going to settle for political donations from Koch Industries whereas they proceed to function in Russia.Tom Brenner/Getty Photographs

Quite a few companies have opted to halt enterprise operations in Russia resulting from its actions in Ukraine, together with the likes of Nike, Starbucks, McDonald's, and all main Hollywood film studios. These withdrawals, in tandem with traditionally extreme financial sanctions from a large number of countries, have had an enormous detrimental impression on the Russian economic system.

Koch, conversely, has opted to maintain working two manufacturing vegetation within the nation via its subsidiary, Guardian Industries.

Cuellar is the third Democratic lawmaker to announce that they'd now not be accepting marketing campaign contributions from the Koch Industries PAC. CNBC beforehand confirmed that Representatives Kurt Schrader of Oregon and Sanford Bishop of Georgia wouldn't be taking new donations. Schrader, who acquired $4,500 from the PAC for the 2022 election cycle, additionally dedicated to donating its current Koch donation to Ukrainian help charities.

"Schrader believes so long as the corporate has determined to proceed to do enterprise in Russia throughout the struggle he is not going to settle for donations from the corporate," spokeswoman Deb Barnes informed the outlet in a press release.

Responding after the preliminary publication of the CNBC article, Bishop's camp, which acquired $2,500 in current contributions from the PAC, additionally pledged to donate to comparable pro-Ukraine charities.

"So long as Koch Industries continues to do enterprise in Russia whereas the nation is at struggle with Ukraine, I can't settle for any donations from the corporate or its political motion committee," Bishop stated in a press release. "My marketing campaign is donating the quantity acquired from the Koch Industries PAC this cycle to a non-profit devoted to supporting and offering help to the individuals of Ukraine throughout this worldwide disaster."

Newsweek reached out to Koch Industries for a touch upon this story.

Koch Industries on March 16 spoke out on its choice to stay in Russia, arguing that its operations within the nation account for a small portion of its enterprise and that leaving them behind would permit the federal government to take them over.

"Whereas Guardian's enterprise in Russia is a really small a part of Koch, we is not going to stroll away from our workers there or hand over these manufacturing amenities to the Russian authorities so it could actually function and profit from them," a press release from the corporate learn.