PrintTrump's new finance chairman donated twice as much to Dems as GOP
As soon as Steve Mnuchin, the chairman and CEO of Dune Capital Management was named national finance chairman for the Trump campaign, information began to come out about his political donations and associations.
Mnuchin has donated $125,000 since 1998 to political candidates, with more than half that amount going to Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
He also ran George Soros's hedge fund.
Mnuchin, who currently serves as chairman and CEO of the private investment firm Dune Capital Management LP, has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns and committees over the years, according to a review of Federal Election Commission records.
Mnuchin has contributed to committees supporting Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump’s likely competitor in the general election for president in the fall. He contributed $1,000 to Clinton’s New York Senate campaign in 2000 and sent $4,100 to Friends of Hillary in 2004 and 2005. Mnuchin also contributed $2,300 to Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2007.
Additionally, in 2004, Mnuchin contributed $10,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $2,000 to Obama’s Illinois Senate campaign, and $500 to John Kerry’s presidential campaign.
Mnuchin also sent $2,300 to Obama’s first presidential campaign in 2007.
Trump cheered Mnuchin’s “successful financial background” in a statement Thursday.
“Steven is a professional at the highest level with an extensive and very successful financial background,” Trump said in the statement. “He brings unprecedented experience and expertise to a fundraising operation that will benefit the Republican Party and ultimately defeat Hillary Clinton.”
While Mnuchin has also contributed to Republicans, including Mitt Romney, his contributions to Democrats outweighs those to Republicans.
It's not unusual for a businessman to donate to both parties. But a national finance chair appearing to favor Democrats over Republicans, and who supported his boss's opponent in the general election, should raise a few eyebrows in GOP circles.
Mnuchin's connection to Soros is also troubling. Soros has the ear of the Clinton campaign, and given Mnuchin's past support for Democrats, it's not completely impossible to imagine – although probably a little paranoid – that there might be collusion between the two. Where exactly do Mnuchin's loyalties lie? Hopefully with the candidate, if not the party.
No one doubts Mnuchin's competence. But Trump doesn't need these kinds of questions being raised about his campaign team right out of the gate.
