(Newser)
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Despite a big stock sell-off last year, Mitt Romney is still worth about $250 million, according to a new financial report issued by his campaign yesterday, reports the AP. Romney's blind trust has sold large amounts of stocks in such companies as Boeing, Pepsico, and Volkswagen. There also appeared to be big sells with businesses that have conflicted with several of Romney's positions, notes AP, including Hang Lung, a company based in China, where Romney has advocated tougher policies; companies that have done business with Iran, such as Komatsu and Schlumberger; and Fresenius Medical Care, a German company that has done work with stem cell research.
The Romney campaign emphasized that these investments were in a blind trust and Romney had no direct involvement. "They do not control the investment of these assets, which are under the control and overall management of a trustee," says a spokeswoman. During Romney's first presidential run, he vowed that none of his investments would clash with GOP policies, but the new disclosure shows he maintained some of those controversial investments well beyond 2007. The report also disclosed nearly 40 Bain Capital-related investments, including new ones worth $2 million and $3,500 that had not appeared on Romney's 2010 disclosure. In addition, Romney owns about $500,000 worth of gold, a $260,000 stock retainer from Marriott, and he made $190,000 in speaking fees and $100,000 from his book No Apology.
