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Exec: I Was Fired for Not Donating to Mitt

CEO asked employees to give; denies man lost job over refusal

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 7, 2008 1:56 PM CDT
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(Newser) – An ex-executive with a Chicago-based consulting group has filed an employment bias complaint, alleging that he was fired in part for his refusal to donate to Mitt Romney’s campaign, the Wall Street Journal reports. The complaint offers a rare glimpse into the machinery of corporate donations. In emails seen by the Journal, Huron Group’s CEO asks employees to back the Republican. “This is just business and the way business works,” he writes.

He goes on to thank donors, and promises to reward them. “You can't realize how much leverage this gives Huron going forward,” he says. In all, Romney received $92,000 from Huron executives. The company says the emails were simply a “personal request” of a kind “common in companies, and organizations across America.” Such inducements aren’t illegal, as long as there's no coercion.

Mitt Romney addresses the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, Friday, May 16, 2008, in Louisville, Ky.
Mitt Romney addresses the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, Friday, May 16, 2008, in Louisville, Ky.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Mitt Romney addresses the delegate assembly during the 2008 Colorado Republican Convention in Broomfield, Colo., Saturday, May 31, 2008.
Mitt Romney addresses the delegate assembly during the 2008 Colorado Republican Convention in Broomfield, Colo., Saturday, May 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
The claim offers a rare glimpse behind the curtain of corporate campaign donations.
The claim offers a rare glimpse behind the curtain of corporate campaign donations.   (Shutterstock)
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Mitt Romney • campaign finance • corporate • Huron • campaign contributions • corporate execs

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