As reported by the Kentucky Lantern, in December 2022 the controversial drugmaker Pfizer gave the Republican Party of Kentucky (RPK) $1,000,000. While corporate donations direct to a party’s executive committee are against the law in Kentucky, a loophole allows for unlimited donations to a party’s “building fund.” An additional $650,000 from other big corporate donors also found its way into the RPK building fund in late 2022. While ostensibly the huge purse may be used to support an expansion of the RPK’s Mitch McConnell Center in Frankfort, it is currently unclear whether an expansion requiring anywhere near $1.65 million will occur.
Pfizer has a history of corporate malfeasance, including a 2009 settlement with the US Department of Justice where Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3 billion in fines to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products. At the time, this was the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice. In 2013, Pfizer agreed to pay $55 million to settle illegal marketing claims; and in 2016, Pfizer paid $784 million associated with the drug Protonix.
More recently, Pfizer is known for its mRNA covid-19 vaccine. Under the PREP Act, Pfizer enjoys a near total immunity from any liability associated with their vaccine. It’s unclear what motivations prompted this recent large donation by Pfizer to RPK, or to what extent such generosity might influence RPK politics and policies.
