Daines Fundraiser Turned Pandemic Profiteer Faces Investigation After Failing to Deliver on $12.5 Million PPE Order
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 4, 2020
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Daines Fundraiser Turned Pandemic Profiteer Faces Investigation After Failing to Deliver on $12.5 Million PPE Order
Helena, MT – Steve Daines has faced increasing scrutiny after a top campaign consultant started a medical supply company to “capitalize on the coronavirus response” – using “relationships” to obtain equipment like testing materials and PPE that are in short supply across the country. Now, new reporting reveals that the company has failed to deliver on a $12.5 million PPE order placed by the State of Maryland after taking a $6.3 million down payment. The company now faces an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General.
Daines has paid the fundraising aide, Mike Gula, nearly $500,000 since 2018. Daines has refused to answer questions about the nature of his affiliation with Gula, or what “relationships” Gula leveraged to get these supplies. The Wall Street Journal reports Daines was “paying Gula to set up several fundraising events” including two DC fundraisers and retreats in Napa, California and Helena scheduled for this summer.
“Daines’ former campaign aide took millions in taxpayer dollars, and then failed to deliver a single piece of PPE,” said MDP Executive Director Sandi Luckey. “Senator Daines paid Gula nearly $50,000 as he was setting up his business, and continues to dodge questions about whether he was one of the ‘relationships’ Gula leveraged to acquire scarce PPE to sell for profit. Daines owes Montanans answers about his level of involvement in Gula’s pandemic profiteering scheme.”
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