NYC Fundraiser for Raimondo Hosted by Tobacco CEO Who Testified Cigarettes Do Not Cause Cancer
Tuesday, June 05, 2018
Governor Gina Raimondo has tapped one of the players in one of the most dramatic Congressional showdowns for her latest out-of-town fundraiser.
Andrew Tisch and his wife Ann are hosting a New York City fundraiser on Thursday for Governor Gina Raimondo at their home.
However, Tisch may be best known for his dramatic testimony before Congress when he was the CEO of Lorillard Tobacco Company, when he and other leading tobacco execs shocked members of Congress and the American public in claiming that there was no link between tobacco and cancer and that nicotine was not addictive.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor Raimondo, the link to a former tobacco CEO could be a political liability. Under her administration, Rhode Island has sunk to a grade of "F" from the American Lung Association. According to the national health organization, "Thumbs down for Rhode Island for spending little state money on tobacco prevention and cessation programs despite smoking costing the state close to $640 million in healthcare costs each year."
Democratic Congressmen on the panel, inspired by recent news reports, pressed the executives on whether their companies manipulated the content of nicotine to keep smokers addicted to cigarettes. The executives acknowledged that nicotine levels could be and were controlled by altering the blends of tobacco, but they said this was done to enhance flavor, not to insure addiction.
Mr. [Henry] Waxman asked Andrew H. Tisch, the chairman and chief executive of the Lorillard Tobacco Company whether he knew that cigarettes caused cancer. “I do not believe that,” Mr. Tisch answered.
“Do you understand how isolated you are from the scientific community in your belief?” Mr. Waxman asked.
“I do, sir," Mr. Tisch said.
Tisch also claimed in answering questions from then-Congressman and now-United States Senator Ron Wyden that he did not believe that nicotine was addictive. SEE VIDEO BELOW
After the hearing, a perjury investigation was initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Ultimately, the DOJ found it did not have enough evidence to prosecute for perjury because the CEOs testified under oath that they believed nicotine did not addict to people. Because they had used the word "believe," they could not be prosecuted for perjury.
Big Donor - Party Does Not Matter
Over the past three decades, Tisch has funneled hundreds of thousands of political donations to both parties and candidates from Hillary Clinton to George W. Bush.
He has also made massive donations to state and federal political committees, including $150,000.00 to the Americans for Responsible Solutions, $33,400.00 to the DNC Services Corp, $25,000.00 to the Democratic linked PowerPAC Plus, $50,000 to The Mobilization Project tied to Corey Booker’s campaign, and $5,000.00 to the New York Republican Federal Campaign Committee.
Her wife Ann Tisch has donated hundreds of thousands and combined the couple exceeds more than a million in political donations.
Related Slideshow: 2018 Governor’s Race Playbook - June 4, 2018
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