Republican House leaders and the GOP-aligned PACs of three Fox News contributors donated thousands of dollars to QAnon supporter Lauren Boebert’s successful House campaign. Their support is part of a larger trend of Republicans helping build up QAnon, a conspiracy theory that got its start through online message boards and has been labeled a potential domestic terrorism threat by the FBI.
Boebert won her House race in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. President Donald Trump endorsed her campaign and participated in a “tele-rally” for her.
The political action committees of three Fox News contributors donated to Boebert:
- American Victory PAC, which is headed by former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), donated $2,800.
- Citizens United Political Victory Fund, which is headed by Trump adviser David Bossie, donated $2,500.
- Huck PAC, which is headed by former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR), donated $5,000. (Media Matters previously documented the donation).
Key House Republican leaders also helped by donating to her campaign. For instance:
- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) campaign donated $2,000 to Boebert; his Majority Committee PAC also donated $5,000.
- Republican Conference chair Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-WY) campaign donated $2,000. Cheney is a former Fox News contributor who is reportedly angling for a loftier perch in the Republican leadership.
- House Republican Policy Committee chair Rep. Gary Palmer’s (R-AL) Conservative Promises PAC donated $1,000.
- National Republican Campaign Committee chair Tom Emmer’s (R-MN) Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans donated $1,500. Boebert is also part of the NRCC’s Young Guns recruitment program.
Numerous other Republicans or their leadership PACs donated to Boebert.
Boebert will join fellow QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress next year. Greene is a QAnon and 9/11 conspiracy theorist who has promoted anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic remarks, among other vitriolic rhetoric.
Both Boebert and Greene have attempted to disingenuously distance themselves from QAnon. They have also associated themselves with the far-right militia movement. And like Boebert, Greene has received the backing of Republicans, including Trump.