Charles Johnson, the Giants’ largest shareholder, defended newly revealed political donations in a statement late Friday, saying he did not know that a candidate he supported was linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory.
Johnson and his wife Ann each sent $2,800, the maximum contribution, to Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert. Boebert, who was elected in November, has expressed support for the far-right conspiracy theory that alleges Satan-worshipping pedophiles are plotting against President Trump.
Boebert and at least 19 other representatives who received donations last year from Johnson voted in support of objections to election certification last week. The vote came just hours after a riotous mob of Trump supporters stormed into the U.S. Capitol Building with unfounded claims of election fraud as their motive. Johnson also made donations to three senators who voted for objections against certification.
“It is often difficult to predict the future behavior of candidates and I would never have imagined that any legitimate candidate would participate in undermining the core values of our great country,” Johnson wrote in a statement released by the Giants at 4:51 p.m. Friday. “Nor was I aware that any candidate to whom I contributed was associated with QAnon.”
Johnson, 88, noted his long history of supporting politicians who “share my strong belief in a free market system.”
He was by far the most active political donor of any American professional sports franchise owner, donating more than $10 million to mostly Republican candidates since 2015, according to reports. An analysis from this news organization found he made $4.2 million in political donations this election cycle, including $435,000 earmarked for Trump’s re-election bid. Meanwhile, the Giants laid off 10% of their full-time employees in October, in peak election donation season.
Johnson defended the striking juxtaposition, writing that his political contributions “are mine alone and not associated in any way with the San Francisco Giants.”
Johnson became the CEO for Franklin Resources, now referred to as Franklin Templeton Investments, in 1957 before his son Greg assumed the position in 2013. Forbes estimates Charles’ net worth at $4.9 billion.
Charles Johnson is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the Giants, but Greg became the team’s MLB-designated control person in November, 2019.
As others have now posted, here is the statement Charles Johnson passed along through the #SFGiants this afternoon on his political donations. pic.twitter.com/3shlmPs3Zy
— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) January 16, 2021
