Squire Patton Boggs, a law firm and lobbying shop with a notable Washington history, has suspended donations from its political action committee after last week’s riot at the U.S. Capitol.
“Squire Patton Boggs believes that there is no room for violence in our society, including in the context of political protests, and that a peaceful transition of power is fundamental to our democratic system of government,” said a firm statement provided by spokesperson Angelo Kakolyris. “We have suspended all of our PAC contributions in order to review our policies and criteria on a going forward basis.”
Numerous corporations have said they would withhold or review political contributions since the Jan. 6 riot, but Squire Patton Boggs, along with another Big Law firm, Cozen O’Connor, appear to be among the first in their field to alter their approach.
Cozen O’Connor’s executive chairman and CEO said Tuesday in a statement the firm would halt PAC contributions to those in Congress who objected to the certification of the 2020 Electoral College results.
Another firm, Washington-founded Crowell & Moring, last Thursday urged that President Donald Trump—blamed by many for inciting the Capitol attack—be removed from office for his “reckless and wanton” behavior. A group of other firms, including DLA Piper, signed on to Crowell’s statement.
The Squire Patton Boggs PAC’s contributions to federal candidates in the 2019-2020 cycle leaned Republican, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, which said the PAC gave 34% to Democrats versus 66% to Republicans.
The PAC donated $1,000 to the campaign of Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) in September 2019, Federal Election Committee data show. Gosar is a staunch Trump supporter and, according to an organizer of the rally that led to the violent siege of the Capitol, allegedly helped come up with the idea for the Jan. 6 event.
The PAC contributed about $350,000 in the 2019-2020 cycle through Nov. 23, according to FEC records.
Patton Boggs was a storied Washington-based firm, with a significant lobbying presence, and merged with Squire Sanders in 2014.
Squire Patton Boggs was ranked as the 37th largest firm in the U.S. by the American Lawyer, bringing in gross revenue of $1.03 billion in 2019.
—With assistance from Kenneth P. Doyle, John Dunbar, and Christina Brady
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