Donald Trump has tapped Congressman Mike Pompeo to head the CIA for his administration. Trump isn’t the only one who’s happy with his pick though. The Kochs must be thrilled to have one of their own running the country’s spy agency — just the latest addition to their own personal “intelligence agency.”

The president-elect may see Pompeo as a Trump loyalist now, but he’s been a Koch puppet for years. Pompeo earned himself the nickname “the Congressman from Koch” after Koch Industries invested in his company Thayer Aerospace. During his 2014 re-election campaign, the Koch brothers and their employees poured more than $100,000 into the race in addition to $10,000 from Koch PAC.

Since his first day in Washington, he’s been a Koch man through and through. According to the Huffington Post, Pompeo’s work to undermine and hamper the EPA showed “the height of irresponsibility — sacrificing public safety at the behest of special interests.” Is there anything the Kochs love more? While they line their pockets, the health and well being of Americans is put at risk.

It’s no wonder that Rep. Pompeo has been the top recipient of Koch Industries money in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. Now that he’s on track to lead the CIA, we’re sure the Kochs are already whispering in his ear, making sure the top spy agency in the world has their interests in mind.

Background:

Mike Pompeo

Nicknamed “The Congressman From Koch,” Pompeo Does The Bidding Of The Koch Brothers

Deep Koch Connections

Koch Industries Invested In Pompeo’s Business Before He Ran For Congress

Pompeo Was Nicknamed The “Congressman From Koch” As Koch Industries Invested In His Business Thayer Aerospace Before He Ran For Congress In 2014, When He Received $104,400 In Individual Donations From Koch Industries And $10,000 From Koch PAC. According to Huffington Post, “Perhaps that’s because Pompeo’s extensive financial and political ties to brothers David and Charles Koch have gained him the nickname ‘the congressman from Koch.’ Koch Industries was an investor in Thayer Aerospace, the business that Pompeo founded before running for Congress in 2010. In 2014, Koch Industries supported Congressman Pompeo in a hotly-contested GOP primary contest against former Rep. Todd Tiahrt, whom the Kochs had supported for the seat for 16 years before he made a failed run for the Senate. For the 2014 election cycle, Koch Industries was Pompeo’s top donor by far, with $104,400 in individual donations, plus the maximum $10,000 contribution from the Koch political action committee.” [Huffington Post, 7/11/16]

Rep. Pompeo Launched An Aerospace Company With Investment Help From A Koch Subsidiary. According to the LA Times, “The new committee members include a congressman who has hired a former Koch Industries lawyer as his chief of staff. […] Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), who represents Koch Industries’ home district, launched an aerospace company with investment help from a Koch subsidiary. He sold the company last year. His chief of staff is Mark Chenoweth, a former Koch Industries lawyer.” [LA Times, 2/6/11]

Pompeo Hired A Former Koch Industries Lawyer As His Chief Of Staff

New House Energy And Commerce Committee Member Rep. Mike Pompeo Was A Congressman Who Hired A Former Koch Industries Lawyer As His Chief Of Staff. According to the LA Times, “The new committee members include a congressman who has hired a former Koch Industries lawyer as his chief of staff. […] Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), who represents Koch Industries’ home district, launched an aerospace company with investment help from a Koch subsidiary. He sold the company last year. His chief of staff is Mark Chenoweth, a former Koch Industries lawyer.” [LA Times, 2/6/11]

Sacrificed Public Interest For Their Special Interests

Huffington Post: Pompeo’s Efforts Were An Example Of “Sacrificing Public Safety At The Behest Of Special Interests.” According to Huffington Post, “There surely would be scrutiny of a weak EPA rule, or of the government’s failure to enact any rule at all, if one day we did have a major chemical catastrophe. The pesticide plant in Bhopal India, which killed 20,000 people following a 1984 accident, was owned by a U.S. company, Union Carbide. If that plant had been located in the U.S. and 20,000 people had died here, we would have fixed this problem long ago. In order to protect the American people, the EPA should be moving to strengthen the rule by requiring plant operators to move to safer technologies where feasible. Pompeo’s effort to, instead, eliminate any regulation at all is the height of irresponsibility — sacrificing public safety at the behest of special interests.” [Huffington Post, 7/11/16]

Introduced Legislation Hampering The EPA

Congressman Mike Pompeo Of Kansas, Who Represented Wichita Appeared To Be “Doing The Bidding Of The Koch Brothers” By Introducing Legislation Which Prohibited The Environmental Protection Agency From Issuing Or Enforcing A Rule Which Would Improve The Safety Of America’s “Most Dangerous Chemical Plants.” According to Huffington Post, “Republican congressman Mike Pompeo of Kansas, who represents Wichita, seems to be doing the bidding of the Koch Brothers once again: He has introduced legislation to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing or enforcing a rule to improve the safety of America’s most dangerous chemical plants. Wichita is the home of Koch Industries, which has been the most aggressive opponent of efforts to make these plants safer. The Obama EPA’s proposed rule, issued in March, is — in the opinion of former George W. Bush EPA head Christine Todd Whitman, experienced retired generals, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, community and labor leaders and many others — far too weak to adequately protect the public from the serious dangers represented by hazardous chemical facilities, which Senator Barack Obama once called ‘stationary weapons of mass destruction spread all across the country.’ But at least the rule takes some steps toward requiring chemical plant operators to address the problem. And that’s apparently too much for Pompeo to tolerate.” [Huffington Post, 7/11/16]

Koch Industries Has Been The “Most Fervent, Big-Spending Lobbyist” Against Improved Chemical Safety, Since At Least After The Attacks On September 11, 2001. According to Huffington Post, “While backing Pompeo, Koch Industries also has been the most fervent, big-spending lobbyist against improved chemical safety, at least since the September 11 attacks focused greater public attention on the risks. A chemical catastrophe could result from accident, natural disaster, or deliberate attack. A 2013 ammonium nitrate explosion in West, Texas, which killed 15 people and injured 160 more, triggered an executive order by President Obama that has produced the new proposed rule; federal investigators concluded in May that the explosion was set off intentionally.” [Huffington Post, 7/11/16]

Led Opposition To Wind Energy Tax Credits

Executive Director of the Sierra Club Michael Brune And President Of United Steelworkers Leo Gerard: Rep. Mike Pompeo Has Led The Opposition To The Wind Energy Production Tax Credit. According an opinion by Michael Brune and Leo Gerard in The Hill, “The PTC expired at the end of 2013, and opposition led by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) has stalled its renewal. Why would a congressional representative who is from a wind state (and is a champion of job creation) work to stall the American wind industry? Why would he oppose this homegrown clean energy source even though Kansans overwhelming support it? (A January 2014 poll found 88 percent of registered voters in Kansas believe that renewable energy will lead to new investment and grow its economy, and 85 percent believe that it will create jobs in the state. Nine in 10 say that renewable energy is the right thing for the future of Kansas and for the country.)” [Michael Brune and Leo Gerard – The Hill, 11/20/14]

AFP Letter From VP Of Government Affairs Brent Gardner Letter To Rep. Mike Pompeo On Energy Freedom And Economic Prosperity Act: “Is Proud To Support Your Legislation Ending Subsidies And Tax Breaks For Energy Companies.” According to an open letter by AFP Vice President of Government Affairs Brent Gardner to Rep. Mike Pompeo, “On behalf of more than 2.5 million Americans for Prosperity activists in all 50 states, I write in strong support of your proposed legislation that would end all energy subsidies and tax credits, across the board. […]Americans for Prosperity is proud to support your legislation ending subsidies and tax breaks for energy companies. We strongly urge your colleagues to support its passage, and we look forward to working with you on this important piece of legislation.” [Brent Gardner – AFP Open Letter , 1/22/15]

AFP VP Of Government Affairs Brent Gardner To Rep. Mike Pompeo: “I Write In Strong Support Of Your Legislation That Would Terminate The Economic Development Administration.”According to a letter to Rep. Mike Pompeo from AFP Vice President of Government Affairs Brent Gardner, “On behalf of more than two million Americans for Prosperity activist in all 50 states, I write in strong support of your legislation that would terminate the Economic Development Administration (EDA) (H.R. 661). Your legislation would bring an end to this wasteful agency, putting a stop to backdoor earmarks and saving the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually.” [AFP Letter – Brent Gardner, 2/3/15]

Pompeo Defended The Kochs As “Great Men”

“When The Kochs Were Coming Under Fire” In 2014, “Pompeo Defended Them As ‘Great Men’ Whose Company Employs Nearly 60,000 People In Manufacturing Jobs.” According to The Hill, “When the Kochs were coming under fire from Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) in 2014, Pompeo defended them as ‘great men’ whose company employs nearly 60,000 people in manufacturing jobs.” [The Hill, 1/20/16]

Mike Pompeo Has Received More Koch Money Than Anyone In Congress

Mike Pompeo Has Received Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars Of Direct Campaign Contributions From People Connected With Koch Industries

Union Of Concerned Scientists Senior Writer Elliott Negin: “Mike Pompeo From Wichita—Koch Industries’ Hometown—Gets More Koch Money Than Anyone Else In Congress.” According to an opinion by Union of Concerned Scientists senior writer Elliott Neginin The Hill, “[AFP Deputy Director Of Federal Affairs Christine] Harbin also failed to mention that the anti-wind sentiment in the House was largely ginned up by Koch-funded lawmakers. Forty-six of the anti-PTC bill’s 53 co-sponsors received Koch campaign contributions over the last five years, and one of the bill’s original sponsors, Mike Pompeo from Wichita—Koch Industries’ hometown—gets more Koch money than anyone else in Congress.” [Elliott Negin – The Hill, 1/22/16]

Mike Pompeo Was The Top Recipient Of Koch Industries Money In Congress In 2016. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Koch Industries contributed $64,300 to Mike Pompeo in 2016 more than any other member of the House of Representatives. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 11/18/16]
Mike Pompeo Was The Top Recipient Of Koch Industries Money In Congress In 2014. According to Center for Responsive Politics, Koch Industries contributed $104,000 to Mike Pompeo in 2016 more than any other member of Congress. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 11/18/16]
Mike Pompeo Was The Top Recipient Of Koch Industries Money In Congress In 2012. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Koch Industries contributed $110,000 to Mike Pompeo in 2012, more than any other elected official. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 11/18/16]
Mike Pompeo Was The Top Recipient Of Koch Industries Money In Congress In 2010. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Koch Industries contributed $110,000 to Mike Pompeo in 2010, more than any other elected official. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 11/18/16]

Koch Industries Employees And Political Action Committees Were Rep Mike Pompeo’s Biggest Donors

Koch Industries’ Employees And Political Action Committees Were Rep Mike Pompeo’s “Biggest Donors” During The 2012 And 2014 Elections, “Donating A Total Of $299,000.” According to the Wichita Eagle, “U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo received nearly 90 percent of his campaign contributions from political action committees during the first six months of the 2016 campaign cycle. […] He has also received $5,000 from KochPAC, which is affiliated with Wichita’s Koch Industries. Koch’s employees and political action committees were Pompeo’s biggest donor during both the 2012 and 2014 elections, donating a total of $299,000 to his previous campaigns, according to analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.” [Wichita Eagle, 7/16/15]