Politics

Gov. Greg Abbott Returns $10,000 Donation To Campaign After Donor Insinuates Money Is Insurance For Political Appointment

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A Texas developer who pledged $10,000 to Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign had his donation returned to him after insinuating that his contribution would clinch his appointment to the state Board of Regents.

“You make a large donation to the governor, and in turn you are eligible for appointment to the Board of Regents,” George McMahan, a real estate developer in Lubbock, told the ABC affiliate, KAMC, reflecting his aspirations to be on the Texas Tech University board.

“What this individual suggested is not only false, but also illegal,” said Ciara Matthews, a spokeswoman for Abbott, in a statement to the Houston Chronicle. “Because of the unfortunate comments, the donation was returned. This is not how the Governor does business.”

The Republican governor denied the donor’s assertions, giving back his money and McMahan and his wife refused to attend the event on Wednesday. McMahan was scheduled to be a co-host for the fundraiser before he backed out, leaving 18 other families, three of whom are current members on the board of regents, to headline the event, KAMC reported.

All 10 board members, seven of whom were appointed by Abbott and two who were holdover appointees from former Gov. Rick Perry’s administration, with the exception of the student representative, collectively gave $1 million to Abbott’s campaign for reelection, according to a review of campaign finance data by the Houston Chronicle.

“It’s not a bad thing,” McMahan told the Houston Chronicle. “It’s common knowledge that that’s the way it works.”

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