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Washington, D.C. — In a bombshell report, AT&T has been revealed as one of the architects and major funders behind One America News Network (OAN), the far-right media network that has been a major platform for perpetuating Trump’s Big Lie and undermining vaccine science. According to Reuters, “ninety percent of OAN’s revenue came from a contract with AT&T-owned television platforms” and major AT&T executives were “the inspiration to launch OAN.” 

As Accountable.US has documented, AT&T’s involvement with the dangerous, conspiracy spreading network only touches the surface of the company’s anti-democratic behavior that also includes donating to groups that incited the deadly insurrection and funding politicians leading Jim Crow-style voter suppression efforts in Texas.   

“AT&T claims to value “equality” while its affiliated PACs have funneled campaign money to politicians behind racist voter suppression schemes and those who helped incite the deadly assault at our nation’s Capitol. It comes as no surprise the company has now been exposed as a top financer behind a leading platform for dangerous conspiracies that undermine our democracy and public health,” said Kyle Herrig, president of Accountable.US. “What AT&T seems to really value most are the views of far-right extremists who sow public mistrust, division, and fear — and their shareholders, and employees deserve answers why.”

Accountable.US revealed that in June 2021 alone, as the voting restriction proposals were facing intense public scrutiny in Texas, AT&T-affiliated PACs dumped at least $132,500 into the campaigns of Texas state lawmakers after they publicly pushed voter suppression bills — including $100,000 to Governor Greg Abbott on the same day Abbott called for a special legislative session to pass a voter suppression bill, among other right-wing priorities. 

In addition, despite AT&T’s public pledges to withhold support from those who helped incite the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, the company doled out $125,000 to the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) — a group key in encouraging attendance and inciting violence in the days leading up to the insurrection.  

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