Illinois Politicians Accept Boeing Cash Despite Safety Controversies
Boeing's reputation has been severely damaged due to its alleged prioritization of profits over safety in designing and building aircraft, including the 737 MAX. The company faced intense scrutiny after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed a total of 346 people.
The crashes led to Congressional hearings, a Justice Department investigation, SEC case, numerous lawsuits, and critical documentaries. Despite this, Boeing's campaign money remains good with Illinois politicians, with eight members of Congress accepting donations from the company since last year.
Among those who accepted donations are U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley, Mike Bost, Darin LaHood, Nikki Budzinski, Eric Sorensen, Brad Schneider, Bill Foster, and Frank Mrvan. These politicians either couldn't be reached or wouldn't comment on the issue.
Boeing also stands to benefit financially from its production of weapons for Israel's military, which has been accused of human rights abuses in Gaza. Amnesty International released a report last year documenting Boeing-manufactured bombs being used in unlawful air strikes in the occupied Gaza Strip.