Freddie Mac and American International Group Inc., two companies bailed out by the U.S. government as the financial crisis unfolded, each contributed $250,000 for last month's Republican National Convention, Federal Election Commission filings show.
The money went to the local host committee for the convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, which raised $50 million. The committees can accept unlimited amounts from corporations, unions and individuals. While the donors' names were posted on the committee's Web site, the amounts they gave were not released until the FEC reports. The host committee for the Democratic National Convention in Denver has yet to file.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley, New York investment banks that changed to bank holding companies and therefore put themselves under increased federal regulation, also contributed money for the Republican convention. Goldman Sachs gave $255,000, and Morgan Stanley donated $100,000. New York-based JPMorgan Chase & Co., which bought Bear Stearns Cos., contributed $100,000.