Democratic Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, who chairs the presidential campaign of his twin brother Julián, released a list of names of his fellow San Antonians who donated to President Donald Trump’s campaign. Apparently, Castro did not know that at least six of those donors had also donated to his own congressional campaign.
On Tuesday, the congressman tweeted that the 44 people who contributed up to a maximum donation of $5,600 to Trump’s campaign, including small-business owners, 11 retirees, and one homemaker, “are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders.’”
Sad to see so many San Antonians as 2019 maximum donors to Donald Trump — the owner of @BillMillerBarBQ, owner of the @HistoricPearl, realtor Phyllis Browning, etc.
Their contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders.’ pic.twitter.com/YT85IBF19u
— Joaquin Castro (@Castro4Congress) August 6, 2019
On Wednesday, The Washington Free Beacon reported that Federal Election Commission records showed one of the donors, William Greehey, a San Antonio philanthropist and former CEO of Valero Energy, contributed at least $10,000 to Castro during his first two campaigns in 2011 and 2013.
“It is just amazing to me that he would do that. … Then he’s calling me a racist because I’m supporting Trump. I mean, this is just ridiculous.” Greehey told the Washington Examiner. “There’s a lot of things you don’t like about the president and his tweeting, but here Castro is doing the same thing with his tweeting.”
Another donor on Castro’s list, Wayne Harwell, is a San Antonio real estate developer who gave $1,000 to Castro in 2011. Harwell told The Federalist that he supported both Castro and his brother when he was mayor of San Antonio.
“If someone dislikes you enough to try to affect your business or personal life, I will not support him anymore. Maybe Castro’s supporters should look over their shoulder,” Harwell said in an email. “Frankly, I think the nasty rhetoric coming from the Democratic national candidates is worse than anything Trump has said.”
Harwell said he doesn’t think Castro’s “outsized stunt” will help his brother at all.
“Trump has helped our country have economic prosperity; I support his efforts. I may not support every word he says but I support the results,” he said.
After receiving criticism for putting small donors at risk of harassment for their political views, Castro appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday to defend his decision to tweet the list.
MSNBC's Willie Geist to Joaquin Castro after he doxxed @realDonaldTrump supporters:
"These people are undoubtedly are already being harassed … they will be because you put their names in public."
Castro later responds: "I didn't create the graphic."
Give me a break Castro. pic.twitter.com/XgBw8fkevA
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 7, 2019
Castro said the targeting of these individuals was not his intention but that he would like for “them to think twice about supporting a guy who is fueling hate in this country.”
He then attempted to distance himself from the list, saying he wasn’t responsible for creating the list he tweeted. “I shared it; I didn’t create the graphic,” Castro said.
