The Koch Brothers Left a Confidential Document at Their Last Donor Conference
There’s one main rule at the conservative donor conclaves held twice a year by Charles and David Koch at luxury resorts: What happens there stays there.
The billionaire industrialists and their political operatives strive to ensure the anonymity of the wealthy conservatives who fund their sprawling political operation—which funneled more than $400 million into the 2012 elections—and to keep their plans private. Attendees of these summits are warned that the seminars, where the Kochs and their allies hatch strategies for electing Republicans and advancing conservative initiatives on the state and national levels, are strictly confidential; they are cautioned to keep a close eye on their meeting notes and materials. But last week, following the Kochs’ first donor gathering of 2014, one attendee left behind a sensitive document at the Renaissance Esmeralda resort outside of Palm Springs, California, where the Kochs and their comrades had spent three days focused on winning the 2014 midterm elections and more. The document lists VIP donors—including John Schnatter, the founder of the Papa John’s pizza chain—who were scheduled for one-on-one meetings with representatives of the political, corporate, and philanthropic wings of Kochworld. The one-page document, provided to Mother Jones by a hotel guest who discovered it, offers a fascinating glimpse into the Kochs’ political machine and shows how closely intertwined it is with Koch Industries, their $115 billion conglomerate.
The more than 40 donors courted by the Kochs include hedge fund and private-equity billionaires, real estate tycoons, and executives of top corporations, including Jockey International and TRT Holdings, owner of Omni Hotels and Gold’s Gym. A number of them have never been identified as members of the Koch donor network, including Schnatter, one of the more prominent names on the list. An outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act, he is a longtime Republican donor who hosted a fundraiser for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. The document notes that the pizza mogul was scheduled to meet with Ryan Stowers, the director of higher education at the Charles G. Koch Foundation. (Schnatter did not respond to requests for comment.)
Another top conservative contributor on the list is TRT Holdings’ cofounder Robert Rowling, whose net worth is estimated at $4.9 billion. During the 2012 election, Rowling directed $3.5 million to American Crossroads, the super-PAC spearheaded by Karl Rove, and he cut a $100,000 check to the pro-Romney super-PAC Restore Our Future. According to the document, Rowling was scheduled to sit down with Charles Koch at the “Koch residence”—presumably a reference to the Wichita businessman’s vacation home at the Vintage Club, a short drive from the resort where the donor conference was held. Top Koch operatives were expected to participate in this session, including Kevin Gentry, the Koch brothers’ fundraising guru; Daniel Garza, the director of the Libre Initiative, a Koch-funded organization dedicated to Latino outreach; and Marc Short, who runs Freedom Partners, the centerpiece of the Kochs’ political network, which distributes donor funds to a large web of conservative nonprofit groups. (Rowling did not respond to requests for comment.)
Other heavy hitters slated for meetings with the Koch brothers or their representatives included Carl Berg, a Silicon Valley real estate tycoon worth $1.1 billion; Ken Griffin, who founded the hedge fund Citadel and clocks in at No. 103 on the Forbes 400 (net worth, $4.4 billion); John W. Childs, a top private-equity investor; and Fred Klipsch, the chairman of the headphone and speaker company Klipsch Group.
The meeting list illustrates the interwoven nature of the Koch brothers’ corporate, political, and philanthropic activities. The donor meetings featured various senior Koch Industries executives, including the company’s chief financial officer, Steve Feilmeier. He was scheduled to join Charles Koch for a sit down with Berg. Charles Koch’s 36-year-old son, Chase, the president of Koch Fertilizer, was also scheduled to take part in a meeting with a donor named George Gibbs. (Koch Industries spokesman Rob Tappan would not comment on the conference document, only confirming that company employees attend the donor summits. Freedom Partners spokesman James Davis said he was “uncertain” about the document and did not respond to further questions.)
At least half of the one-on-one sessions involved representatives of Americans for Prosperity, the political advocacy group founded by the Koch brothers and their top political adviser and strategist, Richard Fink, a Koch Industries executive vice president and board member. The AFP officials called to duty for these discussions included AFP’s president Tim Phillips, chief operating officer Luke Hilgemann, vice president for state operations Teresa Oelke, and vice president for development Chris Fink (Richard Fink’s son). The state directors for AFP’s Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida chapters were also slated for tête-à-têtes during the Koch summit. (AFP spokesman Levi Russell declined to comment on the meeting document.)
In the past, Koch Industries has distanced itself from AFP and its political activities. The company has said the group is just one of “hundreds of organizations” that receive funding from the Kochs and that it operates “independently” of Koch Industries. But the document suggests a close collaboration between officials of Koch Industries, AFP, and Freedom Partners, whose staff and board are stacked with numerous current and former Koch Industries employees. Michael Lanzara and Jeff Noble, who transitioned over to Freedom Partners from Koch Companies Public Sector—the company’s legal, lobbying, and public affairs branch—were scheduled to meet with donors alongside AFP staffers. The Koch brothers and Richard Fink were also listed as taking part in some of these sessions. (Fink, a man of many hats within the Koch firmament, is also an AFP board member; David Koch chairs the board of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation.)
Heading into the midterm elections, AFP has emerged as one of the right’s most active and well-financed political outfits. In recent months, it has spent more than $20 million on ads clobbering congressional Democrats for supporting Obamacare. And the group is merely one piece of the Kochs’ massive political operation, which in size, scope, and fundraising prowess has come to resemble a political party in its own right. During the 2012 election cycle, in fact, the Koch network managed to raise as much as the Republican National Committee itself.
After the brothers and their allies failed to win the Senate or unseat Obama in 2012, David Koch told Forbes that this setback would do little to deter them: “We’re going to fight the battle as long as we breathe.” At the Palm Springs conference, as the left-behind-list of VIP meetings shows, the Kochs are lining up serious financial firepower for the political fights of 2014 and beyond.
Read the meeting list, along with a guide to the participants in them, below.
PS14 on-site 1-on-1 Meetings
Last Name First Name Players Location Start Time
Berg Carl Charles Koch, Mike Lanzara and Steve Feilmeier Capri Sunday,
Cameron Ronnie Charles Koch and Kevin Gentry Corfu Sunday,
Chandler Charlie Jeff Noble and Chris Fink Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Childs John Charles Koch, Mike Lanzara and Tim Phillips Koch Residence Saturday,
Clark Steve Chris Fink and Teresa Oelke Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Coulter Jamie Jeff Noble and Chris Fink Gibraltar Sunday,
Fettig Bob Jeff Noble and David Fladeboe Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Fettig Steve Jeff Noble and David Fladeboe Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Foster Paul Charles Koch, Brett Hinkey and Daniel Garza Corfu Monday,
Gibbs George Kevin Gentry and Chase Koch Monte Carlo Sunday,
Gilliam Richard Charles Koch, Rich Fink, Tim Phillips and Mike Lanzara Corfu Sunday,
Gilliam Leslie Charles Koch, Rich Fink, Tim Phillips and Mike Lanzara Corfu Sunday,
Griffin Ken Charles Koch, Rich Rink, Marc Short and Mike Lanzara Corfu Monday,
Griffin John Ryan Stowers and Brian Hooks Capri Sunday,
Haworth Dick Michael Lanzara and Scott Hagerstrom Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Hayden Jerry Chris Fink and Teresa Oelke Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Jenkins George Jeff Noble, Jennifer Stephano and Chris Fink Gibraltar Sunday,
Kayne Ric Tommy Von Der Heydt Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Kirby Dan Tommy Von Der Heydt and Tim Phillips Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Klipsch Fred Chris Fink and Teresa Oelke Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Kozel Frank Jeff Noble, Corey Lewandowski and Slade O’Brien Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Lee Franc Brian Hooks and John Hardin Monte Carlo Sunday,
Luddy Bob Chris Fink and Teresa Oelke Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Maclellan Hugh Michael Palmer Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
McCarthy Kent Jeff Noble, Derek Johnson and Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Miller Andrew Tommy Von Der Heydt, Nathan Nascimento and James Davis Cava Restaurant Sunday,
O’Brate Cecil Tommy Von Der Heydt and Luke Hilgemann Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Perdy Verl Jim Clement and John Hardin Monte Carlo Sunday,
Rastin CANC Tom Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Records George Brett Hinkey and Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Rowling Bob Charles Koch, Kevin Gentry, Daniel Garza and Marc Short Koch Residence Saturday,
Saunders Ted Jeff Noble and Corey Lewandowski Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Schnatter John Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday, .
Smith Tom Ryan Stowers and Brian Hooks Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Snider Craig Brett Hinkey and John Hardin Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Snider Tina Brett Hinkey and John Hardin Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Snider Jamie Brett Hinkey and John Hardin Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Stai Dian Tommy Von Der Heydt, David Koch, Marc Short and Teresa Oelke Monaco Sunday,
Stephenson Jim Tim Phillips and Chris Fink Co’rsica Sunday,
VonEhr Jim Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Waller Debra Mike Lanzara and David Fladeboe Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Ward Lew Derek Johnson Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Weiss Dick Chris Fink Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Williams Dean Jeff Noble and Brian Hooks Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Wright CANC Karen Charles Koch, Rich Fink, Tim Phillips and Mike Lanzara Corfu Sunday,
Wright CANC Karen Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
The billionaire industrialists and their political operatives strive to ensure the anonymity of the wealthy conservatives who fund their sprawling political operation—which funneled more than $400 million into the 2012 elections—and to keep their plans private. Attendees of these summits are warned that the seminars, where the Kochs and their allies hatch strategies for electing Republicans and advancing conservative initiatives on the state and national levels, are strictly confidential; they are cautioned to keep a close eye on their meeting notes and materials. But last week, following the Kochs’ first donor gathering of 2014, one attendee left behind a sensitive document at the Renaissance Esmeralda resort outside of Palm Springs, California, where the Kochs and their comrades had spent three days focused on winning the 2014 midterm elections and more. The document lists VIP donors—including John Schnatter, the founder of the Papa John’s pizza chain—who were scheduled for one-on-one meetings with representatives of the political, corporate, and philanthropic wings of Kochworld. The one-page document, provided to Mother Jones by a hotel guest who discovered it, offers a fascinating glimpse into the Kochs’ political machine and shows how closely intertwined it is with Koch Industries, their $115 billion conglomerate.
The more than 40 donors courted by the Kochs include hedge fund and private-equity billionaires, real estate tycoons, and executives of top corporations, including Jockey International and TRT Holdings, owner of Omni Hotels and Gold’s Gym. A number of them have never been identified as members of the Koch donor network, including Schnatter, one of the more prominent names on the list. An outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act, he is a longtime Republican donor who hosted a fundraiser for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. The document notes that the pizza mogul was scheduled to meet with Ryan Stowers, the director of higher education at the Charles G. Koch Foundation. (Schnatter did not respond to requests for comment.)
Another top conservative contributor on the list is TRT Holdings’ cofounder Robert Rowling, whose net worth is estimated at $4.9 billion. During the 2012 election, Rowling directed $3.5 million to American Crossroads, the super-PAC spearheaded by Karl Rove, and he cut a $100,000 check to the pro-Romney super-PAC Restore Our Future. According to the document, Rowling was scheduled to sit down with Charles Koch at the “Koch residence”—presumably a reference to the Wichita businessman’s vacation home at the Vintage Club, a short drive from the resort where the donor conference was held. Top Koch operatives were expected to participate in this session, including Kevin Gentry, the Koch brothers’ fundraising guru; Daniel Garza, the director of the Libre Initiative, a Koch-funded organization dedicated to Latino outreach; and Marc Short, who runs Freedom Partners, the centerpiece of the Kochs’ political network, which distributes donor funds to a large web of conservative nonprofit groups. (Rowling did not respond to requests for comment.)
Other heavy hitters slated for meetings with the Koch brothers or their representatives included Carl Berg, a Silicon Valley real estate tycoon worth $1.1 billion; Ken Griffin, who founded the hedge fund Citadel and clocks in at No. 103 on the Forbes 400 (net worth, $4.4 billion); John W. Childs, a top private-equity investor; and Fred Klipsch, the chairman of the headphone and speaker company Klipsch Group.
The meeting list illustrates the interwoven nature of the Koch brothers’ corporate, political, and philanthropic activities. The donor meetings featured various senior Koch Industries executives, including the company’s chief financial officer, Steve Feilmeier. He was scheduled to join Charles Koch for a sit down with Berg. Charles Koch’s 36-year-old son, Chase, the president of Koch Fertilizer, was also scheduled to take part in a meeting with a donor named George Gibbs. (Koch Industries spokesman Rob Tappan would not comment on the conference document, only confirming that company employees attend the donor summits. Freedom Partners spokesman James Davis said he was “uncertain” about the document and did not respond to further questions.)
At least half of the one-on-one sessions involved representatives of Americans for Prosperity, the political advocacy group founded by the Koch brothers and their top political adviser and strategist, Richard Fink, a Koch Industries executive vice president and board member. The AFP officials called to duty for these discussions included AFP’s president Tim Phillips, chief operating officer Luke Hilgemann, vice president for state operations Teresa Oelke, and vice president for development Chris Fink (Richard Fink’s son). The state directors for AFP’s Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida chapters were also slated for tête-à-têtes during the Koch summit. (AFP spokesman Levi Russell declined to comment on the meeting document.)
In the past, Koch Industries has distanced itself from AFP and its political activities. The company has said the group is just one of “hundreds of organizations” that receive funding from the Kochs and that it operates “independently” of Koch Industries. But the document suggests a close collaboration between officials of Koch Industries, AFP, and Freedom Partners, whose staff and board are stacked with numerous current and former Koch Industries employees. Michael Lanzara and Jeff Noble, who transitioned over to Freedom Partners from Koch Companies Public Sector—the company’s legal, lobbying, and public affairs branch—were scheduled to meet with donors alongside AFP staffers. The Koch brothers and Richard Fink were also listed as taking part in some of these sessions. (Fink, a man of many hats within the Koch firmament, is also an AFP board member; David Koch chairs the board of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation.)
Heading into the midterm elections, AFP has emerged as one of the right’s most active and well-financed political outfits. In recent months, it has spent more than $20 million on ads clobbering congressional Democrats for supporting Obamacare. And the group is merely one piece of the Kochs’ massive political operation, which in size, scope, and fundraising prowess has come to resemble a political party in its own right. During the 2012 election cycle, in fact, the Koch network managed to raise as much as the Republican National Committee itself.
After the brothers and their allies failed to win the Senate or unseat Obama in 2012, David Koch told Forbes that this setback would do little to deter them: “We’re going to fight the battle as long as we breathe.” At the Palm Springs conference, as the left-behind-list of VIP meetings shows, the Kochs are lining up serious financial firepower for the political fights of 2014 and beyond.
Read the meeting list, along with a guide to the participants in them, below.
PS14 on-site 1-on-1 Meetings
Last Name First Name Players Location Start Time
Berg Carl Charles Koch, Mike Lanzara and Steve Feilmeier Capri Sunday,
Cameron Ronnie Charles Koch and Kevin Gentry Corfu Sunday,
Chandler Charlie Jeff Noble and Chris Fink Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Childs John Charles Koch, Mike Lanzara and Tim Phillips Koch Residence Saturday,
Clark Steve Chris Fink and Teresa Oelke Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Coulter Jamie Jeff Noble and Chris Fink Gibraltar Sunday,
Fettig Bob Jeff Noble and David Fladeboe Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Fettig Steve Jeff Noble and David Fladeboe Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Foster Paul Charles Koch, Brett Hinkey and Daniel Garza Corfu Monday,
Gibbs George Kevin Gentry and Chase Koch Monte Carlo Sunday,
Gilliam Richard Charles Koch, Rich Fink, Tim Phillips and Mike Lanzara Corfu Sunday,
Gilliam Leslie Charles Koch, Rich Fink, Tim Phillips and Mike Lanzara Corfu Sunday,
Griffin Ken Charles Koch, Rich Rink, Marc Short and Mike Lanzara Corfu Monday,
Griffin John Ryan Stowers and Brian Hooks Capri Sunday,
Haworth Dick Michael Lanzara and Scott Hagerstrom Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Hayden Jerry Chris Fink and Teresa Oelke Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Jenkins George Jeff Noble, Jennifer Stephano and Chris Fink Gibraltar Sunday,
Kayne Ric Tommy Von Der Heydt Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Kirby Dan Tommy Von Der Heydt and Tim Phillips Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Klipsch Fred Chris Fink and Teresa Oelke Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Kozel Frank Jeff Noble, Corey Lewandowski and Slade O’Brien Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Lee Franc Brian Hooks and John Hardin Monte Carlo Sunday,
Luddy Bob Chris Fink and Teresa Oelke Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
Maclellan Hugh Michael Palmer Meet in the Glo Lobby Saturday,
McCarthy Kent Jeff Noble, Derek Johnson and Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Miller Andrew Tommy Von Der Heydt, Nathan Nascimento and James Davis Cava Restaurant Sunday,
O’Brate Cecil Tommy Von Der Heydt and Luke Hilgemann Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Perdy Verl Jim Clement and John Hardin Monte Carlo Sunday,
Rastin CANC Tom Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Records George Brett Hinkey and Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Rowling Bob Charles Koch, Kevin Gentry, Daniel Garza and Marc Short Koch Residence Saturday,
Saunders Ted Jeff Noble and Corey Lewandowski Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Schnatter John Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday, .
Smith Tom Ryan Stowers and Brian Hooks Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Snider Craig Brett Hinkey and John Hardin Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Snider Tina Brett Hinkey and John Hardin Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Snider Jamie Brett Hinkey and John Hardin Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Stai Dian Tommy Von Der Heydt, David Koch, Marc Short and Teresa Oelke Monaco Sunday,
Stephenson Jim Tim Phillips and Chris Fink Co’rsica Sunday,
VonEhr Jim Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Waller Debra Mike Lanzara and David Fladeboe Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Ward Lew Derek Johnson Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Weiss Dick Chris Fink Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
Williams Dean Jeff Noble and Brian Hooks Meet in the Glo Lobby Sunday,
Wright CANC Karen Charles Koch, Rich Fink, Tim Phillips and Mike Lanzara Corfu Sunday,
Wright CANC Karen Ryan Stowers Meet in the Glo Lobby Monday,
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