Politics

NBC Donated $5.6 Million To Democratic Party, Provided First Debate’s Moderator

HEMPSTEAD, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Moderator Lester Holt speaks ahead of the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on September 26, 2016 in Hempstead, New York. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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Eric Lieberman Managing Editor
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NBC parent company Comcast donated $5.6 million to the Democratic Party during its convention in Philadelphia, and NBC provided Monday night’s presidential debate moderator.

The Democratic Party released a comprehensive list of donors right before the momentous debate, according to The Intercept.

Moderator Lester Holt works for NBC; he is the host of the NBC’s flagship, primetime daily television program “NBC Nightly News.”

The donations were given to the “Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee” which was “supporting a nominating convention,” according to the 1,098 pages of receipts and disbursements.

The Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee received the donations and then disbursed them to the Democratic Party.

A supplementary report also shows that Comcast Corporation donated goods and services, like “data/network, voice, security, TV, space, equipment, and labor” from “March 2016 through October 2016.”

The Federal Election Commission provides instructions and the forms for how to properly report and take part in this type of fundraising.

Other big name donors include AT&T ($1.5 million); Microsoft ($650,000); and Google ($500,000).

Known as “Friday news dump,” releasing information before a weekend or a holiday is a common tactic. Organizations and politicians often do this if the data being revealed could be interpreted as incriminating, or at least unflattering.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story said NBC sponsored the debate. NBC’s Holt moderated the debate.

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