The Northwest Credit Union Association has requested that a Washington state representative return a campaign donation to the trade group following the release of a controversial document.
NWCUA, which represents credit unions in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, confirmed to CU Journal on Monday it had requested Rep. Matt Shea’s campaign return a $1,000 campaign contribution following Shea’s release of a document titled “Biblical Basis for War,” which condemns abortion and same-sex marriage, and calls for a “holy army” to kill those who violate biblical law.
“We are among many organizations that asked for a refund of campaign contributions after learning of Rep. Shea’s manifesto,” NWCUA representatives said in a statement emailed to Credit Union Journal, adding that the group has a history of supporting candidates across the political spectrum and made a similar contribution to Shea’s campaign during the last election cycle.
“We have reviewed the recent media reports and Rep. Shea’s social media activity depicting his personal views,” the statement continued. “His beliefs do not reflect the views and values of the NWCUA, our member credit union, or the consumers who are credit union members. We are asking that Rep. Shea return the contribution made by our PAC in the last election cycle.”
Along with NWCUA, groups including the Washington Association of Realtors, AT&T, Boeing, the Washington Affordable Housing Council, BNSF Railway Co. and more. All told, groups in the Evergreen State are requesting more than $30,000 in campaign contributions be returned to their PACs.
“I am heartened that the people I serve know me and my steadfast belief in the worth and dignity of every human being,” Shea wrote in a statement on his Facebook page that included a denunciation of racism, anti-Semitism and white nationalism. “To avoid providing the creators of this last-minute attack exactly what they want, this will be my final statement on the matter. I look forward to serving again as the 4th District State Representative and fighting for lower taxes, less government, and more freedom for all of you.”
Shea also released a 13-minute video, in which he said the controversial document was a “summary of sermons” and was part of a “larger discussion of the history of warfare.” He also claimed to be the target of two “counter states,” which he identified as “the Marxists and the Islamists.”
“Expect more of these attacks as the counter state realizes it is losing this election,” he said in the video.
