Congressional candidate Aruna Miller on Friday blasted David Trone over personal donations he made to National Rifle Association-backed candidates.
David Trone made “tens of thousands of dollars to top NRA-backed candidates across the country,” Miller’s press release said.
Trone and Miller, among others, are competing to represent Maryland’s 6th District in Congress.
Miller’s campaign manager, Sondra Milkie, said “Trone has given tens of thousands of dollars to the NRA’s top candidates while our nation has suffered tragedy after tragedy.”
Trone contributed to “at least 18 candidates who have received the full support and backing of the National Rifle Association,” Miller’s press release says.
The release goes on to accuse Trone of buying access to politicians.
“Trone’s contributions have gone to some of the NRA’s most zealous advocates, many of whom have blocked meaningful gun safety measures while gun violence takes more lives. David Trone needs to come clean to Maryland voters and make clear what we should believe – his words or his actions,” Milkie said.
Milkie did not respond to A Miner Detail‘s voicemail requesting further comment.
The Trone campaign did not directly respond to Miller’s press release, though Trone campaign Communication Director Alex Koren released a brief statement, pointing out that Trone isn’t beholden to special interest groups and is an “outspoken opponent” of the NRA.
“David has always been an outspoken opponent of the gun lobby and an advocate for common-sense gun safety laws. He is not taking any money from PACs or lobbyists, which means he will not be beholden to any special interest groups. He will continue running a campaign about the issues, and there is no issue more important than keeping our children safe.”
Political insiders closely following the 6th District contest agree that Trone, Miller, a state lawmaker who represents District 15, and state Sen. Roger Manno of Silver Spring are locked in a three-way battle to succeed outgoing Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), who is running for president in 2020.
Miller’s press release is below.
For Immediate Release: Friday, February 23, 2018
Contact: Sondra Milkie, sondra@arunamiller.com, 920-819-3364
ROCKVILLE, MD – David Trone, who is a Democrat running in the primary for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, has donated tens of thousands of dollars to top NRA-backed candidates across the country.
He has given to at least 18 candidates who have received the full support and backing of the National Rifle Association.[i] Trone, who has said he “sign[s] checks to buy access,” has donated over $81,000 to the NRA’s handpicked candidates, including Senator Thom Tillis who received over $4.4 million from the NRA as well as the organization’s A+ rating.
“David Trone has given tens of thousands of dollars to the NRA’s top candidates while our nation has suffered tragedy after tragedy. Trone’s contributions have gone to some of the NRA’s most zealous advocates, many of whom have blocked meaningful gun safety measures while gun violence takes more lives,” said Delegate Aruna Miller’s campaign manager Sondra Milkie. “David Trone needs to come clean to Maryland voters and make clear what we should believe – his words or his actions.”
Delegate Aruna Miller has been a longtime champion of gun law reform. She has supported legislation that would require fingerprinting of gun buyers, limit firearm purchases by the mentally ill, and ban assault weapons and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Delegate Miller also sponsored legislation that would close a loophole in Maryland’s gun law after the tragic murder of one of her constituents.
“We have an obligation, as elected officials, to keep our citizens safe. I will always stand up for the safety of our children and families no matter to how much money the gun lobby wants to give to my opponents. It is the right thing to do,” said Delegate Miller. “I Join America’s high school students in calling on America’s politicians to stop taking money from the NRA and to stop giving money to its lackeys.”
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, on an average day, 96 Americans are killed with guns. In an average month, 50 women in the United States are shot to death by intimate partners. There are nearly 13,000 gun homicides a year in the United States.[ii]
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[i] https://www.followthemoney.
[ii] https://safeatlast.co/blog/gun-violence-statistics/
Ryan Miner is the Editor of A Miner Detail and the host of A Miner Detail Podcast. He can be reached at Ryan@AMinerDetail.com.
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