Pfizer, Amgen and Walmart among companies withdrawing support for Mississippi GOP Senator Hyde-Smith

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is one of the most reputable companies calling on Mississippi Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith to donate to the campaign after posting a social media video in which she talks about attending a news conference. "public hanging".

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Hyde-Smith is in a tight flow election race with Democrat Mike Espy, a former congressman who would be the first African-American senator from that state since the 1800s. "data-reactid =" 13 "> Hyde-Smith is in a race to the election tight with Democrat Mike Espy, a former congressman who would be the first African-American state senator since the 1800s.

"We condemn racism and fanaticism in all its forms," ​​Pfizer spokeswoman Sharon Castillo told ABC News on Tuesday. "We are withdrawing our support and have asked for a full refund of our contributions, which were paid months before the senator's comments."

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Pfizer made two contributions totaling $ 5,000.

Other pharmaceutical and medical companies, including Amgen, Leidos and Boston Scientific, have requested reimbursements ranging from $ 2,000 to $ 5,000.

Pfizer and Amgen are among the leaders in the sector in terms of lobbying and campaign contributions in 2018, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Hyde-Smith's mission to the Senate Credit Subcommittee, which oversees the Food and Drug Administration earlier this year, "could not be more critical" for such corporations to build a relationship with the senator for "influence." and access, "according to Lisa Gilbert, vice president of legislative affairs for the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, Public Citizen.

However, the recent Hyde-Smith remark has pushed big names in the industry to turn away from it.

The video in question shows Hyde-Smith in Tupelo, Mississippi, kissing a supporter and telling him: "When he invited me to a public hanging, I would be in the first row."

After posting the video on Twitter, Hyde-Smith did not apologize but defended.

"In a comment of November 2, I mentioned the acceptance of an invitation to speak," she said in a statement. "In referring to the one who invited me, I used an expression of exaggerated respect, and any attempt to turn that into a negative connotation is ridiculous."

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "When the actress Debra Messing is criticized Walmart for its donation to Hyde-Smith, the company responded that the senator's words "clearly do not reflect the values ​​of our company and its associates". "Data-reactid =" 35 "> When actress Debra Messing criticized Walmart for donating to Hyde-Smith, the company responded that the senator's comments" clearly do not reflect the values ​​of our society and its associates. "

Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" Walmart asked for a full refund of $ 4,000 on Tuesday, according to a company spokesman, while AT & T also requested a refund of $ 2,000. "Data-reactid =" 38 "> Walmart on Tuesday requested a total refund of $ 4,000, according to a company spokesman, while AT & T also sought a refund of $ 2,000.

ABC News reported on Tuesday with the senator's campaign office, but has not yet received a response.

Senator Hyde-Smith, however, vaguely made reference to the commentary of "public hanging" and apologized during a debate with her opponent Espy on Tuesday.

"For all those who have been offended by my comments, I apologize," she said. "There was no ill will, no intention, whether in my statements."

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "(PLUS: Hyde-Smith alleges that "public hanging" comment was used as "political weapon" as Mississippi Senate race tightened)"data-reactid =" 42 "> (PLUS: Hyde-Smith alleges that the comment of" public hanging "was used as a" political weapon "when tightening the race of the Mississippi Senate)