It goes without saying that Atlanta Dream owner Kelly Loeffler is extremely wealthy – and has plenty of business interests and ventures outside being a co-owner of a WNBA franchise. That wealth and her connections have paid dividends for her over the years.
Reports out of Washington, D.C. have hinted that Loeffler’s wealth may have paid dividends in another, potentially haunting political manner. Already facing criticism from those in the WNBA community for her political stances, she began experiencing a new sort of flack for how she allegedly responded to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Daily Beast reported that Loeffler was one of several senators that made stock trades on Jan. 24 after attending a coronavirus briefing that also included the renowned Anthony Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. One of the alleged deals involved stock in a company called Resideo Technologies which was valued between $50,001 and $100,000. Another was in a company called Citrix – which specializes in teleworking software.
The flack she and other senators and representatives have received stems from how they have approached the coronavirus problem – expressing confidence in public that it would be handled in a quick, timely manner while being not so confident in private, as evidenced by the alleged sales. Others – including North Carolina’s Richard Burr, California’s Dianne Feinstein, Oklahoma’s James Inhofe, California’s Susan Davis and Kentucky’s James Comer have also been reported to have made stock sales.
Also complicating matters is the fact that Loeffler’s husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, is CEO of the New York Stock Exchange – and has also been reported to have sold stock.
Democrats have dangerously and intentionally misled the American people on #Coronavirus readiness.
Here’s the truth: @realDonaldTrump & his administration are doing a great job working to keep Americans healthy & safe. https://t.co/DaDX5wpeUj
— Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) February 28, 2020
This is a ridiculous and baseless attack. I do not make investment decisions for my portfolio. Investment decisions are made by multiple third-party advisors without my or my husband’s knowledge or involvement.
— Senator Kelly Loeffler (@SenatorLoeffler) March 20, 2020
David Perdue, Georgia’s senior senator is another.
Since being appointed to a Georgia Senate seat by Governor Brian Kemp, she has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Her right initially slammed her for her WNBA connections and believed she could not tout her Republican status because of how closely the league is tied to Planned Parenthood and Stacey Abrams.
The Seattle Storm and New York Liberty have been among the WNBA franchises that have worked with Planned Parenthood in the past and the WNBA highlighted it along with several other organizations in its “Take a Seat, Take a Stand” initiative of 2018. Abrams, who narrowly lost the Georgia governor’s race in 2018 to Kemp, recently became part of the WNBPA’s Advocacy Board and was instrumental in bringing the W to Atlanta.
Loeffler has also received plenty of criticism from her left, as expected, for her ardent defense of the president and some believe it is a political play by the Dream co-owner to ward off a challenge in an upcoming election by Rep. Doug Collins and others.
Collins represents Georgia’s ninth congressional district that encompasses much of northeast Georgia, including his Gainesville hometown and part of Athens-Clarke County. The November election will determine who will serve the remaining two years of the term of former senator Johnny Isakson, who retired due to health issues.
In addition to Loeffler and Collins, Democrats such as Matt Lieberman (son of former 2000 vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman) and Raphael Warnock, who runs Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, will also vie for the seat.
