LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee Rep. Elissa Slotkin appears to be engaging in a little political sleight of hand. While she’s been taking swings at Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, for accepting donations from pharmaceutical companies, it turns out she’s been quietly raking in pharma-backed cash herself.

According to the Free Beacon, campaign finance records show Slotkin has taken over $90,000 from leadership PACs backed by pharmaceutical and medical companies. And that’s just since last year.

Slotkin cashes in while pointing fingers.

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Slotkin’s campaign has been bolstered by five leadership PACs that received $487,000 from drug and medical companies. Among the more generous PACs is the Blue Hen Federal PAC, led by Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.), which handed Slotkin $25,000. That same PAC received over $100,000 from pharma bigwigs like Amgen, AbbVie, and Eli Lilly during that time.

Another notable contribution came from the All for Our Country Leadership PAC, run by Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D., Nev.), which funneled $10,000 to Slotkin. That PAC was also well-fed by the pharmaceutical industry, pulling in $139,000 from companies like Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and CVS Health PAC.

Pharma feud heats up.

Slotkin and Democratic groups have been accusing Rogers of accepting donations from pharmaceutical companies in exchange for political favors. Recent news articles and ads are also implying that his backing of opioid access during his time in Congress was tied to campaign contributions from the pharma industry.

One of Slotkin’s ads against Rogers has someone named Caitlin saying, “If you give Mike Rogers a million bucks, he’ll vote to ban Medicare from negotiating cheaper drug prices. Don’t take my word for it, just ask the drug companies.”

However, Slotkin’s attacks on Rogers aren’t just financial – they’re personal. Ads released by Slotkin’s camp claim that Rogers is in Big Pharma’s back pocket, willing to sacrifice lower drug prices for a hefty campaign check. However, Republicans have fired back, pointing to Slotkin’s own cozy relationship with a pharma lobbyist.

M-Live reported in 2022, that Slotkin rented a condo owned by Jerry Hollister, a government affairs director at Niowave Inc., a pharmaceutical company. Not only was Hollister her landlord, but he also happens to be a campaign donor. Hollister has chipped in about $1,800 to Slotkin’s campaign.

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Gustavo Portela, communications director for the Michigan Republican Party commented, “Elissa Slotkin’s sham residence in Lansing makes it clear to voters that she only has her own self-interests in mind.”

The trust factor – or lack thereof.

As Republicans dig deeper into Slotkin’s financial ties, National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Maggie Abboud didn’t pull any punches saying, ”Elissa Slotkin lied about living in a lobbyist’s home, being a small business owner, and owning a farm. Michigan voters can’t trust Slotkin to tell them the truth.”

Other ties to pharmaceutical companies.

Slotkin is also a cofounder of the bipartisan Domestic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Caucus, which advocates for legislation to incentivize domestic production of essential medicines, reduce American reliance on foreign adversaries for pharmaceuticals, and head off potential supply chain disruptions.

In the end, Slotkin’s attacks on Rogers for his ties to Big Pharma appear ring hollow in light of her own deep personal, political and financial connections to the industry. As she continues to champion herself as a watchdog for Michigan voters, her critics argue that she appears to be more of a guard dog for the very pharmaceutical giants she’s quick to condemn.