Pete Buttigieg Releases Names Campaign Bundlers, Opens Fundraisers To Press

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg announced last week his campaign would open his high-dollar fundraisers to reporters and disclose the names of campaign bundlers.

Campaign manager Mike Schmuhl said, “in a continued commitment to transparency,” fundraising events would be accessible to press on and those raising money for the campaign will be released within a week.

“From the start, Pete has said it is important for every candidate to be open and honest, and his actions have reflected that commitment,” Schmuhl said. “He is the only current presidential candidate who has released the names of people raising money for his campaign, and we will continue to release additional names as more people join our growing effort. Moreover, he will be one of the few candidates to allow reporters access to his fundraising events.”

Buttigieg earlier had released the names of his bundlers — massive donors, who raise astronomical sums of money for candidates — but stopped doing so in April, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The decision to make the events to the press completely transparent comes as he has come under attack from Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Buttigieg has also encountered questions about his work at the consulting colossus McKinsey & Company between 2007 and 2010. Buttigieg recently released a summary of the kinds of clients he served at McKinsey, and has publicly called for the consulting giant to allow him to void a nondisclosure agreement that bars him from disclosing clandestine clients.

Article by Rajeet Guha