Ron DeSantis Fundraiser Hosted by Moderna, Puberty Blocker Manufacturer Lobbyist?

According to a Daily Mail report, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finds himself in a hypocritical predicament for an upcoming fundraiser this month.

The outlet reports that a D.C. event for the GOP presidential candidate will be hosted by a lobbyist for COVID-19 jab manufacturer Moderna and a leading puberty blocker manufacturer.

DeSantis critics called the governor hypocritical due to his push for a grand jury hearing into COVID-19 jab manufacturers and legislation to ban puberty blockers for minors.

The lobbyist, Marc Lampkin, reportedly also represents a Chinese semiconductor company.

EXCLUSIVE: Fundraiser for Ron DeSantis is a lobbyist for Moderna, for a firm that makes puberty blockers and a sanctioned Chinese company: Florida governor accused of hypocrisy https://t.co/6Yf82Xq5rc

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 6, 2023

Daily Mail said it obtained an invitation to the fundraiser, which charges $1,000 per attendee, that had Marc Lampkin on the host committee.

*Source – Daily Mail*

REVEALED: DeSantis campaign backed by Moderna lobbyist with ties to CCP | The Post Millennial | https://t.co/3C26xZ5DnI https://t.co/m1w01eNx0B

— Robert Fonder (@1791IowaPatriot) June 7, 2023

Daily Mail reported:

The controversy stems from an event to be held at the offices of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, D.C.’s biggest federal lobbying firm, on June 23. DeSantis supporters can buy a place with a $1,000 donation, according to an invitation obtained by DailyMail.com.

One of the hosts is Marc Lampkin, a partner at the firm, who has been on the wrong side of a host of DeSantis or Republican red button issues.

He has been registered as a lobbyist for Moderna, manufacturer of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, since February 2021.

Filings show he is also registered for AbbVie, maker of puberty blocker Lupron, since 2014. The drug was given to trans children in Florida to pause puberty, but its use is now in doubt since DeSantis signed a bill banning the use of such drugs for new patients under 18.

And Foreign Agents Registration Act papers show that he represented Fujian Jinhua, a Chinese state-owned maker of semiconductors. In 2018, it was sanctioned by the Trump administration, which said it was a security threat.

Jason Miller, senior adviser for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, criticized the fundraiser and the Florida governor.

“It’s no surprise Ron DeSanctimonious would do a fundraiser with a lobbyist for a Chinese semiconductor company considering his globalist masters at the Club for No Growth have a China First trade policy,” Miller said.

“‘DeSanctus’ hypocrisy surrounding the COVID vaccine, and his willingness to accept money from a representative of a company manufacturing puberty blockers, also show that DeSanctus is willing to sell out for anything if the price is right,” he noted.

The Post Millennial added:

According to records, the manufacturing drug company AbbieVie pays Lampkin’s firm $240,000 per year to lobby in Washington D.C., Daily Mail reports.

In addition, Moderna is paying the lobbyist $320,000 a year for “issues related to mRNA drug discovery, drug development, and vaccine technologies,” according to the outlet.

This has sparked concern and speculation amongst critics as Gov. DeSantis signed a bill into law last month that bans gender-affirming care for minors, which includes puberty blockers.