Microsoft Exemption From Antitrust Bill Followed Company Donation to Top Democrat

Rep. David Cicilline exempted Microsoft from a bill he sponsored to regulate big tech three months after he received $5,800 in donations from Microsoft president Brad Smith, FEC filings show.

Cicilline did not explain why the bill text had changed to exclude Microsoft.

The donation from Microsoft's CEO raises questions of how much influence tech companies have over bills designed to regulate their industry.

Rep. Thomas Massie displayed an early draft of the bill marked "Confidential Microsoft" obtained from a whistleblower, and suggested that Microsoft had received an early copy.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren proposed an amendment that would make Microsoft subject to the bill once again, which was defeated in an 18-25 vote.

Brad Smith has bragged about his company's close ties to the Hill, telling CNBC "There are times when I call people who I don't personally know, and somebody will say 'you know, your folks have always shown up for me at my events. And we have a good relationship. Let me see what I can do to help you.'" When Microsoft attempted to buy TikTok, Smith personally called dozens of lawmakers to push the bid through.

Microsoft has recently censored terms offensive to the Chinese Communist Party, including "Tiananmen Square" and "Tank man," from its search engine Bing.

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/microsoft-exemption-from-antitrust-bill-followed-company-donation-to-top-democrat/