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ICYMI: Elected Leaders, Pennsylvanians Slam McCormick for Investing in China’s Largest Fentanyl Producer

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Pittsburgh Union Progress: Casey Campaign Focuses on Fentanyl Crisis, Slams McCormick for Investing in Narcotic Producers

Keystone Newsroom: New Ad Accuses Dave McCormick of “Profiting Off People’s Pain” During Fentanyl Epidemic

PENNSYLVANIA – Last week, local leaders and Pennsylvanians with personal experiences with the fentanyl crisis continued the On Our Side Road Trip, “Fight for Our Families,” with a press conference discussing Senator Casey’s long record of fighting fentanyl trafficking and supporting those struggling with addiction. They called out a recent report detailing David McCormick investing millions in the biggest fentanyl producer in China.

Pittsburgh Union Progress: Casey campaign focuses on fentanyl crisis, slams McCormick for investing in narcotic producers

  • […] Thursday’s event in Hazelwood stressed the contrast between Casey’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and the actions of his opponent in the Senate race, Republican David McCormick. 
  • The first two speakers — state Rep. Aerion Abney, D-Manchester, and Tim Leech, vice president of Pittsburgh Firefighters, IAFF Local No. 1 — cited Casey’s support for legislation aimed at curbing the importing of fentanyl. Casey backed the Fend off Fentanyl bill, which employs sanctions targeted at the fentanyl supply chain, including Mexican cartels and Chinese chemical producers. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law in April.
  • Earlier this year, Casey introduced the Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act, which would beef up law enforcement and support staff at the U.S. border, where the bulk of fentanyl enters the country, and pay for technology capable of scanning vehicles and cargo for the drug.
  • In addition, Abney, whose district includes parts of Pittsburgh, pointed out Casey-introduced legislation aimed at eliminating the cost of opioid treatment for those on private insurance and Medicare.
  • The contrast is “stark and clear,” [state Rep. Aerion Abney, D-Manchester]  said. “Dave McCormick puts profits over Pennsylvanians, while Sen. Casey is fighting on the side of our families.”
  • Both Leech and Abney criticized McCormick for investments made by the hedge fund he managed. The Casey campaign shared a news story, published in the Pennsylvania-based news organization Keystone on July 9, reporting that federal tax forms show Bridgewater Associates hedge funds in 2021 held nearly $1.7 million in stock in China’s largest fentanyl producer. McCormick served as CEO of Bridgewater Associates at the time.
  • “While thousands of Pennsylvania families struggled with the loss of a loved one,” Leech said, McCormick’s “only concern was how to make even more profits.”
  • The Casey campaign timed the event with the release of a video ad pressing this same message.
  • Peggy Heidish, the day’s final speaker, told the story of her son Zack, who died last summer. 
  • She described recovering from addiction as “a lifelong battle,” one made more difficult by drug traffickers.
  • “If we have the presence of this poison, this fentanyl,” Heidish said, “it makes that battle even harder for anyone to win. No one recovers if they’re dead.”

Keystone Newsroom: New ad accuses Dave McCormmick of “profiting off people’s pain” during fentanyl epidemic

  • US Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) launched a campaign ad on Thursday highlighting Dave McCormick’s investment in China’s largest fentanyl producer while McCormick served as the CEO of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds. 
  • The Keystone reported last month that McCormick’s hedge fund invested $1.7 million in China’s largest fentanyl producer while he was the CEO. Now, McCormick is campaigning on banning fentanyl calling it a “terrorist threat” and “insidious attack on America.”
  • “I’ve got an opponent, who, when he was a hedge fund manager, actually invested millions in China’s largest producer of fentanyl,” Casey said during an interview with NPR Morning Edition. “So, that’s going to be a big issue in this race because we’ve lost too many Pennsylvanians to the poison of fentanyl.”
  • Casey has been touring the commonwealth raising awareness of McCormick’s fentanyl investments over the past week. 
  • On Thursday, local leaders in Pittsburgh held a press conference highlighting the fentanyl epidemic. 
  • “I’m grateful to know that Bob Casey is working to support Pennsylvanians that are struggling with the disease of addiction as well as their families,” Peggy Heidish, who lost her son to a fentanyl overdose, said in a statement. 
  • “We need people like Bob Casey in the Senate. He has listened to the Pennsylvania families that have faced these struggles, and he’ll continue his advocacy for victims of fentanyl poisoning and their families. His work to keep fentanyl out of our communities will save lives.”

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