LIVE: House hearing on PGA Tour-LIV Golf partnership and Saudi ‘sportswashing’
A Homeland Security Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on PGA-LIV Tour Deal
A Homeland Security subcommittee is set to hold a highly anticipated hearing on Wednesday to discuss Saudi Arabian investments in the United States and their potential impact on the PGA-LIV Tour deal.
Examining Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund
The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will convene on Wednesday morning to closely examine Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. This hearing aims to shed light on the implications of Saudi Arabian investments in American golf.
The subcommittee has invited several key witnesses to testify at the hearing. These include Benjamin Freeman, director of the Democratizing Foreign Policy Program; Brian Murphy, managing director at Logically AI Inc.; and Joey Shea, a researcher for Human Rights Watch specializing in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Concerns and Downplayed Influence
The PGA and LIV merger, which took place in June, raised concerns among Democratic lawmakers who feared that it would grant Saudi Arabia undue influence over American golf. In July, PGA executives sought to allay these concerns during a hearing with the Homeland Security Committee’s investigative panel.
PGA Chief Operating Officer Ron Price assured lawmakers that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund would invest “north of $1 billion” into the new entity. However, Subcommittee Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) expressed skepticism, suggesting that this investment could be an attempt by Saudi Arabia to “sportswash” their human rights abuses and gain control over American institutions.
Republican lawmakers, on the other hand, have been less concerned about the merger. They argue that the PGA had limited options due to ongoing litigation and attempts by other organizations to poach players.
Upcoming Hearing
The hearing is scheduled to commence at 11 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday. It promises to be a crucial event in determining the future of the PGA-LIV Tour deal and the potential influence of Saudi Arabian investments in American golf.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
