By Brian Krassenstein
...one major billionaire GOP donor, Les Wexner, (click here) has decided to leave the party after meeting President Obama on Thursday.
Wexner, who is the CEO of L Brands, the parent company of Victoria Secret and Bath & Body Works, told lawmakers this week that he is no longer a Republican, opting instead to identify as an independent, following his meeting in Columbus, Ohio with Mr. Obama.
“I was struck by the genuineness of the man; his candor, humility and empathy for others,” Wexner said of Obama. “I just decided I’m no longer a Republican.”
Wexner gave a staggering $500,000 to Jeb Bush for his presidential run in 2015, and has donated over $2.8 million to the ‘With Honor’ super PAC, which endorses Democratic and Republican candidates.
While the monetary loss from Wexner’s GOP departure certainly can’t make any within the party happy, it may be the signal he’s sending to other donors, that could hurt the party for years to come.
