BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota Democrats want the state’s congressman to return campaign contributions from a company that has received the largest contract to date to build a section of President Donald Trump’s signature wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who is seeking a second-term, said Tuesday there is “not a chance” he will return the $10,000 from Dickinson-based Fisher Industries and Fisher Sand and Gravel, headed by Tommy Fisher.
Democrats’ call for Armstrong to return the campaign cash comes after Trump on Sunday criticized a privately built border wall in South Texas - constructed by Fisher Industries - that’s showing signs of erosion months after going up, saying it was “only done to make me look bad,” even though the wall was built after a months-long campaign by his supporters.
Tommy Fisher, CEO of Fisher Industries, said that he thought the president “just got some misinformation on this stuff” and that he had “complete respect” for Trump.
Fisher Industries built the private section in January, and has since won a $1.3 billion border wall contract from the federal government, the largest award to date.
Democratic Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said in a statement that “Fisher Industries has paid to play for their NDGOP connections, including Kelly Armstrong. These connections have secured them government contracts and a hefty sum of our tax dollars for a project they either couldn’t complete or didn’t care enough to do right.”
Fisher acknowledged that there had been some erosion on the land in front of the fencing caused by rain and the natural flow of the river. He said his crews planned to install more organic material to fill the gaps or insert rock if erosion continues, but that other parts of the wall remained untouched.
Armstrong, who grew up with Fisher in Dickinson, said Democrats are practicing “demagoguery,” and that he is proud to have Fisher Industries in his community.
“There is zero chance” Armstrong said, of the possibility he would return the money. “If I can’t take a contribution from someone in my community, I don’t want to be in Congress.”
Democrats have endorsed Zach Raknerud, a retail manager from Minot, to run against Armstrong in November.
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