The executive chairman of L.L. Bean said he is "disappointed" that a "misguided" boycott of the iconic Maine clothier has been called for over a company heiress' alleged excessive financial support of President-elect Donald Trump.
"We were disappointed to learn that Grab Your Wallet is advocating a boycott against L.L. Bean solely because Linda Bean, who is only one of 50+ family members involved with the business, personally supported Donald Trump for President," L.L. Bean Executive Chairman Shawn Gorman said late Sunday the company's Facebook page.
"Our owners, employees, and customers hold views and embrace causes that are individual and diverse … Like most large families, the more than 50 family member-owners of the business hold views and embrace causes across the political spectrum, just as our employees and customers do.
"And as every member of the family would agree, no individual alone speaks on behalf of the business or represents the values of the company that L.L. built. With this in mind, we are deeply troubled by the portrayal of L.L. Bean as a supporter of any political agenda."
Gorman added the Freeport-based company does not endorse political candidates, take positions on political matters, or make political contributions.
"Simply put, we stay out of politics. To be included in this boycott campaign is simply misguided, and we respectfully request that Grab Your Wallet reverse its position," he said.
Last week, the Federal Election Commission revealed that Linda Bean made excessive contributions to a political action committee she created to support Trump, the Portland Press Herald reports.
The heiress gave $60,000 to the Making America Great Again LLC, although the group was limited to individual contributions of $5,000 in a single year, according to the newspaper. The PAC could now face punitive action or an audit.
Linda Bean, a well-known supporter of Republican causes and granddaughter of company founder Leon Leonwood Bean, ran for the U.S Congress twice — in 1988 in which she lost the GOP primary, and again in 1992, where she won the primary but lost to incumbent Thomas Andrews.
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