The president of a marijuana company targeted in an immigration raid donated thousands of dollars to Democrats in recent years.
Graham Farrar, the president of Glass House of Farms, doled out thousands of dollars to help elect Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic candidates, according to federal and state campaign finance records. Farrar’s company was raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Thursday and is under investigation for violating child labor laws.
Protesters — who were not connected to the company — violently demonstrated and assaulted federal agents during the marijuana farm raid, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The administration is now offering a $50,000 reward for information on an individual suspected of firing a gun at law enforcement during the mayhem.
Farrar donated $10,000 to Newsom’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign, according to California campaign finance records. More recently, he donated $1,000 to California Democratic Assemblymember Gregg Hart in July 2023.
The marijuana executive also doled out thousands in donations to the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee’s federal political action committee and Democratic California Rep. Salud Carbajal, according to Federal Election Commission records.
A spokesman for Glass House Farms did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents raided two marijuana farms in Southern California on Thursday, DHS previously confirmed to the DCNF. The administration says hundreds of illegal migrants were apprehended in the operation, including 10 illegal migrant minors who are suspected of being exploited.
“At the California marijuana facilities, ICE and CBP law enforcement rescued at least 10 migrant children from what looks like exploitation, forced child labor, and potentially human trafficking or smuggling,” Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a public statement. “Our law enforcement also arrested nearly 200 illegal aliens.”
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott posted an image of the rescued children suspected of being exploited at the marijuana facilities.
In the immediate aftermath of the raid, several Democratic politicians appeared to believe the farm was growing regular produce — not a marijuana farm, with California Rep. Jimmy Gomez suggesting it was a strawberry farm.
A public statement by Glass House Brands confirmed immigration warrants were issued against their properties, but stated that the company does not hire minors.
“Yesterday, Glass House Brands received immigration and naturalization warrants. As per the law, we verified that the warrants were valid and we complied,” the company posted on social media. “Workers were detained and we are assisting to provide them legal representation.”
“Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors,” the statement continued.
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