The money was given after the Mississippi senator made comments endorsing public hanging.
Around the time that inflammatory comments by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi endorsing public hangings surfaced on video, Major League Baseball donated $5,000 to her campaign.
After word of the donation — the maximum legal amount — broke over the weekend, M. L. B. asked for the money back.
The contribution, first reported Saturday by Popular Information, is embarrassing to M. L. B., which has several initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in its sport. Many of Hyde-Smith’s comments, some of which she has apologized for or attempted to explain, appear to contradict baseball’s mission.
“The contribution was made in connection with an event that M. L. B. lobbyists were asked to attend,” an M. L. B. spokesman said in a statement. “M. L. B. has requested that the donation be returned.”
The Hyde-Smith campaign reported its contributions to the Federal Election Commission on Nov. 23. That was almost two weeks after the public hanging comments were made, but baseball says the donation was made earlier in the month at a political event by M.
