Report: Ted Cruz super PAC gets $15 million from two billionaire donors

Deirdre Shesgreen | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON—Two billionaire brothers who made a fortune in the fracking business have donated $15 million to a super PAC supporting Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential bid, according to CNN.

Citing unnamed sources, CNN reported that Farris and Dan Wilks are by far the biggest donors to Keep the Promise, a pro-Cruz PAC. The brothers founded Frac Tech, a hydraulic fracturing and oil field services business in 2002, and then sold it in 2011 for $3.5 billion, according to Forbes.

Farris Wilks, who is also pastor of the Assembly of Yahweh 7th Day Church near Cisco, said he and his brother support Cruz because the country needs "a principled conservative leader."

"Our country was founded on the idea that our rights come from the Creator, not the government. I'm afraid we're losing that," Wilks said in a statement to CNN. "Unless we elect a principled conservative leader ready to stand up for our values, we'll look back on what once was the land of opportunity and pass on a less prosperous nation to our children and grandchildren."

The Wilks' contributions — along with other funds raised by the PAC — will become public in filings due to the Federal Election Commission at the end of this month.

Cruz's allies have created several PACs to boost his presidential ambitions, all with similar names: Keep the Promise PAC, Keep the Promise II and Keep the Promise III.

Super PACs can raise unlimited sums but are required to operate independently of the candidates they support.

Contributing: Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY