Rand Paul says he won't return Schnatter's donations after racial slur

Thomas Novelly | Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Rand Paul says 'No' to giving back money from 'Papa John' Schnatter Paul received $17,000 in political donations from Schnatter.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said Monday he would not return thousands of dollars in political donations from John Schnatter, who resigned from Papa John's last week after he admitted to using a racial slur.

"I think the language that was said to be used was unacceptable and should not be used, period," Paul said after telling the Courier Journal he would not return the donations.

The Kentucky Republican received $17,000 from Schnatter in political donations from 1996 to 2018, according to a Courier Journal analysis of the pizza baron's FEC filings.

"Perhaps we should ask the same question of all the media covering this story: Are any of the TV stations or newspapers going to give back the advertising money they have taken from Papa John's over the years?" said sokesperson Kelsey Cooper said in a statement.

The rise and fall of John Schnatter: His mouth was his own worst enemy

Schnatter apologized last week after Forbes reported he used the N-word during a business call in May with a public relations firm hired to help address sensitive topics, including race.

The backlash was fierce and immediate. In less than 24 hours after the report was published, Schnatter stepped down from the company he founded, resigned from the University of Louisville's board of trustees, and his name was removed from the school's football stadium.

It was the final straw in a series of public relations problems over the past year that began with him partially blaming declining pizza sales on NFL players' protesting racial injustice during the national anthem, as well as an endorsement from white supremacists.

Paul is one of many Republican and Democratic politicians who have received donations from Schnatter. Others include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has received about $14,000 from the pizza mogul since 1996; Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, who Schnatter gave $50,000 for his 2015 inauguration; and President Donald Trump, $2,000.

A spokesperson for McConnell said Monday the senator had no comment when asked if he'd return Schnatter's donations.

You may like: Rand Paul is 'very worried' about Trump's Supreme Court pick, Kavanaugh

More: Mitch McConnell: I would remove Papa John's name from stadium if it was up to me