L.L. Bean On Defensive After Linda Bean’s Political Donation To Donald Trump

Water bottles are seen at the L.L. Bean store in Freeport, Maine on Thursday, March 24, 2011. A spokesman at the outdoors and clothing retailer announced that the company is offering permanent, no-strings-attached... Water bottles are seen at the L.L. Bean store in Freeport, Maine on Thursday, March 24, 2011. A spokesman at the outdoors and clothing retailer announced that the company is offering permanent, no-strings-attached free shipping. (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach) MORE LESS
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FREEPORT, Maine (AP) — L.L. Bean likes to stay out of politics, yet a donation by a member of the Bean family is putting the retailer on the defensive.

The Maine-based company issued a statement late Sunday after being targeted for boycott for alleged ties to Republican President-elect Donald Trump.

The founders of the hashtag #GrabYourWallet included Bean on the list after The Associated Press reported that L.L. Bean’s granddaughter, Linda Bean, contributed $60,000 to a political action committee supporting Trump. The donation exceeded the PAC’s contribution limit.

Bean Chairman Shawn Gorman said he’s “deeply troubled by the portrayal of L.L. Bean as a supporter of any political agenda.” He said there are nine other board members and 50 family owners and that Linda Bean’s donation shouldn’t speak for all of them.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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