Richard Blumenthal

It is about how a brutal, repressive regime can buy influence--indeed even take over--a cherished American institution to cleanse its public image.

It takes a lot to turn down a lot of money.

The PGA Tour brought in over $1.5 billion in revenue in 2021. Less than 3 percent of it, $43,694,020, was expensed as charitable grants.

But as you well know, antitrust law, consumer protection law, many other laws involve protection of public interests and individual interests because the public interest demands it.

The PGA Tour has a major impact on our economy, our way of life, our image in this country, our self-image, and our image abroad.

But will you commit that it will not have it, that you will not agree to it if it does?

Instead of accepting this amount of money--call it an investment, call it financing--from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, did you explore other sources of potential investment?

What is the amount of the Saudi investment that is going to be made?

To have them taken over by a repressive foreign regime certainly is a matter of our national security.

If this litigation is ended and your revenue is almost $3 billion a year, why do you need the Saudis' billion dollars?

In 2023 we will distribute almost $1 billion to our players.

Yes, we will do it proudly. We will protect our players.

But there is something that stinks about this path that you are on right now because it is a surrender, and it is all about the money, and that is the reason for the backlash that you have seen.

Will you commit today, Mr. Price, that the PGA Tour will not punish any members who criticize the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or human rights anywhere, regardless of this new relationship with PIF?

I am betting--because I never want to bet against America--that America will be on your side, thick or thin.

I would like to have a commitment from both of you that the final agreement will not prevent players or PGA Tour executives from commenting on or criticizing actions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Are you bound by the non-disparagement clause that is very specifically stated in the agreement?

If any person had the remotest connection to an attack on our country and the murder of my friends, I am the last guy that would be sitting at a table with them.

I have the deepest sympathy for the families of 9/11 and support their efforts of obtaining information currently being withheld by the United States and Saudi governments.

It is also about hypocrisy, how vast sums of money can induce individuals and institutions to betray their own values.

I am dedicated and determined to fight these kinds of changes that really impact adversely everybody in Connecticut and the country.

Senator Hirono and I have helped to lead hate crimes legislation, which actually has taken as one of its principal causes to stop exactly this kind of violence.

I think that's a really important point, that we are all at risk of this violence.

Your testimony is really powerful on the issue not only of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation but also the threats of violence and hate crimes.

Senator Hirono and I have helped to lead hate crimes legislation, which actually has taken as one of its principal causes to stop exactly this kind of violence.