Elizabeth Warren Says Kyrsten Sinema Is “Cashing In” After Protecting Industry Interests

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) publicly rebuked her former Senate colleague Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) during remarks at the National Press Club, accusing Sinema of "cashing in from the industry she protected." Warren framed the criticism around stalled Democratic priorities and post-office paid work Sinema has accepted.

"Many voters are rightly skeptical that we’ll really make something happen," Warren said, describing Democratic efforts to address the affordability crisis.

Warren pointed to Sinema's role in blocking a 2021 federal minimum-wage increase that Warren said would have raised pay for as many as 27 million Americans. Warren also criticized Sinema for opposing filibuster reform and for shielding wealthy financial interests — including actions that, Warren argued, protected hedge fund managers from higher taxes.

Warren noted that Sinema faced little formal discipline from party leaders and ultimately left the Senate after losing support from many constituents. Now, Warren added, Sinema appears to be profiting from industries she defended while in office. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Sinema has taken paid work and consulting projects tied to crypto, artificial intelligence, and other corporate clients since leaving office.

Sinema’s record drew sharp criticism from the left during her Senate tenure for blocking several Democratic priorities, including efforts to close the "carried interest" tax loophole and proposals to raise corporate taxes. Supporters of those measures say the blocked reforms would have addressed income inequality and generated revenue for public priorities.

Video of Warren’s full remarks is available via C-SPAN. The original report first appeared on Mediaite.