Breaking: Democratic lobbyist terminated after racist texts surface; donor history under scrutiny
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A prominent Capitol Hill lobbyist has been terminated by her firm after a video circulated online showing racist text messages exchanged during a Washington Capitals game. The messages, described as ranging from mocking Black people to genocide, were captured in screenshots shared by an influencer and widely discussed on social media.
The employee, Courtney johnson, was a long-time democratic lobbyist associated with healthcare, energy, and telecommunications issues. She served as a principal at The Alpine Group until March 1, when the firm said it terminated her following the internal review prompted by the video. The Alpine Group emphasized that the conduct in question was inconsistent with the company’s policies and standards.
Public campaign data show Johnson donated $432,130 to Democratic causes over 16 years while lobbying Congress, with all recorded contributions directed to Democrats. She made $2,250 in contributions to Republican candidates or committees during the same period. The figures come from Federal Election Commission data analyzed by Open Secrets.
Johnson represented major clients, including Amazon Web Services, Leidos, Lyft, and Amgen. She was recognized as a Hill “top lobbyist” in 2021 and assumed leadership of Alpine’s healthcare practice in 2024.
The video in question was posted by influencer TizzyEnt and depicts Johnson in texts with a person identified as “Jimmy.” Screenshots reportedly show discussions criticizing White people for perceived openness to Black people and include abortion remarks. The messages reportedly include calls for genocide, according to the explainer shared with the clip.
The Alpine Group’s statement to press outlined its commitment to professionalism and a smooth transition for clients, while stating the termination was a necessary step to uphold the firm’s standards on conduct and culture.
Industry observers note the episode highlights ongoing attention to the intersection of political donations, lobbying influence, and professional conduct. As scrutiny of donors increases, questions persist about accountability within lobbying firms and how swiftly reputational issues are addressed when public negativity arises.
Key facts at a glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Courtney Johnson |
| Democratic lobbyist | |
| The Alpine Group (principal until March 1) | |
| March 1 (following internal review of alleged racist texts) | |
| $432,130 over 16 years | |
| $2,250 over 16 years | |
| AWS, leidos, Lyft, Amgen | |
| Hill “top lobbyist” in 2021; led Alpine’s healthcare practice in 2024 | |
| Influencer TizzyEnt; video circulated online in February 2025 |
Evergreen insights
This incident underscores how donor histories can become focal points during periods of reputational risk for lobbyists. It also illustrates how lobbying firms respond to situations involving offensive conduct and how social media can accelerate scrutiny of public figures in politics. As clarity around political giving grows, observers may demand clearer policies and faster accountability from firms that employ high-profile lobbyists.
What readers are saying
What reforms would you support to increase transparency around lobbying and political donations?
Should firms face tougher penalties for staff conduct that undermines inclusive values and professional standards?
For more context on the donation data referenced here, see open Secrets’ analysis of Federal Election Commission records. Additional coverage on Alpine group’s response is available through industry outlets and major political-news portals.
See related coverage on Washington Secrets and other political reporting outlets for ongoing updates on this developing story.
Share your thoughts below: do you believe lobbying firms should be subject to stricter oversight when staff behavior becomes public? How should organizations balance talent mobility with reputational risk?
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