Austin, TX—Via his campaign’s website, Governor Perry criticizes his opponent—Carole Strayhorn—claiming she, “is sadly not above exploiting child tragedies … What a despicable thing to do.” FN1. Despicable indeed. Yet, as a private citizen, Perry has profited from his investments in Movie Gallery, Inc—America’s largest pornography distributor—a company that profits from exploitation and violence against women. FN2.
When running for Lieutenant Governor, Rick Perry combined his publicly traded stocks into a blind trust—Perry Blind Trust, Inc. FN3. Thus, Perry’s subsequent Personal Financial Statements reveal little about his stock holdings. FN4. However, Perry’s 1995 Personal Financial Statement—the final revealing record of Perry’s assets—shows that he invested in thirty-two stocks, including Movie Gallery, Inc. FN5. While the precise amount of the investment is not revealed, Perry listed the stock in category “B”—meaning that the stock was worth between five and ten thousand dollars. FN6. Most of Perry’s stock fell into the class “B” category. FN7
Based in Dothan, Alabama, Movie Gallery boasts being the second largest North American home-entertainment specialty retailer after Blockbuster; Movie Gallery has more than 4700 stores located in all fifty states, Mexico, and Canada. FN8. Movie Gallery is also both the largest distributor of pornography in America and the only major retail chain to sell pornography in its flagship stores. FN9.
Burnt Orange Report: EXPOSED: Governor Rick Perry
