explore

Documents released this week shed new light on an aggressive strategy from vape maker Juul to court Black leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, to publicly support its e-cigarettes.

Beginning in 2018, Juul executives, including the company’s CEO, discussed six- and seven-figure partnerships with civil rights organizations, one of which would have seen it send as much as $7 million to Sharpton’s group, according to internal emails and documents that were released this week as part of a legal settlement with the state of North Carolina.

advertisement

It’s not clear how much the company ultimately spent on the partnerships.

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.