<p>At least 100 members of the last sitting Congress are direct descendants of ancestors who enslaved Black people, representing at least 8 per cent of Democrats in Congress and 28 per cent of Republicans.</p>.<p>The group includes Republican senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton and James Lankford, and Democrats Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan.</p>.<p>President Joe Biden and every living former US president except Donald Trump are direct descendants of slaveholders: Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a data-ved="2ahUKEwj8pKD7tuP_AhWdR2wGHRmVBssQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/what-is-the-espionage-act-and-what-might-it-mean-for-donald-trump-1226846.html">What is the Espionage Act and what might it mean for Donald Trump?</a></strong></p>.<p>Governors of 11 of the 50 US states in 2022 were descendants of slaveholders, as were two US Supreme Court justices.</p>.<p>The Congressional slaveholding ancestors were among the richest in America before the Civil War; three-quarters were among the richest 10 per cent.</p>.<p>In researching America’s political elite, Reuters found names of more than 700 people enslaved by ancestors of the leaders.</p>.<p>Some 23 per cent of respondents to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll said knowing that a candidate’s ancestors enslaved people would make them less likely to vote for that candidate, and white respondents who said they’re aware of having a slaveholding ancestor were more likely than other white people to support paying reparations for slavery.</p>
<p>At least 100 members of the last sitting Congress are direct descendants of ancestors who enslaved Black people, representing at least 8 per cent of Democrats in Congress and 28 per cent of Republicans.</p>.<p>The group includes Republican senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton and James Lankford, and Democrats Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan.</p>.<p>President Joe Biden and every living former US president except Donald Trump are direct descendants of slaveholders: Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a data-ved="2ahUKEwj8pKD7tuP_AhWdR2wGHRmVBssQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/what-is-the-espionage-act-and-what-might-it-mean-for-donald-trump-1226846.html">What is the Espionage Act and what might it mean for Donald Trump?</a></strong></p>.<p>Governors of 11 of the 50 US states in 2022 were descendants of slaveholders, as were two US Supreme Court justices.</p>.<p>The Congressional slaveholding ancestors were among the richest in America before the Civil War; three-quarters were among the richest 10 per cent.</p>.<p>In researching America’s political elite, Reuters found names of more than 700 people enslaved by ancestors of the leaders.</p>.<p>Some 23 per cent of respondents to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll said knowing that a candidate’s ancestors enslaved people would make them less likely to vote for that candidate, and white respondents who said they’re aware of having a slaveholding ancestor were more likely than other white people to support paying reparations for slavery.</p>