‘PERSONAL REASONS’

Robert Mercer Sells His Breitbart Stock to Daughters; Denounces Milo

“I make my own decisions with respect to whom I support politically. Those decisions do not always align with Mr. Bannon’s.”

Conservative investor Robert Mercer is selling his stakes in the Steve Bannon-led media outlet Brietbart to his daughters for “personal reasons,” The New York Times reported Thursday. In a letter announcing his resignation as co-chief executive of hedge-fund giant Renaissance Technologies, Mercer, who has long backed conservative causes, wrote, “I have great respect for Mr. Bannon, and from time to time I do discuss politics with him. However, I make my own decisions with respect to whom I support politically. Those decisions do not always align with Mr. Bannon’s.” Mercer also said he was “mistaken to have supported” Milo Yiannopoulos and has been “in the process of severing all ties with” the former Breitbart writer. “Actions of and statements by Mr. Yiannopoulos have caused pain and divisiveness undermining the open and productive discourse that I had hoped to facilitate,” he wrote.