Koch political network now a one man show

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The conservative Koch brothers are no more — even if they remain a political powerhouse.

The Democrats’ super villains for much of the last decade have quietly launched a rebranding effort that may vanquish the “Koch brothers” moniker from American politics. The catalyst came earlier in the year when ailing billionaire conservative David Koch stepped away from the family business, leaving older brother Charles as the undisputed leader of the Kochs’ web of expanding political and policy organizations.

There were already few, if any, clearly identifiable links between the Kochs and their most active spinoff organizations such as Americans for Prosperity, Freedom Partners or the LIBRE Initiative. But in the days after the younger billionaire’s retreat, company officials quickly began pushing journalists across the country to change references from “Koch brothers” in their coverage to “Koch network” or one of their less-recognizable entities.

Asked about the shift yesterday, Koch’s chief lieutenants explained that 82-yearold Charles Koch was always far more involved with their political efforts than his ailing brother.

“David is no long engaged in the network,” Koch spokesman James Davis said. “There’s only one Charles Koch, but fortunately he’s going really strong.”