Dark-money GOP fund funneled millions of dollars to groups that pushed voter fraud claims

[DonViejo]

Source: CNBC


PUBLISHED WED, JAN 13 202112:27 PM EST UPDATED WED, JAN 13 20211:06 PM EST
Brian Schwartz

KEY POINTS

A dark-money group used by Republican donors funneled millions of dollars to high-profile conservative organizations that pushed or investigated claims of election fraud before and after Joe Biden defeated President Trump.

That group, the Donors Trust, is officially labeled as a nonprofit. The designation allows financiers to give to the organization anonymously. That money is then channeled to other dark-money groups.

Among the pro-Trump groups that have received money from the Donors Fund are pro-Trump students organization Turning Point USA and an anti-immigration organization that has been called a hate group.

A dark-money group used by Republican donors funneled millions of dollars toward high-profile conservative organizations that pushed and in some cases investigated claims of election fraud either before or after Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump in November.

Many of these stances matched points that Trump and his team made as they attempted to undermine the election.

Almost all of the groups mentioned in this story denied to CNBC they were attempting to undermine the election with their own claims of fraud and voting irregularities. State and federal officials, including the former attorney general, have said there was no widespread election fraud during the 2020 presidential election.

That funding group, the Donors Trust, is officially labeled as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The designation allows financiers to give to the organization anonymously. That money is then channeled to other dark-money groups.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/13/dark-money-gop-fund-funneled-millions-groups-that-pushed-voter-fraud-claims.html

[Arne]

1. It gets dark very quickly when you follow the money.

We are in the middle of a grotesque spy novel.

[ancianita]

2. The Kochs, Olin family, Coors family, Bradley family, Searle family and all donors to the

Heritage Foundation,
Americans for Tax Reform,
the National Rifle Association Freedom Action Foundation,
the Competitive Enterprise Institute,
the Cato Institute,
the Federalist Society,
the FreedomWorks Foundation,
the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation,
and the Center for Class Action Fairness
are all accessories to insurrection by using their "money as speech" to promote the Big Lie that led to the Jan 6 attack on Congress' finish of the electoral process.

Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund distributed nearly $120 million to 102 think tanks and action groups skeptical of the science behind climate change between 2002 and 2010. As if money confers scientific legitimacy to these donors.

Dark money hides those who want domination of media messaging and the three branches of government by any means necessary. In the end, their money and anti-Earth politics will kill both them and us.

[Miigwech]

7. Co-conspirators to sedation and insurrection

don't just lock up the "Village Idiots" (not saying that some were not also effing RW killing squads and what else)... get the real power brokers ... don't cut investigations off at the base of the pyramid of criminal fascist racist repub cabal

[ancianita]

13. Aiding and abetting funding of the Big Lie all along must be completely aired with and names named.

[hedda_foil]

3. It might be dark money but it's a Koch family operation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donors_Trust#:~:text=The%20Koch%20brothers%2C%20Charles%20and,from%20the%20Donors%20Capital%20Fund.

The Koch brothers, Charles and David Koch, were the top contributors to Donors Trust in 2011, according to an analysis by the Columbia Journalism Review published by Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. In 2010, Donors Trust received a US$2 million grant from the Donors Capital Fund.
Services: Donor-advised fund
Affiliations: Donors Capital Fund
Tax ID no.: 52-2166327

[Ford_Prefect]

17. No doubt the Adelson organization and friends of Mohammed bin Salman donated a few million as well.

Not to mention family and friends of Erik Prince.

[empedocles]

4. Raised over 300 million . . . in 2019!

Wonder how much for 2020? Since Election Day 2020?

[still_one]

5. and republican dark money is behind the Newsom recall here in California

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-04/california-campaign-watchdog-complaint-newsom-recall

[kimbutgar]

6. I'm hoping when we have both houses we outlaw or pass laws saying they have to expose

Their supporters in order to keep that tax exemption. Better yet remove tax exemption of those pacs.

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. So much corruption leading to this insurrection must be laid at the feet of Justice John Roberts.

And his decision in Citizen's United.

[Lonestarblue]

9. Absolutely.

And now we need laws to shine light on the people making donations to any political group. And no group that donates to candidates should be allowed to be nonprofit.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

18. Bingo...

... I came to this thread to make sure that Citizen's United got it's due.

[aggiesal]

10. This is the Supreme Court's decision of Citizen's United at work ...

yet SCOTUS is never called on it.

[diva77]

11. would be interesting to see which elections they have funded

especially those running for SOS or county elections offices.

[KatyBR]

12. I thought 501(c)(3)'s aren't allowed to lobby

A 501(c)(3) is a nonprofit status that prevents the funds from being taxed. With that come limits on paying for lobbying. No more than 20% of total np expenses. So I am wondering if anyone has looked into whether these organizations are in breach of those rules, OR if anyone has tested how far they are allowed to go with these pass-offs to influencing groups?

[ffr]

14. Follow the money.

And you find it always leads to the rats.

[JohnnyRingo]

15. "Corporations are people too".

Thank you Supreme Court, you've done more to undermine American democracy than the Redcoats.

[tiptonic]

16. Fully funded

Its way past time, for the government to fully fund elections. No private money/bribes at all. Free media/air time for debates (real debates). No lobbyist allowed. Term limits for all politicians.