Investigation Launched into Chorus Creator Incubator Program
James Comer, the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, is starting an investigation into the Chorus Creator Incubator program associated with the Sixteen Thirty Fund, according to a letter obtained by sources.
The Sixteen Thirty Fund has received funding from a nonprofit linked to billionaire George Soros, which faces allegations of attempting to bypass campaign finance disclosure laws enforced by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Justice Department. Comer pointed out that the fund appears to sidestep standard media ethics necessary for distinguishing genuine journalism from paid political activity.
In a recent letter addressed to the board chair of the Sixteen Thirty Fund, Amy Kurtz, and Allan Williams, the CEO of Sunflower Services, Comer expressed concerns that the Chorus Creator Incubator Program might be compensating participants to promote Democratic viewpoints online through undisclosed contracts that restrict transparency regarding payments and control the political messaging produced.
Arabella Advisors recently announced the establishment of Sunflower Services, a new public benefit corporation, which will take over Arabella’s financial sponsorship business, supported by notable investors. Arabella has previously managed a network of funding groups that transferred substantial, difficult-to-trace amounts to left-wing political organizations and advocacy groups.
Comer highlighted that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s mission includes safeguarding civil liberties and maintaining the integrity of elections. In this light, they are looking into new developments involving the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which has been overseen by Arabella Advisors for an extended period.
The correspondence mentions that this program allegedly pays involved participants up to $8,000 monthly to enhance Democratic messaging online, but only under conditions that impose significant secrecy on payments and heavily restrict the political material they can create.
Some participants shared concerns about agreements stating that if they participated, they risked “being kicked out and effectively terminated financially.” Requirements of the agreements reportedly included that all interactions with legislators or political leaders be channeled through Chorus and that they could not use resources to support or oppose political candidates without written approval.
Moreover, the letter only adds to the scrutiny on the motives and ethics of the Chorus program, referencing statements from a Chorus attorney indicating that the program’s nonprofit structure is designed to garner donations, limit public disclosure, and shield participants’ names from FEC filings.
The Committee is requesting a broad array of records related to the Chorus program, encompassing contracts, communications, budgeting documentation, internal plans, recruitment materials, compliance records, and interactions with key personnel pertaining to the program’s operations and participant management.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Sixteen Thirty Fund and Allan Williams went unanswered prior to publication.
