After years of hysteria over Russiagate and allegations of foreign influence in American elections, attempts to retake the White House and Congress in recent election cycles despite the federal government banning foreign contributions in American elections The Democratic effort was funded by $500 million from a shadowy foreign billionaire with the stated goal of turning the U.S. Constitution into a left-wing political tool.
This week I’m introducing legislation to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections to close this foreign influence loophole. My bill would prevent foreign nationals from circumventing current prohibitions and funding voter mobilization efforts, election administration, and voting initiatives.
As with many aspects of American politics, it’s important to focus on what Democrats do, not what they say. Four years ago, Joe Biden declared:[f]Foreign interference in the U.S. election process represents an attack on the American people and their constitutional right to vote. ” Chuck Schumer echoed George Washington’s warning of “foreign interference.” [in our elections] He is one of the most vicious enemies of Republican government.” Nancy Pelosi said, “Our nation’s founders specifically intended to prevent foreign entities from undermining the integrity of our elections.” strengthened.
As a result, federal law prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to U.S. political campaigns, political parties, or campaign advertising. However, this did not stop a Swiss billionaire named Hansjorg Wiss from attempting to reshape American politics through Democratic elections.
how?
Decades ago, Whis donated directly His comments about Democratic candidates and political action committees are clearly against the law, but in recent years he has developed more sophisticated methods of disclosure. Approximately 500 million dollars To influence American elections.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (left) and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss participate in a charity event in New York City on April 1, 2015. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images)
of new york times I will explain His methodology used the Wyss Foundation, the Berger Action Fund, and a “daisy chain of opaque organizations that concealed the ultimate recipients of funds” to help Democrats control the White House and Congress from 2016 to 2020. It would pay $208 million to organizations that helped move the country forward. their agenda.
Although it is illegal for Wyss to donate to political campaigns or PACs involved in U.S. elections, Berger Action Fund said: Over $135 million The funds were donated over four years to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a nonprofit organization in Washington, DC. The fund itself exhausted its spending in 2020, after which he donated $63 million to super PACs that supported President Biden and other Democrats that year. $141 million in 2018 Oppose Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination, influence voting efforts, and change voting laws.
Burger Action Fund at the time invested $72 million More than $62 million of the 2021 donations went to Democratic advocacy groups, with more than $62 million going to groups promoting Democratic candidates in the 2022 midterm elections and running ads supporting President Biden’s policies.another Lasted $63 million In 2022.
why?
According to Wyss’ sister, his ultimate goal of spending hundreds of millions of dollars to influence U.S. elections is to:[re]Interpret the U.S. Constitution from a progressive political perspective. ” My laws are designed to prevent this.
President Joe Biden speaks at a dinner reception at the White House on February 11, 2023. Berger Action Fund transferred millions of dollars from Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss through a network of nonprofits that have helped raise money to raise Biden’s agenda. (AP Photo/Manuel Barse Senator)
My bill would break the “daisy chain” of Wyss’ organization funneling money to organizations supporting Democratic campaigns, and my bill would break the “daisy chain” of Mr. Wyss’ organization that funnels money to organizations supporting Democratic campaigns. It makes it illegal to engage in related activities. The Wyss organization makes dubious claims that it prevents their funds from being used by recipients in American campaigns and elections, but this loophole should be closed by law.
My bill would also prohibit the provision of foreign funding for ballot collection, voting activities, promotion of a particular political party, or election management activities to prevent a recurrence of “.”zuckerbacksFinally, it would prevent foreigners from spending to influence state and local voting efforts, as Wyss’s big beneficiaries have done in recent election cycles.
To prevent violations of Americans’ free speech rights, the law includes safeguards to prevent abusive investigations and the government’s pretext collection or disclosure of American donor information.
Federal law correctly reflects the judgment of most Americans that foreign influence in American elections is inappropriate. However, it needs to be updated for modern tactics. If Democrats were serious about protecting American democracy and self-government, they would join my bill.
Bill Hagerty is a U.S. senator from Tennessee and former U.S. ambassador to Japan.
