Three Wisconsin men are identified in a New York Times report published Sunday as organizers of a network of political nonprofit fundraising groups that raised $89 million, ostensibly for political ends, but spending very little of that on anything except to pay the fundraisers themselves or other consultants. The Times report described a series of robocall campaigns by five different but closely connected groups that raised money in small amounts from donors “who were pitched on building political support for police officers, veterans and firefighters,” the Times reported. All three operate consulting firms that have contracted with one or more of the nonprofit fundraising groups. “In their calls, the groups identified themselves to potential donors as political organizations,” the Times reported. “Beyond that, they were often vague about whom they supported and how.”The nonprofit groups told the Times that the fundraising calls themselves were their means of providing support.

Source: New York Times May 15, 2023 18:41 UTC