Monthly Archives: August 2019

Epstein conspiracy

Leave a comment

FBI agents are livid that Trump is amplifying ‘bulls— theories’ about Jeffrey Epstein’s death ‘that have no basis in reality’
Sonam Sheth Aug 12, 2019, 4:11 PM

President Donald Trump.Associated Press/Evan Vucci
FBI agents are horrified that President Donald Trump promoted a baseless conspiracy theory on Twitter suggesting the Clinton family was involved in the death of the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The Justice Department announced that Epstein died by "apparent suicide" and there is no evidence that the conspiracy theory Trump retweeted has any merit.
"The Epstein case was hypercharged from the get-go," one current FBI agent, who requested anonymity to freely discuss Trump’s actions, told INSIDER.
"The last thing investigators need is the president of the United States fanning the flames with these bulls— theories that have no basis in reality."
Another agent told INSIDER that Trump’s actions make the FBI’s job harder as it combats homegrown extremism, particularly after its latest finding that conspiracy theories pose a new domestic-terrorism threat.
"It’s not hyperbole to say that when the president makes up these stories – or promotes stories made up by others – he’s putting innocent lives at risk," said one former senior Justice Department official.
Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.
FBI personnel are furious that President Donald Trump retweeted to his 63 million Twitter followers a baseless conspiracy theory suggesting that former President Bill Clinton was involved in the death of the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Angel Ureña, Clinton’s spokesperson, responded to the tweet, posted by the right-wing comedian Terrence Williams, on Twitter, writing: "Ridiculous, and of course not true – and Donald Trump knows it. Has he triggered the 25th Amendment yet?"

The Federal Bureau of Prisons announced that Epstein, who faced multiple charges of sex trafficking involving underage girls, died by "apparent suicide." He was placed on suicide watch last month after prison guards discovered him lying semiconscious in his cell with marks on his neck, suggesting that he had tried to kill himself.

But Epstein was taken off suicide watch six days later, and, at the time of his death, he was alone in his cell and was not monitored by guards who were supposed to check in on him every half hour.

There is no evidence that the conspiracy theory Trump retweeted has any merit. And FBI agents who spoke with INSIDER said the president’s actions aren’t just irresponsible but also dangerous.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said on Fox News Sunday that Trump "just wants everything to be investigated." Attorney General William Barr announced on Saturday that the Justice Department inspector general is opening an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death.

But the president’s actions make investigators’ job harder, not easier.

Read more: The El Paso shooting has reignited a debate over whether the federal government has a double standard when it comes to white-nationalist terrorism

"The Epstein case was hypercharged from the get-go," one current FBI agent, who requested anonymity to freely discuss Trump’s actions, told INSIDER. "The last thing investigators need is the president of the United States fanning the flames with these bulls— theories that have no basis in reality."

Frank Montoya, Jr., a recently retired FBI special agent, characterized Trump’s actions as "crazy talk coming from no less than the President of the United States."

"This would be a bad TV melodrama if it weren’t real," he added. "The world is watching. Trump may be successfully fooling a third of America with his sociopathic antics, but everyone else … sees how naked the Emperor is, and they are exploiting the advantage."

CNN reported that after Trump retweeted the conspiracy, which was accompanied by a video, the clip had received more than 3 million views on Twitter as of Sunday morning. That’s more than triple Williams’ other recent videos.

Another FBI agent told INSIDER that Trump’s actions make the FBI’s job harder as it combats homegrown extremism, particularly after its latest finding that conspiracy theories pose a new domestic-terrorism threat.

"The FBI assesses anti-government, identity-based, and fringe political conspiracy theories very likely motivate some domestic extremists, wholly or in part, to commit criminal and sometimes violent activity," the FBI said in May. "The FBI further assesses in some cases these conspiracy theories very likely encourage the targeting of specific people, places, and organizations, thereby increasing the likelihood of violence against these targets."

The Clinton family has long been a bête noire for Republicans, but the level of vitriol that Trump and his supporters leveled against them during the 2016 election and after was unparalleled. Hillary Clinton was dogmatic in her criticism of Trump, but intelligence officials say Trump’s willingness to traffic in outright misinformation and paranoid conspiracies presents a unique threat.

Read more: A Trump campaign ad featured QAnon signs weeks after the FBI warned conspiracy theories are a domestic terrorism threat

Trump’s rallies made headlines for the infamous "Lock her up!" chants that dominated the events, and the president’s retweet about Epstein’s death bore a striking resemblance to when he elevated a similar conspiracy theory about the suicide of the former Clinton aide Vince Foster.

Also during the election, the alt right and many Trump supporters seized on an unfounded conspiracy theory suggesting that the Clinton campaign’s emails, which had been published online by WikiLeaks, contained coded messages connecting Clinton and other high-ranking Democrats to a child sex-trafficking ring operating out of a Washington, DC, pizza parlor.

A man from North Carolina, motivated by the "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory, traveled to the DC restaurant to investigate and fired a rifle inside the establishment.

"It’s not hyperbole to say that when the president makes up these stories – or promotes stories made up by others – he’s putting innocent lives at risk," said one former senior Justice Department official.

Indeed, in its intelligence bulletin highlighting the threat posed by conspiracy theories, the FBI laid out several events over the last few years in which "perpetrators intended to kill groups identified by such theories as hostile and malevolent," or to carry out "dangerous, unlawful acts in an effort to draw attention to or expose a perceived conspiracy." These included:

When a California man was arrested in December after intending to blow up a satanic temple monument in the Illinois capital building to make Americans "aware of ‘Pizzagate’ and the New World Order (NWO), who were dismantling society."
The October 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which resulted in 11 deaths and several injuries. The alleged shooter, Robert Bowers, had a history of violent and anti-Semitic beliefs. Shortly before the attack, Bowers posted on social media that the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society "likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in."
When a Nevada man used an armored truck to block traffic on the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge in June 2018. He was arrested after fleeing to Arizona and authorities found body armor, ammo, rifles, and a flash-bang device inside his vehicle. Citing a technical source with direct access, the FBI said the man directly referenced the QAnon conspiracy theory after his arrest. The media reported that he sent letters to Trump from jail that featured a QAnon slogan.
When two men were arrested in October 2016 on drug charges and found to be planning an attack on the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), a government-funded research facility. The men apparently believed the US government was using HAARP to control the weather and prevent people from talking to God.
When Paul Anthony Ciancia shot and killed a Transportation Security Administration officer and wounded several others at Los Angeles International Airport in November 2013. Before the attack, Ciancia wrote a letter expressing his desire to kill TSA personnel, whom he believed were associated with the New World Order conspiracy theory.
SEE ALSO: Conspiracy theories pose a new domestic terrorism threat, according to a secret FBI document
NOW WATCH: Popular Videos from Insider Inc.

* Copyright © 2018 Insider Inc. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Sitemap Disclaimer Commerce Policy Made in NYC Stock quotes by finanzen.net
International Editions: UK DE AUS IN MY SG PL SE NL FR IT JP

TopNewsSources

Leave a comment

1Across the USA by Train for Just $213
(dereklow.co)
9512891566+24937
2Pope Francis Reverses Position On Capitalism After Seeing Wide Variety
(www.theonion.com)
16374812573+7146
3VIDEO: Journalist hears about Al Jazeera pardons on quiz show
(www.bbc.co.uk)
57502+559
4New weight bench that significantly reduces the risk of injury
(m.youtube.com)
167260+400
5DraftKings is expanding its online gambling services to eSports
(www.engadget.com)
71317+388
6Raven and Chelsea Reuniting to Sing the Thats So Raven
(time.com)
3167107+341
7Man walks again after years of paralysis
(www.sciencedaily.com)
437113+246
8Lawyer: Players who hit ref can return to school
(espn.go.com)
218407+226
9Donald Trump Is Saving Our Democracy
(nymag.com)
63506654+204
10Al Jazeera journalists ‘pardoned’ in Egypt
(www.aljazeera.com)
91221426+198
11The Apple bias is real
(www.theverge.com)
40701119+193
12Judge oks manslaughter charge for a teen who encouraged boyfriend’s
(boston.cbslocal.com)
107723+152
13Move Over, Pizza Rat! Milkshake Squirrel Is the New Garbage-Loving
(www.eonline.com)
114792+119
14How Marketing Turned The EpiPen Into A Billion-Dollar Business
(www.bloomberg.com)
1187294+110
15Sex: The Kotaku Review
(kotaku.com)
842890+103
16Open thread for night owls: Delivering a million+ signatures against
(www.dailykos.com)
4756+103
1780 great movie posters with the annoying text removed
(boingboing.net)
520130+103
18Pebble introduces its first round smartwatch
(www.theverge.com)
1954566+92
19Netflix knows the exact episode of a TV show that
(www.theverge.com)
2080715+88
20Apple Releases iOS 9.0.1 With Multiple Bug Fixes
(www.macrumors.com)
2457504+88
21Another High School Football Player Targets A Referee
(deadspin.com)
85583+87
22The real reason Audi races
(www.autoblog.com)
31673+82
23The Angry Birds Movie trailer is out, and it stinks
(www.theverge.com)
2146427+79
24When the Womb Is a Crime Scene
(longform.org)
13201+75
25The Psychology Of Voldemort
(www.theatlantic.com)
1512297+68
265 Realities Of Life In A Tent City For The
(www.cracked.com)
146551+60
27Facebook collaborates with Oculus to bring 360-degree video to the
(www.theverge.com)
1740756+60
28The best drone you can buy right now
(www.theverge.com)
66911392+55
29Will Sean Penn Sue Me for Calling Him These Names?
(www.funnyordie.com)
35664+55
30The Truth About Streaming: It Pays Labels A Lot, They
(techcrunch.com)
333776+52
31What Happens Next Will Amaze You
(idlewords.com)
9911138+52
32Chvrches’ Every Open Eye is strong, sharp, and self-reliant
(www.theverge.com)
623284+44
33Why Fish Oil Supplements Probably Won’t Help You: You Don’t
(www.forbes.com)
16132+44
34New Firefox 42 beta features enhanced protection against third-party tracking
(thenextweb.com)
111366+43
35Fidgeting Is Just As Good As A Standing Desk
(www.theguardian.com)
3373197+42
36Pope meets with Little Sisters of the Poor just to
(michellemalkin.com)
537+42
37The six most insane things Volkswagen’s board just said about
(www.theverge.com)
974351+40
38Microsoft makes Baidu a big piece of Windows 10 in
(www.theverge.com)
183235+36
39fuck whoever is in this bag
(i.imgur.com)
52038+29
40Andre Iguodala Says Wearables Can Help Win Championships
(techcrunch.com)
186750+28
41Further Evidence Suggesting That Dogs and Other Mammals Dream Much
(laughingsquid.com)
16218+24
42Pope Francis Canonizes Father Serra, America’s First Hispanic Saint
(www.wsj.com)
10538+24
43Extreme Altruism: Should You Care For Strangers At The Expense
(www.theguardian.com)
2505216+18
44Selfies Kill More People Than Shark Attacks
(tech.slashdot.org)
683135+17
45Scarlett Johansson with no makeup for Vanity Fair.
(i.imgur.com)
69037+16
46Martin Winterkorn Resigns As CEO Of Volkswagen Amid Dieselgate Scandal
(jalopnik.com)
668107+14
47Watch the Angry Birds Movies first trailer at least it
(venturebeat.com)
141134+14
48The Adventures Of Young Brienne Of Tarth
(kotaku.com)
1164+13
49Remember When iPhone Battery Cases Cost Like $100? This One’s
(deals.kinja.com)
59276+12
50The banality of the magazine rack
(sethgodin.typepad.com)
5081226+12
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
51On Caracal, Disclosure are starting to leave dance music behind
(www.theverge.com)
214176+10
52Microsoft just threw Bing and MSN under the bus to
(www.businessinsider.com)
9116+8
53Video: Its a baby f***ing whale, man!
(hotair.com)
1025+8
54These tech giants just asked US government for more surveillance;
(boingboing.net)
117206+8
55Daring Fireball: The iPhones 6S
(daringfireball.net)
403864+8
56Why Everyone Is Obsessed With the Roth IRA
(twocents.lifehacker.com)
103351+7
57Computer models reveal how the Universe’s biggest and brightest galaxies
(www.theverge.com)
146187+7
58Sheer variety of Oreos sells Pope Francis on capitalism
(boingboing.net)
19890+7
59Today I interrupted a secret Pigeon-Army briefing…
(imgur.com)
13826+7
60World Bank: North Korea ranks lowest for fairness of government
(www.upi.com)
07+7
61Researchers Could Have Uncovered Volkswagens Emissions Cheat If Not for
(www.eff.org)
1003642+6
62Dashcam captures emergency plane landing in road
(boingboing.net)
17649+5
63OPM Says 5.6 million Fingerprints Stolen In Cyberattack
(news.slashdot.org)
12959+5
64Liberals and Trump Can Agree on One Thing: They Both
(magazine.good.is)
320+5
65The Serial team is reportedly looking into the Bowe Bergdahl
(www.theverge.com)
386262+5
66Groupon Is Closing Operations In 7 Countries, Laying Off 1,100
(slashdot.org)
4881+4
67RePhone Lets You Turn Anything Into A Phone
(techcrunch.com)
99541+4
68Safely Remove Leaves From Your Gutters With a Homemade Shop-Vac
(lifehacker.com)
39220+4
69Validating Your Version of Xcode
(developer.apple.com)
478703+3
70Pope Francis draws big crowds and high spirits in Washington
(www.pbs.org)
311+2
71A book about Theo Jansen’s amazing wind-powered creatures
(boingboing.net)
1521+2
72Can Volkswagen recover from its emissions scandal?
(www.aljazeera.com)
21114+2
73Custom Keyboard System for All 1,000 Emojis
(www.neatorama.com)
71+2
74In Conversation With Nancy Meyers
(longform.org)
6671+2
75Study: People Emit a "Germ Cloud" of Bacteria As Unique
(science.slashdot.org)
6373+2
76Facebook Launches 360-Degree Videos Into The News Feed
(readwrite.com)
24124+2
77Immigrant women take a 100-mile pilgrimage to see Pope Francis
(grist.org)
1329+1
78How a Concentration Camp Survivor and an American Huckster Created
(www.neatorama.com)
15+1
79Learning common core math with a check written by an
(www.metafilter.com)
01+1
80Pebble Time Round: the worlds ‘lightest and thinnest smartwatch’ is
(feeds.theguardian.com)
580+1
81This Video Explains Why Gender Equality Is Good for Everyone–Including
(lifehacker.com)
94227+1
82Today’s Best Deals: Cordless Yard Tools, Discounted iTunes Credit, and
(deals.kinja.com)
54254+1
83Bring a Pot of Water to a Boil Faster by
(lifehacker.com)
44246+1
84European airline passengers are getting fast 4G internet
(www.theverge.com)
53372+1
85This Week In Tabloids: Taylor and Calvin Will Soon Welcome
(jezebel.com)
840+1
86Tyga Cancels Brazilian Shows, Allegedly Because of Jealous Kylie and
(defamer.gawker.com)
179+1
87Invisibility Cloak May Soon Become A Reality
(on.aol.com)
00+0
88Jones remains starting quarterback for top-ranked Ohio State (Yahoo Sports)
(us.rd.yahoo.com)
40+0
89Lana Del Rey Finally Releases Her New Album Honeymoon
(www.inquisitr.com)
78+0
90I Presume You Mean Computers And So Forth?
(www.metafilter.com)
05+0
91More Issues Than Vogue
(www.urbandictionary.com)
00+0
92My favorite interview question
(www.nczonline.net)
32217+0
93The Age of Loneliness
(longform.org)
9551+0
94Theory vs. Hypothesis vs. Law Explained!
(videosift.com)
00+0
95The One Clean Man
(longform.org)
1573+0
96The 4 Big Differences Between Mobile and Web
(dzone.com)
08+0
97Understanding the experience design of consumer IoT products
(radar.oreilly.com)
636+0
98Why Having Friends At Work Is So Important
(www.metafilter.com)
010+0
99500 Days of Kristin, Day 240: Kristin Naming Her Daughter
(defamer.gawker.com)
951+0
100A new pharmaceutical business model
(www.metafilter.com)
117+0

create super PAC

Leave a comment

Skip to content
Political Law Briefing
Developments in Federal and State Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics Laws

SEARCH…SEARCH
Setting up and Operating a Federal Super PAC
This memorandum summarizes the rules of the road for setting up and operating federal Super PACs, which are groups formed primarily to make “independent expenditures” in connection with federal elections, and which register and file reports with the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”). An “independent expenditure” is an expenditure for a communication expressly advocating the success or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for federal office. Unlike traditional federal PACs, a Super PAC may accept unlimited contributions from corporations and unions, and unlimited amounts from individual contributors so long as they are U.S. citizens or green card holders.

A Super PAC may not be used, however, to make contributions to federal candidates, political party committees, or to PACs that contribute to candidates and party committees. A Super PAC’s activities must also not be coordinated with a candidate, a candidate’s authorized committee, a political party committee, or their respective agents.

Many states allow a federal Super PAC to make expenditures in connection with non-federal elections, although some impose registration and/or reporting requirements. Some states require a separate in-state Super PAC to be created. A handful of states have continued to fight the use of Super PACs, but courts have almost uniformly struck down those laws.

Super PACs can do virtually anything to independently support or oppose candidates. Often they air advertisements on radio and television, but they may also create websites, use social media, and can even develop a ground game to identify voters and get-out-the vote.

Steps to Set Up a Super PAC

Select a name. The Super PAC’s name must appear in public filings and in most public communications in the form of a “paid for by” statement. At a minimum, some initial screening should be done to determine the likelihood of trademark challenges to the PAC’s name, logo, and slogans.

Determine governance structure. While not required, we recommend that Super PACs incorporate for liability purposes. Donors also often like to see the PAC run by a board with fiduciary obligations responsible for determining how the money will be spent, rather than a hired political consultant who may have a strong incentive to spend money in a way that is beneficial to the consultant. As an incorporated entity, the Super PAC will need articles of incorporation, bylaws, and organizing resolutions. The Super PAC will also need to designate a registered agent to accept service of process.

Open a bank account. The Super PAC must open a bank account in its own name through which all receipts and disbursements should be made. To open the account, the Super PAC will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service.

Select a treasurer. The Super PAC must appoint a treasurer who is legally responsible for safeguarding PAC funds and ensuring that the PAC files timely and accurate reports. A PAC may not receive or disburse funds if there is a treasurer vacancy. The FEC therefore encourages PACs to appoint an assistant treasurer who may act in the treasurer’s absence.

Prepare and file initial registration with the FEC. The Super PAC must register with the FEC by filing a Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1). The FEC Form 1 must be filed within 10 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures in connection with a federal election. The registration form requires the PAC to identify its name, address, committee type, custodian of records, treasurer and any assistant treasurer, and the name and address of the PAC’s bank. The FEC Form 1 must also be accompanied by a brief letter specifying the PAC’s intention to act as an independent expenditure-only committee.

Fundraising

A federal Super PAC may accept contributions in unlimited sums from individuals (U.S. citizens or green card holders), and other groups or business entities, including corporations and unions. However, federal political committees, including Super PACs, are prohibited from accepting contributions from foreign nationals and federal government contractors.

Coordination

Super PACs may not make expenditures at the request or suggestion of a candidate, campaign or political party, or use non-public information obtained from a candidate, campaign, or political party in connection with media strategy, development, or production. Likewise, a Super PAC may not republish campaign materials prepared by a candidate, campaign committee, or political party, except for a brief quote to illustrate a candidate’s position or certain other limited purposes. The coordination ban also applies to interactions with agents of the candidate and campaign finance entity of a candidate, such as common vendors and employees (present and former).

Coordination may cause the Super PAC’s disbursement to be considered an illegal, in-kind contribution. Such activity can lead to intrusive investigations, significant penalties, and even criminal prosecution. To minimize these risks, every Super PAC should adopt and implement a coordination policy, provide training regarding the policy to its employees and vendors, and exercise care in its interactions with candidates, campaigns, and political parties.

Advertising Disclaimers

Public communications by Super PACs must include “paid for by” disclaimers in compliance with FEC rules. The specific disclaimer requirements vary considerably depending on the communication medium. Any automated phone calls must also comply with sponsorship identification and other restrictions promulgated by the Federal Communications Commission, and may also be subject to state law requirements.

Reporting

Super PACs are subject to the same reporting obligations as traditional federal PACs. During an election year, the Super PAC must file reports with the FEC disclosing all receipts and disbursements on either a monthly or quarterly schedule. Quarterly filers must also file pre-primary reports 12 days before every primary in which the PAC is active. Super PACs must also file 24- or 48-hour reports disclosing certain expenditures made in close proximity to an election. Given the short turnaround on these reports, it is important to have good accounting systems in place to make certain that the reports are accurate and filed on time.

Federally-registered Super PACs are automatically tax-exempt under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, and generally have no filing obligations with the Internal Revenue Service. A Super PAC must, however, file Form 1120-POL with the IRS and pay any associated tax for any year in which the organization has investment or similar taxable income over $100.

Stay Connected
Twitter RSS
Subscribe to this blog
Your website urlSUBSCRIBE
EDITORS

Lawrence H. Norton

Ronald M. Jacobs
Topics
TOPICS
Archives
ARCHIVES
Recent Posts
Donor Disclosure Rules for Nonprofit Tax Returns Overturned by Federal Court
New DC “Pay-to-Play” Law Bans Contributions by Government Contractors and their Officers
Federal Election Commission Announces New Contribution Limits for 2019-2020 Cycle
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Expanded Donor Disclosure Rules to Take Effect
Transparency Coming to a Campaign Ad Near You!
Political Law Briefing
Twitter RSS

600 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202.344.4000
Fax: 202.344.8300
Privacy PolicyDisclaimer
Copyright © 2019, Venable LLP. All Rights Reserved.
Powered By LexBlog