A coalition of nineteen state attorneys general has launched a formal request for a Justice Department investigation into a network of U.S. nonprofits. The focus: nearly two billion dollars in funding received from foreign entities over the last ten years.
The attorneys general allege these funds, originating from five foreign-based climate foundations, may have been used to subtly manipulate American energy policies. Their concern centers on whether these organizations properly registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a law designed to ensure transparency regarding foreign influence.
The request, spearheaded by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, identifies over 150 U.S.-based organizations warranting scrutiny. Evidence suggests a coordinated effort to influence policy and potentially undermine American energy independence through strategic funding and advocacy.
At the heart of the matter are the Oak Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, KR Foundation, and Laudes Foundation. A conservative watchdog group, Americans for Public Trust, initially uncovered the flow of funds from these foundations to the smaller U.S. organizations.
The attorneys general claim the foreign foundations actively directed climate activism within the United States. This included funding policy battles, legal challenges, research initiatives, public protests, and extensive lobbying efforts – all aimed at pushing a specific agenda.
Adding a layer of complexity, the attorneys general highlighted documented connections between the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Chinese Communist Party. This revelation prompted a previous investigation request in December, involving over two dozen state attorneys general, focusing on U.S. groups linked to the same foundation.
FARA requires entities to register with the Justice Department if they act as agents for a foreign principal and engage in political activities within the U.S. The attorneys general argue the foreign foundations clearly qualify as “foreign principals” due to their incorporation in countries like Switzerland, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
They further contend that the nonprofits’ activities don’t qualify for any exemptions under the law. The responsibility, they assert, lies with these organizations to prove they are exempt from FARA registration requirements.
The Justice Department has been asked to determine if these organizations operated as unregistered agents of foreign powers, potentially violating federal law and compromising the integrity of U.S. energy policy debates.
