#DOJ Pushes Prosecutors to Investigate #GeorgeSoros Foundation
The directive suggests department leaders are following orders from #Trump, a major break from decades of past practice meant to insulate the agency from political interference.
#law #ConspiracyTheories #RevengePolitics #LegalEthics
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/us/politics/justice-trump-george-soros-foundation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
A senior #DOJ official has instructed more than a half dozen US attorneys’ offices to draft plans to investigate a group funded by #GeorgeSoros, the billionaire Democratic donor who #Trump has demanded be thrown in jail [without alleging any crime].
The official’s directive, a copy of which was viewed by NYT, goes as far as to list possible charges prosecutors could file, ranging from arson to material support of terrorism.
…The move is the latest instance of the #DOJ moving against Trump’s perceived enemies.
Over the weekend, #Trump urged AG #PamBondi to act quickly in seeking #criminal charges against his longtime nemesis, the fmr #FBI dir #JamesComey & #NYAG #LetitiaJames, who has sued [on behalf of NY] Trump & his businesses for hundreds of millions of dollars.
Separate investigations into them are being conducted by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia, & grand juries may soon be asked to vote on proposed #indictments in those cases.
In recent days, #Trump has revisited his grievances against #GeorgeSoros, long a boogeyman for the right, in part because he has backed progressive causes.
After the killing of the #FarRight activist #CharlieKirk in Utah this month, #Trump threatened to [ab]use the levers of government to silence liberal #protesters & #donors to progressive groups, including #GeorgeSoros.
Soros began his global grant network, now known as the #OpenSocietyFoundations, decades ago to fund #democratic initiatives around the world, particularly in communist & formerly communist countries
In the 1990s, #GeorgeSoros’ organization expanded its work to the #UnitedStates. It provides grants to groups that work for #HumanRights, #democracy & #equity, but #Trump & many #Republicans claim, without providing any evidence, that it is a shadowy network promoting civil unrest, violent protests & property destruction. Liberals say the assertions are #lies aimed at stifling #dissent.
On Monday, a lawyer in the office of the deputy attorney general #ToddBlanche, issued the directive to US attorney’s offices in #California, #NewYork, #WashingtonDC, #Chicago, #Detroit & #Maryland, among others.
The lawyer, #AakashSingh [who has a #criminal record], who is responsible for communicating with federal prosecutors around the country, suggested a wide range of charges for prosecutors to consider against the #OpenSocietyFoundations.
#law #LegalEthics #Trump
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-doj-bulldog-aakash-singh-who-pushes-petty-cases-in-dc-has-a-criminal-record/
Possible charges included racketeering, arson, wire fraud & material support for terrorism….
As *evidence* for such investigations, Singh pointed to a recent report by a conservative watchdog group known as the Capital Research Center, which monitors liberal money in politics. He asked the prosecutors to determine if the allegations were enough to justify opening #criminal cases, adding that they should be prepared to submit their investigative plans soon.
The report broached a contentious claim, stating that the group “has poured over $80 million into groups tied to terrorism or extremist violence.” It cited as one example al-Haq, a #Palestinian #HumanRights group critical of #Israel. The report noted that the #Netanyahu government declared in 2022 that al-Haq was a front for terrorist activity.
#law #ConspiracyTheories #RevengePolitics #LegalEthics #Trump
At the time, the #OpenSocietyFoundations criticized that move by the Israeli government, saying it was not based on credible evidence, & was intended to discredit & silence #Palestinian #HumanRights groups.
In a statement, the Open Society Foundations denounced the #DOJ accusations as “politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with & undermine the #FirstAmendment right to #FreeSpeech.”
The organization said its work in the #UnitedStates was “solely dedicated to strengthening #democracy & upholding constitutional #freedoms.”
Saying it condemned #terrorism & denying that it funded it, the group added, “Our activities are #peaceful & #lawful.”
After Kirk’s killing, #Trump sharply criticized the “radical left,” singling out the #Soros foundation & urging that he be put behind bars. Soros is “a bad guy” who “should be put in jail,” he said.
…Last week, the #OpenSocietyFoundations joined more than 100 largely liberal philanthropies to defend themselves & condemn political violence.
…That same week, the #Soros family donated $10 million to Democratic efforts to redraw congressional districts in California, part of a nationwide political fight for control of Congress.
#law #ConspiracyTheories #RevengePolitics #LegalEthics #Trump
Nonilex
Alex P Roe 