End Citizens United (ECU), along with eight pro-democracy groups, sent a letter to No Labels calling for them release a list of their donors or face legal action.
The letter, first reported by HuffPost, accuses the dark money group of fraudulently manipulating its 501(c)(4) nonprofit status to create a new political party and run a candidate for president as a secret money group. Unlike legitimate political parties, No Labels refuses to disclose its sources of funding, refuses to follow contribution limits, and refuses to register with the Federal Election Commission.
“Disclosure, accountability, and the rule of law are all foundations of a healthy democracy—ideals that No Labels continues to reject,” said Tiffany Muller, President of ECU. “Unless No Labels releases its donors and proves that it isn’t just a shadowy dark money group propped up by wealthy special interests, we will consider legal action to let the American people know who is paying to play spoiler in the upcoming election.”
Excerpts from letter:
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No Labels has misused the 501(c)(4) nonprofit structure to create a new political party and now aims to run a candidate for president as a secret money group rather than a legitimate political party.
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No Labels’ refusal to disclose its funders is disturbing and unlawful. Secret political spending is one of the most corrupting influences in politics and having a secret money organization impersonating a political party severely undermines the democratic process as a whole.
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We believe that the real reason you are keeping your donors a secret is what naming them would reveal: that No Labels is primarily supported by special interests and wealthy donors that care about what’s in the best interest of big business, not regular Americans.
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We know you have been funded by private equity executives and billionaire donors like Peter Thiel and the late David Koch. And we know that Harlan Crow – who recently rose to infamy for his connection to Justice Thomas – has given No Labels at least $130,000 and has steered at least two dozen of his other megadonor friends to the group. With ultrarich donors fueling the group, No Labels of course pushes ideas that favor those donors and preserve the status quo.
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As a 501(c)(4), No Labels is supposed to be organized primarily to promote social welfare, not engage in politics. And the problem is compounded by claiming to be a political party without abiding by the election rules.
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At the crux of a healthy democracy is disclosure, accountability and the rule of law. But No Labels is the embodiment of what’s wrong with Washington: a secretive special interest group using unethical practices in an attempt to install politicians who will help the most powerful and wealthy benefit at the expense of working Americans.
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But if you continue to deprive voters of the information to which they are entitled, our organizations will consider legal action to vindicate American voters’ legal right to know who is using No Labels to try to buy the 2024 presidential election.
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