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Dear Friend,

We took a major step on Thursday. We asked the Department of Justice to begin a criminal investigation of non-profits being used to take unlimited, anonymous donations in an attempt to influence the vote.

I am not a big fan of the government investigating non-profits so it was unusual for me to take the step we took today. Not only did we ask that the organizations be investigated but also that those who created the groups, raised money for them and donated money to them be investigated as well. If press reports are accurate, their actions seem to be a conspiracy to violate federal election laws as well as tax laws. You can read a copy of the letter to DOJ here.

In a complaint we filed yesterday with the FEC, we made the case that these non-profits are violating federal election laws because they have failed to register as political committees despite their record spending on political advertisements. And they are violating the tax laws because they are misusing their non-profit status for electioneering. You can read the complaint by clicking here.

I tend to agree with DNC Chair Tim Kaine that this may be the biggest election scandal since Watergate (and if you who know me, saying I agree with either party, including the Democrats, is unusual). Concentrated corporate power is using front group non-profits to collect massive, anonymous election contributions and thereby evade federal election law which requires disclosure of donors. This is a significant threat to American elections.

The only way to stop this is through the Department of Justice. We are seeing a crime being committed right before our eyes yet the only party that can stop it is silent. Our letter to DOJ gives the road map and jurisdiction for criminal action against these "threat to democracy" groups.

And, the other part of the story that has not gotten a lot of coverage is these anonymously funded advertisements are often false and misleading. In fact, television stations are going so far as to pull advertisements being submitted by Karl Rove and the Chamber of Commerce off the air.

We need your help in keeping the pressure on. Please write your representatives in Congress and the Department of Justice urging a criminal investigation. Click here to take action today.

Second, donate to our efforts. We need financial support to continue our efforts at challenging corporate power in U.S. democracy.

Thank you for taking action. We are making a difference.

Sincerely,

Kevin Zeese
Executive Director

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