Behind The Dark Money Attack on Voting Rights

Behind the recent wave of restrictive voting laws is a well-funded network of dark money groups pushing a longstanding agenda to undermine the freedom to vote.

Investigation

May 8 2023

Mark Meadows, who previously served as the Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump and is now a senior partner at the Conservative Partnership Institute, speaking at the Council for National Policy in May 2019.

Investigation Series

The Trump-Aligned Conservative Partnership Institute is Leading Attacks on Democracy and Creating an "America First" Political Infrastructure

Democracy

Leaked Audio: Trump Coup Plotter John Eastman Laying Groundwork for 2022 Election Challenges

At New Mexico event organized by Conservative Partnership Institute, Eastman told activists he'll be personally involved in challenging election results

October 28 2022

Leaked Audio: Cleta Mitchell’s Election Integrity Network Bringing Conspiracy Theorists Into Election System

Former Trump lawyer is building coalitions of election-denying activists in swing states

August 2 2022

Investigation

Conservative Partnership Institute: The Trump-aligned $45M Institution Creating “America First” Political Infrastructure

Trump: "CPI is helping to build out the vital infrastructure we need to lead the America First movement to new heights."

July 10 2022

Document

CPI Annual Report for 2021 Shows Giant Jump in Fundraising, Details the Launch of Numerous New Organizations

CPI fundraising went from $7.3m in 2020, to $19.7m in 2021. Politico has reported that $1 million went from Donald Trump's Save America PAC to CPI in 2021.

Published: April 4 2022

Document

CPI - the New Home of Mark Meadows and Cleta Mitchell - Hosted "War Rooms" to Oppose KBJ Confirmation

The Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) hosted "SCOTUS war rooms against Ketanji Brown Jackson," according to an email sent to the group's "partners," a copy of which was obtained by Documented.

Published: April 4 2022

Swamp Dollars

An archive of political fundraisers.

View All 511 fundraisers

Fundraiser

Nick Hellyar June 2023 Event in Texas

Office: Local State: Texas Date: June 15, 2023

Fundraiser

Rick Scott June 2023 Event in DC

Office: U.S. Senate State: Florida Date: June 13, 2023

Fundraiser

Russell Coleman June 2023 Event in Tennessee

Office: State Attorney General State: Kentucky Date: June 5, 2023

Fundraiser

Mark Obenshain June 2023 Event in Virginia

Office: State Senate State: Virgina Date: June 1, 2023

Fundraiser

RSLC June 2023 Event in Kentucky

Date: June 1, 2023

Fundraiser

Mark Peake May 2023 Event in Virginia

Office: State Senate State: Virgina Date: May 25, 2023

Fundraiser

Richard Stuart and Ryan McDougle May 2023 Rockfishing Invitational

Office: State Senate Date: May 24, 2023

Fundraiser

Bill DeSteph May 2023 Summer Kick-off Event

Office: State Senate Date: May 24, 2023

Fundraiser

Todd Rokita May 2023 Event in Indiana

Office: State Attorney General State: Indiana Date: May 18, 2023

Fundraiser

Al Landis May 2023 Event in Ohio

Office: State Senate State: Ohio Date: May 17, 2023

Document

Republican Secretaries of State Participate in Event Co-Hosted by Rightwing Groups

The attendee list reveals top election administrators and officials across 13 states participated in a secretive event held in February at the Heritage Foundation's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Illustration by Joe Magee for Documented

Investigation Series

The State Financial Officers Foundation: A New Front in the Dark Money Attack on Climate Policy

Investigation

Dark Money Group Weaponizes State Treasurers in Attacks on Climate Policy

The State Financial Officers Foundation has emerged as a key coordinator of opposition to climate action in the financial sector.

August 5 2022

Document

SFOF President Passes Along Opposition Research on Organization "For The Long Term"

In a March 2022 email SFOF President Derek Kreifels passes along opposition information on Democratic and climate-focused rival treasurer group called "For the Long Term."

Published: August 5 2022

Document

SFOF July 2021 Salt Lake City Meeting Agenda

Agenda for SFOF's meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah held in conjunction with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)

Published: August 5 2022

Investigation

Internal Documents Shed Light on SFOF's Attack on Climate Policy

Never before published materials, including meeting agendas, internal communications and advocacy letters, pull back the curtain on a little-known, yet highly influential organization of state financial officers coordinating an attack on climate financing.

August 5 2022

Document

SFOF Unilever Letter Coordination

Communications between SFOF and Arizona Deputy State Treasurer Mark Swenson show how SFOF is involved in advocacy letters.

Published: August 5 2022

Document

December 2021 Heritage Foundation Follows up on Utah ESG Call

Email correspondence with Heritage Foundation and the Utah State Treasurer's office.

Published: August 5 2022

Leaked Recording

Leaders of the Big Lie Movement Warn Donors Not to Fund Catherine Engelbrecht of True the Vote

During an August 2020 session at the Council for National Policy, author John Fund said Engelbrecht had "hooked up with the wrong people" and had "gone astray." “I would not give her a penny,” Fund said.

OUR REPORTING

View All OUR REPORTING

Voters cast their ballots for the general election at Victory Houston polling station, one of the Harris County's 24-hour locations, in Houston, on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020

IN PARTNERSHIP with

Dark Money Groups Push Election Denialism on US State Officials

April 5 2023|By Ed Pilkington & Jamie Corey

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 10: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to Iowa voters on March 10, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.

IN PARTNERSHIP with

Democracy

DeSantis Privately Called For Google To Be “Broken Up”

March 21 2023|By Andy Kroll & Nick Surgey

Illustration by Sébastien Thibault for Documented

IN PARTNERSHIP with

Democracy

Inside the “Private and Confidential” Conservative Group That Promises to “Crush Liberal Dominance”

March 9 2023|By Andy Kroll & Andrea Bernstein & Nick Surgey

Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a "Keep America Great" rally at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 19, 2020.

IN PARTNERSHIP with

Voting Rights

Revealed: Trump Made Secret $1m Donation to Arizona ‘Audit’ Trying to Overturn Election

January 27 2023|By Brendan Fischer & Ed Pilkington

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 04: People wait in line for early voting for the midterm elections at Ponce De Leon Library on November 04, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.

IN PARTNERSHIP with

Voting Rights

Rightwing Group Pours Millions in ‘Dark Money’ Into US Voter Suppression Bid

January 17 2023|By Brendan Fischer & Ed Pilkington

Investigation Series

The Republican War on Democracy

Investigation + Recording

Exclusive: Documented Obtains Recording of 3 Hour Long Voter Suppression Strategy Session Hosted by ALEC

The invite only meeting covered a broad range of election focussed topics, including voter access, drop boxes, Voter ID, election audits, redistricting, protecting the electoral college, and "Zuckerbucks"

December 2 2021

Investigation

Recordings and Materials From Council for National Policy Meetings

Dozens of recordings and documents obtained by Documented reveal what happens behind closed doors at CNP meetings

November 10 2021

video

Heritage Action Brags About Writing GOP Voter Suppression Bills

Video obtained by Documented and shared with Mother Jones reveals Heritage Foundation's political arm bragging about pushing voter suppression bills.

Published: May 13 2021

story

Google, Deloitte, and Citigroup quietly collaborate with GOP group pushing voter suppression

Several corporations supporting voting rights publicly are funding and collaborating with a top GOP group advocating voter suppression laws.

May 17 2021|By Nick Surgey & Judd Legum

video

Lisa Nelson ALEC Election Efforts

Lisa Nelson speaks with members at the Council for National Policy about efforts ALEC is taking with state legislators to question "the validity of an election."

Published: October 26 2020

story

Conservative Operatives Float Plan to Place Retired Military, Police Officers as GOP Poll Watchers on Election Day

On election day in November, some polling places could be patrolled by off-duty police officers and veterans, according to a plan hatched by Republican operatives.

April 12 2020|By Nick Surgey & Lee Fang