According to a new report from the nonprofit organization Americans for Public Trust (APT), a Swiss-born left-wing billionaire has been exploiting a “loophole” in order to influence American politics.
The report released on Sunday shows that Swiss citizen Hansjörg Wyss, a biotechnology magnate with an estimated net worth of $4.9 billion, has figured out a loophole that allows him to influence U.S. politics through funding two 501(c) non-profit groups.
Wyss has reportedly sent more than $475 million of his own money to two organizations, the Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund — both of which are incorporated under 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, respectively, allowing them to accept foreign donations and donate to political causes.
These organizations then funnel the money to “left-wing advocacy groups” in the U.S., according to the report. The majority of the money has been funneled to the Arabella Advisors Network, a for-profit consultant firm that manages “dark money” donations from the left, the report adds.
Wyss’ money has been used to fund numerous far-left nonprofit groups, including abortion mill Planned Parenthood, social justice advocacy group the “Sixteen Thirty Fund” and Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder’s group, the National Redistricting Action Fund — which supports lawsuits to redraw congressional districts drawn by the GOP.
“These groups utilize their significant resources to advance a progressive agenda, mold policy debates and decisions, and ultimately, influence American elections,” the report states.
🚨Swiss Billionaire Hansjörg Wyss has funneled nearly $500 million into the liberal dark money network, largely managed by @ArabellaAdvisor.
He’s exploiting the “foreign influence loophole” to skirt the ban on foreign nationals influencing US elections. https://t.co/5ZyfyHrN8H pic.twitter.com/zdndwM97Qv
— Americans for Public Trust (@apublictrust) July 10, 2023
According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), federal law allows U.S. citizens, non-citizen U.S. nationals and foreign nationals with lawful permanent residency in the U.S. to donate to political candidates, parties and Political Action Committees (PACs) — but foreign nationals are criminally prohibited from making these donations.
The New York Times notes in their reporting that Wyss is a long-time resident of Wyoming, but his immigration status in the U.S. is unclear, as he is a citizen of Switzerland.
Arabella Advisors Network is also a favorite of far-left billionaires like George Soros and Pierre Omidyar, who often use the network to manage their so-called “philanthropy” — though both Soros and Omidyar are U.S. citizens.
Wyss isn’t only using money to influence American politics — as he also sits on the board of directors for the Center for American Progress, a far-left nonprofit organization founded by Democrat politico consultant John Podesta. Politico has described the nonprofit organization as the “most influential think tank of the Biden era.”
The APT report has revealed that Wyss’ nonprofits funneled a total of $62.7 million to groups seeking to push the Biden administration’s political agenda in 2021. The report further alleges that some of Wyss’ donations amount to “seemingly illegal political activity” — as he donated $120,000 to Democrat candidates between 1990 and 2006, but was never prosecuted for the obvious crimes because of the statute of limitations.
A biography of Wyss written by his sister Heidi openly states that he is trying to influence American politics and alter the U.S. Constitution.
“Wyss aims to reinterpret the U.S. Constitution in light of progressive politics,” Wyss’ sister wrote, according to a quote included in the APT report.
A spokesperson for both the Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund claimed in a statement to the Daily Caller that they “do not support or oppose political candidates or parties, or otherwise engage in political campaigns.”
