Congressman Yakym slams nonprofit leader over acceptance of foreign-linked funding

Tuesday, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) criticized Public Citizen co-President Robert Weissman for failing to address his organization’s continued acceptance of funding tied to foreign national Hansjörg Wyss, raising concerns about foreign influence in American policy and political advocacy. 

“Foreign nationals like Hansjörg Wyss have a documented history of laundering money through American tax-exempt organizations to influence U.S. elections, weaken American energy independence, and advance far-left policy priorities,” Rep. Yakym said. “The American people deserve transparency and accountability. Organizations operating in our political system must be clear about where their funding originates and whose interests they ultimately serve.”

Background:

Hansjörg Wyss is a Swiss billionaire who The New York Times has described as “a leading source of difficult-to-trace money to groups associated with Democrats.” According to the paper, Wyss routes funding through “a daisy chain of opaque organizations that mask the ultimate recipients of his money.”

Wyss has leveraged an extensive network of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into U.S. political activity. These funds have been used to support groups that assist Democrats in elections, advance radical political agendas, and influence public policy debates.

Through this web of nonprofits and intermediaries, Wyss has played a significant role meddling in American elections, undermining American energy independence, and promoting other radical, woke causes in the United States while avoiding transparency and accountability typically associated with political spending.

Watch his full remarks HERE.