Dems’ Shutdown Presser Shows Their Lawfare Grift Machine
The article criticizes Democrats for using a press conference not to resolve a government shutdown but to promote a nonprofit organization called Democracy Forward, which is portrayed as a left-leaning legal group opposing former President Donald Trump’s agenda. Democracy Forward, led by notable Democratic operatives including Marc Elias-associated with controversial efforts like the Steele dossier and challenges to election laws-is described as a politically motivated entity that files numerous lawsuits aimed at obstructing Trump’s policies.The piece highlights that the group’s revenue has grown considerably, suggesting increased funding linked to its legal activism.It also points out that the organization employs well-connected Democrats and government insiders, benefiting financially from the ongoing political conflict and government shutdown, which Democrats are accused of perpetuating.The article urges readers to recognize who profits from the shutdown while federal workers bear the consequences.
Instead of reopening the government, Democrats hosted a press conference Tuesday to advertise and recruit for one of the so-called “nonprofit” groups the left uses to launder its lawfare efforts against Trump. The presser was a perfect example of how the Democrat grift machine operates: Democrat politicians prop up groups that hide behind “nonprofit” status while doing the bidding of the left.
The beneficiary of Democrats’ free PR was Democracy Forward, a $21 million nonprofit run by infamous leftist legal fixer Marc Elias. Not only was Elias one of the major players behind the debunked Steele dossier that launched the Russia collusion hoax, he was central to the effort to tear down election laws in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential race, paving the way for unprecedented vulnerabilities in the administration of that election.
Democrats want you to feel bad for federal workers who won’t be paid on time, or who may lose their jobs during the shutdown that Democrats could so easily end.
To sell the media on how sad the shutdown is, Democrats trotted out a federal worker who was fired from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) April 1, six months before the shutdown. It means her job loss is totally unrelated to the shutdown. And although she likely has had access to a generous severance package, unemployment benefits, and marketable skills that should have helped her find a job by now, she tells a tear-jerker story about her six-year-old son who wants to make 3D printed Minecraft Legos to sell so he can help pay the mortgage. Hopefully mom explained that would be several trademark violations and will stop burdening her child with household finance issues.
‘Hundreds Of Legal Actions’
In speeches, Democracy Forward was mentioned and thanked by several lawmakers, applauded by the crowd, and Rob Shriver, managing director of the Civil Service Strong and Good Government Initiatives at Democracy Forward, was given time to speak.
“Our team has filed hundreds of legal actions since Jan. 20,” Shriver said to applause. He calls the group nonpartisan, but its many lawsuits are meant to stop President Donald Trump from implementing his agenda. “No matter what happens, we will continue to fight these illegal RIFs. We’ll fight them tomorrow. We’ll fight them next week. We’ll fight them two months from now, two years from now, as long as it takes.”
Shriver is the former acting director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) during the Biden Administration. The OPM is now administering federal lay offs.
A press conference like this is littered with out-of-work government workers — the perfect place for Democracy Forward to meet them, cook up a case, and offer them free legal services. More clients and visibility mean more donations.
The Democracy Forward Foundation’s gross receipts ballooned from $5.6 million in 2017 to $21 million in 2023, according to its most recent, 2023 tax-exempt 990 forms. The group’s relentless lawfare against Trump almost certainly pushed those receipts even higher in 2024 and 2025.
Democrat Attorneys and Political Operatives
Despite claims that the foundation is nonpartisan, it is led by Democrat operatives and well-connected attorneys.
Marc Elias is chairman of the board. John Podesta is a former board member. Podesta is founder and chairman of the board at the Center for American Progress, and formerly held high level positions in the Obama and Biden administrations.
The highest paid employee is Skye Perryman, president and CEO, who earned $453,887 in 2023 — that is $53,000 more than Trump earns as president, although he donates his presidential earnings.
The board of directors in 2023 included:
Ron Klain, who was Biden’s chief of staff and prepared him for the disastrous June 2024 debate against Trump.
Mindy Myers, former executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which exists to get Democrats elected to the Senate.
Javier Guzman, who was nominated by Biden as assistant attorney general in the Civil Division in April 2021, although his name was withdrawn from the nomination months later. He is the deputy general counsel at Harvard University.
When Democrats talk shutdown, remember they are behind the suffering they describe. And remember who is benefiting — a powerful, well-funded, somehow nonprofit law firm, staffed with government insiders, who exist purely to stop the progress of the Trump Administration.
Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an award-winning investigative journalist with decades of media experience.
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