{"id":2370485,"date":"2024-11-18T17:59:57","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T22:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harris-ally-revealed-as-elias-tied-group-project-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-11-18T18:02:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T23:02:43","slug":"harris-ally-revealed-as-elias-tied-group-project-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harris-ally-revealed-as-elias-tied-group-project-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Harris ally revealed as Elias-tied group project &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fharris-ally-revealed-as-elias-tied-group-project-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2370485&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u2064article discusses the connection between Future\u2062 Forward, a \u200bmajor group supporting Vice\u200b President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, \u2062and Our American Future Foundation (OAFF), which has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dont-say-goodbye-to-cuomo-just-yet\/\" title=\"Don\u2019t Say Goodbye to Cuomo Just Yet\">faced legal scrutiny<\/a> over allegations of making \u200cillegal payments\u200d to political candidates. Future Forward, which has raised significant \u2064funds from wealthy Democrats to promote Harris&#8217;s\u200c campaign, \u200doperates through multiple arms, including a public charity known as the Future Forward Education Fund. This \u2063charity is not independent but is a project of OAFF, an \u200corganization linked to Democratic lawyer Marc Elias.<\/p>\n<p>The connection raises questions amid allegations that a project under OAFF, the American Mainstream Policy Leadership Institute (AMPLI), \u2063has facilitated illegal contributions to candidates, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">essentially providing financial support\u2062 disguised<\/a> as\u2063 fellowships. While AMPLI is intended to help candidates with research and policy development, it has been criticized for\u200d potentially covering \u2062personal expenses. The article\u2064 notes the mixed success of AMPLI fellows in the recent elections and highlights concerns expressed by conservative watchdog groups regarding the transparency and legality \u2064of the funding mechanisms employed by these organizations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Top Harris ally revealed as project of Elias-blessed group accused of illegal payments<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1884235\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A charity for the main outside group that supported Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kamala Harris\">Kamala Harris<\/a> in the 2024 election has quietly been housed at an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2812270\/opaque-progressive-group-fellowship-pay-failed-candidates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;organization<\/a>&nbsp;facing&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2913244\/marc-elias-tied-group-federal-law-democratic-candidates-watchdog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">legal scrutiny<\/a>&nbsp;for paying political candidates, the&nbsp;<em>Washington Examiner<\/em>&nbsp;confirmed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Future Forward, the pro-Harris group, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3179215\/kamala-harris-influential-megadonors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">fundraised a historic $900 million<\/a> from wealthy Democrats such as Bill Gates and George Soros to support Harris&rsquo;s campaign against President-elect Donald Trump. Through a super PAC, Future Forward spent money on ads boosting Harris &mdash; benefiting from the war chest of Future Forward&rsquo;s nonprofit arm registered under 501(c)(4), a section of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/irs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">IRS<\/a> code that allows &ldquo;social welfare&rdquo; groups to act political and not disclose their donors.<\/p>\n<p>The pro-Harris group, however, has also operated under a third arm: the Future Forward Education Fund, a public charity registered under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. But the Future Forward charity is not a standalone group.<\/p>\n<p>Rather, under an arrangement known as fiscal sponsorship, it is a project of Our American Future Foundation. That entity was incorporated in 2022 in Washington, D.C., by an associate of Democratic superlawyer Marc Elias, OAFF spokesman Eddie Vale confirmed to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;All 501(c)(3) dollars that were raised were spent in accordance with the charitable rules,&rdquo; Vale said. <\/p>\n<p>The revelation that the Future Forward charity is connected to OAFF is notable, given the legal scrutiny OAFF has received from watchdog groups. In March, the conservative Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2913244\/marc-elias-tied-group-federal-law-democratic-candidates-watchdog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">filed a complaint<\/a> with the Federal Election Commission that said a project under OAFF called the American Mainstream Policy Leadership Institute &ldquo;made illegal contributions to federal candidates.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Also known as AMPLI, the project is branded as a fellowship for repeat Democratic congressional candidates to receive paychecks between runs for office, the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reported. The fellowship used to be managed by a charity called the New Politics Leadership Academy.<\/p>\n<p>The AMPLI fellowship allows soon-to-be political candidates to engage in research, study policy development, and participate in meetings that could boost their candidacy, the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> also reported. But, in the telling of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-nations-second-largest-teachers-union-influenced-cdc-on-school-reopening-guidelines-delayed-return-to-classrooms\/\" title=\"Report: Nation\u2019s Second Largest Teachers Union Influenced CDC On School Reopening Guidelines, Delayed Return To Classrooms\">conservative watchdog group<\/a>, it has appeared to be a way to provide &ldquo;personal expenses&rdquo; to repeat candidates through &ldquo;bona fide independent employment&rdquo; that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/billionaire-wealth-tax-raises-legal-questions\/\" title=\"Billionaire Wealth Tax Raises Legal Questions\">raises legal questions<\/a>. AMPLI has denied any illegality. <\/p>\n<p>The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust has not yet received a decision from the FEC in the case, according to a source familiar with the matter. The <em>New York Times<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/11\/15\/us\/politics\/harris-future-forward.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">reported<\/a> on the relationship between Future Forward and OAFF on Friday, citing internal documents that said the pro-Harris charity had intended to transfer funds to the 501(c)(4) Future Forward arm.<\/p>\n<p>Successful AMPLI fellows in 2023 included Josh Riley and Laura Gillen, a pair of New York Democrats who unseated Reps. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) and Anthony D&rsquo;Esposito (R-NY). In the case of Riley, he was paid $30,000 from AMPLI, according to financial disclosures.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Left-wing dark money donors&nbsp;bought and paid for Laura Gillen and Josh Riley,&rdquo; Will Reinert, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Now in Washington, they&rsquo;ll be sure to do the bidding of those funding this corrupt dark money scheme,&rdquo; Reinert said. <\/p>\n<p>It was a mixed bag, however, as far as the success rate of all the fellows.<\/p>\n<p>Will Rollins, a Democrat who disclosed receiving money from OAFF and the New Politics charity, lost in a close battle to Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA). Democrat Kirsten Engel, who told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> she did not take any money through a brief stint as an AMPLI fellow, failed to oust Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ). <\/p>\n<p>Tony Vargas, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran against Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), was an AMPLI fellow. He received $60,000 from AMPLI, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-outraise-democrats-across-the-board-in-january\/\" title=\"Republicans Outraise Democrats Across the Board in January\">financial disclosures show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fellows this election cycle were a top priority for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which provided some of them with &ldquo;strategic guidance, staff resources, training, and fundraising support,&rdquo; the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2824167\/house-democrats-reward-2024-candidates-quietly-paid-through-unusual-fellowship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">reported<\/a>. The connection to Future Forward illustrates how OAFF, a recently formed charity, could be a notable force to come in the progressive nonprofit world.<\/p>\n<p>OAFF&rsquo;s incorporator was Ezra Reese, the political law chairman for the Elias Law Group.<\/p>\n<p>Marc Elias, who founded the Elias Law Group, was notably tapped by the Harris campaign to assist with any ballot recounts for the election, the <em>New York Times<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/17\/us\/elections\/democrats-election-legal-challenges.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">reported<\/a> in August. Elias, 55, joined the recount effort last week for Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who has refused to concede to Republican Dave McCormick.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On its tax forms filed in May, the Elias-linked OAFF said that it supports &ldquo;a range of projects that share our vision for America including support for pro-worker public policy, the promotion of family and economic security, efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and expanded access to healthcare including reproductive care.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>OAFF&rsquo;s board of directors includes Democratic strategist Rebecca Pearcey, longtime DCCC staffer Hayley Dierker, and attorney Brennan Bilberry, Vale said. Tax forms list OAFF&rsquo;s president as attorney Kathleen Nee. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1884235\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1884235\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Harris ally linked to group under legal scrutiny for payments<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":381,"featured_media":2370486,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ap-marc-elias-court-111824-1024x591.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[24259,45263,4021,5894,32076],"class_list":["post-2370485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-elias","tag-group-project","tag-harris","tag-politics","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ap-marc-elias-court-111824-1024x591.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2370485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/381"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2370485"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2370485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2370489,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2370485\/revisions\/2370489"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2370486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2370485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2370485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2370485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}