{"id":2468600,"date":"2025-07-30T11:11:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T15:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anonymous-website-targeting-rep-hageman-referred-to-fec\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T11:14:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T15:14:01","slug":"anonymous-website-targeting-rep-hageman-referred-to-fec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anonymous-website-targeting-rep-hageman-referred-to-fec\/","title":{"rendered":"Anonymous Website Targeting Rep. Hageman Referred To FEC"},"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\">16<\/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%2Fanonymous-website-targeting-rep-hageman-referred-to-fec%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=2468600&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>Project Winchester is a newly launched and somewhat secretive website aimed at opposing U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman, a Republican from Wyoming. The site features gun imagery and hunting themes,which some view as irresponsible and potentially inciting violence,especially given that Hageman previously canceled in-person town halls due to threats.The website positions itself as a grassroots campaign focused on preventing Hageman from selling off Wyoming&#8217;s public lands and actively solicits donations, volunteers, and organizes political activities such as ads and town halls. <\/p>\n<p>Concerns have been raised that the website may violate Federal Election Commission (FEC) laws by functioning as a political action committee (PAC) without proper registration. the Foundation for Accountability and civic Trust (FACT) has filed an official complaint urging an investigation. The site&#8217;s creators remain anonymous, offering no direct contact facts, which further adds to clarity concerns. <\/p>\n<p>There is speculation about the involvement of Trevor Neilson, a politically active figure wiht a background in environmental causes and connections to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-governor-signs-ban-on-native-american-mascots\/\" title=\"Washington Governor Signs Ban On Native American Mascots\">high-profile organizations<\/a> and initiatives, though this has not been confirmed. Neilson is linked to climate protest funding and opposition to Hageman, suggesting aligned objectives with Project Winchester. the situation highlights issues around anonymous political advocacy, the appropriateness of aggressive political rhetoric, and compliance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/victorious-midterm-candidates-could-remake-money-they-pour-into-their-own-campaigns-thanks-to-new-supreme-court-ruling\/\" title=\"Victorious Midterm Candidates Could Remake Money They Pour Into Their Own Campaigns, Thanks To New Supreme Court Ruling\">campaign finance regulations<\/a>.  <\/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<div>\n<p>Rule of thumb: If you secretly start a website with the sole mission of removing a politician from office, don&rsquo;t name it after a gun. That is what&rsquo;s happening on the new website for &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/projectwinchester.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Project Winchester<\/a>,&rdquo; a group, or possibly an individual, that aims to defeat U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo.<\/p>\n<p>The website features a picture of a rifle and, although it has some hunting references, it is littered with subtext (We&rsquo;re here to stop her) that could lead some loon to interpret it as marching orders to harm Hageman.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s pretty <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/07\/19\/leftists-continue-eliminationist-rhetoric-days-after-trump-assassination-attempt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">irresponsible<\/a> considering Hageman was forced to <a href=\"https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2025\/03\/25\/hageman-cancels-in-person-town-halls-over-democrat-threats-of-violence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cancel<\/a> in<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >-person <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/6-campus-hate-crimes-that-turned-out-to-be-hoaxes\/\" title=\"6 Campus \u2018Hate Crimes\u2019 That Turned Out To Be Hoaxes\">town hall meetings<\/a> earlier<\/a> this year after Democrat threats of violence. In the United States, discussion, not intimidation, is supposed to bring us to political decisions, but the left loves a protest, and if they don&rsquo;t get their way, full-on disruption like this.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>From the multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/19\/records-fail-to-verify-that-second-alleged-would-be-assassin-ever-voted-for-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">attempts<\/a> on President Donald Trump&rsquo;s<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/11\/04\/this-man-stood-up-powerful-ad-reminds-voters-of-all-that-trump-has-survived\/\"> life<\/a> last year, to more frequent Antifa protests and <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/07\/08\/watch-how-the-propaganda-press-buries-the-story-of-extremists-trying-to-murder-ice-agents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">violent attacks<\/a>, the last thing we need is more incendiary rhetoric in America. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While the gun imagery in this context is beyond irresponsible, Project Winchester may also be flaunting Federal Election Commission (FEC) laws, because it is acting like a political action committee (PAC). It asks for donations, seeks volunteers, claims to be running statewide ads and op-eds, and is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/toyota-president-apologizes-for-cheating\/\" title=\"Toyota president apologizes for misconduct\">organizing town hall meetings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>What We&rsquo;re Doing<br \/>Exposing Hageman&rsquo;s land sell-off record<\/p>\n<p>Running statewide ads, videos, and op-eds<\/p>\n<p>Mobilizing trusted local voices<\/p>\n<p>Organizing town halls and listening sessions<\/p>\n<p>Backing leaders who will protect&mdash;not sell&mdash;our land<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; Project Winchester (@WinchesterforWY) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WinchesterforWY\/status\/1935727118391947378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) has filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/65db7681-e755-4cff-abe7-1d9e373df4db.usrfiles.com\/ugd\/65db76_d50082348a4640e8b6b15fcadda72cdd.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">complaint with the FEC<\/a>, seeking an investigation and, if warranted, action against Project Winchester for failing to register with the FEC.<\/p>\n<p>Project Winchester is clearly political, describing itself as a &ldquo;grassroots campaign to remove Harriet Hageman from office and defend Wyoming&rsquo;s public lands.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Statewide advertising alone would exceed the $1,000 threshold triggering registration as a PAC.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Join the Fight<br \/>If you hunt.<br \/>If you ranch.<br \/>If you hike, fish, ride, or care about keeping Wyoming wild&mdash;<br \/>This is your moment.<br \/>&#128236; Sign up. &#129506; Volunteer. &#128184; Donate.<br \/>Together, we&rsquo;ll make sure Harriet Hageman never sells off a single acre of our land again.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Project Winchester (@WinchesterforWY) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WinchesterforWY\/status\/1935727361523413420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The website&rsquo;s creator went to the trouble of keeping their name <a href=\"https:\/\/lookup.icann.org\/en\/lookup\">private<\/a> when creating the domain name in June. No contact information can be found on the site. Visitors can &ldquo;subscribe&rdquo; by leaving an email address, but there is no place to send even a blind email. The website cookies can see you, but you can&rsquo;t communicate with Project Winchester through the website or know anything about the humans behind it.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The importance of this matter lies in the fact that, for good reason, our system and laws do not allow for nameless and faceless political advocacy &mdash; you have a right to advocate against someone, but not in secret,&rdquo; Kendra Arnold, executive director of FACT, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.factdc.org\/post\/fact-files-fec-complaint-against-wyoming-group-for-failing-to-register-as-a-political-committee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a>. &ldquo;The public has the right to assess the veracity of advocacy based upon the source. Especially with the availability of social media and websites, we have recently seen an increase in attempts to evade this law and stay in the shadows, which makes it all the more critical that the FEC stays vigilant in enforcing this law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The FEC told The Federalist it does not provide any information about complaints that may be filed with the FEC, nor does it ever confirm if a complaint has been received.<\/p>\n<p>Project Winchester has made just 29 posts on X since it sprang to life in June. It most often reposts op-eds or other posts from Trevor Neilson, a Wyoming transplant with a political activism background. Neilson did not respond to an interview request from The Federalist. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>According to his <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2023\/11\/28\/climate-change-crisis-relentless-consumption-children-abu-dhabi-wastefuel-ceo-trevor-neilson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">World Economic Forum<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/people\/trevor-neilson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">biography<\/a>, Neilson worked in the <a href=\"https:\/\/apcoworldwide.com\/people\/trevor-neilson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clinton administration<\/a>, sat on a board with George Soros, and directed public affairs and special projects at the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation. He claims to have founded numerous environmental companies. Neilson has no public facing email address, although he keeps a high profile writing <a href=\"https:\/\/wyofile.com\/hagemans-stance-on-public-land-sales-shows-she-doesnt-work-for-wyoming\/\">op-eds<\/a> in opposition of Hageman and working as the President of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prometheushyperscale.com\/team\/trevor-neilson\">Prometheus Hyperscale<\/a>, a speculative data center company with no public facing phone number, planned for Evanston, Wyoming. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>Neilson is also a co-founder of the Climate Emergency Fund, a $5 million nonprofit that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2019\/09\/27\/new-york-times-three-malibu-millionaires-pay-for-climate-change-protests-worldwide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pays for<\/a> protests of climate issues. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Three wealthy donors formed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climateemergencyfund.org\/press\/new-york-times\/2020-09-22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Climate Emergency Fund<\/a> this year to support &lsquo;disruptive activists,&rsquo; as Trevor Neilson, one of the founders, put it,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/09\/27\/climate\/climate-change-protests-funding.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York Times<\/a> reported in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>It is unclear if the nonprofit&rsquo;s climate protesters were behind the raucous disruption at Hageman&rsquo;s town hall meetings this year, or if Neilson is behind Project Winchester, but tit is clear that they share the same goal of getting rid of Hageman.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an award-winning investigative journalist with decades of media experience.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Don&#8217;t name a secret anti-politician site after a gun<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":2468601,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HH.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[10728,10614,60257,6896,60256],"class_list":["post-2468600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-anonymous","tag-fec","tag-rep-hageman","tag-targeting","tag-website-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HH.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2468600","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\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2468600"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2468600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2468604,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2468600\/revisions\/2468604"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2468601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2468600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2468600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2468600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}