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279:(FCC) she faced an aggressive campaign funded by the American Accountability Foundation (AAF). Sohn, a consumer advocate nominated by President Joe Biden, aimed to expand free internet access and improve broadband competition. The AAF, not required to disclose its donors, launched an attack on Sohn, labeling her as too partisan, anti-police, and soft on sex trafficking. Despite being a historic nominee as the FCC's first openly
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The AAF describes itself as a "charitable and educational organization that conducts non-partisan governmental oversight research and fact-checking so
Americans can hold their elected leaders accountable". Jones told Fox News in April 2021 that he aimed to "take a big handful of sand and throw it in
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commissioner, Sohn faced opposition from moderate
Democrats, leading to her withdrawal from the race. This instance showcased how dark money and untraceable donations influenced public opinion and nominee confirmations, shaping the political landscape. Telecom industry lobbyists were reportedly
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group ("a politically active, tax-exempt nonprofit charity that doesn’t disclose its backers") that is an offshoot of another such group, the
Conservative Partnership Institute, which employed
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involved behind the scenes to thwart Sohn's nomination, emphasizing the power of such groups in
American politics.
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479:"Conservative Groups Draw Up Plan to Dismantle the US Government and Replace It with Trump's Vision"
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The AAF's executive director and co-founder, Tom Jones, previously worked for
Republican senators
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268:, a for-profit company, not a charity. The event itself is however a charitable fundraiser.
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349:"Jane Mayer Went Spelunking Again Into the Dark Caverns of Right-Wing Political Money"
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602:"Conservative group files ethics complaint over Ocasio-Cortez appearance at Met Gala"
583:"AOC hit with ethics complaint over Met Gala appearance as she fires back at critics"
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564:"Conservative group files ethics complaint against AOC for attending Met Gala"
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In
September 2021, the AAF filed an ethics complaint against representative
245:. The AAF's research was used by Republican opponents of the nomination of
379:"Sarah Bloom Raskin Withdraws Her Nomination to the Federal Reserve Board"
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538:"Republicans turn Ketanji Brown Jackson hearing into a political circus"
303:"Conservative group escalates earmarks war by infiltrating trainings"
512:"Conservative group behind sunk ATF nomination takes a victory lap"
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616:"Tanked Biden pick highlights escalation of dark-money forces"
146:. Its other co-founder, Matthew Buckham, worked in the
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group founded in 2020 that has opposed nominees to the
331:"The Slime Machine Targeting Dozens of Biden Nominees"
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Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
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674:Educational charities based in the United States
679:Conservative organizations in the United States
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669:Educational organizations established in 2020
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173:AAF is a member of the advisory board of
166:after he left the Trump administration.
148:White House Presidential Personnel Office
664:2020 establishments in the United States
562:Clark, Dartunorro (September 15, 2021).
229:to be vice-chair for supervision of the
170:the gears of the Biden administration".
491:from the original on September 22, 2023
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600:Vakil, Caroline (September 15, 2021).
510:Markay, Lachlan (September 14, 2021).
458:from the original on November 19, 2023
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581:Mishra, Stuti (September 15, 2021).
397:"American Accountability Foundation"
134:(directing opposition research for
101:American Accountability Foundation
24:American Accountability Foundation
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536:Pilkington, Ed (March 24, 2022).
477:Mascaro, Lisa (August 29, 2023).
277:Federal Communications Commission
136:Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign
191:United States federal government
377:Mayer, Jane (March 15, 2022).
329:Mayer, Jane (April 16, 2022).
301:Wong, Scott (March 24, 2021).
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421:Shaw, Adam (April 11, 2021).
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203:2024 presidential election
185:policy proposals from the
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258:Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
116:Joe Biden administration
452:The Heritage Foundation
158:described the AAF as a
239:Wage and Hour Division
221:to be director of the
209:Political manipulation
484:Associated Press News
275:'s nomination to the
247:Ketanji Brown Jackson
231:Federal Reserve Board
243:Department of Labor
187:Heritage Foundation
112:opposition research
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260:for attending the
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227:Sarah Bloom Raskin
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179:conservative
175:Project 2025
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66:Headquarters
38:Abbreviation
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626:February 5,
359:February 5,
197:should the
150:during the
144:John Ensign
128:Ron Johnson
91:AAF website
658:Categories
288:References
266:Conde Nast
235:David Weil
199:Republican
183:right-wing
160:dark money
140:Jim DeMint
61:85-4391204
56:Tax ID no.
547:April 19,
521:April 19,
432:April 19,
406:April 19,
273:Gigi Sohn
253:in 2022.
225:in 2021;
81:Tom Jones
46:Formation
568:NBC News
489:Archived
456:Archived
427:Fox News
307:The Hill
262:Met Gala
249:for the
237:for the
132:Ted Cruz
620:AP News
495:July 8,
462:July 8,
353:Esquire
241:of the
122:History
86:Website
281:LGBTQ+
142:, and
516:Axios
628:2024
549:2022
523:2022
497:2024
464:2024
434:2022
408:2022
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181:and
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