What is Sixteen Thirty Fund? It’s a liberal dark money group linked to Nikki Haley’s aide
An Influential Democratic Dark Money Group Faces Scrutiny Over Lobbyist’s Role in GOP Campaign
An influential Democratic dark money group called Sixteen Thirty Fund has recently come under the spotlight after a Washington Examiner report revealed that one of its lobbyists became a top campaign staffer for GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley. This revelation has sparked criticism from former President Donald Trump and raised concerns among Republicans.
“It was just reported that Nikki Haley’s state director in New Hampshire, this is a very bad one, listen carefully, Tyler Clark, did anyone ever hear of him? He was a lobbyist for Sixteen Thirty Fund, which is managed by Arabella Advisors, which is the largest Democrat dark money network in the country and considered public enemy No. 1. That’s who’s managing her campaign. Does that tell you something, perhaps?”
Hours before Trump’s remarks, the presidential campaign for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) posted the report on social media, stating, “Haley’s campaign is not only funded by Democrats — it’s run by Democrats, too!” DeSantis, who dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed Trump, criticized Haley as a representative of the “old Republican guard.”
What is Sixteen Thirty Fund?
Clark’s previous associations with Sixteen Thirty Fund and other left-wing organizations have fueled concerns among Republicans that a potential Haley administration would be staffed with left-leaning personnel. Democratic megadonor Reed Hoffman recently donated $250,000 to a super PAC aligned with Haley, further raising eyebrows.
According to lobbying disclosure files in New Hampshire, Clark worked on behalf of Sixteen Thirty Fund in 2020, alongside other lobbyists. That year, Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, spent $410 million to help unseat Trump and support Democrats.
Sixteen Thirty Fund is a key Democratic activist hub managed by Arabella Advisors, a more than $1 billion dark money network currently under investigation by the Washington, D.C., attorney general’s office for alleged financial mismanagement. The office is also investigating groups affiliated with Leonard Leo, a prominent conservative activist.
Scott Walter, president of the Capital Research Center, expressed surprise at a Republican working for the Left’s top ”dark money” network. Conservatives have long accused liberals of hypocrisy regarding their ties to “dark money.”
Sixteen Thirty Fund, formed in 2009, is not required to disclose its donors to the IRS due to its 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. This status allows the organization to be more politically involved than 501(c)(3) charities.
In 2020, Sixteen Thirty Fund financed advertisements through opaque groups that criticized Trump and other Republicans. The organization also directed significant donations to left-wing environmental groups.
Like other Arabella groups, Sixteen Thirty Fund sponsors pop-up groups that are not obligated to file their own financial disclosures with the IRS. This lack of transparency has raised concerns among experts.
Conservatives have also raised questions about Sixteen Thirty Fund’s potential violation of federal law by accepting funds from organizations linked to Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, as rules surrounding foreign nationals and political contributions come into play.
Haley’s decision to hire Clark has further eroded confidence among Republicans, who view it as an indication of the type of personnel she would appoint in her administration.
Clark and Haley’s campaign spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
Click here to read more from the Washington Examiner.
What are the implications of Reed Hoffman, a Democratic megadonor, donating a significant amount of money to a super PAC aligned with Haley, and how does it affect the perception of her commitment to conservative ideals
Million on election-related activities, including issue advocacy and campaign advertisements. The group has been labeled as a “dark money” organization because it does not disclose its donors publicly.
Sixteen Thirty Fund, managed by Arabella Advisors, has been involved in various progressive causes, including supporting climate change policies, protecting reproductive rights, and advocating for voting rights. The organization operates as a pass-through entity, receiving donations from wealthy individuals and foundations and distributing the funds to different advocacy groups and campaigns.
The revelation that one of its lobbyists played a prominent role in the campaign of a Republican candidate has raised eyebrows and sparked criticism. Critics argue that this demonstrates a potential conflict of interest and questions the integrity of the Sixteen Thirty Fund’s operations. It also raises concerns about the extent of its influence within both Democratic and Republican circles.
Republican figures, including former President Donald Trump, have seized on this revelation to undermine Haley’s campaign and cast doubt on her credentials as a conservative candidate. The association with a Democratic dark money group has been used to fuel speculation that Haley might not have the conservative principles and values that she claims to possess.
Furthermore, the fact that Democratic megadonor Reed Hoffman donated a significant amount of money to a super PAC aligned with Haley has only intensified the concerns among Republicans. This suggests that Haley may be receiving substantial financial support from left-leaning individuals, raising doubts about her commitment to conservative ideals.
The role of dark money in politics has long been a contentious issue. Critics argue that it allows wealthy individuals and organizations to exert undue influence over the political process, without the transparency and accountability that comes with disclosing donors. The association of Haley’s campaign with a prominent Democratic dark money group only adds fuel to this ongoing debate.
As the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, the role of money in politics and the influence of outside groups like Sixteen Thirty Fund will continue to be scrutinized. The revelation of a lobbyist’s involvement in Haley’s campaign serves as a reminder of the potential conflicts and questions surrounding the use of dark money in political campaigns.
Ultimately, it is up to voters to decide how much weight they give to these revelations and whether they see Haley’s association with Sixteen Thirty Fund as a significant factor in evaluating her candidacy. However, it is clear that this controversy has already had an impact on the perception of Haley’s campaign, with critics seizing on it as evidence of political inconsistencies and potential conflicts of interest.
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