A shadowy organization has been recruiting Donald Trump supporters to run as independent candidates in key swing districts in an apparent effort to siphon votes from Republican candidates.
An Associated Press review found the Run Patriots Project recruited candidates through Facebook for two races in Iowa, as well as races in Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Virginia and Minnesota, but group's operation provides few clues about its management or financing – although business fillings and other documents show significant spending.
“We need American Patriots like YOU to stand for freedom with President Trump and take back control from the globalist elites by running for office,” reads a Facebook ad run by the group, which also ran pro-Trump pages on the social media site until they were removed for violating guidelines against inauthentic behavior.
Some candidates told the AP they were contacted in response to their own Facebook posts, while two others said the group contacted them after they filled out an online survey, and representatives advised them how to fill out and file required paperwork to run.
A Nevada company that works closely with the Democratic consulting firm Sole Strategies circulated petition signatures required to qualify for the ballot in at least three races, AP reported.
“Given what is described, there could be a wide variety of federal and state criminal violations,” said Jason Torchinsky, a prominent Republican election lawyer and former Justice Department official.
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Despite ties to Democratic firms, the AP found little documentary evidence about who is overseeing the effort.
“[It] looks shady and unethical,” said Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. "It is hard to say whether any laws have been broken, which would depend not only on the facts, but also the statutes and precedents under state law.”
Joe Wiederien was recruited by the group to challenge first-term Republican Rep. Zach Nunn in Iowa, despite his ongoing recovery from a debilitating stroke and a past felony record. The group supplied more than enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, but he withdrew last month after saying it was clear he had been manipulated.
“At that time I was thinking, well, it would be nice to be in Congress and get to work with President Trump,” said the 54-year-old Wiederien. “It looks like it’s a dirty trick now.”
