Donors who intended to support a bipartisan nonprofit organizing celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary were allegedly redirected — without their knowledge — to a separate nonprofit behind events being promoted by President Donald Trump, according to a report from a group of House Democrats, citing confidential, unnamed sources.
The interim report, compiled by Democratic staff on the House Natural Resources Committee, includes accounts from unnamed sources about donors who wanted to give to the America250 nonprofit, which is overseen by a bipartisan congressional commission, being given incorrect wire instructions so that their money would flow to the Trump-backed Freedom 250.
If true, the actions could constitute “potential wire fraud and charitable solicitation fraud,” according to the report, which doesn’t detail how much money was diverted, if at all.
The 41-page report claims Trump allies sought to sideline America250 while putting the president at the center of the nation’s anniversary and “selling” access to him in exchange for donations. Freedom 250’s activities are largely overseen by top Trump aides, and it has taken steps to brand itself as the “nonpartisan” group “leading the celebration” of America’s birthday.
The report echoes complaints from outside watchdog groups about a lack of transparency around the finances and operations of Freedom 250.
A spokesperson for Freedom 250, Danielle Alvarez, called the claims in the report “categorically false” in a statement.
“This so-called ‘report’ is nothing more than a partisan smear from politicians who would rather manufacture division than celebrate America’s 250th birthday alongside the rest of the country,” she said.
CNN has also reached out to the White House and the National Park Foundation for comment. Read our full report here.