Watchdog groups rallied outside the Chamber of Commerce Thursday in the wake of a report by a liberal blog that the business lobby could be funding political ads with foreign money, which would violate federal election laws.
Dozens of demonstrators -- from organizations including including Public Citizen, Common Cause, Public Campaign and, appropriately, U.S. Chamber Watch -- gathered outside the Chamber's H Street offices waving signs that read "U.S. Democracy Belongs To U.S. Voters" and chanting "Hey hey, ho ho! Chamber money is foreign dough!"
The rally took place days after Lee Fang of ThinkProgress reported that foreign corporations have paid annual Chamber dues to the tune of $300,000. The money goes to the business group's general fund, much of which is used to run political attack ads against Democrats.
Fang's research showed the Chamber has increased fundraising efforts abroad, opening up chapters overseas referred to as "AmChams" to attract contributions from foreign corporations.
WATCH rally excerpts, including HuffPost's interview with Public Campaign President Nick Nyhart:
The Chamber insists it isn't doing anything illegal. "No foreign money -- from AmChams of otherwise -- is used to fund political activities," Commerce Spokesman J.P. Fielder told Politico. "None of the AmCham money is used for political activities."
The public, however, has no way of verifying that. And calls for a Justice Department investigation have been growing, including from MoveOn.org, Sen. Al Franken, and The New York Times.
Franken conceded on a Thursday-afternoon conference call with reporters that "technically what the Chamber has done may not be illegal."
"But let's be honest here," he added, "money is money and when the Bahrain Petroleum Company sends the Chamber $10,000, the $10,000 in American money that the Chamber was going to use for office furniture can now go to a new attack ad on Barbara Boxer for her stand on clean energy."
On Tuesday, Franken wrote a letter to FEC Chairman Matthew S. Petersen asking that the Federal Election Commission launch an investigation and strengthen its regulations on foreign influence in U.S. elections.
During the conference call, Franken said congressional passage of the DISCLOSE Act would force groups like the Chamber to identify who pays for their advertising.
As of Sept. 15, the Chamber had aired more than 8,000 ads on behalf of GOP Senate candidates, according to a report by the Wesleyan Media Project. It will spend another $75 million this election cycle to defeat candidates such as Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.).
The Chamber's Pat Cleary wrote in a post on the Chamber's website that there is nothing behind the ThinkProgress report.
"The confusion -- willful though it was -- stemmed from the various American Chambers of Commerce (known as 'AmChams' by any US ex-pat who has ever lived abroad) around the world," Cleary wrote. "There are 115 of them and the first one was founded in France in 1896. Not exactly a new development. The truth (anybody remember the truth?) is that AmChams are independent organizations, not controlled in any way by the US Chamber, and whose money does not in any way pay for US political activity."
In an interview on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," Fang made his case.
"Well, here's what we know: They're spending an unprecedented $75 million in attack ads, basically. They're going to foreign businesses and foreign individuals saying, you know, if you send us checks, you'll have a voice in American public policy debates," he told Olbermann. "They're sending those checks to the same bank account used for the attack ads. So, you know, these funds -- they're fungible. They can be moved around. We really don't know. What's alarming is the Chamber of Commerce hasn't put out any documentation. They haven't proved that there's some firewall. They're just saying, hey, trust us."
WATCH the Olbermann interview here:
Amanda Terkel contributed to this report.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.