House Democrats accuse Trump’s Freedom 250 of misleading donors, potential wire fraud

Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee released an interim report on Thursday alleging Freedom 250 potentially misled donors, directing them to complete payments that were rerouted.

“According to sources interviewed by Committee Democrats, donors who intended to donate to America250 were instead given wire instructions with Freedom 250’s banking information—including its routing number and account number—so that contributions would instead flow to Freedom 250,” the House report says.

“A gift solicited in the name of the nation’s nonpartisan birthday commission could thus be redirected without the donor’s knowledge, by an entity created to serve the President’s priorities,” it continues.

The donors cited in the report were unnamed, but lawmakers say individuals who were attempting to provide contributions to the nonpartisan, congressionally chartered America250 Commission were tricked into funding Freedom 250, an executive branch public-private partnership heavily supported by private donations and organized under the White House’s Task Force 250.

Democrats say logos for the two groups were used interchangeably and noted that Freedom 250 organizers “aggressively” targeted America250 donors.

Democratic lawmakers note that if the allegations are true, it would constitute wire fraud and charitable solicitation fraud under federal law.

Freedom 250 denied any accusations of wrongdoing.

“After 10 years and more than $120 million spent, America250 had nothing to show for it. Worse, they lost sight of the mission and, instead of celebrating America, too many wanted to apologize for it. Freedom 250 was created because the American people deserved better,” Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez told The Hill.

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