How Does Foreign Money Shape Our Politics?

Scott Walter’s Testimony Before the House Ways and Means Committee
Oral Testimony: Video and HTML
Senators’ Questions (below)
Written Statement: HTML or PDF
Full Committee Hearing (House website)

Scott Walter discusses how foreign money can be passed through 501(c)(4) organization to super PACs (political action committees. Of particular concern is the case of Hansjörg Wyss, a Swiss billionaire who has both a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4)  that donate to other nonprofits run by Arabella Advisors. Those C4s are some of the biggest contributors super PACs and partisan causes.

Below are several of the questions asked of Walter and the video bookmarked at those respective spots:

Question: Can you explain how this money moves from foreign hands to nonprofits here in U.S. and then into the political arena?

Selected questions can be found in the video below at the indicated timestamps.

[59:00] During this committee’s investigation into 501(c) tax exempt organizations we came upon a quote from Mind the Gap, a Democrat super PAC that stated in 2020 memo to donors in part, “The single most effective tactic for ensuring Democrat victories—501(c)(3) voter registration. Mr Walter, do you know if this group continues to hold this view?

[57:51] Given that our election laws prohibit foreign nationals from donating directly to the campaigns of candidates for federal office, do you think we should reconsider how we look at foreign donations to tax exempt organizations that get involved in politics and and do you have a specific policy change that you would recommend?

[1:00:30] What impact do you see this sort of very large private targeted sponsorship of electoral activity having on the outcome of elections and on the American people’s faith in a fair and transparent system?

[1:02:49] Does [the IRS Form 990] need to be redesigned for what the community good, the mission for both research purpose and us doing tax policy?

[1:05:33] Would a change in the 990 forms make at least understanding what’s really going on out through the world easier for the researchers?

[1:17:02] Specifically zooming in on uh state ballot initiatives and referendums, have you seen any evidence of foreign involvement either overtly or covertly in the ballot initiative referendums particularly the state and local level?