Several top federal prosecutors from U.S. attorney’s offices across the United States have received a directive to launch probes into the Open Society Foundations, a group funded by the billionaire Democratic donor George Soros, according to several sources. The order was handed down by Aakash Singh, a senior official within acting-Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office.
It was sent off to U.S. attorney’s offices in seven states, including California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, and Maryland. The letter contained several possible charges that prosecutors could take into consideration as they start investigating the Open Society Foundations, ranging from material support to terrorism, arson, wire fraud, and racketeering, the sources revealed.
“This DOJ, along with our hard-working and dedicated U.S. Attorneys, will always prioritize public safety and investigate organizations that conspire to commit acts of violence or other federal violations of law,” a spokesperson for the Justice Department said to ABC News when asked about the directive. “These accusations are politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the First Amendment right to free speech.”
According to ABC News, the directive follows President Donald Trump and senior White House officials taking demands to have the Justice Department and FBI look into groups on the left they believe have fueled recent acts of political violence around the country to the next level. Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance have singled out Soros in public comments since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Open Society Foundations is an organization that provides funding for nonprofit organizations around the world, focusing on justice and human rights issues, though the bulk of the work done in the United States is dedicated to “strengthening democracy,” according to The Hill. The group has come out and denied any connections to terrorism, claiming the investigations are an attempt to target those who disagree with the president.
“The Open Society Foundations unequivocally condemn terrorism and do not fund terrorism. Our activities are peaceful and lawful, and our grantees are expected to abide by human rights principles and comply with the law,” the group went on to say in a statement. “These accusations are politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the First Amendment right to free speech.”
“When power is abused to take away the rights of some people, it puts the rights of all people at risk,” the statement continued. The report then noted that Soros has given billions of dollars to leftist causes and groups over the last several decades, which has led to many conservatives believing he poses a major threat to the American way of life.
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The Justice Department put out a statement of their own, saying, “The Attorney General is committed to the safety of every American. If organizations threaten the safety of Americans and violate U.S. law, we will pursue every lawful avenue — investigations and prosecutions to hold them accountable,” the department said in a statement. Terror has no place here.”
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