Concerns are rising about the potential influence of foreign money in the upcoming 2024 U.S. elections. A recent report by Americans for Public Trust (APT) highlights substantial funding from Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss to various left-leaning nonprofit organizations, some of which have connections to campaigns supporting President Biden and the Democratic Party. The report calls for closing loopholes that allow foreign money to potentially impact American elections.

APT's report details how Wyss's nonprofits have distributed approximately $425 million to left-wing groups in recent years. This funding has potentially reached organizations involved in multi-million dollar campaigns promoting President Biden's achievements. One such group is Climate Power, which has partnered with Future Forward USA Action and the Way to Win Action Fund to support the President. Future Forward, the affiliated political committee of Future Forward USA Action, is expected to serve as Biden's primary outside super PAC during the 2024 election.

Caitlin Sutherland, Executive Director of APT, emphasized the need to prevent foreign influence in American elections and expressed concern about the connection between President Biden's super PAC and organizations funded by Wyss. Republican lawmakers have also taken notice of Wyss's activities and are reportedly working on legislation to address foreign influence in U.S. politics.

This isn't the first instance of Wyss-funded groups supporting Democratic causes. Last year, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Victory Fund and Climate Power reportedly spent $15 million on a targeted campaign to support Democrats during the midterm elections. Both organizations have received significant funding from Wyss's nonprofits.

As part of their 2022 midterm election strategy, the LCV Victory Fund and Climate Power collaborated with BlueLabs Analytics, a data science firm, to target over two million Biden voters in key swing states with advertisements and mailers. Wyss's nationality raises legal questions about these activities, as federal law prohibits foreign nationals from directly or indirectly contributing to U.S. political campaigns.

Wyss has a long history of supporting left-leaning causes. He established the Wyss Foundation in the late 1990s and the Berger Action Fund in 2007. These organizations have channeled substantial funds to various groups, many of which, like the LCV, engage in political advocacy.

Tax filings reveal a substantial anonymous donation, likely from Wyss, of nearly $279 million to the Berger Action Fund between April 2021 and March 2022. The Berger Action Fund subsequently distributed $72.7 million to 12 different dark money organizations, including the LCV, which received $3.5 million. Several other politically active groups also received millions in contributions.

The Berger Action Fund also provided significant funding to the Fund for a Better Future (FBF), which in turn supports Climate Power and Building Back Together, a group promoting the Biden administration’s agenda. Wyss's connection to the Center for American Progress (CAP), an influential left-leaning think tank, further adds to the complexity of his involvement in politically-adjacent activities.

A spokesperson for the Wyss Foundation and the Berger Action Fund stated that the organizations comply with all regulations, prohibit the use of their grants for political campaigns or voter registration, and support increased transparency in campaign finance. However, the connections between these organizations and groups actively involved in political campaigns continue to raise concerns about potential foreign influence in U.S. elections.