Republican leaders commit to investigating GoFundMe because the company took down the Freedom Convoy's fundraiser



Prominent GOP officials throughout the country are committed to investigating actions taken by GoFundMe in dissolving the fundraiser for Canadian truckers in the Freedom Convoy and refusing to distribute funds raised on their behalf.

The widely popular fundraiser generated several million dollars for the anti-vaccine mandate protesters before GoFundMe shut it down and refused to pay out the donations.

Newsweek reported that “The fundraising effort had raised C$10 million — around $7.9 million — and C$1 million had already been distributed to the organizers of the so-called Freedom Convoy before GoFundMe took the decision to stop the fundraiser. GoFundMe initially announced on Friday it would refund contributions to anyone who applied and the remaining funds would be distributed to charities chosen by the Freedom Convoy organizers and verified by the crowdfunding site.”

However, after intense backlash, GoFundMe changed course and opted to refund all donations made to the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser.

To simplify the process for our users, we will be refunding all donations to the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser. This refund will happen automatically\u2014you do not need to submit a request. Donors can expect to see refunds within 7-10 business days.
— GoFundMe (@GoFundMe) 1644047784

GoFundMe shutdown the convoy’s saying that it no longer could be considered a peaceful protest.

“We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity,” GoFundMe wrote, “Following a review of relevant facts and multiple discussions with local law enforcement and city officials, this fundraiser is now in violation of our Terms of Service … and has been removed from the platform.”

The Ottawa Police advocated for all crowdfunding websites to prevent the Freedom Convoy from fundraising.

We want to thank @gofundme for listening to our concerns as a City and a police service. The decision to withhold funding for these unlawful demonstrations is an important step and we call on all crowdfunding sites to follow.
— Ottawa Police (@Ottawa Police) 1644020207

Saturday morning, Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced that he will work alongside Florida’s Attorney General to investigate GoFundMe and its deceptive practices. Governor DeSantis labeled the company’s tactics as “fraud.”

It is a fraud for @gofundme to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing. \n\nI will work with @AGAshleyMoody to investigate these deceptive practices \u2014 these donors should be given a refund.
— Ron DeSantis (@Ron DeSantis) 1644073468

The Attorneys General of several states including West Virginia, Louisiana, and Ohio matched Governor DeSantis’ righteous indignation and made clear that they intend to hold GoFundMe accountable for any potentially illegal acts they committed by terminating the Freedom Convoy’s fundraiser.

Patrick Morrisey, the Attorney General of West Virginia, told his constituents that if they were victimized to let his office know.

#GoFundMe now won\u2019t honor #FreedomConvoy donations and will instead redirect to other charities? \n\nIn WV, organizations must not deceive donors and engage in deceptive advertising practices. \n\nIf you\u2019ve been victimized by a deceptive act or practice, let us know!
— Patrick Morrisey (@Patrick Morrisey) 1644033328

Louisiana’s Attorney General Eric Schmitt said that GoFundMe’s actions were “totally unacceptable” and that he would be “investigating” the company's “deceptive practices.”

It\u2019s totally unacceptable for @gofundme to siphon over $9M in donations sent to support #TruckersForFreedom2020 & funnel it to causes it supports.\n\nI will be investigating these deceptive practices. Donors should be given a refund.#TruckersConvoy2022 #TruckersForFreedom
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric Schmitt) 1644080262

And, Dave Yost, the Attorney General of Ohio, said that while refunding every donation was the “right thing to do” he still wanted to hear from Ohioans who gave to the Freedom Convoy.

In the last few minutes, #GoFundMe tweeted that they will refund all donations to #FreedomConvoy automatically.\n\nThat\u2019s the right thing to do, but it is not the end of the story. I still want to hear from you if you donated.\n\nThis needs to not happen again!
— Attorney General Dave Yost (@Attorney General Dave Yost) 1644071030

It’s worth noting that in the Sumner of 2020, GoFundMe amplified fundraising attempts for people involved in the CHAZ/CHOP movement in downtown Seattle, Washington.

GoFundMe found the Freedom Convoy to be a violent movement worthy of suppression, but it deemed a violent secessionist movement that was a hotbed for rape and murder a worthy cause.

In a community with no police, this farmer is feeding people & bringing them closer together.\n\nLearn how you can support Marcus' mission within the CHOP: https://gfme.co/chop-farmer\u00a0https://twitter.com/Quicktake/status/1273971946858913793\u00a0\u2026
— GoFundMe (@GoFundMe) 1593714914

GoFundMe’s message is clear. They, like countless other Western corporations, will advance the causes of violent leftists while actively working to suppress peaceful, patriotic movements.

Florida AG calls for criminal probes into Bloomberg-backed effort to pay felons' fines so they can vote



Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) has called for state and federal law enforcement to investigate the legality of an effort backed by billionaire Democrat Michael Bloomberg that has raised millions to pay off the debts of felons in the state so that they can vote ahead of the November 3 election.

What are the details?

Bloomberg — who has pledged to spend $100 million to help Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden win the White House — announced Tuesday that he helped raise more than $16 million toward a fund launched by the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition that has thus far paid off the court fines of over 31,000 former prisoners in order to restore the felons' voting rights.

Following the news of Bloomberg's initiative, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) tweeted, "I just spoke to @AGAshleyMoody, she is all over the @MikeBloomberg-connected activities in Florida."

"There may even be a criminal investigation already underway," the congressman continued, adding, "Law enforcement all over the country should be looking for the cheating Democrats are going to try in this election."

I just spoke to @AGAshleyMoody, she is all over the @MikeBloomberg-connected activities in Florida.There may even… https://t.co/Q9zF8qeMa1
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@Rep. Matt Gaetz)1600826376.0


In a statement obtained by NBS News on Wednesday, Moody announced, "Today, I sent a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into potential violations of election laws, and I have instructed the Statewide Prosecutor to work with law enforcement and any Statewide Grand Jury that the Governor may call."

Moody added that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) had asked her to look into the "recent allegations" reported by The Washington Post regarding Bloomberg's efforts in boosting the plan for restoring voting rights to felons.

WEAR-TV reported:

Moody's letter references Florida's statute against paying for votes, referencing a Florida Department of State finding that said "even an otherwise innocuous offering of an incentive simply to vote can run afoul" of state election law.
By offering to help pay felons' fines to regain their right to vote, Moody claims Bloomberg could be guilty of violating a Florida Statute, which makes it illegal to "directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another in casting his or her vote."

What's the background?

In 2018, Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing some felons the right to vote after their time had been served, but the state's Republican-controlled legislature later passed a law requiring the former prisoners to pay all outstanding court fees prior to having their voting rights restored.

The issue has been batted around in the courts, but for now, the state law requiring that felons pay their fees stands leading Bloomberg and his allies to raise funds to pay off the fines in an effort to boost Democratic turnout.