A shadowy campaign that has recruited retired or disabled Trump supporters to challenge GOP House incumbents and split the GOP vote so Democrats can take back the House has been exposed.
The Patriots Run Project ran a “series of pro-Trump pages and ran ads that used apocalyptic rhetoric to attack establishment politicians in both parties while urging conservatives to run in November,” the Associated Press reported, noting, “For the past year, the group has recruited Trump supporters to run as independent candidates in key swing districts where they could siphon votes from Republicans.”
“We need American Patriots like YOU to stand for freedom with President Trump and take back control from the globalist elites by running for office,” one ad stated.
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Two of the candidates were recruited in Iowa, while candidates in Nebraska, Montana, Virginia, and Minnesota were also targeted.
“All six recruits described themselves as retired, disabled—or both,” AP noted. “In at least three races, petition signatures to qualify for the ballot were circulated by a Nevada company that works closely with the Democratic consulting firm Sole Strategies, according to documents,” AP stated. “Sole Strategies has earned nearly $1.8 million over the past four years working primarily for Democratic candidates and causes, including numerous Democratic House members and candidates.”
One Iowa candidate, Joe Wiederien, who had never run for office, had endured a stroke that left him unable to drive, and he could not vote for a time because of a felony conviction.
“At that time I was thinking, well, it would be nice to be in Congress and get to work with President Trump,” Wiederien, 54, said. “It looks like it’s a dirty trick now.” Wiederien later withdrew his candidacy, saying he’d been manipulated, and now wants an investigation.
First-term Republican Rep. Zach Nunn said on Monday that the plot was “to steal this election. I am outraged to see anyone prey on hardworking Iowans or deceive voters.”
Former Justice Department official Jason Torchinsky stated, “Given what is described, there could be a wide variety of federal and state criminal violations.”
