INVESTIGATE SOROS, SENATORS ASK TILLERSON
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
GOP senators are asking Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to
investigate claims that the Obama administration used taxpayer money to
fund leftist billionaire George Soros’ political groups and activities
abroad.
A letter sent
Tuesday asked the State Department to determine whether agencies such
as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
diverted taxpayer money to leftist movements directed by Soros.
Sen.
Mike Lee (R-Utah), one of the co-signers, said that foreign officials
and political leaders have revealed to him “reports of U.S. activity in
their respective countries.”
“This includes reports of diplomats playing political favorites,
USAID funds supporting extreme and sometimes violent political
activists, and the US Government working to marginalize the moderates
and conservatives in leadership roles…This sort of political favoritism
from our missions around the world is unacceptable,” Lee said in a
statement.
Lee is referring specifically to the USAID funding of
Soros’ Open Society Foundation in Macedonia, where the group’s stated
goal is “to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are
accountable to their citizens,” but critics contend that it’s a front
for Soros’ destabilization programs and color revolutions.
The
USAID website shows that between 2012 and 2016, USAID gave nearly $5
million in taxpayer money to the Soros group for “The Civil Society”
project, which “aims to empower Macedonian citizens to hold government
accountable.”
The letter goes on to say that senior lawmakers have
heard similar reports of political meddling coming out of Albania,
Latin America and parts of Africa.
“Respected leaders from Albania
have made similar claims of U.S. diplomats and Soros-backed
organizations pushing for certain political outcomes in their country,”
states the letter.
“We respectfully ask that you use your
authority to investigate all funds associated with promoting democracy
and governance and review the programs, accounts, and multiplicity of
U.S. entities involved in such activities.”
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban warned in January of Soros’ “trans-border empire,” saying Soros was attempting to manipulate political fights in his country.
“I
think it is no secret and everyone knows about the very close
relationship between the Democrats and George Soros and his
foundations,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told Fox News.