Chamber of Commerce Denies Foreign Money Funding Campaign Ads

CBS

Updated 6:09 p.m. Eastern Time

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the conservative business lobbying group that has vowed to spend $75 million to influence the midterm elections, is denying a report from a liberal group that it is using money from foreign corporations on campaign ads.

"These accusations are completely erroneous," Tita Freeman, vice president of communications for the Chamber, said in a statement. "... No foreign money is used to fund political activities."

The website Think Progress today said its investigation showed that the Chamber "funds its political attack campaign out of its general account, which solicits foreign funding." It suggested that "the Chamber is likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law that bans the involvement of foreign corporations in American elections."

Liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org filed a formal request asking the Department of Justice to investigate the Chamber in the wake of the report.

The details of the allegations are a little complicated, but to put it as simply as possible: Think Progress is alleging that foreign chapters of the Chamber in places like Bahrain (which are known as "AmChams") funnel money to the U.S. Chamber. That money, Think Progress says, ends up in the fund that pays for campaign ads.

In the statement denying the report, Freeman said "AmChams are independent organizations and they do not fund political programs in the United States."

"We have a system in place for ensuring that they are not government-controlled entities," Freeman continued. "The Chamber is proud to have global companies among our membership. We're careful to ensure that we comply with all applicable laws."

The Chamber does not disclose its donors, making it difficult to trace where the money for its ads is coming from. The group generally backs Republican candidates, though it has supported a small number of Democrats in this campaign cycle, including West Virginia Senate candidate Gov. Joe Manchin.

The Chamber successfully lobbied earlier this year to help kill a piece of legislation supported by Democrats called the DISCLOSE Act designed to force donors to identify themselves in campaign ads. The DISCLOSE Act was a response to the Citizens United court case giving companies permission to spend unlimited money anonymously to support or oppose a candidate.

President Obama has warned that the decision opens the door to foreign-controlled corporations interfering in U.S. elections.

The Chamber, which received a $1 million donation from Fox News parent company News Corp., has already run more than 8,000 campaign ads on behalf of GOP Senate candidates, according to the Wesleyan Media Project.

It is illegal under the Tillman Act of 1907 for "foreign nationals" to spend money to influence U.S. elections.

Foreign companies like Siemens are members of the Chamber, though the group says money from that and other foreign companies goes to lobbying and advocacy efforts, not campaign advertising.

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Brian Montopoli is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[1musicwayne]

You mean we can see the bribes related to Obamacare votes? And facts about union shake down money (86 times the Chamber?s contribution) used against will of members? Woooo, some ?boogie man? foreigner gave to a REPUBLICAN? LOL the TELEPROMPTER PREZ!

[hhandyman]

Why I am Not a part of the local Chamber of Commerce, I dont drink alcohall I am not a Republcan Party supporter and i dont want Money i contrubute to a local chamber supporting the misjudgements and inncacurate views of the Republican party.

[tsigili]

Absolutely!

[shellshocked50]

I cant believe people like "patriotMike2" who automatically assume this is another liberal agenda move. Come on, your name is PATRIOT.... Think about this. Everyone, especially most Republican voters want to protect america, so how can you accept the fact that allowing China, Korea, Japan, Russia, Kuwait, India, and others bank roll bought and paid for politicans that server their country/business economic needs?

We complain our jobs are getting sent overseas, our economy is struggling due to gross trade imbalances, and people who claim to be PATRIOTS but find it acceptable to allow these same countries the opportunity to crash our system? Protectionism?? YES!! How can you compete with our standard of living with someone like China who pays workers 1/10 of US employees, Govt sponsered healthcare, Govt sponsered business ventures, and govt manioulation of currency?? WE CANT... Stand up for COMMON SENSE regardless of your Political line... This is complete BS!

[shellshocked50]

lol, sorry for the typos!!!

[PatriotMike2]

Another cBS ad for the liberal/socialist agenda. Nevermind that cBS does not inquire about MSNBC ads or liberal toady ads. Libs only target conservatives. Come on!!! At least make a pretense of impartiality/objectivity. Nevermind the Euros being spent on Dem/Socialist ads. Nevermind the liberal/"think tank" ads in favor of dems/socialists. But if $1 gets donated to a conservative cause the cBS thugs will unleash the hounds!!!

[RobAla]

Soros. That's all that needs to be said.

[sjc_1]

Which corporations can contribute? The court said a corporation is like an individual and can give as much as they want to any and all ad campaigns. Does that include a foreign corporation? If LG wants a candidate, party or proposition to win, can they put unlimited dollars into it?

[toridorio]

They refuse to disclose where the money is coming from. Fox News gave them a million dollars. Nuff said.