PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2024


CITIZEN WATCHDOG GROUP CALLS ON JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO REOPEN AIPAC INVESTIGATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 10, 2024) - Americans for Transparency in Lobbying (ATFL), a nonpartisan citizens watchdog group, will urge the Justice Department to reopen its investigation into whether the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) should register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

"AIPAC engages in political lobbying and advocacy work on behalf of Israel, a foreign power," said Jane Smith, President of ATFL. "This raises legitimate questions about compliance with an important transparency law."

The Justice Department initiated a review in 2017 of AIPAC's activities and FARA compliance. But the investigation was allowed to stall and no action has been taken since.

"We believe there is sufficient evidence that AIPAC is acting to influence American policy at the behest of Israel," Smith said. "The original 2017 investigation should be resumed and properly concluded to determine if registration is warranted."

According to ATFL, AIPAC spends millions lobbying Congress and shaping public discourse to benefit Israeli governmental interests - while not disclosing its funding sources or fully revealing the extent of its activities. This lack of transparency does a disservice to American democratic principles.

"The American people deserve to know the full facts about foreign-funded influence campaigns happening on U.S. soil," said Smith.

ATFL will be calling on the Justice Department to take the following steps:

- Immediately revive and resource the investigation into AIPAC with appropriate staff and funds.
- Review evidence and make an impartial determination on FARA registration.
- Clearly communicate findings to Congress and the American people.

"Enforcing FARA should not be a partisan exercise," Smith concluded. "We will ask the Justice Department to swiftly reengage this dormant investigation and uphold a law meant to protect transparency around foreign lobbying."

American taxpayers should not have to wonder if a powerful political organization is truly working on behalf of foreign governmental interests without full disclosure. ATFL will continue monitoring this situation closely and press for answers.

EVIDENCE WARRANTS REVIVED SCRUTINY OF AIPAC ACTIVITIES

While the initial investigation into AIPAC stalled, new evidence has emerged that merits revived scrutiny, according to ATFL.

Last year, an exposé by a D.C. journalist shed light on how AIPAC subsidizes Congressional junkets to Israel. These fully-funded trips shape policy perspectives favorable to the Israeli government. This represents undisclosed foreign-sponsored lobbying.

In addition, ATFL’s analysis of new digital ad data shows AIPAC spending millions to influence American opinion in sync with Israeli governmental messaging priorities. Who is funding these influence campaigns? The American people need to know.

“When a lobbying group is taking orders from a foreign principal like the Israeli government on what policies to advocate for, that crosses a line,” said Smith. “We believe AIPAC’s activities directly aim to benefit Israel by co-opting American policymakers.”

This evidence must not be ignored. The Justice Department investigation can determine how deep this foreign direction of AIPAC’s activities goes.

ATFL is prepared to present detailed documentation and analysis to investigators upon request. But the Justice Department must first commit to seriously reexamining whether one of the most potent lobbying forces in Washington D.C. deserves closer monitoring under existing transparency laws.

“If justice is blind, it should be able to objectively follow the facts of FARA compliance,” Smith said. “There is enough evidence for the DOJ to reopen its books on AIPAC.”

The American people deserve these answers. Our democracy depends on transparency around those trying to influence it behind the scenes.

REOPENING PROBE FACES POLITICAL HEADWINDS

ATFL acknowledges, however, that reopening the investigation into AIPAC faces major political barriers. As one of the most influential lobbying groups in D.C., AIPAC has powerful allies that benefit from keeping scrutiny at bay.

“Congress has shown little appetite for seriously enforcing FARA when it comes to D.C. sacred cows like AIPAC,” said Smith. “We understand the political calculus makes this investigation inconvenient.”

In the past, some in Congress have characterized FARA questions around AIPAC as thinly veiled targeting of Jewish organizations. Others on Capitol Hill welcome the influential lobby’s input on legislation.

“Questioning a group like AIPAC inevitably gets smeared as antisemitic,” said Smith. “That poisons the well for objective law enforcement.”

The ATFL stresses that this is not an issue of free speech or shared policy preferences - but rather a legal matter of transparency and ensuring America’s representative democracy functions as intended. The public has a right to know the full scale of foreign influence operations.

In addition to political resistance, AIPAC can bring immense legal firepower to bear defending its unregistered status, bogging down investigators in court disputes. Time will tell if the Justice Department leadership has the will to overcome these obstacles.

“We understand this investigation faces an uphill climb, given AIPAC’s political allies and legal war chest,” Smith said. “But the merits still warrant the effort, even if politically inconvenient for some.”

Ultimately, this is will be a test of whether American transparency laws have actual teeth - or are just lofty rhetoric ignored by the powerful. Either way, ATFL and its supporters will keep pressing for answers.