National

Donald Trump will headline a fundraiser for Rep. Liz Cheney's Republican primary challenger this week, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: With competitive GOP primaries around the corner, Trump has ramped up retaliatory efforts against Republicans he considers internal enemies.

Trump's fundraiser for Wyoming Republican Harriet Hageman is his latest effort to undercut Cheney, who voted to impeach the former president last year and is leading efforts to investigate the Capitol siege.

What's happening: The fundraiser will take place prior to a rally in Casper, Wyoming, on Saturday, according to details on the Republican fundraising platform WinRed.

A $500 contribution gets donors access to a VIP reception. For $15,000, they can get a photo with Trump.

The donations go to Save Wyoming, a new joint fundraising committee benefitting Hageman's campaign and Trump's Save America leadership PAC.

Between the lines: Cheney has a huge cash advantage in the nomination fight.

She was sitting on nearly $7 million in cash at the end of the first quarter of 2022, the most recent reporting period, compared to just over $1 million for Hageman.

Trump has tried to help close that gap with a $500,000 contribution to a super PAC backing Hageman.

The big picture: Cheney, who tops the list of Trump's intra-party antagonists, is nonetheless facing an uphill climb to the Republican nomination in August's primary.

Her race is one of a handful the former president has focused on as a way of purging the party of its few remaining Trump critics.

His political operation has also steered millions to efforts to unseat Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who's facing off against former Sen. David Purdue in a Republican primary on Tuesday.

Trump to fundraise for Cheney challenger

The race is one of a handful the former president has focused on as a way of purging the party of its few remaining Trump critics.

Congresswoman Liz Cheney testifies at a House Rules Committee hearing.

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

Liz Cheney

Politics & Policy

The Justice Department is suing billionaire casino mogul and high-dollar Republican fundraiser Steve Wynn to compel him to register as a foreign agent of the Chinese government, the department said Tuesday.

Driving the news: DOJ alleges Wynn operated as an unregistered foreign agent in an unsuccessful effort to press the Trump administration to extradite a fugitive Chinese billionaire.

In an emailed statement, Wynn's attorneys denied he has any obligation to register.

Why it matters: Wynn is a top GOP fundraiser and a former Republican National Committee finance chair before stepping down in 2018 after multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment. 

He's donated more than $3 million to Republican campaigns, party committees and independent political spenders this cycle alone, according to Federal Election Committee filings.

The details: DOJ says Wynn worked with a senior Chinese government official to secure the extradition of Guo Wengui, an outspoken Beijing critic and ally of former White House strategist Steve Bannon.

"Wynn conveyed the request directly to the then-President over dinner and by phone, and he had multiple discussions with the then-President and senior officials at the White House and National Security Council about organizing a meeting" with senior Chinese officials, DOJ alleged in a press release on the suit.

What they're saying: “Steve Wynn has never acted as an agent of the Chinese government and had no obligation to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act," said his lawyers, Reid Weingarten and Brian Heberlig of the firm Steptoe & Johnson.

"We respectfully disagree with the Department of Justice’s legal interpretation of FARA and look forward to proving our case in court.”

Between the lines: Another top Republican fundraiser, Elliott Broidy, pleaded guilty in 2020 to violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act for his role in pushing for Guo's extradition.

An alleged co-conspirator, a Hawaii businesswoman named Nicki Lum Davis, also pleaded guilty to a FARA violation as part of the scheme.

Her lawyers recently alleged in court filings that she was duped into accepting that plea agreement after her attorney secretly collaborated with prosectors in the case.

DOJ has denied there was any malfeasance behind that guilty plea.

DOJ sues Republican fundraiser over alleged foreign agent work

The Justice Department is suing Wynn over a Chinese extradition case during the Trump administration/

Casino magnate and Republican fundraiser Steve Wynn speaks at a conference.

Billionaire Steve Wynn speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)

The Justice Department is suing billionaire casino mogul and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high-dollar Republican fundraiser Steve Wynn " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/10/21/steve-wynn-gop-campaign-donor-contributions" data-vars-content-id="385ce714-c87f-477f-a756-d43f47bf41e1" data-vars-headline="DOJ sues Republican fundraiser over alleged foreign agent work" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/10/21/steve-wynn-gop-campaign-donor-contributions" target="_self">high-dollar Republican fundraiser Steve Wynn </a>to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="compel him to register as a foreign agent " data-vars-click-url="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-compel-us-businessperson-register-under-foreign-agents-registration" data-vars-content-id="385ce714-c87f-477f-a756-d43f47bf41e1" data-vars-headline="DOJ sues Republican fundraiser over alleged foreign agent work" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-compel-us-businessperson-register-under-foreign-agents-registration" target="_blank">compel him to register as a foreign agent </a>of the Chinese government, the department said Tuesday.Driving the news: DOJ alleges Wynn operated as an unregistered foreign agent in an unsuccessful effort to press the Trump administration to extradite a fugitive Chinese billionaire.

Republican lawmakers — following former President Trump's lead — are working with a wide range of conservative groups to pull back American support for Ukraine, the Middle East and Europe, officials tell us.

Why it matters: With the GOP poised to retake control of the House and perhaps the Senate next year, this contingent could grow substantially. Trump is backing candidates who's explicitly broken with Republican foreign policy orthodoxy.

Driving the news: Eleven Senate GOP "no" votes on a $40 billion Ukraine aid package last week was the clearest sign the new coalition's influence is expanding.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who led the Senate opposition, huddled in his office with several of the coalition's key players before the House voted on the measure earlier this month.

They included representatives from the Koch political network, Cato Institute, populist-oriented group American Moment and the American Conservative magazine, according to a person who attended.

"Promoting a realist foreign policy agenda has always been a priority of Dr. Paul’s, which is why he has been holding meetings with interested groups and fellow members for years and will continue to do so in the future," a Paul spokesperson told Axios.

Why it matters: They discussed messaging and strategy on Ukraine but also U.S. foreign policy more generally.

The source described the atmosphere as upbeat, with Paul seeing the Ukraine vote as a catalyst for self-described "realist" elements in the party seeking to pull the U.S. back from deeper military involvement in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere.

It comes as the Biden administration escalates U.S. involvement in Somalia, a move that members of the new GOP coalition anticipate fighting.

Republican leadership has sought to downplay the influence of this new bloc of members pushing "restraint" in foreign policy, describing it as a marginal faction that still represents a small minority.

Its backers in Congress and in groups forming an outside policy infrastructure say they're more aligned with core Republican voters and donors, and, crucially, with Trump, a singular force in the party.

What they're saying: "We're going to come out on the back end of this — probably in a period of months, but certainly by 2024 — with a strong conservative and libertarian consensus about a more restrained, but still very robust, American foreign policy," said Kevin Roberts, who late last year took over as president of the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Objections to the Ukraine bill fell into three categories: strategic differences over America's policy role in world affairs, procedural objections to the bill's speedy passage through Congress and concerns the money could be better put to use domestically.

"Every Congressman had their own public reason for voting no, but I don’t think you would have seen this expanded coalition if it wasn’t for a genuine reassessment of American foreign policy happening in the Republican conference," one operative involved in the effort told Axios.

How we got here: Momentum for more restrained foreign posture grew out of the Trump administration — and is being sustained with systemic efforts.

Policy: Heritage is consciously shifting gears on foreign policy, with an eye toward less military involvement in Europe and more attention on China in particular, Roberts told Axios in an interview.

That aligns it with Koch's Stand Together and Concerned Veterans for America, and to a degree with more libertarian groups such as Cato and FreedomWorks. 

Roberts said Heritage's rank and file donors have generally come down firmly on the restraint side of the foreign policy fight.

Newer organizations are also adding voices to that coalition. Former Trump budget director Russ Vought, a Heritage alum, was highly active in the Ukraine aid fight via his new organization, the Center for Renewing America.

Media: Tucker Carlson is considered the voice of the so-called realist right, and his top-rated Fox News primetime show routinely questions U.S. aid for Ukraine and foreign military entanglements more generally.

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon is also an influential voice in the space.

The American Conservative's presence at the Paul meeting underscored its continued influence among those segments of the right. A newer publication, Compact, has also added an influential voice on the populist right.

Personnel: American Moment, founded in 2020, works to staff congressional offices — and potentially a future Republican administration — with more populist-oriented staffers.

The group organized a conference in March, dubbed Up From Chaos, that people in that camp described as a watershed moment for the coalition.

Fundraising: Tech mogul Peter Thiel is bankrolling political efforts for more populist candidates. 

His highest-profile beneficiary, Republican Senate nominee J.D. Vance in Ohio, is a leading GOP critic of Ukraine aid efforts. Another Thiel-backed Senate candidate to watch is Republican Blake Masters in Arizona.

Sources also identified venture capitalist David Sacks as a key voice in the donor community. He gave the keynote speech at American Moment's conference in March.

Between the lines: In the context of Ukraine, this movement is skeptical of — or simply opposed to — greater U.S. commitments as the country battles a Russian invasion.

Members of the bloc say the Senate vote and its House companion's 57 Republican nays show its position is gaining steam. They point in particular to no votes from Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and from Republican Study Committee chair Rep. Jim Banks, (R-Ind.), seen as a contender for House leadership.

In an emailed statement, Marshall cited the Biden administration's lack of strategic clarity. A Banks spokesperson referred Axios to a radio interview in which he said that $40 billion should instead go towards addressing domestic issues such as inflation and immigration.

What to watch: The new coalition's influence will soon be put to the test when the Senate votes on Finland's and Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The measure is unlikely to draw nearly as much opposition as the Ukraine aid bill. 

Heritage continues to support NATO expansion, and the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit run by Trump alumni, has also backed the move by Finland and Sweden. Meanwhile, Vought's group, the Center for Renewing America, opposes the move.

The bottom line: The coalition nonetheless sees momentum. Dan Caldwell, vice president of foreign policy for Koch network group Stand Together, tells Axios, "I am expecting to see most of these groups heavily involved in future debates over NATO expansion, increasing America’s military presence in Europe, and ending our endless wars in Iraq, Syria and Somalia.

"We might not agree on every individual issue, but I think we all share a sense that the foreign policy that was dominant on the right prior to Trump was not making America safer and was becoming increasingly unpopular with the GOP base.” 

Republicans plot foreign intervention pullback

A wide range of conservative groups wants to curb American support for Ukraine, the Middle East and Europe.

Illustration of scissors about to cut into flight paths on a map. 

Republican Party

Republican lawmakers — following former President Trump&#x27;s lead — are working with a wide range of conservative groups to pull back American support for Ukraine, the Middle East and Europe, officials tell us.Why it matters: With the GOP poised to retake control of the House and perhaps the Senate next year, this contingent could grow substantially. Trump is backing candidates who&#x27;s explicitly broken with Republican foreign policy orthodoxy.

Data: CrowdTangle; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

Kathy Barnette has quietly built a robust organic social media operation as her more prominent rivals for Pennsylvania's Republican Senate nomination on Tuesday have plowed huge sums into digital ads, data reviewed by Axios show.

Why it matters: In what's expected to be one of the most expensive Senate primaries in U.S. history, Barnette has pulled within striking distance of rivals — namely, celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz and financier David McCormick — who have far more resources at their disposal.

Barnette has, nonetheless, capitalized on grassroots conservative enthusiasm in the final weeks of the race.

It's reflected in Facebook engagement numbers showing her steadily gaining traction against her competition.

By the numbers: Axios analyzed social media data from CrowdTangle.

It shows average weekly engagement on Facebook posts for Barnette, Oz and McCormick, the three front-runners.

Despite a Facebook following far smaller than Oz's — who boasts millions of fans on the site stemming from his long career in the limelight — Barnette overtook Oz last week in per-post engagement figures.

Her recognition in the race received a huge boost this month thanks to a viral video about her life story.

Between the lines: Political advertising data show Barnette has spent far less than her rivals on paid content on the platform.

Her campaign has reported spending less than $36,000 on Facebook and Instagram ads during the past 90 days.

That's compared to $216,000 for Oz and $99,000 for McCormick.

Kathy Barnette pulls ahead of GOP rivals in Facebook traction

Political advertising data show Kathy Barnette has spent far less than her rivals on paid content on the platform.

Republicans

Kathy Barnette has quietly built a robust organic social media operation as her more prominent rivals for Pennsylvania&#x27;s Republican Senate nomination on Tuesday have plowed huge sums into digital ads, data reviewed by Axios show.Why it matters: In what&#x27;s expected to be one of the most expensive Senate primaries in U.S. history, Barnette has pulled within striking distance of rivals — namely, celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz and financier David McCormick — who have far more resources at their disposal.

The Supreme Court has boosted high-dollar donors' abilities to personally enrich candidates — including ones like the wealthy individuals pouring millions into their own campaigns this year — if they prevail on Election Day.

Why it matters: The court's ruling Monday is one more decision bypassing post-Watergate and other campaign finance restrictions. A 6-3 majority struck down rules limiting candidates from raising funds after their elections to repay the money they loaned to their campaign.

Wealthy candidates who lend millions to their campaigns can secure public office, then go to their top donors for sums that could reach the millions.

They can seek contributions to repay themselves and then deposit the money directly into their personal bank accounts.

While the donations are capped at the amount of the candidate's campaign loan, the risk of corruption is "self-evident and acute," according to the Campaign Legal Center.

The good-government group filed an amicus brief in the case.

Between the lines: The current midterm cycle has seen a huge number of wealthy self-funders.

Ninety-five House and Senate candidates have already loaned their campaigns more than $250,000, according to Federal Election Commission records.

In Tuesday's U.S. Senate primary in Pennsylvania, celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz faces off against hedge funder David McCormick and former Trump administration official Carla Sands.

Oz has loaned nearly $15 million to his own campaign. McCormick has loaned $11 million and Sands has chipped in $3.9 million for her race.

In Arizona, Republican businessman Jim Lamon has loaned his Senate campaign $13 million.

In Alabama, Republican Mike Durant has loaned about $2.6 million to his Senate campaign.

In Wisconsin, Democrat Alex Lasry has loaned his Senate campaign more than $7 million. His primary opponent, Sarah Godlewski, has loaned hers nearly $3 million.

The big picture: Under prior campaign finance rules, candidates could only raise up to $250,000 after an election to reimburse themselves.

On Monday, the high court struck down that cap.

Under the court's ruling, a candidate who lends millions to his or her campaign is now in a position to solicit that — plus far more in traditional donations — after they've been elected and hold office.

While individual donors are still bound by the per-election contribution cap — $2,900 in 2022 — the Supreme Court decision means candidates can collect far more from them on aggregate to repay their own loans.

Wealthy candidates often argue they will avoid any conflicts of interest while in office by self-financing their campaigns. Now, they have an unfettered way to make themselves whole after voters have gone to the polls.

Between the lines: The Supreme Court disagreed with any concerns as it ruled in a case brought by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

The Harvard Law graduate argued the $250,000 cap violated the First Amendment without addressing legitimate corruption concerns.

"The Government is unable to identify a single case of quid pro quo corruption in this context," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in his majority opinion.

The key question is what constitutes that sort of conduct.

Under Supreme Court precedent, it requires an explicit quid pro quo; buying access and influence generally isn't considered a corrupt act in itself.

What to watch: The court's decision is retroactive.

Campaigns this cycle that have candidate loans on the books will be able to take advantage of the new rules after their elections.

What they're saying: Tara Malloy, Campaign Legal's senior director for campaign finance litigation, called the court's decision "disappointing but not surprising."

"The court didn't really change its position, but it is extremely blinkered view of corruption," Mallow told Axios in an interview.

The one "silver lining," she said, was that the court "ruled relatively narrowly" and did not strike down broader restrictions on campaign contributions.

Supreme Court makes it easier for rich donors to bankroll candidates

The current midterm cycle has seen a huge number of wealthy self-funders.

Illustration of a podium with a slot extruding twenty dollar bills

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has boosted high-dollar donors&#x27; abilities to personally enrich candidates — including <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ones like the wealthy individuals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/03/congressional-candidates-poured-nearly-100-million-of-their-own-cash-into-campaigns-in-2021/" data-vars-content-id="bcbb6c52-1e64-4fee-9ba3-449fd08ca566" data-vars-headline="Supreme Court makes it easier for rich donors to bankroll candidates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/03/congressional-candidates-poured-nearly-100-million-of-their-own-cash-into-campaigns-in-2021/" target="_blank">ones like the wealthy individuals</a> pouring millions into their own campaigns this year — if they prevail on Election Day.Why it matters: The court&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ruling Monday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/16/supreme-court-cruz-campaign-finance-case" data-vars-content-id="bcbb6c52-1e64-4fee-9ba3-449fd08ca566" data-vars-headline="Supreme Court makes it easier for rich donors to bankroll candidates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/16/supreme-court-cruz-campaign-finance-case" target="_self">ruling Monday</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is one more decision" data-vars-click-url="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained" data-vars-content-id="bcbb6c52-1e64-4fee-9ba3-449fd08ca566" data-vars-headline="Supreme Court makes it easier for rich donors to bankroll candidates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained" target="_blank">is one more decision</a> bypassing post-Watergate and other campaign finance restrictions. A 6-3 majority struck down rules limiting candidates from raising funds after their elections to repay the money they loaned to their campaign.

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Lachlan Markay

Stories

Republicans plot foreign intervention pullback

Trump to fundraise for Cheney challenger

DOJ sues Republican fundraiser over alleged foreign agent work

Kathy Barnette pulls ahead of GOP rivals in Facebook traction

Supreme Court makes it easier for rich donors to bankroll candidates