Mom Jones illustration; Don Emmert/AFP/Getty; Drew Angerer/Getty
A fugitive Chinese language mogul who has labored intently with Steve Bannon—and who’s underneath federal investigation for fraud—spent tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} to assist efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Via a sequence of opaque monetary transactions, an organization managed by the exiled businessman Guo Wengui spent greater than $400,000 for tons of of his supporters to participate in a November 14, 2020, rally in Washington selling Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud. The corporate additionally gave $100,000 to a company run by distinguished pro-Trump legal professional Lin Wooden—apparently to finance litigation that was geared toward reversing Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia. These funds are detailed in receipts, wire switch information, and WhatsApp messages obtained by Mom Jones.
Wooden stated in interviews that the $100,000 donation to his nonprofit, the Fightback Basis, was organized by Bannon, the previous Trump adviser and influential right-wing media determine. In accordance with Wooden, Bannon claimed the cash got here from a donor in Illinois. Documentation obtained by Mom Jones signifies that the funds got here initially from Guo. Bannon didn’t reply to a request for remark. Neither did Guo and his legal professional.
Guo is a former Chinese language actual property developer—as soon as ranked because the 74th richest particular person in China—who fled that nation in 2014 forward of corruption and different expenses there. After arriving in New York, he arrange store in a lavish Manhattan house and gained consideration by launching a torrent of unsubstantiated accusations of corruption and sexual misconduct by Chinese language Communist Social gathering elites.
Partnering with Bannon, Guo launched Chinese language-language media firms and developed a sprawling community of zealous backers from the Chinese language diaspora, together with club-like organizations in the USA and cities around the globe. Guo makes use of that community to lift capital for varied enterprise ventures—a vogue firm, crypto foreign money—and to advance usually weird conspiracy theories about China, Covid, and US politics. The New Federal State of China, launched in 2020 by Guo and Bannon, purports to be a government-in-waiting, prepared to interchange the Chinese language Communist Social gathering, which Guo claims is poised to break down. As Mom Jones has reported, Guo and his backers aggressively supported Trump in 2020, selling false claims about Chinese language affect over Hunter Biden and publishing sexually specific materials from Hunter’s laptop computer. In 2021 Guo promoted the unfounded conspiracy idea that Chinese language hackers had switched votes from Trump to Biden.
The brand new data exhibits that Guo performed a beforehand unreported function in financing the promotion of false election fraud claims within the quick aftermath of Trump’s defeat. Guo’s spending on these efforts was not in opposition to the legislation. However Guo—a divisive determine with in depth authorized issues—had ample motive to hunt Trump’s favor. Guo is pursuing political asylum in the USA. If denied, he may face deportation and possible imprisonment in China. He was then, and stays, underneath investigation by US federal prosecutors for doable fraud and different malfeasance. Since 2020, the US Safety and Trade Fee has additionally been investigating his function in what it has stated was an unlawful public providing by a Guo media firm. The SEC compelled three firms linked to Guo to pay a $539 million settlement final yr. In accordance with two sources with data of the probe, the fee is constant to analyze Guo personally.
Guo has additionally been accused in lawsuits filed by former enterprise companions and Chinese language dissidents of working as a Chinese language agent whereas posing as a CCP critic. No court docket has dominated on the legitimacy of these allegations, and Guo denies them. He denies all allegations of fraud and different wrongdoing, as nicely.
The November 14, 2020, rally—dubbed the “Million MAGA March” and loosely organized by a disparate group of far-right figures—was one among a number of massive demonstrations in DC through which Trump supporters promoted the false declare that the election had been stolen. These occasions culminated within the January 6 assault on the Capitol. Peaceable throughout daylight, the November rally, which attracted tens of 1000’s of Trump backers, was adopted by nighttime violence involving members of the neofascist Proud Boys. No Guo supporters have been accused of partaking in unlawful conduct on November 14, and there’s no proof that Guo had any connection to the violence that weekend.
Guo’s supporters distributed this flyer on the November 14, 2020, Million MAGA March.
Guo spent closely to make sure his New Federal State of China would have a presence on the November rally. The documentation obtained by Mom Jones exhibits that an organization managed by Guo paid distributors who supplied gear for an NFSC occasion that day through which Guo’s supporters praised Trump and condemned the Chinese language authorities.
This included a $46,000 fee to a Maryland firm to hire a stage, a big LED display, a sound system, lights, and a tent. In accordance with the contract, these things had been initially presupposed to be arrange in Freedom Plaza, the place 1000’s of pro-Trump rally-goers gathered at first of the Million MAGA March. For unclear causes, Guo’s backers as a substitute ended up utilizing an area about half a mile south of Freedom Plaza, on the Nationwide Mall close to the Washington Monument. The Guo-controlled firm paid one other $10,000 for a DJ. It paid $139,000 to hire studio area from which Guo supporters broadcast a livestream in the course of the rally. The CEO of the agency that rented out the area stated they “have declined to do any additional enterprise with the corporate” after studying that Guo was behind the occasion.
The livestream emphasised the Guo backers’ function within the Million MAGA March. It confirmed his followers in Freedom Plaza, holding anti-CCP indicators. On the Mall, a bigger group of Guo’s followers, clad in matching blue New Federal State of China hoodies and hats, held pro-Trump indicators by the Washington Monument. One video exhibits the group dancing to a model of “YMCA”—a Trump rally mainstay—with MAGA-inspired lyrics. Guo, from Manhattan, appeared on the livestream, at one level declaring the rally was held “to assist the president.”
The Guo-controlled firm paid greater than $300,000 to move round 250 Guo supporters to the rally and to tout their presence there. That included $130,000 for transportation, lodge rooms, and $300 per diems. Guo’s backers on the rally highlighted the NFSC’s assist for Trump, distributing fliers that learn, “Jesus is king; Trump is President,” with the group’s brand and flag beneath.
As well as, the agency paid $150,000 for 50 vehicles with promoting shows. It spent one other $30,000 on a separate set of 10 vehicles with digital billboards. Pictures from the day present that these adverts displayed a mixture of pro-Trump and anti-CCP messages because the vehicles traveled round downtown DC. In a single video montage, vehicles with shows that learn “Uphold the Structure” and “President Trump, American Hero” handed the Tidal Basin. One vendor accustomed to these leases stated that Guo’s backers had secured “as many vehicles as they might” and famous that renting 60 vehicles for a single occasion “is remarkable on this trade.”
Guo and his backers used a number of organizations to make preparations for November 14. As an example, one firm owned by a Guo affiliate in New York signed contracts with a few of the distributors. On one other contract, “Rule of Legislation”—a reference to nonprofits launched by Guo and Bannon in 2019—is listed because the consumer. One other restricted legal responsibility company that Guo managed then paid the distributors. Guo didn’t legally personal that agency, however in WhatsApp messages obtained by Mom Jones, Guo’s private assistant, and infrequently Guo himself, directed the funds. “All of the bills for this Washington occasion had been paid upfront by my private firm,” Guo stated in a November 13 audio message in Chinese language to a gaggle of his workers and supporters, referring to the LLC.
In accordance with individuals who have labored with him, advanced monetary preparations are customary observe for Guo. He formally owns nearly nothing, with belongings like his yacht nominally owned by members of the family or different associates by means of offshore firms. In February, Guo, who is usually recognized as a billionaire in press stories, filed for chapter, claiming to have nearly no belongings, together with as much as $500 million in money owed. Collectors and judges have questioned these claims, suggesting Guo is hiding belongings to keep away from repaying what he owes.
Guo’s assist for efforts to overturn the election went past merely funding a rally. Transaction information reveal that on December 3, 2020, the identical firm that had paid distributors for the November 14 occasion wired $100,000 to the Fightback Basis, a nonprofit run by Wooden, the pro-Trump lawyer. In a be aware accompanying the wire switch, the one who despatched it indicated it was for “DC RENTING.”
In interviews with Mom Jones, Wooden confirmed that his group obtained this fee. However he stated the Fightback Basis had no involvement with the November 14 rally or any occasions in Washington. Wooden stated the donation was as a substitute meant to assist a federal lawsuit he filed in November 2020 which aimed to overturn Biden’s victory in Georgia by alleging the state’s mail-in poll procedures had been unlawful. Wooden stated he doesn’t know why the wire switch indicated in any other case.
In accordance with Wooden, Bannon referred to as him shortly after Election Day in 2020 and stated he may assist prepare donations to finance Wooden’s litigation. Wooden recounted that Bannon stated he may present as much as $5 million and requested: “How a lot do you want?” Bannon later referred to as again, Wooden recalled, and introduced he had discovered a donor in Chicago “who desires to offer $100,000.” (The Guo-controlled firm that made the wire switch was included in Chicago.)
Wooden advised Mom Jones that he discovered the donation suspicious—”it smelled like a rat”—and determined to place the cash in escrow. After a yr, nonetheless, Wooden’s group transferred the cash into its common fund. One other one who labored with Wooden at Fightback, who requested to not be recognized, additionally stated that Wooden in 2020 had talked about Bannon’s involvement and that Wooden had expressed suspicion concerning the cash on the time. “We had been simply uncertain of its origin,” the particular person stated.
Wooden stated that Mom Jones‘ inquiry validated his preliminary concern concerning the donation. The actual supply of the cash, he stated, “was in all probability Guo.”
