John,

Peter Thiel has said he no longer believes freedom and democracy are compatible.[1] So naturally, he built a billionaire-run surveillance state, funded by your tax dollars.

He started by bankrolling JD Vance’s political rise, dropping a record $15 million into Vance’s Senate campaign and shepherding him into Trump’s inner circle.[2] Now, Vance has paid him back by casting the tie-breaking vote for Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, which happens to be a goldmine for Thiel and his surveillance firm Palantir.

The bill funnels billions into the Pentagon and surveillance spending while slashing vital programs like SNAP and Medicaid. Palantir, already flush with over $113 million in federal contracts just since Trump took office in January, continues to consolidate power and lucrative deals.[3] Its CEO is meeting with federal agencies about expanding Palantir’s reach even further into our government. The legislation Vance green-lit turbocharges this money pipeline, with Thiel a principal beneficiary.

This is private profit-taking on public business, and it stinks of corruption. The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee must investigate just how much Thiel and Palantir stand to gain from this legislation, and what kind of backroom deals made it happen.

Call on the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate how much Peter Thiel and Palantir will financially benefit from JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote on the Big Ugly Bill.

Let’s be clear, this is a billionaire payout. Palantir profits directly from the bill’s expansion of surveillance infrastructure. And Peter Thiel, who still owns a significant stake in the company, has now parlayed his campaign contributions into a taxpayer-funded cash cow.

There are deep questions here that demand answers: Did Vance or his office communicate with Palantir or Thiel before the vote? Were these contracts discussed in advance? What’s the projected value of Palantir’s windfall under this bill? And how much will Thiel personally pocket from these public funds?

The ethics rules exist for a reason. And if this isn't a textbook case of political corruption tied to campaign money, then what is?

We need to know about any coordination between Thiel, Palantir executives, and Vance’s office leading up to the vote. Demand a full investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee now.

Let’s expose the corruption, follow the money, and demand accountability before billionaires rewrite our democracy behind closed doors.

David Kass
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund

[1] The Anti-Democratic Worldview of Steve Bannon and Peter Thiel
[2] Peter Thiel and JD Vance: How PayPal founder boosted VP candidate's political career
[3] Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans