Seal________________________________________________________________________
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
November 10, 2022
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov
*PRESS OFFICE: (512) 463-2050*
[email protected]
?
*Paxton Investigates Potential Violations of State Law*?
*by Zuckerberg-Backed Center for Tech and Civic Life*?
?
AUSTIN ??Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to the Center for Tech and Civil Life (CTCL) as part of an investigation to determine whether the nonprofit solicited donations under the pretext of protecting voters from Covid-19 while instead using the funds to support partisan electioneering efforts or election oversight roles normally left to state and local officials.?
?
The CTCL, which advertises itself as a non-partisan organization, is led by individuals with distinctly partisan backgrounds. The Founder and Executive Director of CTCL, Tiana Epps-Johnson, was a part of the inaugural cohort of Obama Foundation Fellows and previously served as the Election Administration Director for a progressive grassroots organization.??
?
Receiving an estimated $350 million from the Chan Zuckerberg initiative alone, the CTCL under Epps-Johnson?s leadership claimed to be helping election officials around the country to ?safely administer? elections. But outside observers have noted that the vast majority of funds given to CTCL in swing states were sent to counties and precincts that overwhelmingly voted for Joe Biden.?
?
?Charities cannot mislead their donors and misrepresent the purpose of their fundraising,? Attorney General Paxton said. ?Further, in Texas, as in other states, it is the duty of state and county officials, accountable to the people of Texas, to ensure that elections are fair, safe, and free. That duty cannot be usurped by outside entities who are not chosen by and cannot be accountable to the people of Texas.??
?
The investigation aims to get to the bottom of whether donors were deceived by CTCL?s advertised purpose and objectives and, if so, to hold CTCL accountable.??
?
To read the full CID, click here [ [link removed] ]. And to see the OAG?s Tips for Charitable Donors, please visit our website: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]?
? ?
###
Stay Connected with Office of Texas Attorney General on
Facebook [ [link removed] ]?-?Twitter [ [link removed] ]?-?Instagram [ [link removed] ]?-?Email [ [link removed] ]
?Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].
________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to
[email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of Texas Attorney General ?300 W. 15th Street?? Austin, TX?78701 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
