Shadow Funding and Political Ties
A coalition of progressive prosecutors vowing to target federal immigration agents has drawn fire from legal experts over its use of undisclosed donor funds, raising concerns about political bias and constitutional violations. The group, known as the Project for the Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO), was co-founded by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, both backed by philanthropist George Soros. It emerged after federal agents fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti during an immigration operation in Minneapolis.
Both Krasner and Moriarty have previously faced criticism for policies seen as lenient on certain crimes, with Krasner's office accused of contributing to rising violence in Philadelphia. FAFO's stated mission is to "hold federal officials accountable when they exceed their lawful authority," but its reliance on private funding, managed by left-leaning organizations, has sparked alarms.
Rachel Paulose, a former U.S. attorney and current managing attorney at the Upper Midwest Law Center, warned that accepting outside money to prosecute ideological opponents could violate due process and equal protection guarantees. "There's a reason taxpayers fund government offices," she said. "When prosecutors take private funds, it creates an appearance of bias and undermines public trust."
Constitutional Questions and Legal Challenges
John Hinderaker, president of the Center of the American Experiment, called the arrangement "a terribly corrupt setup." "Law enforcement shouldn't be available to the highest bidder," he said. "This isn't justice, it's politics with a badge."
FAFO's funding network includes Defiance.org, an anti-Trump group co-founded by Miles Taylor, a former Homeland Security official who authored the "Anonymous" resistance op-ed. Defiance provided seed money and logistical support before FAFO incorporated as a standalone nonprofit in March. Its Virginia business filing lists a Washington, D.C., law firm with Democratic Party ties as its principal address.
The group has already filed charges against two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, including one accused of assault for pointing a gun at motorists. Moriarty, who sued the Trump administration over evidence access in the Good and Pretti cases, has not disclosed whether FAFO funds support her prosecutions. Legal experts note that defendants might demand transparency under rules requiring disclosure of exculpatory evidence.
FAFO's board includes activists like Delvone Michael, a Bernie Sanders campaign alumnus who advocates "divesting from policing." None of its directors responded to requests for comment. The lack of donor transparency, combined with overt political affiliations, has drawn comparisons to controversial dark-money groups influencing state-level judicial elections.