Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One martyr and one wounded in an Israeli drone attack on the town of Hafir, west of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone fired three missiles in the vicinity of the town of Bodai, west of Baalbek.
Reuters: The Rapid Support Forces announced that they have taken over the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces in al-Fasher.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Al-Qlailah, Southern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strikes town of Harouf, Nabatieh district.
Factions' statement: The attendees agreed to support and continue implementing the ceasefire agreement measures, including the withdrawal of the occupation and lifting the siege.
Factions' statement: Calling for an end to all forms of torture and violations against prisoners in occupation prisons and the necessity of obligating the occupation to do so.
Statement: The current moment is crucial, making the meeting a true turning point toward national unity in defense of our people and their right to life, dignity, and freedom.
Factions' statement: Call for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy.
Factions' statement: Continuing joint work to unify visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.

Trump's FBI chief pick uses MAGA merch for fundraising: The Guardian

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 13 Dec 2024 09:36
5 Min Read

The findings highlight the various ways Kash Patel has monetized his association with Trump since his role in the former administration.

Listen
  • x
  • Patel
    Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the director of the FBI, center, walks between meetings on Capitol Hill, Monday, December 9, 2024, in Washington (AP)

Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s contentious nominee for FBI director, operates a personal foundation that has channeled donor funds to a business owned by its vice president, Andrew Ollis, a direct marketing entrepreneur who has business dealings intricately linked to Patel’s operations, The Guardian reported.

Two websites associated with the foundation direct visitors to Based Apparel, an online Make America Great Again (MAGA) merchandise store co-owned by Ollis and Patel.

These findings highlight the various ways Patel has monetized his association with Trump since his role in the former administration, where he played a key part in Trump’s efforts to contest the 2020 election results. They also reveal how Patel and Ollis have leveraged their prominent MAGA network for financial gain.

Patel has portrayed himself as a staunch Trump supporter, advocating for investigations and potential prosecutions of the president-elect’s political opponents. He even compiled an “enemies list” of 60 “government gangsters” featured in one of his books.

Civil liberties advocates have expressed concern that Patel might use the FBI to advance Trump’s agenda or target his adversaries, especially following the resignation announcement of the current FBI director, Christopher Wray, on Wednesday.

Erica Knight, a spokesperson for the Kash Foundation, confirmed that its board comprises Patel, Ollis, and attorney Jesse Binnall.

Knight stated that the foundation follows a conflict-of-interest policy developed by external attorneys, requiring board members to disclose and recuse themselves from decisions involving conflicts.

She also claimed that relationships between the foundation and businesses linked to Ollis and Patel comply fully with this policy.

Knight further stated that the foundation anticipated scrutiny due to Patel’s high-profile role but assured that "there is going to be nothing found in the foundation" upon examination.

Accountable.US, a Washington D.C.-based transparency organization, has independently analyzed the links between the Kash Foundation and Ollis’ businesses.

Tony Carrk, its executive director, commented that Patel has exploited the Trump brand for profit, including through a children’s book on election denialism.

“This enrichment also appears to extend to his friends and partners. Sadly, this appears to be the same old Trump economic model that only looks out for the lucky few at everyone else’s expense,” Carrk indicated, labeling the foundation’s financial ties to Ollis as part of a broader “cynical cash grab.”

Related News

US troops may miss paycheck by November 15: Bessent

China set to delay rare earths restrictions 1 year: Bessent

The Kash Foundation originated as the Kash Patel Legal Offense Fund in 2021, later receiving 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in July 2022.

However, prior to the public availability of its filings, the foundation faced criticism for blurred distinctions between it and its predecessor trust.

ABC News previously reported on inconsistencies in the foundation’s claims and its use of a nonprofit website to promote Patel’s books and political endorsements.

IRS rules prohibit 501(c)(3) charities from serving private interests or engaging in political campaigns. ABC has noted that the foundation has not publicly identified any grant recipients despite its stated mission to assist veterans, law enforcement, and whistleblowers, among others.

While its filings report $213,000 in grants, details remain sparse, raising questions about its charitable impact relative to its substantial promotional expenses.

In 2023, the foundation spent more than double on its two largest contractors than on charitable initiatives. Its biggest contractor, One and Oh LLC, controlled by Ollis, received over $275,000—more than the total scholarships disbursed.

State filings suggest that One and Oh also acts as a professional fundraiser for the foundation, earning monthly retainers and commissions based on fundraising.

The foundation’s website promotes merchandise and grant applications but offers limited transparency on grant amounts or recipients. Scholarship grants, such as the $1,000 Josh Cremeans Scholarship, appear modest relative to their fundraising.

Meanwhile, Based Apparel, jointly owned by Patel and Ollis, has become a significant outlet for foundation-branded merchandise.

Ollis’s ventures extend to Believe Media, a company linked to Patel’s foundation and merchandise sales. Believe Media’s operations trace back to the same Virginia property associated with Ollis and his businesses.

Ollis, who has characterized his partnership with Patel as highly lucrative, acknowledged that their merchandise sales surged following Trump’s launch of Truth Social.

The foundation’s IRS filings reveal gross merchandise sales of over $240,000 in 2023, netting $84,000 for the nonprofit. Domain registration records and state filings further connect Ollis and Patel’s enterprises, raising additional questions about the intersection of their nonprofit and commercial ventures.

In public statements and appearances, Ollis has detailed his collaboration with Patel, his role in merchandising, and his involvement with prominent MAGA personalities, reflecting a shared approach to politics as a platform for financial and personal enrichment.

Read more: FBI head Wray to step down after Patel controversial nomination

  • United States
  • MAGA
  • US
  • Kash Patel
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Undated photo of Hanwha Ocean’s Goeje Shipyard in South Korea (Hanwha Ocean)
Politics

China counters US maritime bloc with sanctions on Hanwha Ocean

Catherine Connolly speaks after being after being elected as the new President of Ireland at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Connolly wins Irish presidency in blow to political establishment

Buildings destroyed during the Israeli air and ground offensive are seen in the Al-Shati camp, in Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel's' post-ceasefire demolitions in Gaza violate agreement: Hamas

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran’s Araghchi: Our nuclear bomb is resilience, not weapons

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS