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

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
Today 09:36

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

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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.”

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.