WASHINGTON (Reuters) -George Soros-funded Open Society Foundations on Thursday slammed a reported push by the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the philanthropic organization for supporting terrorism and other crimes as “politically motivated attacks” to silence President Donald Trump’s adversaries.
The New York Times reported earlier on Thursday that a senior Justice Department official had instructed several U.S. attorneys’ offices to draft plans to investigate the Open Society Foundations, and suggested possible charges against the organization ranging from arson to material support of terrorism.
The Open Society Foundations, in response to a Reuters query, said it unequivocally condemns terrorism and that its activities were peaceful and lawful.
“These accusations are politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the First Amendment right to free speech,” the organization said in a statement.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaking to reporters alongside Trump at the White House, declined to comment on the Times report, “but everything is on the table right now,” she added.
The reported push by the Justice Department to investigate the foundation comes amid intensified scrutiny of liberal organizations following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a staunch ally of Trump.
“If you look at Soros, he’s at the top of… every story that I read,” Trump said. “Stories that I read keep talking about Soros, so I guess he’d be the likely candidate.”
Trump said on Wednesday he plans to order the dismantling “domestic terrorism networks,” which he has previously alleged are funded by left-wing groups inciting violence against conservatives.
He also signed a separate executive order declaring the left-wing anti-fascist movement, known as antifa, a “domestic terrorist organization” and threatened to investigate and prosecute those who financially support it.
The Open Society Foundations, founded by billionaire financier and major Democratic donor Soros in 1979, is one of the world’s largest funders of causes including human rights, government transparency, public health, and education.
Soros has long been considered a villain by Trump and his conservative base. The Republican leader said without evidence last month that Soros and his son should be charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Andrea Shalal, Jasper Ward and Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Bill Berkrot)
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