Justice Department May Probe Millions in Russian Funding To Liberal Groups

Federal agents may soon open an investigation into one of Washington’s most open secrets – how the Russian and Chinese governments have been covertly funneling millions of dollars to leading liberal groups aimed at weakening the United States.

In a letter to Texas Congressman Lance Gooden, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced he formally requested the Justice Department investigate whether some of the nation’s most powerful liberal groups must register as foreign agents or face criminal prosecution.

Environmental groups are among the top recipients of Russian and Chinese government funding, as their goal of banning fracking and shutting U.S. oil production would leave the world’s oil markets open to the regimes.

It is legal for American political groups to get foreign funding, so long as they register as foreign-funded lobbyists under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or “FARA.”