Trump Tyranny Tracker: Your Daily Reminder
February 23, 2024: Your daily reminder of the danger Trump and his cronies pose to democracy and human rights
Rise against tyranny, stand for democracy!
Shadow Games: Trump Ally Erik Prince Enlists Veteran Spies for Project Veritas Operations
Reported Via The New York Times: March 7, 2020
Background
In a chilling parallel to tactics employed by the Russian regime against those viewed as a threat to the Kremlin, in 2020 the NYT reported on secretive intelligence-gathering operations conducted by Erik Prince, a security contractor with close ties to the Trump regime. These operations, orchestrated by Project Veritas, involved infiltrating Democratic congressional campaigns, labor organizations, and other groups perceived as adversarial to the Trump agenda. Additionally, Erik Prince, former CEO of Blackwater and brother to Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, served as an informal advisor to officials in the Trump regime.
Here is What Happened…
Erik Prince, associated with the Trump regime, recruited former spies for secretive intelligence operations aimed at infiltrating Democratic campaigns and labor organizations.
Richard Seddon, an ex-MI6 officer, directed an operation targeting the American Federation of Teachers, covertly recording conversations and copying files.
Both operations were conducted by Project Veritas, a conservative group known for sting operations on news organizations and liberal advocacy groups.
Project Veritas, led by James O’Keefe, orchestrated these operations, funded by private donations and conservative foundations.
The same undercover operative, using a different alias, infiltrated the congressional campaign of Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer.
Prince's connections to Trump's inner circle raised significant questions about the Trump administration's involvement in these covert activities. However, this breaking news was swiftly overshadowed and forgotten.
Why It Matters…
In 2017, Trump’s cronies’ utilization of covert tactics to infiltrate and undermine political opponents unequivocally revealed his dictatorial tendencies and a blatant disregard for democratic principles. It exposed the alarming convergence of his private interests with government connections, illustrating a calculated manipulation of power for personal gain and presenting an imminent threat to the foundation of democracy.
Trump's recent statements on his intentions to employ the military to quell unrest in Democratic cities and states, should he reclaim power, present an alarming erosion of democratic norms and a grave abuse of executive authority, reminiscent of tactics employed by authoritarian regimes such as Russia. This blatant departure from democratic traditions signals a dangerous willingness to resort to coercive measures to stifle dissent and opposition. Trump's declared aggressive agenda, including proposals for mass deportations and travel bans, is a danger to civil liberties. Should Trump secure another term, the potential invocation of the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces domestically would not only defy constitutional norms but also pose an existential threat to democratic principles and the rule of law, serving as a dire warning for the preservation of democracy.
Fun Fact…
Cofer Black, an associate of Erik Prince, has been a board member of Burisma Holdings since February 2017. This is the same Burisma Holdings that the Republican party knowingly used information cultivated by Russian intelligence to construct a case for potentially impeaching President Biden yet no comment from GOP, over the past 7 years, of Cofer Black joining Burisma a month after Trump became president.