‘Dark money’ is funding Trump tax-reform push, Russia-probe attacks

While President Donald Trump famously said he was going to “drain the swamp” after taking office, it appears that the swamp is trying to help him stay afloat.

Groups affiliated with Washington powerhouse spenders are pumping money into Trump’s efforts to sell his agenda and battle the ongoing investigation into whether members of his campaign worked with Russia during the 2016 election, according to USA Today.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Koch money is here: $2 million has already been spent by groups affiliated with billionaire and notorious political spender Charles Koch in advance of Trump’s tax cuts and tax reform he hopes to push through Congress, the paper reported. The groups will host 50 events in the next two months to promote Trump’s plan.
• Advertising blitz: USA Today reported that the Great America Alliance, a pro-Trump group, is spending $450,000 on TV and digital ads that are meant to tarnish the probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russia and the Trump campaign, calling it a “rigged game.”
• Millions here, millions there: The Judicial Crisis Network is preparing to spend “whatever we need” to help Trump fill the nearly 100 judicial vacancies he has thus far left vacant, the paper reports. Meanwhile, America First Policies, another a pro-Trump group, has spent $5 million to prop up a congressional candidate in Georgia who supports Trump.
• Dark money: The groups are operating as “dark money” non-profits, the newspaper notes, which means they can accept funds from any source and don’t have to publicly list their donors.

You can read all of USA Today‘s report here.