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April 17, 2019 In The News, Themis Project

New Filings Show Phone Campaign In Anti-Socialist Effort May Cause More Headaches For Organizer

"[Campaign for Accountability] now wants Kania to be removed as treasurer of the Susan B. Anthony List, an advocacy group that opposes abortion rights. The List is a nonprofit, and previous tax filings identify Kania as its treasurer. Federal Elections Commission reports show he also serves as treasurer for one of its political committees. That fund spent $755,797 on national political activism last year, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics."

Watchdog Calls on Susan B. Anthony List to Remove Pittsburgh Businessman Robert Kania from Board of Directors

On April 17, 2019, CfA sent a letter to the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), an anti-abortion advocacy organization, calling for the removal of businessman Robert J. Kania, Jr. from his position as treasurer of SBA List and its affiliated entities: the Susan B. Anthony List, Inc. Candidate Fund and the Women Speak Out PAC.

Interior IG to Review CfA’s Request for Investigation into Acting Secretary Bernhardt’s Relationship with Former Client

On April 2, 2019, CfA announced that the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed it is reviewing CfA’s request for investigation into Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and his relationship with his former lobbying client, Westlands Water District, an agricultural conglomerate in California.

Interior’s watchdog opens an ethics probe into Bernhardt four days after his Senate confirmation

"In a letter to the executive director of one of the groups, the Campaign for Accountability, Inspector General Mary L. Kendall wrote that her office 'received seven complaints, including yours, from a wide assortment of complainants alleging various conflict of interest and other violations by then deputy secretary of the interior, David Bernhardt.'"

David Bernhardt confirmed as Interior secretary despite ethics concerns

"In 2017, [...] Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the Department of Justice, asking for an investigation into whether Bernhardt had violated the Lobbying Disclosure Act by continuing to work on behalf of Westlands, despite having formally ended his lobbying activity. According to the group’s executive director, Daniel Stevens, it never got a response."

Wolf Announces Replacement Of Port Authority Board Member Involved In Mysterious Political Committee

"Costa sat on the Port Authority board with Kania, and had been defeated by Innamorato in the Democratic primary that spring. But Americans Against Socialism had not filed a registration statement or financial-disclosures concerning its donors or expenditures, as required by state law. It did so this week, shortly after Washington D.C.-based Campaign for Accountability called on county elections officials to investigate, citing WESA's reporting."

After transit group’s urging, Gov. Wolf replaces Port Authority board member

"Mr. Kania’s conduct is under review after a group called Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint Monday with the Allegheny County Board of Elections and District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. The complaint says Mr. Kania was part of a group that failed to register with the state before it spent money to work against unopposed Democrat Sara Innamorato in her successful bid for a state House seat."

Complaint alleges violation of campaign finance law in aim to derail election of Democratic Socialist

"On Monday, the D.C.-based Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit accountability watchdog group, called on the Allegheny County Board of Elections and District Attorney's office to investigate the key players in a group called Americans Against Socialism for allegedly violating campaign finance reporting laws."

Watchdog, Pennsylvania Resident Call on Allegheny County Officials to Investigate Secret Political Campaign Run by Local Businessman

On April 8, 2019, CfA and Audrey S. Bensy, a resident of O’Hara Township, Pennsylvania, called on the Board of Elections and the District Attorney’s Office in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to investigate Robert J. Kania, Jr., Gary Britcher, Kania Enterprises, Inc. and Americans Against Socialism for multiple serious violations of Pennsylvania’s Campaign Finance Reporting Law.

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