The Washington Post's Michelle Ye Hee Lee explains how some donors can contribute large sums of money to influence political campaigns without revealing their identities. We generally avoid using the term "dark money," but here we break down its origins and nuances. Hundreds of millions of dollars in so-called "dark money" have been spent on 2020 elections on both sides of the aisle, and those funds are almost impossible to track. But is this practice legal? Yes, thanks, to a Supreme Court decision and the tax code. In 2010, the decision in the "Citizens United vs. FEC" case enabled labor unions and corporations to float money into the U.S. political system. Registering under themselves under the 501(c)(4) tax code meant groups became able to mask where they got their money. Candidates are not allowed to coordinate directly with those groups, but they often benefit from their efforts. Another option for keeping donations quiet: registering as a "Limited Liability Corporation" or LLC. These entities can have cryptic names that conceal their identities. In 2012, a web of 17 non-profits and LLCs raised more than $400 million to go after then-President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats, all from secret sources. And there's plenty of undisclosed money on the left, too. In 2020, dark money groups are already active at all election levels. To learn more: [ Ссылка ]

Got more questions about campaign money in the 2020 election? Tweet Michelle Ye Hee Lee @myhlee & we can answer them in our next video.

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