# David Brock: Opposition Research Report on Anti-Trump Operations and Russia Collusion Complicity
## Executive Summary
[[David Brock]] stands as one of the most influential and strategically coordinated Democratic operatives of the past two decades, orchestrating a vast network of organizations that played central roles in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 anti-Trump campaigns. Through his interconnected web of groups—including Media Matters for America, American Bridge 21st Century, Correct the Record, ShareBlue Media, and Facts First USA—[[David Brock]] established what amounts to a [private intelligence and propaganda apparatus that operated in concert with Democratic campaigns while exploiting regulatory loopholes to avoid proper oversight](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/david-brock-donald-trump-donor-network-231588).
[[David Brock]]'s operations demonstrate a pattern of aggressive political warfare that extends far beyond traditional opposition research into coordinated information operations, witness intimidation campaigns, and systematic efforts to disbar Republican attorneys. His network received [substantial funding from major Democratic donors including George Soros](https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2010/10/soros-gives-to-media-matters-publicly-030089), with [documented coordination violations that federal election officials found credible but were unable to prosecute due to partisan deadlocks](https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/tpf_tpf_complaint.pdf).
## Background and Political Evolution
[[David Brock]] began his career as a conservative journalist in the 1990s, notably [writing "The Real Anita Hill" and conducting the "Troopergate" investigation that led to Paula Jones's lawsuit against Bill Clinton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Brock). His political conversion in the late 1990s was strategic and comprehensive, transforming him from what he called a ["right-wing hit man" into the Democratic Party's most prolific attack operative](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/16/books/review/david-brock-stench-clarence-thomas-anita-hill-media-matters.html).
This transformation provided [[David Brock]] with unique insider knowledge of conservative operations, which he has [weaponized against his former allies through detailed opposition research and strategic targeting](https://whyy.org/articles/david-brock-former-right-wing-hit-man-explains-how-the-gop-used-culture-war-to-transform-itself-from-mainstream-to-extreme/). His intimate understanding of conservative networks and tactics has made him [particularly effective at anticipating and countering Republican strategies](https://time.com/4028995/hillarys-bulldog/).
## The Brock Network: Organizational Structure and Operations
### Media Matters for America (2004-2022)
[[David Brock]] founded Media Matters as a 501(c)(3) organization ostensibly dedicated to monitoring conservative media misinformation. However, the organization evolved into what critics described as ["Hillary Clinton's Outrage Machine" during the 2016 election cycle](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/23/us/politics/hillary-clinton-media-david-brock.html). Internal documents and staff interviews revealed that [by 2016, Media Matters had "long ceased to be a mere watchdog" and positioned itself as "an arm of the Hillary Clinton campaign"](https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/media-matters-for-america/).
### American Bridge 21st Century
This [super PAC employs over 50 professional "trackers" equipped with high-tech recording equipment to surveil Republican candidates continuously](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bridge_21st_Century). The organization compiles extensive opposition research dossiers—including a 2,500-page file on [[Mitt Romney]]—and coordinates with other Democratic entities to deploy damaging information strategically.
### Correct the Record
Perhaps the most controversial of [[David Brock]]'s organizations, [Correct the Record was designed to coordinate directly with the Hillary Clinton campaign by exploiting a regulatory loophole regarding "internet communications"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correct_the_Record). The organization [spent over $9 million on activities that federal election officials later determined constituted illegal in-kind contributions to the Clinton campaign](https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/7726/7726_19.pdf).
### ShareBlue Media
Originally Blue Nation Review, this operation was [restructured in 2016 as a pro-Clinton digital media platform designed to generate viral anti-Trump content](https://www.influencewatch.org/for-profit/true-blue-media/). The organization [partnered with SiriusXM Progress and other progressive media outlets to amplify Democratic messaging](https://investor.siriusxm.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1228/siriusxm-progress-announces-a-new-programming-collaboration).
### Facts First USA (2022-2024)
[[David Brock]]'s most recent creation, [Facts First USA was established specifically to defend the Biden administration against Republican congressional investigations](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-fires-back-at-smear-merchant-dem-operative-targeting-families-of-lawmakers-investigating-bidens). The organization has engaged in what it characterizes as ["opposition research" targeting the family members of Republican lawmakers investigating Biden family business dealings](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-fires-back-at-smear-merchant-dem-operative-targeting-families-of-lawmakers-investigating-bidens).
## Role in 2016 Anti-Trump Operations
[[David Brock]]'s network played a central role in the 2016 anti-Trump effort, operating what amounted to a parallel campaign structure that coordinated closely with [[Hillary Clinton]]'s official campaign while exploiting regulatory loopholes to avoid contribution limits and disclosure requirements.
### Coordination with Clinton Campaign
[Federal Election Commission documents reveal extensive coordination between Brock's organizations and the Clinton campaign](https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/tpf_tpf_complaint.pdf). [[David Brock]] himself admitted in interviews that his groups operated ["under the thumb" of the Clinton campaign, with direct communication channels to campaign manager Robbie Mook and chairman John Podesta](https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/7146/19044472082.pdf). Internal Clinton campaign memos specifically outlined roles for [[David Brock]]'s organizations in defensive strategies.
### Trump Opposition Research and "Trump Leaks"
[Correct the Record established a "Trump Leaks" project offering financial bounties for damaging information about Donald Trump](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/democratic-super-pac-pay-trump-dirt-n648591), explicitly modeling itself after WikiLeaks but for opposition research purposes. This represented an unprecedented commercialization of political opposition research, offering unlimited payments for dirt on Trump.
### Social Media Manipulation
The ["Barrier Breakers 2016" project spent $1 million to deploy paid social media operatives to "find and confront" Trump supporters and Sanders supporters online](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correct_the_Record). This operation represented an early example of coordinated inauthentic behavior designed to manipulate social media discourse.
## Connection to Crossfire Hurricane and Russia Investigation
While [[David Brock]]'s organizations did not have direct operational roles in the [[FBI]]'s Crossfire Hurricane investigation, his network served crucial functions in amplifying and legitimizing the Russia collusion narrative through coordinated media campaigns.
### Media Echo Chamber Operations
[Media Matters and affiliated organizations worked systematically to promote stories supporting the Russia collusion narrative while attacking skeptics as conspiracy theorists or Russian assets](https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/media-matters-for-america/). This created what intelligence professionals describe as an "echo chamber" effect that reinforced investigative conclusions through repetitive media coverage.
### Relationship with Intelligence Community Sources
[[David Brock]]'s organizations maintained relationships with [former intelligence officials who became prominent Russia investigation advocates](https://www.mrc.org/george-soros-media-mogul). These relationships facilitated the strategic placement of stories and talking points that supported the ongoing investigations.
### Defensive Operations
When the Durham Report later revealed significant problems with the Russia investigation's predication and conduct, [[David Brock]]'s organizations immediately [launched defensive campaigns to discredit Durham's findings and protect the intelligence community officials involved](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/15/politics/john-durham-report-fbi-trump-released).
## 2020 and 2024 Election Activities
### The 65 Project: Attorney Intimidation Campaign
[[David Brock]] advised and supported [The 65 Project, a dark money operation designed to disbar, publicly shame, and financially destroy over 100 attorneys who represented Trump or Republican candidates in election-related litigation](https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/democrat-tied-dark-money-group-seeks-to-disbar-over-100-trump-linked-lawyers-says-report-the65project-donald-election-overturn-axios-clinton-melissa-moss-david-brock?photo=2). The project's stated goal was to [make these attorneys "toxic in their communities and in their firms" and "threaten their livelihood"](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/597163-group-trying-to-disbar-lawyers-who-worked-on-trumps-post-election/).
This campaign represents an unprecedented weaponization of professional disciplinary processes for political purposes, specifically designed to deny legal representation to Republican candidates and officials. [The 65 Project targeted not only high-profile attorneys like Rudy Giuliani but also local lawyers who participated in routine election litigation](https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/65-project/).
### Facts First USA: Family Targeting Operations
In 2023, [[David Brock]] announced through Facts First USA that he was ["readying an oppo dump targeting the family members of Republicans who are investigating Biden's son"](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-fires-back-at-smear-merchant-dem-operative-targeting-families-of-lawmakers-investigating-bidens). [[David Brock]] explicitly stated: "Gloves are off, families are on," marking a significant escalation in political warfare tactics.
This represents a crossing of traditional red lines in American political combat, extending partisan warfare to the family members of elected officials. [[David Brock]]'s announcement specifically threatened to investigate and publicly expose the children and spouses of Republican lawmakers.
### 2024 Anti-Trump Campaign
[Facts First USA coordinated with other Democratic organizations to capitalize on Trump's legal challenges, planning digital advertising campaigns around his indictments and legal proceedings](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/democrats-are-gaming-run-indicted-trump-rcna78120). The organization worked to frame Trump's legal troubles as disqualifying while simultaneously [defending the Biden administration against similar scrutiny](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/bellyaching-democratic-unity-defending-biden-begins-see-defections-rcna67612).
## Financial Network and Donor Connections
### George Soros Funding
[[David Brock]]'s organizations have received [substantial funding from George Soros, including a publicly disclosed $1 million donation to Media Matters in 2010](https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2010/10/soros-gives-to-media-matters-publicly-030089). [American Bridge 21st Century listed Soros as its largest donor in 2016, contributing $2 million](https://www.factcheck.org/2018/04/american-bridge-21st-century-3/). Additional funding flowed through [[George Soros]]-controlled organizations including the Hopewell Fund and other components of the [Arabella Advisors network](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3238848/david-brock-scores-fresh-checks-dark-money-donors/).
### Dark Money Operations
Despite publicly criticizing conservative "dark money," [[David Brock]]'s organizations [extensively utilize anonymous funding through 501(c)(4) entities and donor-advised funds](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3238848/david-brock-scores-fresh-checks-dark-money-donors/). The American Independent Foundation and other [[David Brock]]-linked entities received hundreds of thousands of dollars from untraceable sources in 2023.
### Democratic Donor Network Coordination
[[David Brock]] has organized [multiple donor retreats featuring over 200 major Democratic contributors, including events described as creating "safe spaces" for anonymous political planning](https://freebeacon.com/politics/david-brock-creates-safe-spaces-donor-retreat/). These gatherings have included appearances by former Clinton administration officials and [coordination with organizations like the Democracy Alliance](https://wamu.org/story/16/11/22/brock_launches_donor_network_to_rebuild_the_left_after_trumps_victory/).
## Legal Analysis: Criminal and Civil Liability
### Federal Election Campaign Act Violations
[Multiple complaints filed with the Federal Election Commission have documented extensive evidence of coordination violations between Brock's organizations and Democratic campaigns](https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/tpf_tpf_complaint.pdf). While [FEC career staff recommended enforcement action, partisan deadlocks prevented prosecution](https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/7726/7726_19.pdf). However, these violations remain subject to prosecution under federal criminal statutes, particularly 52 U.S.C. § 30122 (coordination violations) and 52 U.S.C. § 30104 (reporting violations).
### Potential Rico Violations
[[David Brock]]'s network of organizations exhibits characteristics that could support Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1962. The coordinated activities across multiple entities, use of mail and wire communications for fraudulent purposes, and [pattern of regulatory violations could constitute a racketeering enterprise](https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/7726/7726_19.pdf).
### Tax Fraud and Charitable Fraud
The misuse of 501(c)(3) charitable organizations for campaign activities represents potential violations of federal tax law under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) and related provisions. State attorneys general could pursue charitable fraud charges for [misrepresentation of organizational purposes](https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/media-matters-for-america/).
### Professional Responsibility Violations
[[David Brock]]'s coordination with attorneys in The 65 Project to weaponize disciplinary processes for political purposes could constitute violations of legal professional responsibility rules, particularly Model Rule 8.4 (misconduct) regarding [conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice](https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/65-project/).
### Conspiracy and Civil Rights Violations
The systematic targeting of attorneys representing Republican clients may constitute conspiracy to deny civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1985, particularly the right to counsel and due process. The [intimidation campaign against attorneys' families could support additional conspiracy charges](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/597163-group-trying-to-disbar-lawyers-who-worked-on-trumps-post-election/).
## Congressional Testimony and Government Document Connections
[[David Brock]] has not provided substantive testimony to congressional committees investigating the Russia investigation or related matters. However, his organizations appear in various government documents and reports:
### House Benghazi Committee Investigation
[[David Brock]]'s associate [[Sidney Blumenthal]] [testified before the House Benghazi Committee about his lucrative financial arrangements with Brock organizations, revealing payments of "about $200,000 a year" for minimal work](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-benghazi-democrats-20160627-snap-story.html). This testimony highlighted the flow of money through [[David Brock]]'s network to Clinton allies.
### FEC Enforcement Files
[Extensive FEC files document the coordination between Brock's organizations and Democratic campaigns](https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/7097/19044471830.pdf), including [internal communications obtained through legal discovery processes](https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/7097/19044471884.pdf). These files provide detailed evidence of regulatory violations that remain subject to criminal prosecution.
### Intelligence Community Assessment References
While not directly mentioned in declassified intelligence reports, [[David Brock]]'s organizations appear in supporting materials and congressional testimony related to Russian interference investigations, particularly regarding [the amplification of investigation-related narratives through coordinated media campaigns](https://www.mrc.org/george-soros-media-mogul).
## Connections to Liberal Law Firms and NGOs
[[David Brock]]'s network maintains extensive connections to major liberal law firms and progressive advocacy organizations:
### Legal Representation Network
[Perkins Coie, the firm that represented the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign, has provided legal services to multiple Brock organizations](https://campaignlegal.org/update/clc-sues-after-fec-allows-clinton-campaign-create-new-campaign-finance-loophole). This creates attorney-client relationships that facilitate coordination while providing privileged communication protections.
### NGO Coordination Network
[[David Brock]]'s organizations coordinate extensively with [other major progressive groups including the Center for American Progress, Democracy 21, Campaign Legal Center, and Common Cause](https://www.ifs.org/blog/advocacy-groups-strategize-to-deny-free-speech-to-other-advocacy-groups-in-leaked-memo/). This coordination creates overlapping advocacy campaigns that amplify messaging while obscuring funding sources.
### Foundation Funding Networks
Major progressive foundations including the Democracy Fund, Tides Foundation, and various components of the [Arabella Advisors network have provided funding to Brock organizations](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3238848/david-brock-scores-fresh-checks-dark-money-donors/). These funding relationships create coordination opportunities while maintaining plausible deniability regarding strategic planning.
## Family and Government Connections
Research reveals limited direct family connections to government officials, though [[David Brock]]'s network maintains extensive relationships with former government personnel who have joined his organizations or serve in advisory capacities.
### Former Government Personnel
Multiple former Clinton administration officials, including [[Tom Daschle]] and various former [[DOJ]] attorneys, [serve on the boards of Brock-affiliated organizations](https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/65-project/). These relationships provide institutional knowledge and government contacts that facilitate [[David Brock]]'s operations.
### Revolving Door Relationships
[[David Brock]] organizations frequently hire former government employees and place former staff in government positions, creating ongoing channels for information flow and coordination. [Facts First USA specifically recruited former Clinton administration officials for key positions](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/10/house-gop-trump-biden-classified-docs-00077252).
## Recommendations for Further Investigation
Based on this analysis, several areas warrant additional investigative attention:
1. **Financial Flows**: Comprehensive analysis of funding relationships between [[David Brock]] organizations and foreign entities, particularly those connected to anti-American advocacy.
2. **Coordination Evidence**: Full review of internal communications between [[David Brock]] organizations and Democratic campaigns, including encrypted communications and informal coordination channels.
3. **Professional Responsibility Violations**: Investigation of attorney disciplinary processes to determine if [[David Brock]]-affiliated organizations improperly influenced professional responsibility proceedings.
4. **Tax Compliance**: Audit of charitable organizations affiliated with [[David Brock]] to determine compliance with 501(c)(3) restrictions on political activity.
5. **Foreign Influence**: Analysis of potential foreign funding sources or coordination with foreign entities seeking to influence American elections.
The [[David Brock]] network represents a sophisticated and well-funded political warfare operation that has systematically exploited regulatory loopholes while engaging in activities that may violate federal election, tax, and civil rights laws. The scale and coordination of these operations warrant serious consideration of criminal prosecution under multiple federal statutes, particularly given the extensive documentary evidence of regulatory violations and the ongoing nature of these activities.