The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against the Jewish Voice for Peace’s (JVP) political fundraising arm, alleging multiple violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act and FEC regulations. ADL urges the FEC to conduct an immediate investigation and to levy appropriate sanctions for any and all violations.
According to an ADL press release, Jewish Voice for Peace is described as a fringe anti-Israel group dedicated to the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state. The ADL points out that nearly half of the world’s Jewish population lives in Israel.
The complaint against JVP Action PAC (JVP PAC) and its treasurer alleges numerous financial discrepancies in the political action committee’s income and expense reports. According to the ADL, the PAC illegally accepted prohibited corporate contributions and donations in excess of federal limits.
"Simply put, JVP PAC’s numbers do not add up, and despite repeated warnings from the FEC, the PAC has failed to correct the record," Steven Sheinberg, ADL Chief Legal Officer, stated in the press release. "Moreover, while JVP PAC holds itself out to the public as a mechanism for supporting candidates for federal elected office, a significant majority of the PAC’s spending did not go to candidates or have any apparent direct connection to a federal campaign. The public deserves to know where this money is going, and the FEC must hold JVP PAC accountable for violations of the law."
The press release states that JVP PAC is registered with the FEC as a "nonconnected" committee but describes itself as the "electoral wing" of JVP Action, a 501(c)(4) affiliate of Jewish Voice for Peace. The ADL characterizes it as a fringe, radical anti-Israel activist group advocating for a complete economic, cultural, and academic boycott of Israel.
According to ADL's statement, JVP PAC reported $82,956 in expenditures from 2020 through 2023; however, only $1,775 went to federal candidates for office. A substantial amount was earmarked for paying "legal" and other costs unrelated to campaigns. For instance, $19,656 was paid to an insurance firm for legal services when it does not appear that this firm practices law.