From The Lone Star Project
Yesterday, the Lone Star Project exposed an apparent telemarketing scam by a group called the Foundation for Justice for All. The group is placing a series of robo-calls urging Davis supporters to contribute to them and implying that the contribution will somehow help Wendy Davis. The calls were placed without the knowledge or authorization of anyone within the Davis campaign.
From The Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN — When the recorded phone message asked Gene Malish if he supported Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis last week, he pushed the button indicating yes, and he kept pushing buttons until he'd given $500.
Then the 83-year-old saw his credit card statement and realized the money hadn't gone to the Fort Worth senator's campaign, but to a group called the Foundation for Justice for All. That led him to do a little searching until he learned on the Internet that the group specializes in robocalls to political progressives about social issues.
"I was looking forward to giving to Davis," Malish told The Associated Press on Thursday. "After I found out it was what I consider a scam, I called ... for the city detective."
When a detective in Wincrest, a suburb of San Antonio, suggested Malish contact the Texas attorney general's office and file a complaint because that office investigates deceptive trade practices, Malish refused saying , "I didn't do that because Attorney General Greg Abbott is Davis' likely opponent in the general election".
Bo Delp, Davis' communication director, urged supporters to stay away from the group, saying the group was not connected to Davis' campaign.
"We are aware of robocalls falsely posing as our campaign and asking for money," Delp said. "It is disgusting that anyone would take advantage of hard-working Texas families looking to participate in their democracy and make Texas even better."
Malish's decision turned out to be a wise.
From Burnt Orange Report
Top Greg Abbott Campaign Operative Defends Phone Scammers
Rather than condemn the sleazy activity, top Greg Abbott political operative Dave Carney jumped to their defense. Carney tweeted that the group is legitimate and criticized Lone Star Project Director Matt Angle for exposing the effort as unauthorized and improper.
[...]
The unauthorized calls made by The Foundation for Justice for All track back to the phone number (202) 719-2244. This phone number has been reported previously by individuals complaining about unscrupulous calls claiming to fundraise for the disaster relief in Moore, Oklahoma, the Trayvon Martin case in Florida and even the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre.
Moreover, the Foundation for Justice for All was organized by an attorney named John Zakhem, who is the former legal counsel for the Colorado Republican Party and has been associated with right wing groups and other controversial improper actions involving Newt Gingrich (a former Carney client) and other GOP candidates.