Young Republicans National Federation (YRNF) chairman Rick Loughery founded a dark money 501c4 organization that is aggressively usurping the legitimate functions of the YRNF without approval from its membership.
Loughery with help from the YRNF general counsel, Ross Wolfe, founded YRs Run, a nonprofit organization based out of Pennsylvania, in order to exert authority over the Young Republicans without having to follow the YRNF’s bylaws or reporting requirements.
Wolfe’s father, J. Matthew Wolfe, founded the 501c4 in Pennsylvania, which he claimed was done because of his father’s expertise in organizing such groups.
Wolfe refused to address any questions about the ethical ramifications of the existence of YRs Run in concordance with the YRNF, claiming that commenting would be outside of his purview as general counsel.
YRs Run has already begun issuing candidate endorsements under the guise of being an official Young Republicans organization while being a separate, independent entity.
YR members are concerned that Loughery’s shady involvement with YRs Run may allow him to continue controlling the YR organization even after finishes his final term next year. Loughery is attempting to create a political dynasty and exploit his leadership role with the YRs and the group’s connections to do so.
YRs Run is hosting the upcoming Young Republican Leadership Conference (YRLC) that is scheduled to take place from July 16 to 19 in Washington D.C. Loughery’s sneaky coopting of the YRNF can be seen in the event’s promotion materials distributed over social media, which say the event is “powered by YRS Run.”
The current website for YRs Run is an unfinished shell that has a tab to issue endorsements that appear look as if they come from the official YR organization when in actuality they come from an unaffiliated nonprofit. There are also concerns that YRs Run is using the YRNF’s leadership conference to fulfill their obligations of non-political activity under law, hijacking the efforts of the broader organization so the 501c4 can serve solely as a political slush fund.
YRs Run will also permit Loughery to flout transparency requirements that are required through the YRNF. The YRNF is listed as a 527 under the IRS code and required to file periodic reports of contributions and expenditures. YRs Run can skirt this requirement under their 501c4 designation and take money from any interest without any public disclosure. This is how Loughery can launder globalist money through his new organization with zero accountability or transparency.
It should come as no surprise that YRs Run is currying favor with national RINO leaders such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Congressman Dan “McCain 2.0” Crenshaw since turning on the dark money spigot that is well-known to sustain the GOP establishment.
Maria Giannopoulos of the Washington D.C. Young Republicans (DCYRs) drew attention to the YRs Run controversy in May when she resigned from her position on the planning commission through her role as Chair of the DC Young Republicans, which was accompanied by a statement deriding Loughery’s corruption from the DCYRs.
“As the DC Chapter, we are happy and thrilled to have YRLC back in its rightful home in Washington D.C. However, the actions taken by Rick for the conference have not been transparent, and it really undermines what we are trying to do as an organization,” Giannopoulos told Big League Politics.
Giannopoulos said that the YRs having an affiliated 501c4 would not be a cause for concern if it was handled through the appropriate channels. However, Loughery unilaterally creating a nonprofit and then positioning his organization as the host of official YRNF events is not an ethical way of conducting business.
Big League Politics will continue to cover Loughery’s leadership scandal as more details come to fruition.