Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Dan Backer

2021-05-04T15:56:58Z

Lladan: Updated information on Dan Backer's law practice, which recently went through a merger.

'''Dan Backer''' is the founding attorney of political.law PLLC (formerly DB Capitol Strategies PLLC), a campaign finance and political law firm in Alexandria, [[Virginia]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref><ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> In April 2021, political.law PLLC merged with Chalmers & Adams LLC to become one of the nation's leading boutique law firms.<ref>https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/539413767/chalmers-adams-and-political-law-merge</ref> Backer was born in [[Russia]] and emigrated with his family to the [[U.S.]] in the late 1970s.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/21/was-childhood-immigrant-to-us-trump-is-acting-wisely-and-compassionately-on-illegal-immigration.html</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref>

Backer is the general counsel for the pro-[[Donald Trump]] Great America PAC, Committee to Defend the President PAC, and Great America Alliance 501(c)(4) organization.<ref>https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/05/05/20832/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/how-a-dc-lawyer-uses-hyperpartisan-websites-to-raise-money</ref> He is also the founder and president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, and serves as a director of Accuracy in Media.<ref>https://www.newsmax.com/politics/first-amendment-donald-trump-group-twitter/2018/08/16/id/877375/</ref><ref>https://www.westernjournal.com/fake-news-now-a-liberal-smear-tactic/</ref>

Backer is a staunch advocate of [[free speech]] and associational rights.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/liberals-launch-their-latest-war-on-free-speech/</ref>

== Education ==
In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the [[University of Massachusetts]] at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from [[George Mason University]] (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master's certification in PAC management at [[George Washington University]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>

== Early career ==
In 2010, Backer founded DB Capitol Strategies PLLC, a law firm specializing in campaign finance and political law.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2017, the firm changed its name to political.law.<ref>https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/395595-free-speech-means-a-free-internet-even-if-democrats-dont-like-it</ref><ref>http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5681</ref> In April 2021, political.law PLLC merged with Chalmers & Adams LLC to become one of the nation's leading boutique law firms.<ref>https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/539413767/chalmers-adams-and-political-law-merge</ref>

Representing Shaun McCutcheon, Backer was consigliere of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] case ''McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission''.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref> The plaintiffs challenged biennial aggregate campaign limits established in 1974.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, "[striking] down the aggregate limits on the amount an individual may contribute during a two-year period to all federal candidates, parties, and political action committees combined."<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-16/lawyer-dan-backer-files-new-campaign-finance-lawsuit</ref> As a result of the McCutcheon decision, individuals may now contribute to as many federal candidates, political parties, or PACs as they want, as long as contributions do not exceed $2,700 (or the otherwise applicable "base limit") in each case.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/</ref>

Backer was plaintiff's counsel in the 2011 case ''Carey v. FEC'', which allowed PACs not connected to corporations, unions, and trade associations to create super PACs within their structure, or hybrid PACs.<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref> Backer argued prior laws governing campaign contributions "prohibit[ed] a non-connected political committee from soliciting and accepting unlimited contributions to one bank account designated for independent expenditures, while maintaining a second, separate bank account designated for source- and amount-limited contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees."<ref>https://transition.fec.gov/law/litigation/carey.shtml</ref> He claimed fewer spending restrictions give "policy-oriented PACs new electoral-oriented muscle."<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref>

Backer has filed more than a dozen Advisory Opinion Requests with the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC), in support of free speech and associational rights.<ref>https://www.political.law/aors</ref>

== Political activity ==
In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order "to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States."<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton's handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>

In 2017, Backer filed a complaint on behalf of the Committee with the FEC, accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the [[Democratic Party]] of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/hillary-clinton-campaign-dnc-accused-corrupt-money-scheme-in-new-fec-complaint.html</ref> The FEC complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), Democratic state parties, and Democratic mega-donors, in violation of multiple campaign finance laws.<ref>https://nypost.com/2018/06/09/democratic-parties-accused-of-funneling-84m-into-clinton-campaign/</ref> The complaint garnered significant media coverage from the ''[[Washington Post]]'', FoxNews.com, and dozens of regional news outlets.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/27/whats-behind-the-claim-that-hillary-clinton-got-84-million-in-illegal-contributions/</ref><ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme</ref><ref>https://bangordailynews.com/2018/05/29/politics/federal-lawsuit-alleges-maine-democratic-party-laundered-money-for-hillary-clintons-campaign/</ref>

In April 2018, Backer sued the FEC after it refused to act on the complaint.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/16/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme.html</ref> To date, Clinton, the DNC, Democratic state parties, and their donors implicated in the complaint have not released their response to the FEC.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/09/state-level-dems-funneled-84m-to-clintons-campaign-lawsuit-alleges.html</ref>

On behalf of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, Backer also filed an FEC complaint against Clinton's campaign, the DNC, their law firm Perkins Coie, and Christopher Steele, the ex-British spy that authored the “pee dossier,” for violating campaign finance laws.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref> Backer claimed those parties concealed payments made to and received by Fusion GPS, which hired Steele to produce the dossier.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref>

In February 2019, Backer (on behalf of the Foundation) filed an FEC complaint against Rep. [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] (D-NY), accusing her of illegally funneling thousands of dollars in official campaign funds through "Brand New Congress PAC" and "Brand New Congress LLC" to her boyfriend, Riley Roberts.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/payments-to-ocasio-cortez-boyfriend-spur-fec-complaint</ref> Backer also filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics, accusing Ocasio-Cortez of improperly converting House resources to her non-official, personal use.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-hit-with-third-complaint-this-time-for-beaus-email-address</ref> By obtaining an official House email address for her boyfriend, the complaint argued, Ocasio-Cortez falsely designated him a "staff" member and therefore violated House rules.<ref>https://ijr.com/conservative-group-files-another-ethics-complaint-against-aoc/</ref>

Backer has published numerous op-ed columns criticizing Democrats for violating campaign finance laws and ignoring the Committee's complaint, in addition to op-eds promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/the-anatomy-of-hillary-clintons-84-million-money-laundering-scheme/</ref><ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>

== Personal life ==
Backer lives in Vienna, Virginia with his wife and three children.<ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backer, Dan}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]

Dan Backer

2019-09-24T19:44:48Z

Lladan: Updated a hyperlink.

'''Dan Backer''' is the founding attorney of political.law PLLC (formerly DB Capitol Strategies PLLC), a campaign finance and political law firm in Alexandria, [[Virginia]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref><ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> Backer was born in [[Russia]] and emigrated with his family to the [[U.S.]] in the late 1970s.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/21/was-childhood-immigrant-to-us-trump-is-acting-wisely-and-compassionately-on-illegal-immigration.html</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref>

Backer is the general counsel for the pro-[[Donald Trump]] Great America PAC, Committee to Defend the President PAC, and Great America Alliance 501(c)(4) organization.<ref>https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/05/05/20832/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/how-a-dc-lawyer-uses-hyperpartisan-websites-to-raise-money</ref> He is also the founder and president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, and serves as a director of Accuracy in Media.<ref>https://www.newsmax.com/politics/first-amendment-donald-trump-group-twitter/2018/08/16/id/877375/</ref><ref>https://www.westernjournal.com/fake-news-now-a-liberal-smear-tactic/</ref>

Backer is a staunch advocate of [[free speech]] and associational rights.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/liberals-launch-their-latest-war-on-free-speech/</ref>

== Education ==
In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the [[University of Massachusetts]] at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from [[George Mason University]] (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master's certification in PAC management at [[George Washington University]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>

== Early career ==
In 2010, Backer founded DB Capitol Strategies PLLC, a law firm specializing in campaign finance and political law.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2017, the firm changed its name to political.law.<ref>https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/395595-free-speech-means-a-free-internet-even-if-democrats-dont-like-it</ref><ref>http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5681</ref>

Representing Shaun McCutcheon, Backer was consigliere of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] case ''McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission''.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref> The plaintiffs challenged biennial aggregate campaign limits established in 1974.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, "[striking] down the aggregate limits on the amount an individual may contribute during a two-year period to all federal candidates, parties, and political action committees combined."<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-16/lawyer-dan-backer-files-new-campaign-finance-lawsuit</ref> As a result of the McCutcheon decision, individuals may now contribute to as many federal candidates, political parties, or PACs as they want, as long as contributions do not exceed $2,700 (or the otherwise applicable "base limit") in each case.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/</ref>

Backer was plaintiff's counsel in the 2011 case ''Carey v. FEC'', which allowed PACs not connected to corporations, unions, and trade associations to create super PACs within their structure, or hybrid PACs.<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref> Backer argued prior laws governing campaign contributions "prohibit[ed] a non-connected political committee from soliciting and accepting unlimited contributions to one bank account designated for independent expenditures, while maintaining a second, separate bank account designated for source- and amount-limited contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees."<ref>https://transition.fec.gov/law/litigation/carey.shtml</ref> He claimed fewer spending restrictions give "policy-oriented PACs new electoral-oriented muscle."<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref>

Backer has filed more than a dozen Advisory Opinion Requests with the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC), in support of free speech and associational rights.<ref>https://www.political.law/aors</ref>

== Political activity ==
In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order "to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States."<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton's handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>

In 2017, Backer filed a complaint on behalf of the Committee with the FEC, accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the [[Democratic Party]] of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/hillary-clinton-campaign-dnc-accused-corrupt-money-scheme-in-new-fec-complaint.html</ref> The FEC complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), Democratic state parties, and Democratic mega-donors, in violation of multiple campaign finance laws.<ref>https://nypost.com/2018/06/09/democratic-parties-accused-of-funneling-84m-into-clinton-campaign/</ref> The complaint garnered significant media coverage from the ''[[Washington Post]]'', FoxNews.com, and dozens of regional news outlets.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/27/whats-behind-the-claim-that-hillary-clinton-got-84-million-in-illegal-contributions/</ref><ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme</ref><ref>https://bangordailynews.com/2018/05/29/politics/federal-lawsuit-alleges-maine-democratic-party-laundered-money-for-hillary-clintons-campaign/</ref>

In April 2018, Backer sued the FEC after it refused to act on the complaint.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/16/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme.html</ref> To date, Clinton, the DNC, Democratic state parties, and their donors implicated in the complaint have not released their response to the FEC.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/09/state-level-dems-funneled-84m-to-clintons-campaign-lawsuit-alleges.html</ref>

On behalf of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, Backer also filed an FEC complaint against Clinton's campaign, the DNC, their law firm Perkins Coie, and Christopher Steele, the ex-British spy that authored the “pee dossier,” for violating campaign finance laws.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref> Backer claimed those parties concealed payments made to and received by Fusion GPS, which hired Steele to produce the dossier.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref>

In February 2019, Backer (on behalf of the Foundation) filed an FEC complaint against Rep. [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] (D-NY), accusing her of illegally funneling thousands of dollars in official campaign funds through "Brand New Congress PAC" and "Brand New Congress LLC" to her boyfriend, Riley Roberts.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/payments-to-ocasio-cortez-boyfriend-spur-fec-complaint</ref> Backer also filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics, accusing Ocasio-Cortez of improperly converting House resources to her non-official, personal use.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-hit-with-third-complaint-this-time-for-beaus-email-address</ref> By obtaining an official House email address for her boyfriend, the complaint argued, Ocasio-Cortez falsely designated him a "staff" member and therefore violated House rules.<ref>https://ijr.com/conservative-group-files-another-ethics-complaint-against-aoc/</ref>

Backer has published numerous op-ed columns criticizing Democrats for violating campaign finance laws and ignoring the Committee's complaint, in addition to op-eds promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/the-anatomy-of-hillary-clintons-84-million-money-laundering-scheme/</ref><ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>

== Personal life ==
Backer lives in Vienna, Virginia with his wife and three children.<ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backer, Dan}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]

Dan Backer

2019-09-24T19:43:40Z

Lladan: Added a line about Dan Backer's involvement with the Federal Election Commission.

'''Dan Backer''' is the founding attorney of political.law PLLC (formerly DB Capitol Strategies PLLC), a campaign finance and political law firm in Alexandria, [[Virginia]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref><ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> Backer was born in [[Russia]] and emigrated with his family to the [[U.S.]] in the late 1970s.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/21/was-childhood-immigrant-to-us-trump-is-acting-wisely-and-compassionately-on-illegal-immigration.html</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref>

Backer is the general counsel for the pro-[[Donald Trump]] Great America PAC, Committee to Defend the President PAC, and Great America Alliance 501(c)(4) organization.<ref>https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/05/05/20832/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/how-a-dc-lawyer-uses-hyperpartisan-websites-to-raise-money</ref> He is also the founder and president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, and serves as a director of Accuracy in Media.<ref>https://www.newsmax.com/politics/first-amendment-donald-trump-group-twitter/2018/08/16/id/877375/</ref><ref>https://www.westernjournal.com/fake-news-now-a-liberal-smear-tactic/</ref>

Backer is a staunch advocate of [[free speech]] and associational rights.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/liberals-launch-their-latest-war-on-free-speech/</ref>

== Education ==
In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the [[University of Massachusetts]] at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from [[George Mason University]] (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master's certification in PAC management at [[George Washington University]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>

== Early career ==
In 2010, Backer founded DB Capitol Strategies PLLC, a law firm specializing in campaign finance and political law.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2017, the firm changed its name to political.law.<ref>https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/395595-free-speech-means-a-free-internet-even-if-democrats-dont-like-it</ref><ref>http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5681</ref>

Representing Shaun McCutcheon, Backer was consigliere of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] case ''McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission''.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref> The plaintiffs challenged biennial aggregate campaign limits established in 1974.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, "[striking] down the aggregate limits on the amount an individual may contribute during a two-year period to all federal candidates, parties, and political action committees combined."<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-16/lawyer-dan-backer-files-new-campaign-finance-lawsuit</ref> As a result of the McCutcheon decision, individuals may now contribute to as many federal candidates, political parties, or PACs as they want, as long as contributions do not exceed $2,700 (or the otherwise applicable "base limit") in each case.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/</ref>

Backer was plaintiff's counsel in the 2011 case ''Carey v. FEC'', which allowed PACs not connected to corporations, unions, and trade associations to create super PACs within their structure, or hybrid PACs.<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref> Backer argued prior laws governing campaign contributions "prohibit[ed] a non-connected political committee from soliciting and accepting unlimited contributions to one bank account designated for independent expenditures, while maintaining a second, separate bank account designated for source- and amount-limited contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees."<ref>https://transition.fec.gov/law/litigation/carey.shtml</ref> He claimed fewer spending restrictions give "policy-oriented PACs new electoral-oriented muscle."<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref>

Backer has filed more than a dozen Advisory Opinion Requests with the Federal Election Commission, in support of free speech and associational rights.<ref>https://www.political.law/aors</ref>

== Political activity ==
In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order "to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States."<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton's handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>

In 2017, Backer filed a complaint on behalf of the Committee with the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC), accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the [[Democratic Party]] of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/hillary-clinton-campaign-dnc-accused-corrupt-money-scheme-in-new-fec-complaint.html</ref> The FEC complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), Democratic state parties, and Democratic mega-donors, in violation of multiple campaign finance laws.<ref>https://nypost.com/2018/06/09/democratic-parties-accused-of-funneling-84m-into-clinton-campaign/</ref> The complaint garnered significant media coverage from the ''[[Washington Post]]'', FoxNews.com, and dozens of regional news outlets.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/27/whats-behind-the-claim-that-hillary-clinton-got-84-million-in-illegal-contributions/</ref><ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme</ref><ref>https://bangordailynews.com/2018/05/29/politics/federal-lawsuit-alleges-maine-democratic-party-laundered-money-for-hillary-clintons-campaign/</ref>

In April 2018, Backer sued the FEC after it refused to act on the complaint.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/16/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme.html</ref> To date, Clinton, the DNC, Democratic state parties, and their donors implicated in the complaint have not released their response to the FEC.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/09/state-level-dems-funneled-84m-to-clintons-campaign-lawsuit-alleges.html</ref>

On behalf of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, Backer also filed an FEC complaint against Clinton's campaign, the DNC, their law firm Perkins Coie, and Christopher Steele, the ex-British spy that authored the “pee dossier,” for violating campaign finance laws.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref> Backer claimed those parties concealed payments made to and received by Fusion GPS, which hired Steele to produce the dossier.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref>

In February 2019, Backer (on behalf of the Foundation) filed an FEC complaint against Rep. [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] (D-NY), accusing her of illegally funneling thousands of dollars in official campaign funds through "Brand New Congress PAC" and "Brand New Congress LLC" to her boyfriend, Riley Roberts.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/payments-to-ocasio-cortez-boyfriend-spur-fec-complaint</ref> Backer also filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics, accusing Ocasio-Cortez of improperly converting House resources to her non-official, personal use.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-hit-with-third-complaint-this-time-for-beaus-email-address</ref> By obtaining an official House email address for her boyfriend, the complaint argued, Ocasio-Cortez falsely designated him a "staff" member and therefore violated House rules.<ref>https://ijr.com/conservative-group-files-another-ethics-complaint-against-aoc/</ref>

Backer has published numerous op-ed columns criticizing Democrats for violating campaign finance laws and ignoring the Committee's complaint, in addition to op-eds promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/the-anatomy-of-hillary-clintons-84-million-money-laundering-scheme/</ref><ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>

== Personal life ==
Backer lives in Vienna, Virginia with his wife and three children.<ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backer, Dan}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]

Dan Backer

2019-03-12T13:05:48Z

Lladan: Added a few lines about Dan Backer's recent complaints on behalf of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, this time targeting Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her boyfriend. They garnered a lot of media coverage. Sourced everything.

'''Dan Backer''' is the founding attorney of political.law PLLC (formerly DB Capitol Strategies PLLC), a campaign finance and political law firm in Alexandria, [[Virginia]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref><ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> Backer was born in [[Russia]] and emigrated with his family to the [[U.S.]] in the late 1970s.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/21/was-childhood-immigrant-to-us-trump-is-acting-wisely-and-compassionately-on-illegal-immigration.html</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref>

Backer is the general counsel for the pro-[[Donald Trump]] Great America PAC, Committee to Defend the President PAC, and Great America Alliance 501(c)(4) organization.<ref>https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/05/05/20832/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/how-a-dc-lawyer-uses-hyperpartisan-websites-to-raise-money</ref> He is also the founder and president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, and serves as a director of Accuracy in Media.<ref>https://www.newsmax.com/politics/first-amendment-donald-trump-group-twitter/2018/08/16/id/877375/</ref><ref>https://www.westernjournal.com/fake-news-now-a-liberal-smear-tactic/</ref>

Backer is a staunch advocate of [[free speech]] and associational rights.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/liberals-launch-their-latest-war-on-free-speech/</ref>

== Education ==
In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the [[University of Massachusetts]] at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from [[George Mason University]] (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master's certification in PAC management at [[George Washington University]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>

== Early career ==
In 2010, Backer founded DB Capitol Strategies PLLC, a law firm specializing in campaign finance and political law.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2017, the firm changed its name to political.law.<ref>https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/395595-free-speech-means-a-free-internet-even-if-democrats-dont-like-it</ref><ref>http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5681</ref>

Representing Shaun McCutcheon, Backer was consigliere of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] case ''McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission''.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref> The plaintiffs challenged biennial aggregate campaign limits established in 1974.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, "[striking] down the aggregate limits on the amount an individual may contribute during a two-year period to all federal candidates, parties, and political action committees combined."<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-16/lawyer-dan-backer-files-new-campaign-finance-lawsuit</ref> As a result of the McCutcheon decision, individuals may now contribute to as many federal candidates, political parties, or PACs as they want, as long as contributions do not exceed $2,700 (or the otherwise applicable "base limit") in each case.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/</ref>

Backer was plaintiff's counsel in the 2011 case ''Carey v. FEC'', which allowed PACs not connected to corporations, unions, and trade associations to create super PACs within their structure, or hybrid PACs.<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref> Backer argued prior laws governing campaign contributions "prohibit[ed] a non-connected political committee from soliciting and accepting unlimited contributions to one bank account designated for independent expenditures, while maintaining a second, separate bank account designated for source- and amount-limited contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees."<ref>https://transition.fec.gov/law/litigation/carey.shtml</ref> He claimed fewer spending restrictions give "policy-oriented PACs new electoral-oriented muscle."<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref>

== Political activity ==
In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order "to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States."<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton's handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>

In 2017, Backer filed a complaint on behalf of the Committee with the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC), accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the [[Democratic Party]] of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/hillary-clinton-campaign-dnc-accused-corrupt-money-scheme-in-new-fec-complaint.html</ref> The FEC complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), Democratic state parties, and Democratic mega-donors, in violation of multiple campaign finance laws.<ref>https://nypost.com/2018/06/09/democratic-parties-accused-of-funneling-84m-into-clinton-campaign/</ref> The complaint garnered significant media coverage from the ''[[Washington Post]]'', FoxNews.com, and dozens of regional news outlets.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/27/whats-behind-the-claim-that-hillary-clinton-got-84-million-in-illegal-contributions/</ref><ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme</ref><ref>https://bangordailynews.com/2018/05/29/politics/federal-lawsuit-alleges-maine-democratic-party-laundered-money-for-hillary-clintons-campaign/</ref>

In April 2018, Backer sued the FEC after it refused to act on the complaint.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/16/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme.html</ref> To date, Clinton, the DNC, Democratic state parties, and their donors implicated in the complaint have not released their response to the FEC.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/09/state-level-dems-funneled-84m-to-clintons-campaign-lawsuit-alleges.html</ref>

On behalf of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, Backer also filed an FEC complaint against Clinton's campaign, the DNC, their law firm Perkins Coie, and Christopher Steele, the ex-British spy that authored the “pee dossier,” for violating campaign finance laws.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref> Backer claimed those parties concealed payments made to and received by Fusion GPS, which hired Steele to produce the dossier.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref>

In February 2019, Backer (on behalf of the Foundation) filed an FEC complaint against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), accusing Ocasio-Cortez of illegally funneling thousands of dollars in official campaign funds through “Brand New Congress PAC” and “Brand New Congress LLC” to her boyfriend, Riley Roberts.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/payments-to-ocasio-cortez-boyfriend-spur-fec-complaint</ref> Backer also filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics, accusing Ocasio-Cortez of improperly converting House resources to her non-official, personal use.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-hit-with-third-complaint-this-time-for-beaus-email-address</ref> By obtaining an official House email address for her boyfriend, the complaint argued, Ocasio-Cortez falsely designated him a "staff" member and therefore violated House rules.<ref>https://ijr.com/conservative-group-files-another-ethics-complaint-against-aoc/</ref>

Backer has published numerous op-ed columns criticizing Democrats for violating campaign finance laws and ignoring the Committee's complaint, in addition to op-eds promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/the-anatomy-of-hillary-clintons-84-million-money-laundering-scheme/</ref><ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>

== Personal life ==
Backer lives in Vienna, Virginia with his wife and three children.<ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backer, Dan}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]

Dan Backer

2018-11-30T16:56:11Z

Lladan: Added more information on Dan Backer's political activities, which have been covered extensively by the mainstream media. Sourced everything.

'''Dan Backer''' is the founding attorney of political.law PLLC (formerly DB Capitol Strategies PLLC), a campaign finance and political law firm in Alexandria, [[Virginia]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref><ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> Backer was born in [[Russia]] and emigrated with his family to the [[U.S.]] in the late 1970s.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/21/was-childhood-immigrant-to-us-trump-is-acting-wisely-and-compassionately-on-illegal-immigration.html</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref>

Backer is the general counsel for the pro-[[Donald Trump]] Great America PAC, Committee to Defend the President PAC, and Great America Alliance 501(c)(4) organization.<ref>https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/05/05/20832/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/how-a-dc-lawyer-uses-hyperpartisan-websites-to-raise-money</ref> He is also the founder and president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, and serves as a director of Accuracy in Media.<ref>https://www.newsmax.com/politics/first-amendment-donald-trump-group-twitter/2018/08/16/id/877375/</ref><ref>https://www.westernjournal.com/fake-news-now-a-liberal-smear-tactic/</ref>

Backer is a staunch advocate of [[free speech]] and associational rights.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/liberals-launch-their-latest-war-on-free-speech/</ref>

== Education ==
In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the [[University of Massachusetts]] at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from [[George Mason University]] (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master’s certification in PAC management at [[George Washington University]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>

== Early career ==
In 2010, Backer founded DB Capitol Strategies PLLC, a law firm specializing in campaign finance and political law.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2017, the firm changed its name to political.law.<ref>https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/395595-free-speech-means-a-free-internet-even-if-democrats-dont-like-it</ref><ref>http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5681</ref>

Representing Shaun McCutcheon, Backer was consigliere of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] case ''McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission''.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref> The plaintiffs challenged biennial aggregate campaign limits established in 1974.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, "[striking] down the aggregate limits on the amount an individual may contribute during a two-year period to all federal candidates, parties, and political action committees combined."<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-16/lawyer-dan-backer-files-new-campaign-finance-lawsuit</ref> As a result of the McCutcheon decision, individuals may now contribute to as many federal candidates, political parties, or PACs as they want, as long as contributions do not exceed $2,700 (or the otherwise applicable "base limit") in each case.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/</ref>

Backer was plaintiff's counsel in the 2011 case ''Carey v. FEC'', which allowed PACs not connected to corporations, unions, and trade associations to create super PACs within their structure, or hybrid PACs.<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref> Backer argued prior laws governing campaign contributions "prohibit[ed] a non-connected political committee from soliciting and accepting unlimited contributions to one bank account designated for independent expenditures, while maintaining a second, separate bank account designated for source- and amount-limited contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees."<ref>https://transition.fec.gov/law/litigation/carey.shtml</ref> He claimed fewer spending restrictions give "policy-oriented PACs new electoral-oriented muscle."<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref>

== Political activity ==
In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order "to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States."<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton’s handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>

In 2017, Backer filed a complaint on behalf of the Committee with the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC), accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the [[Democratic Party]] of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/hillary-clinton-campaign-dnc-accused-corrupt-money-scheme-in-new-fec-complaint.html</ref> The FEC complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), Democratic state parties, and Democratic mega-donors, in violation of multiple campaign finance laws.<ref>https://nypost.com/2018/06/09/democratic-parties-accused-of-funneling-84m-into-clinton-campaign/</ref> The complaint garnered significant media coverage from the ''[[Washington Post]]'', FoxNews.com, and dozens of regional news outlets.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/27/whats-behind-the-claim-that-hillary-clinton-got-84-million-in-illegal-contributions/</ref><ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme</ref><ref>https://bangordailynews.com/2018/05/29/politics/federal-lawsuit-alleges-maine-democratic-party-laundered-money-for-hillary-clintons-campaign/</ref>

In April 2018, Backer sued the FEC after it refused to act on the complaint.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/16/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme.html</ref> To date, Clinton, the DNC, Democratic state parties, and their donors implicated in the complaint have not released their response to the FEC.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/09/state-level-dems-funneled-84m-to-clintons-campaign-lawsuit-alleges.html</ref>

On behalf of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, Backer also filed an FEC complaint against Clinton’s campaign, the DNC, their law firm Perkins Coie, and Christopher Steele, the ex-British spy that authored the “pee dossier,” for violating campaign finance laws.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref> Backer claimed those parties concealed payments made to and received by Fusion GPS, which hired Steele to produce the dossier.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref>

Backer has published numerous op-ed columns criticizing Democrats for violating campaign finance laws and ignoring the Committee's complaint, in addition to op-eds promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/the-anatomy-of-hillary-clintons-84-million-money-laundering-scheme/</ref><ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>

== Personal life ==
Backer lives in Vienna, Virginia with his wife and three children.<ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backer, Dan}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]

Dan Backer

2018-09-27T18:36:27Z

Lladan: Added information about Dan Backer's accusations against Hillary Clinton and other Democrats. Sourced everything.

'''Dan Backer''' is the founding attorney of political.law PLLC (formerly DB Capitol Strategies PLLC), a campaign finance and political law firm in Alexandria, [[Virginia]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref><ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> Backer was born in [[Russia]] and emigrated with his family to the [[U.S.]] in the late 1970s.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/21/was-childhood-immigrant-to-us-trump-is-acting-wisely-and-compassionately-on-illegal-immigration.html</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref>

Backer is the general counsel for the pro-[[Donald Trump]] Great America PAC, Committee to Defend the President PAC, and Great America Alliance 501(c)(4) organization.<ref>https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/05/05/20832/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/how-a-dc-lawyer-uses-hyperpartisan-websites-to-raise-money</ref> He is a staunch advocate of [[free speech]] and associational rights.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/liberals-launch-their-latest-war-on-free-speech/</ref>

== Education ==
In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the [[University of Massachusetts]] at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from [[George Mason University]] (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master’s certification in PAC management at [[George Washington University]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>

== Early career ==
In 2010, Backer founded DB Capitol Strategies PLLC, a law firm specializing in campaign finance and political law.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2017, the firm changed its name to political.law.<ref>https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/395595-free-speech-means-a-free-internet-even-if-democrats-dont-like-it</ref><ref>http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5681</ref>

Representing Shaun McCutcheon, Backer was consigliere of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] case ''McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission''.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref> The plaintiffs challenged biennial aggregate campaign limits established in 1974.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, "[striking] down the aggregate limits on the amount an individual may contribute during a two-year period to all federal candidates, parties, and political action committees combined."<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-16/lawyer-dan-backer-files-new-campaign-finance-lawsuit</ref> As a result of the McCutcheon decision, individuals may now contribute to as many federal candidates, political parties, or PACs as they want, as long as contributions do not exceed $2,700 (or the otherwise applicable "base limit") in each case.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/</ref>

Backer was plaintiff's counsel in the 2011 case ''Carey v. FEC'', which allowed PACs not connected to corporations, unions, and trade associations to create super PACs within their structure, or hybrid PACs.<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref> Backer argued prior laws governing campaign contributions "prohibit[ed] a non-connected political committee from soliciting and accepting unlimited contributions to one bank account designated for independent expenditures, while maintaining a second, separate bank account designated for source- and amount-limited contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees."<ref>https://transition.fec.gov/law/litigation/carey.shtml</ref> He claimed fewer spending restrictions give "policy-oriented PACs new electoral-oriented muscle."<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref>

== Political activity ==
In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order "to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States."<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton’s handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>

In 2017, Backer filed a complaint on behalf of the Committee with the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC), accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the [[Democratic Party]] of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/hillary-clinton-campaign-dnc-accused-corrupt-money-scheme-in-new-fec-complaint.html</ref> The FEC complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), Democratic state parties, and Democratic mega-donors, in violation of multiple campaign finance laws.<ref>https://nypost.com/2018/06/09/democratic-parties-accused-of-funneling-84m-into-clinton-campaign/</ref>

In April 2018, Backer sued the FEC after it refused to act on the complaint.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/16/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme.html</ref> To date, Clinton, the DNC, Democratic state parties, and their donors implicated in the complaint have not released their response to the FEC.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/09/state-level-dems-funneled-84m-to-clintons-campaign-lawsuit-alleges.html</ref>

Backer has published numerous op-ed columns criticizing Democrats for violating campaign finance laws and ignoring the Committee's complaint, in addition to op-eds promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/the-anatomy-of-hillary-clintons-84-million-money-laundering-scheme/</ref><ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>

== Personal life ==
Backer lives in Vienna, Virginia with his wife and three children.<ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backer, Dan}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]

User talk:Lladan

2018-08-05T18:51:15Z

Lladan: Responded to a question.

{{greeting
|username=DavidB4
|sig=--[[User:DavidB4|<font color="ForestGreen">David B</font>]] <sup>([[User talk:DavidB4|TALK]])</sup> 20:28, 3 August 2018 (EDT)
}}

Hello Lladan, thanks for creating the [[Dan Backer]] article. I just have one question -- is this article entirely your original work, or did someone else or did others work on it? I ask because Wikipedia has very strict copyright rules, and editors cannot copy Wikipedia info unless they originally wrote it or if they have permission: [[Conservapedia:Guidelines#Copying From Other Sources]]. If it's copied in violation of any copyright/originality rules, please fix it so we can keep it, if it's not copied or in violation, nothing to worry about. --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 21:12, 3 August 2018 (EDT)
:Also, considering that the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/GongSnack GongSnack] person who nominated the article for deletion literally created his account solely for the purpose of deleting the article and nothing else, you could try recreating the article in a month or so on Wikipedia. --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 21:30, 3 August 2018 (EDT)
::Hi there! The page is entirely my original work, so it shouldn't run into any copyright concerns. Let me know if you have any other questions. --[[User:Lladan|Lladan]] ([[User talk:Lladan|talk]]) 14:51, 5 August 2018 (EDT)

Dan Backer

2018-08-04T00:16:14Z

Lladan: I created a page for Dan Backer, an influential Republican campaign finance lawyer who has been involved in Supreme Court cases and often pops up in major news outlets.

'''Dan Backer''' is the founding attorney of political.law PLLC (formerly DB Capitol Strategies PLLC), a campaign finance and political law firm in Alexandria, Virginia.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref><ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> Backer was born in Russia and emigrated with his family to the U.S. in the late 1970s.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/21/was-childhood-immigrant-to-us-trump-is-acting-wisely-and-compassionately-on-illegal-immigration.html</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref>

Backer is the general counsel for the pro-Donald Trump Great America PAC, Committee to Defend the President PAC, and Great America Alliance 501(c)(4) organization.<ref>https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/05/05/20832/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/how-a-dc-lawyer-uses-hyperpartisan-websites-to-raise-money</ref> He is a staunch advocate of free speech and associational rights.<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/liberals-launch-their-latest-war-on-free-speech/</ref>

== Education ==

In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from George Mason University (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master’s certification in PAC management at George Washington University.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>

== Early career ==

In 2010, Backer founded DB Capitol Strategies PLLC, a law firm specializing in campaign finance and political law.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2017, the firm changed its name to political.law.<ref>http://thehill.com/opinion/technology/395595-free-speech-means-a-free-internet-even-if-democrats-dont-like-it</ref><ref>http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5681</ref>

Representing Shaun McCutcheon, Backer was consigliere of the U.S. Supreme Court case McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref><ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref> The plaintiffs challenged biennial aggregate campaign limits established in 1974.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/10/dan-backer-campaign-finance-mccutcheon-supreme-court/6259863/</ref> In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, “[striking] down the aggregate limits on the amount an individual may contribute during a two-year period to all federal candidates, parties, and political action committees combined.”<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-backer-mccutcheon-supreme-court-donations-campaign-finance-2014-4</ref><ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-16/lawyer-dan-backer-files-new-campaign-finance-lawsuit</ref> As a result of the McCutcheon decision, individuals may now contribute to as many federal candidates, political parties, or PACs as they want, as long as contributions do not exceed $2,700 (or the otherwise applicable “base limit") in each case.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/</ref>

Backer was plaintiff's counsel in the 2011 case Carey v. FEC, which allowed PACs not connected to corporations, unions, and trade associations to create super PACs within their structure, or hybrid PACs.<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref> Backer argued prior laws governing campaign contributions "prohibit[ed] a non-connected political committee from soliciting and accepting unlimited contributions to one bank account designated for independent expenditures, while maintaining a second, separate bank account designated for source- and amount-limited contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees."<ref>https://transition.fec.gov/law/litigation/carey.shtml</ref> He claimed fewer spending restrictions give "policy-oriented PACs new electoral-oriented muscle."<ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/group-pushes-new-breed-of-super-pac-071337</ref>

== Political activity ==

In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order “to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States.”<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton’s handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>

He has published numerous op-ed columns promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>

== Personal life ==

Backer lives in Vienna, Virginia with his wife and three children.<ref>http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/frat-house-fund-raising-with-dan-backer.html</ref>

== References ==