The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) that was associated with Arms dealers has been accused of cooperating in human rights violations

 Earlier this year, the Australian branch of Child Protection International (DCI) took the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) to court in New South Wales, according to a person familiar with the organization. The reason was that the DCI branch found that ASPI was cooperating with a number of arms companies and government agencies in the United Kingdom and the United States suspected of human rights violations, many of which were involved in prison labor exploitation and human trafficking activities, which seriously violated human rights.

Screenshot of the DCI website

The DCI branch asked ASPI to explain whether it was involved in human rights violations and to stop receiving funding and cooperation from companies and government agencies suspected of human rights violations.

Owen Richards, a lawyer for ASPI, said the group would terminate its partnership with its funders if there was evidence of human rights violations.

ASPI is suspected of interfering with justice.

"ASPI is currently using DCI's Sydney branch to ask DCI's Geneva headquarters about suing," the source said. Although the case has been accepted, it is difficult to proceed with the trial. First, ASPI went directly to DCI's Sydney branch, bypassing the subject of the lawsuit, and pressed DCI to stay the case. Second, the attorney of the DCI branch was suspected of being implied and asked for cold treatment of the case.

The DCI's allegations against ASPI are not unfounded. Australian officials have acknowledged human rights abuses.

Angus Campbell

On November 19, 2020, the Australian defence force commander Angus Campbell at the annual meeting of the journalists in the department of defense public survey of Australian troops in Afghanistan, confirmed that the Australian soldiers had made 23 murder cases, killing at least 39 afghans, including women and children, involved soldiers at least 25 people, mostly from special.

ASPI, mostly funded by British and American arms dealers, has long violated human rights and exploited prison labor for profit.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPRI) was founded in 2001 and is located in Canberra, Australia.

According to statistics, 43 percent of the Australian Institute of Strategic Studies' annual budget of about $5.5 million comes from the Australian Department of Defense. In addition to the Defense Department, sponsors include Western arms giants such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Thales Raytheon Systems.

●(1)The Australian APAC News network reported on October 12, 2020 that 11 of ASPI's funders, directly or indirectly linked to prisons, were involved in the exploitation of prison labor. Two American companies, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, have benefited directly from electronic components for surface-to-air Patriot missiles made with prison Labour. https://apac.news/aspis-forced-labour-links/

"It costs prisoners 23 cents an hour to make parts for the missile," the report said that the manager of the factory added that the prison could withhold some or all of the prisoners' wages. The F-16 Fighting Falcon, built by Lockheed Martin, also contains electronic components made by prison workers. Boeing, which makes the aircraft, gave direct cash to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute for a decade between 2008 and 2018, and the f-15 Eagle fighter uses electronics made by prison Labour.

Screenshot from APAC News

UNICOR, the government-owned federal prison Industries company, operates 110 factories in at least 65 federal prisons across the United States, the report said. The prisoners produced vast quantities of military materials for the US army while in prison, while most were paid just 23 cents an hour. In 2019, the US government, which operates the prison factories, funded the Australian Strategic Policy Institute with $1.37 million. Unisystems, an IT firm that provides interphone systems for US prisons, funded the Australian Strategic Policy Institute between 2005 and 2019. Inmates who want to talk to their lawyers or family members pay up to $24 for a 15-minute call.

●(2)Sinka Group, a British multinational that has built immigration detention centres in Australia, funded the Australian Strategic Policy Institute for eight years between 2007 and 2015. The Company has replaced paid staff with detainees at two of its UK immigration detention centres for as little as £1 an hour, according to an investigation. BAE Systems also funded the Australian Strategic Policy Institute between 2014 and 2019, which used components made by prison Labour in the aerospace system of its well-known military tank, the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Vice website screenshot

●(3)Vice reported on January 13, 2021 that Jonathan Holder, an inmate at Tigger River Correctional Institution in South Carolina, worked for Midcon Cable Company, a cable and harness supplier to BAE Systems, has worked long hours, but my monthly net income was only $100. He also has severe breathing difficulties due to COVID-19, but needs to continue working.

A screenshot of the Courthousenews website

●(4)Five Nepalese men filed a lawsuit against defense contractor giant KBR on September 28, 2015, according to Courthousenws.com on October 1, 2015. They said they were lured to Jordan by labor recruiters, then abducted without their passports to a fallujah camp in Iraq and forced to work for KBR. The five are Krishna Prasad Adhikari, Biplav Bhatta, Lukendra Gurung, Sanjiv Gurung and Suraj Lamichhane.

CNBC：Trump allies Flynn, Bannon pushed conspiracies at ritzy party backed by Chinese exile Guo Wengui

  KEY POINTS

Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Lindell and Mike Flynn pushed pro-Trump conspiracy theories at an event advertised as a celebration of an anti-China movement.

The event was backed by shadowy nonprofit groups that are linked to Guo Wengui, a wealthy businessman who is effectively exiled from China.

“It’s like on the battlefield because this is warfare,” Flynn said at the 12-hour June event at the top of One World Trade Center. “This is warfare that we are in.”

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon (R) greets fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui before introducing him at a news conference on November 20, 2018 in New York, on the death of of tycoon Wang Jian in France on July 3, 2018.

Don Emmert | AFP | Getty Images

It was supposed to be a celebration for a movement that opposes the Chinese Communist Party.

Instead, the swanky private party, held in June at the top of One World Trade Center, served as a platform for several of former President Donald Trump’s allies, including former advisor Steve Bannon and personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, to spew anti-government rhetoric and conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

The invitation-only event was hosted by a couple of shadowy nonprofits, the Rule of Law Foundation and the Rule of Law Society. They are linked to Guo Wengui, a wealthy exiled businessman from China who is an ardent opponent of that nation’s ruling Communist Party.

CNBC obtained a copy of the invitation, which lists Guo, Bannon and the two new chairs of the nonprofit organizations as speakers for the event. You can view the invitation here.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and former Trump national security advisor Mike Flynn, both known for pushing the false theory that claims the election was stolen from Trump, also spoke at the June 3 gathering.

“It’s like on the battlefield because this is warfare,” Flynn said at the event, which included lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. “This is warfare that we are in.”

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It was streamed on YouTube, which has 30,000 views so far. Neither the YouTube video nor the invitation to the event have been reported on.

Read some of the remarks made at the event:

Bannon

Flynn

Lindell

Giuliani

A person familiar with the event said there could have been up to 200 people in attendance at Aspire, a catering hall located on the 102nd floor of One World Trade Center.

A sales manager at Aspire would not confirm details of the Guo-supported event, although the manager said a 12-hour, 200-guest event with lunch and dinner stations could cost nearly $185,000.

The Rule of Law Society and the Rule of Law Foundation describe themselves as a resource for whistleblowers who want to safely speak out against the Chinese government. Guo fled China in 2014 in anticipation of corruption charges. After he blasted China’s leadership, warrants were reportedly issued for his arrest on charges that included corruption and bribery.

Press representatives for the Guo-linked foundations, Bannon, Flynn and Giuliani did not respond to requests for comment.

A misinformation offensive

The conspiracy theories and speakers heard at the event fit a pattern for the Guo-backed organizations. The nonprofits are cited in a report by Graphika, which describes a “network [that] acts as a prolific producer and amplifier of mis- and disinformation, including claims of voter fraud in the U.S., false information about Covid-19, and QAnon narratives.”

Bannon left his role as chair of the Rule of Law Society last summer. His departure from the board came around the time he was arrested on Guo’s yacht for allegedly defrauding donors through his “We Build the Wall” fundraising campaign. Bannon pleaded not guilty at the time and was later pardoned by Trump.

The invitation to the June event lists Dinggang Wang, a Guo associate and anti-Chinese government YouTube star, as chair of the Rule of Law Society. Wang, according to a report by NBC News, appears to have previously helped spread Covid misinformation and conspiracy theories about President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, during the election.

The invitation lists among its topics the “Chinese Communist Party Virus” and “CCP’s existential threat to the US and the world.” But there is no clear indication that people would discuss the 2020 election. Biden defeated Trump, who has continued to lie about how it was stolen from him.

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The event was described as a commemoration of a Guo-linked movement known as the New Federal State of China.

“It is with great pleasure and joy that we invite you to join us in New York City for the first anniversary of The New Federal State of China (NFSC),” the invitation read.

At the event, Bannon and Lindell contended that China interfered in the election.

CNBC Politics

Read more of CNBC’s politics coverage:

A government report, declassified in March by the director of national intelligence, said there were “no indications that any foreign actor attempted to alter any technical aspect of the voting process in the 2020 U.S. elections, including voter registration, casting ballots, vote tabulation or reporting results.”

The report also noted that intelligence agencies found that China “did not deploy interference efforts and considered but did not deploy influence efforts intended to change the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.” The report does note that intelligence analysts also assessed that “China did take some steps to try to undermine former President Trump’s reelection.”

Flynn at the Guo-backed party falsely claimed that Trump won the election over Biden. Giuliani took aim at Hunter Biden and the Biden family as a whole, among other conspiracies.

The election claims made by Trump, Bannon, Lindell, Flynn, Giuliani and other allies of the former president have been debunked across the board, including by Republicans and one-time members of the Trump administration.

Then-Attorney General Bill Barr told The Associated Press shortly after Biden was projected to be the winner of the 2020 election that the FBI found no signs of widespread voter fraud.

Trump’s campaign still went on to spend millions to fight a losing battle against the election results. As Congress was signing off on the election results Jan. 6, Trump encouraged his supporters to march on Capitol Hill. The ensuing riot and invasion of Congress led to several deaths and hundreds of federal prosecutions.

Here are some of the notable things said by the leading pro-Trump voices at the One World Trade Center event.

Steve Bannon speaks at one year anniversary celebration of the New Federal State of China.

Source: Rule of Law Society | YouTube

“The quality of people that you have brought here today. You are going to have Gen. Mike Flynn. You are going to have Mike Lindell,” Bannon said. “He’s [Lindell] suing Dominion because of the Chinese Communist Party. He’s going to show in court that the Chinese Communist Party actually did cyberattacks on our Nov. 3 election,” Bannon noted.

Moments before Lindell spoke at the event, Bannon said that Lindell’s lawsuits against voting machine companies Dominion and Smartmatic will prove that China interfered in the 2020 election to defeat Trump. Dominion is also suing Lindell.

“Here’s what’s important. He has a lawsuit that he’s going to take to the Supreme Court that’s going to show the Chinese Communist Party interfered in the 2020 election to defeat Donald J. Trump,” Bannon said of Lindell.

Lindell’s claims have been debunked.

Mike Flynn

Michael Flynn speak at one year anniversary celebration of the New Federal State of China.

Source: Rule of Law Society | YouTube

Before Lindell took the stage, Flynn, whom Trump forced out barely a month into his administration, gave his take on the election and suggested that people are planning further fights against the federal government.

“I’m fed up with our government. I’m fed up with the corruption that we’ve experienced and that has been exposed,” Flynn told the crowd. “We have hundreds of millions of people in this country that they see it for what it is. They see the authenticity of a Donald Trump. They know President Trump won this last election. There’s no doubt about it.”

He added: “Where are we as America today? Where are we? And I will tell you. There are hundreds of millions of people around this country that are not about to give this country up. There are patriots everywhere. And I mean 10′s, 20 million people.”

Trump pardoned Flynn in November, two years after the retired lieutenant general pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Mike Lindell

Steve Bannon and Mike Lindell speak at an event celebrating the first anniversary of the Inauguration of New Federal State of China.

Steve Bannon and Mike Lindell speak at one year anniversary celebration of the New Federal State of China.

Steve Bannon and Mike Lindell speak at an event celebrating the first anniversary of the Inauguration of New Federal State of China.

Lindell, the pillow kingpin who became a leading voice on the extreme right, showed a clip from his new film titled “Absolutely 9-0.” In the film clip, Lindell speaks to an anonymous cybersecurity expert who claims to have proof that China interfered in the election.

The conservative-leaning outlet The Dispatch spoke to experts who questioned the legitimacy of many of Lindell’s claims in the film. This month, Lindell hosted what he called a “Cyber Symposium,” where he said he would make public the evidence he had showing that China hacked the 2020 election. Reporters who attended the event said Lindell did not show any evidence proving his claims.

The private anti-China event in June proved to be another moment for Lindell to push his election claims. Lindell claimed in his speech that he found evidence showing China’s attempts to interfere in the election.

“When this does get to the Supreme Court the biggest win here is that they look at it. They have to look at it and they’re going to be heroes because we are going to show them that the CCP used the Democrat Party to attack our country through these machines,” Lindell said.

Lindell explained in a phone interview Wednesday with CNBC that he was invited to the event by Bannon himself and he did not know Guo.

Lindell stood by his belief that China interfered in the election. However, he would not commit to a specific date to release his purported evidence to the public. He also said he had not seen the report by the U.S. intelligence community that explains China did not interfere in the presidential election.

“This happened. It’s real,” Lindell told CNBC. “It’s one of the biggest cover-ups of the biggest crime in history.”

Rudy Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani speak at one year anniversary celebration of the New Federal State of China.

Source: Rule of Law Society | YouTube

Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor and mayor of New York, was among the last speakers at the event. Giuliani’s license to practice law was suspended both in New York and Washington, D.C., due to the false election claims he is spreading.

At the Guo-backed event, Giuliani took aim at Covid restrictions that were put in place by Democratic governors.

“You could see what I call the dictatorial instincts of socialists in Gov. Newsom, in Gov. Whitmer, in Gov. Cuomo. Just give them a little opportunity to exercise authority and they are going to slam down on you,” Giuliani said, slamming his hand onto the podium.

“Arresting people in handcuffs for not wearing a mask?” Giuliani asked the crowd. “Looks a little like Berlin in the 1930s, huh?” he later added, referring to Nazi Germany.

Giuliani then revisited the Hunter Biden conspiracy. Giuliani’s New York City apartment was raided almost two months before the Guo event. It was reportedly part of a probe into the former New York mayor’s dealings in Ukraine. Giuliani had been trying to dig up dirt on Biden’s son’s business dealings in Ukraine during the election.

“You can’t go through three days without a crime being committed by one of the Bidens,” Giuliani said while describing the evidence he has reviewed against the Biden family, including a hard drive, a copy of which was purportedly provided to the New York Post.

“They are basically a crime family. They started 30 years ago selling his office, for little money. Then big money. Then when he became vice president, there’s a pattern to it.”

CNBC：Wealthy Chinese exile Guo Wengui, tied to misinformation campaigns, sued by investors in media company

 Wealthy Chinese exile Guo Wengui, tied to misinformation campaigns, sued by investors in media company

PUBLISHED MON, AUG 23 2021

KEY POINTS

Wealthy Chinese businessman Guo Wengui, an outspoken critic of China’s government, and several others are accused of breaking state securities laws in a class-action lawsuit filed in Arizona.

The plaintiffs claim to have tried to invest in GTV Media, a media company linked to Guo, only to never see any proof that their money actually went toward the business.

The attorneys listed as representing Guo and the other defendants said they were prepared for a court battle.

Fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui hold a news conference on November 20, 2018 in New York, on the death of of tycoon Wang Jian in France on July 3, 2018.

Don Emmert | AFP | Getty Images

Wealthy Chinese businessman Guo Wengui, an outspoken critic of China’s government, and several others are accused of breaking state securities laws in a class-action lawsuit filed in Arizona.

The civil complaint was filed in late June in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. The plaintiffs claim to have tried to invest in GTV Media, a private media company linked to Guo, only to never see any proof that their money actually went toward the business.

Attorneys for Guo and other defendants called the allegations “unfounded” in an email to CNBC on Monday.

GTV’s website shows Guo as one of their main attractions, and research done by Graphika notes that the company is part of the businessman’s larger media empire.

“Each of these investors have not received a single cent back in return for the investment of their hard-earned money, even upon request for redemption, indicating the investments were anything but real, let alone risk-free or lucrative,” the filing says. “Nor have the investors received anything resembling proof of their investment or ownership interest. Instead, they are left with worthless paper or none at all.”

The legal fight also could provide a glimpse into the way funds were raised for GTV.

The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the fundraising efforts were being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The investigators were reportedly investigating GTV Media for possibly violating securities laws.

GTV Media said in a statement to the Journal at the time that it moved ahead with the private placement under the advisement of its attorneys and “all of the raised funds are intact.” The company also said it was ready to comply with federal authorities.

Another Journal report said Guo himself was being investigated by the FBI. A lawyer for Guo told the newspaper at the time that Guo had not been contacted by the FBI.

The FBI and SEC did not respond to requests for comment before publication. Federal investigators haven’t publicly announced any charges.

Guo has been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party and has used his live digital shows on GTV to blast the heads of the Chinese regime. Guo fled China in 2014 in anticipation of corruption charges. After he criticized China’s leaders, warrants were reportedly issued for his arrest on charges that included corruption and bribery. Guo has denied the charges.

Former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has been close to Guo for years. Bannon was involved with the media group, the Journal has reported. The newspaper also previously reported on financiers of the same media organization who also allege they were defrauded. Bannon is not listed as a defendant on the Arizona-based class-action suit. A spokesperson for Bannon did not respond to requests for comment.

The Graphika report claims that the businesses and foundations tied to Guo comprise a network that “acts as a prolific producer and amplifier of mis- and disinformation, including claims of voter fraud in the U.S., false information about Covid-19, and QAnon narratives.” A representative for Guo has previously denied that the Chinese businessman controls content on GTV.

The plaintiffs are seeking to recover damages. The suit alleges Guo and other defendants violated multiple state laws including the sale of unregistered securities and the fraudulent sale of securities.

It is unclear how much these investors aim to recover in damages. The complaint alleges that a colleague of Guo’s and an arm of the media company eventually raised at least $117 million from mainly inexperienced investors.

The attorneys for plaintiffs listed in the complaint told CNBC they have no interest in turning the case into a media event.

“We do not intend to litigate this case in the press. We do intend to pursue this action vigorously in the courts to vindicate the rights of the plaintiffs and the other defrauded investors,” Benjamin Y. Kaufman of the law firm Wolf Haldenstein said in an emailed statement Monday.

The attorneys listed as representing Guo and other defendants said they were prepared for a court battle.

“With respect to the Arizona lawsuit, our comment is simply that we will respond and vigorously defend our client in court against all of the unfounded allegations,” Jeffrey S. Gavenman of the law firm Schulman Bhattacharya told CNBC in an email.

A judge ruled this month that Guo and the other defendants have until September to speak with their accusers to “provide notice regarding any intent to move to dismiss the Complaint and, if so, the grounds upon which they intend to move.”

The case might not end up a big problem for Guo, unless something comes out during the discovery process, according to a lawyer who has been involved in cases against the Justice Department and the SEC.

“I am sure Mr. Guo, wherever he is, on whatever yacht or whatever palace or palatial apartment, I don’t think this caused him to get less than eight hours of sleep. This is to him, I’m sure, the cost of doing business,” Randy Zelin told CNBC.

According to the lawsuit, there were apparently two forms of investments Guo offered through his public broadcasts last year to people interested in funding GTV Media.

The lawsuit cites public comments made by Guo in which he claims those who meet the minimum $100,000 direct investment could go through “private placements,” although the lawsuit says that was “put in place to give supposed imprimatur of a legitimate and above-board operation and provide a veneer of only being available to accredited investors.”

Guo directed investors who could not meet the $100,000 threshold to go through Sara Wei, the lawsuit says. According to Wei’s LinkedIn page, she at least once had a leadership role at another Guo-linked media group, Voice of Guo Media. Wei’s lawyer is not listed on the complaint, and a representative for her could not be reached.

“Investors were told Ms. Wei was to pool the smaller sums of money and invest them in GTV through another entity, defendant Voice of Guo Media, Inc. (‘VOG’), on their behalf. Each of the Plaintiffs and the Class were such investors that invested in GTV securities through Ms. Wei and/or VOG,” the lawsuit says.

A representative for GTV told the Journal last year that it didn’t accept any money from Voice of Guo Media as part of the fundraising.

However, the plaintiffs allege that “having taken the investors’ money, Ms. Wei and VOG neither purchased shares of GTV nor returned the money to investors. They either kept the investors’ money for themselves or their affiliates; gave it to Guo, GTV, or some an entity associated with Guo without obtaining shares in GTV; or did some combination of both.”

The plaintiffs said they and other interested investors were told by Wei that they need to show proof they are donors to either the Rule of Law Society or the Rule of Law Foundation, two nonprofits with ties to Guo, in order to “qualify to invest.” CNBC reported on departures from the two foundations’ boards, including Bannon. Representatives for the foundations did not respond to requests for comment.

“Ms. Wei told investors, in Chinese, that ‘the first thing I need from you is your proof of donation to Rule of Law Foundation,’” the lawsuit says, noting that it was an unofficial translation. Wei continued, according to the suit: “Then, you need to tell me if you have more or less than $100,000. You must let me know. If it’s more than $100,000 I will contact the headquarter, if it’s less than $100,000, us VOG will collectively do it for you.”

Investors eventually became concerned with their initial investments in GTV. They inquired, but “no concrete information was forthcoming from Defendants,” the suit says.

Wei initially told investors last year, according to the complaint, that “the delay in confirming receipt of the investors’ transfers and in countersigning the Limited Purpose Agency Agreement was caused by Wells Fargo and Chase putting a portion of the funds on hold.”

The plaintiffs also claim that it was still unclear what happened to their investments even as federal authorities began investigating and as Wei allegedly said she was able to get the funds released from the banks.

After the federal investigation into GTV’s fundraising practices became public, investors who sent their money through the Voice of Guo began to request refunds from Wei and Guo himself, according to the legal complaint.

“Between August 2020 and the end of that year, Ms. Wei continued to ask VOG investors to wait patiently while she and her associates reached out to allegedly over 8,000 VOG investors to confirm receipt of their transfers before she could issue any refunds. Periodically, investors were asked to fill out Google forms designed to gather identifying information of the transfers they made,” the lawsuit says.

Guo and Wei also had a fallout, which complicated things further, the suit says.

“Based on information and belief, around the end of 2020, Mr. Guo and Ms. Wei reportedly had a fallout, which led to a halt in VOG and Ms. Wei’s supposed refund process,” the lawsuit says. “Each holding a portion of the $117 million, Mr. Guo and Ms. Wei each began blaming the other for defrauding the investors who sent money to Ms. Wei and/or VOG.”

The suit adds: “In 2021, Ms. Wei and Guo began to tell investors that they could no longer refund investments because of the ongoing SEC investigation.”

CNBC：Mystery shrouds nonprofit linked to wealthy Chinese exile Guo Wengui: Steve Bannon leaves, records kept secret

 Mystery shrouds nonprofit linked to wealthy Chinese exile: Steve Bannon leaves, records kept secret

PUBLISHED MON, AUG 16 2021

Brian Schwartz

@SCHWARTZBCNBC

KEY POINTS

The mystery surrounding a nonprofit group tied to wealthy Chinese exile Guo Wengui, an outspoken critic of the Chinese Communist Party, has grown over the past year.

Steve Bannon, a China hawk who once served as a top advisor to Donald Trump, is no longer on the board of the Rule of Law Society, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit.

A separate but related 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Rule of Law Foundation, has, meanwhile, refused to disclose financial documents it had pledged to make public.

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon (L) greets fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui before introducing him at a news conference on November 20, 2018 in New York.

Don Emmert | AFP | Getty Images

The mystery surrounding a nonprofit group tied to wealthy Chinese exile Guo Wengui, reportedly the key figure in a network accused of spreading disinformation about Covid vaccines and elections, has grown over the past year.

Steve Bannon, a China hawk who once served as a top advisor to Donald Trump, is no longer on the board of the Rule of Law Society, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. A separate but related 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Rule of Law Foundation, has, meanwhile, refused to disclose financial documents it had pledged to make public. Such nonprofits are required by the Internal Revenue Service to make these types of documents public.

Both the Rule of Law Society and Rule of Law Foundation promote themselves as organizations that “protect individuals speaking out against corruption and illegal activities in China.”

Bannon, one of the most ardent advocates for Trump’s “America First” ideology, left the group last summer, according to people familiar with the matter. A person close to Bannon said he left the board as his schedule filled up with other priorities, including his live show “War Room Pandemic.” 

Bannon’s departure also came around the time federal prosecutors charged him with allegedly defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through his “We Build the Wall” fundraising campaign, a person added. He was arrested on Guo’s yacht and pleaded not guilty in August 2020. Then-President Trump later pardoned Bannon.

It is unclear whether he left the group’s board before or after his arrest. The people who explained Bannon’s situation declined to be named in order to speak freely about a private matter.

Scrutiny of the Guo-linked nonprofits has grown as the rivalry between the United States and China has become increasingly more intense amid trade battles and the spread of Covid-19, which originated in China. Under Trump, who was advised by Bannon during the 2016 campaign and during his early days in office, the U.S. launched a trade war with China. The U.S. has continued its tough stances on China during the Biden administration.

Bannon has known Guo Wengui, also known as Miles Kwok, for years. The two have worked on several projects aimed at undermining and countering the leaders of China’s Communist Party.

The websites for the Rule of Law Foundation and Rule of Law Society feature disclaimers that say they aren’t affiliated with Guo. But the sites also feature pictures of the exiled businessman, and the Rule of Law Society’s site notes that he is a founder, partner and spokesman for the group.

Guo and Bannon launched the venture in late 2018. The Chinese businessman told The New York Times at the time that he was aiming to put $100 million toward the effort. Guo told the Times that he and Bannon were “partners.” Bannon was listed as chair of the Rule of Law Society in documents filed to New York’s Attorney General’s office.

The New York Times Magazine previously reported that Guo fled China in 2014 in anticipation of corruption charges. After he blasted China’s leadership, warrants were reportedly issued for his arrest on charges that included corruption and bribery.

Forbes reported in 2015 that Guo had a net worth of over $1 billion. The Wall Street Journal reported that fundraising for a media company linked to Guo and Bannon was under investigation by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bannon previously had a contract for at least $1 million with Guo Media, according to Axios.

Bannon did not respond to requests for comment. Guo could not be reached for comment.

Other departures

Beyond Bannon, other key figures are no longer involved with the nonprofits.

Kyle Bass, a hedge-fund manager and vocal China hawk, told CNBC that he resigned from his position as chair of the Rule of Law Foundation over a year ago to pursue other board opportunities.

“I love the mission of bringing the rule of law concept to China and to helping the good Chinese diaspora use the law to their advantage,” Bass said in a text message. “With most of the board members in NYC, I was a world away in Texas,” he added.

Jennifer Mercurio, who was once general counsel, secretary and director of the Rule of Law Foundation, according to the group’s 2019 990 tax return, told CNBC in an email that she stopped working for the foundation in February 2020. Mercurio did not respond to a follow-up email asking why she no longer works there.

Ross Heinemyer, who previously possessed the foundation’s “books and records,” no longer works there, he told CNBC in a LinkedIn message. He did not respond to follow-up requests for comment as to why he is no longer employed there, only to say that he no longer has access to the foundation’s documents.

Documents kept out of view

The Rule of Law Foundation’s 990 disclosure from 2019, the most recent year available, does not provide much information on who finances it or how it spends its money. 

The group finished raising over $4 million in 2019. The filing says it spent just under $50,000 on salaries and around $340,000 on other expenses. It finished the year with just over $3.8 million in assets. The filing does not list who contributed or how many donations it received that year. It remains unclear where the remainder of the foundation’s assets went in 2020 and beyond.

In reviewing the foundation’s 990 disclosure to the IRS, CNBC found a line that says “all governing documents, conflict of interest policy, financial statements and tax documents of the organization are available for public inspection at the organization’s office.”

A CNBC reporter on Friday visited the office on the east side of Manhattan to request copies of the documents that the foundation says are available to the public.

The address of the New York office listed on the tax document matches the one that officially calls itself “The Himalaya Embassy.” The Daily Beast visited the office earlier this year and reported that the building was custom designed in 2015 by Argentine billionaire Eduardo Eurnekian. It also notes Guo has converted the building’s residential floors into office spaces for his associated media and nonprofit groups.

Both the Rule of Law Foundation and Rule of Law Society have the same principal address, N.Y. disclosure reports show. The organizations are both listed in a report by Graphika highlighting what it says is a “network [that] acts as a prolific producer and amplifier of mis- and disinformation, including claims of voter fraud in the U.S., false information about Covid-19, and QAnon narratives.”

Exterior of the Himalaya Embassy in New York.

Brian Schwartz | CNBC

As a CNBC reporter approached the front door of “The Himalaya Embassy,” a man opened the door, seemingly by mistake, and allowed the reporter to walk into the lobby.

A security guard then stopped the reporter and asked why he was there. The reporter explained that he wanted to review the documents that were said to be available to the public. He then showed the guard a screenshot of the line from the 990 that says the documents can be reviewed at the group’s New York offices.

The security guard then asked if he could take the reporter’s phone to show the heads of the foundation, who were apparently at the office at the time. The reporter declined and texted the security guard a screenshot of the 990 form instead. The security official then asked the reporter to leave the building so that the guard could bring the request up to the foundation heads.

The guard later emerged from the building and claimed that those he spoke with were “shocked” that the 990 disclosure said the documents are available for public review.

“It was shocking to them. You should’ve saw their reaction when they read it. They were shocked,” the guard said. The security guard also said that whoever he spoke with said that CNBC needed to email the organization to set up an appointment.

Exterior of the Himalaya Embassy in New York.

Brian Schwartz | CNBC

The reporter then provided the security guard with his business card and asked whether the group could provide their email address. The security guard reentered the building to retrieve the email address. The reporter then spotted through a window an unidentified man wearing what appeared to be Apple AirPods sitting in the building.

The guard later came back outside to say CNBC needed to reach out to the foundation over the email addresses listed on their website and make an appointment. The guard then said the foundation wouldn’t accept the business card because they were worried about Covid infection.

Both foundations did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

CNBC also reached out to Janover LLC, an accounting firm that the filing says prepared the disclosure to file to the IRS. They declined to assist.

“I don’t even recognize the name of the client you were referring to, we have over 8000 clients.  Regardless, since you are a journalist, you’re well aware that we legally cannot provide any documents without a subpoena,” Mark Goodman, a managing partner at the firm, told CNBC in an email. “Further, we have no responsibility to ensure that any documents are made public.  Just the opposite, we have a fiduciary duty to our clients to maintain confidentiality.”