The Americans for Public Trust (APT) watchdog group filed a campaign finance complaint against Patagonia’s tax-exempt arm for allegedly misrepresenting donations to Democrat political action committees.
The complaint alleges that the contributions were misidentified, violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA).
According to the complaint, “With these tremendous resources, and the subsequent desire to pour this money into American politics, there should come great responsibility and transparency.”
“The very bedrock of these responsibilities should include providing accurate contributor information so that most basic disclosure and transparency requirements of [FECA] can be met,” it continues.
The donations were made by two separate nonprofits overseen by the Holdfast Collective but incorrectly attributed to the Collective in FEC filings.
APT Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland said, “It is unacceptable that a for-profit company posed as a donor to mask a network of nonprofit organizations working to quietly influence our political system.”
“By misreporting the source of the donations, Holdfast is trying to hide its true organizational structure that operates as a $1.7 billion ATM for liberal groups,” she continued.
Patagonia suggests the error may have been made by the recipient PACs.
Patagonia spokesperson Corley Kenna wrote in a statement, “If you review the respective 990s these organizations have filed with the IRS, you will see a list of our political contributions, which are accurate as to the donating organization.”
This incident sheds light on Patagonia’s unconventional support for left-wing causes and political campaigns, facilitated through its network of trusts and LLCs managed by the Holdfast Collective.
