The Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund (CLDEF) is a nonprofit educational organization that seeks to protect the written text of the Constitution and the rule of law. CLDEF’s projects include Expose the Steal, the Patriot Defense Fund, and the Center for Medical Freedom. ¹

Projects

Expose the Steal

Expose the Steal was created to expose alleged corruption in the voting process, especially as it regards the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Expose the Steal claims that there is corruption within all major U.S. institutions, including media, all levels of government, academia, the deep state, Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and organized religion. Expose the Steal aims to report the deep corruption in vote counting which it claims damages the U.S. as a constitutional republic. ²

Patriot Defense Fund

The Patriot Defense Fund was created to aid conservative leaders that it claims are unfairly accused of wrongdoing. The fund cites abusive government power and the danger of the administrative state in cases where conservative leaders and pro-family activists have been targeted for investigation. The Patriot Defense Fund has helped defend the constitutional rights of former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), gun rights activist Dick Heller, and former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. ³

Center for Medical Freedom

In 2021, CLDEF’s Center for Medical Freedom sent letters to private and public colleges supporting demands from students and parents that Virginia higher education institutions revoke their COVID-19 vaccine mandates, claiming the vaccines were dangerous. ⁴

In 2020, the Center for Medical Freedom collaborated with the Senior Citizens League to oppose the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s proposal to impose new controls over homeopathy, claiming that the FDA does not have statutory authority to regulate homeopathy, as homeopathic remedies are not drugs. ⁴

Funding

The Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While CLDEF does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm a donation of $35,000 from America’s Future in 2021. ⁵

Financials

The Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund has filed a 990-N postcard for tax years 2018 through 2022, claiming less than $50,000 in revenue. In 2017, CLDEF filed a 990-EZ form reporting $42,230 in total revenue. ⁶

Board of Directors

Lawrence (Larry) Pratt is the president of CLDEF and executive director emeritus of Gun Owners of America. Pratt is the president of English First and the affiliated English First Foundation. ⁷

James N. Clymer is the vice president of CLDEF and the managing partner of Clymer, Musser & Sarno, P.C. Clymer has worked with the American Center for Law and Justice, the Rutherford Institute, and the Home School Legal Defense Association. Clymer is a former national chair of the Constitution Party, formerly sat on the Conservative Caucus, and is twice a former candidate for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. ⁸

William J. Olson is general counsel for CLDEF. Olson is legal counsel for the Free Speech Coalition, the affiliated Free Speech Defense and Education Fund, and Gun Owners of America. ⁹ Olson is a former chair of the Fairfax County Republican Committee and a former member of the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. ¹⁰

Dave Daubenmire sits on the legal advisory committee of CLDEF. Daubenmire is a Christian broadcaster and founder of Pass the Salt Ministries. ¹¹

1. “How to Help CLDEF.” Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund. Accessed March 7, 2024. http://cldef.org/wordpress/how-to-help-cldef/.
2. “Expose the Steal.” Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund. Accessed March 9, 2024. http://cldef.org/wordpress/expose-the-steal/.
3.  “Patriot Defense Fund.” Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund. Accessed March 9, 2024. http://cldef.org/wordpress/patriot-defense-fund/.
4. “Center for Medical Freedom.” Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund. Accessed March 9, 2024. http://cldef.org/wordpress/center-for-medical-freedom/.
5. America’s Future, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2021, Schedule I, Part II.
6. Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-EZ), 2017, Part I, Line 9.
7. “Lawence D Pratt.” ProPublica. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/name_search?q=%22lawrence+d+pratt%22.
8. “James N. Clymer, Esq.” Clymer, Musser & Sarno, P.C. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://clymerlaw.com/attorneys/attorney-profiles/james-n-clymer/.
9. Gun Owners of America, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Section B, Line 1.
10. “William J. Olson.” William J. Olson, P.C. Accessed March 9, 2024. http://www.lawandfreedom.com/wordpress/william-j-olson/.
11. “Meet Coach.” Coach Dave Live. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://coachdavelive.com/meet-coach.