Center for Political Innovation (CPI)

In 2022, several CPI-associated persons who described themselves as “Caleb Maupin’s former comrades” accused Maupin of sexual misconduct and other “abusive and exploitative behavior.” ² The organization briefly dissolved, but reorganized in November 2022, with CPI claiming that “some of the individuals involved in the smears” were paid for their “disruptive activities.” ¹

The group has participated in anti-Ukraine and pro-China “Rage Against the War Machine” protests in Washington, D.C. and a national gathering in Portland, Oregon, to plan for an end to American “imperialism” and for a future increasingly dominated by Russia and China. ¹

Activities

Center for Political Innovation spreads its message through public events and conferences, protesting capitalism and supposed fascism and imperialism in domestic and foreign settings. It supports the African People’s Socialist Party, an American-based, pan-African socialist movement. ³

CPI defends the domestic and military policies of the Russian government. In 2022, its Chicago conference “Unite Against the Imperialists” featured an opening ceremony with a Soviet victory flag, Chinese flag, and U.S. flag flying together. Maupin called for China, Russia, and the United States to come together to defeat “fascism,” and the organization gave an award in front of a hammer-and-sickle flag to Tara Reade, notable for making unconfirmed accusations of sexual misconduct against President Joe Biden. ⁴

CPI “ideological leader” ¹ Caleb Maupin led a U.S. delegation to the Russian-sponsored World Youth Festival in March 2024, at which he criticized President Biden’s hostility towards Russia and claimed that the American people want friendship with Russia, China, and North Korea. ⁵

People

Leadership

Elisabeth Young (sometimes spelled Elizabeth Young) is the president of Center for Political Innovation and leads anti-imperialist, socialist events and movements. ⁶ Djedah Domingo sits on the CPI board of directors. ¹

Caleb Maupin

Caleb Maupin founded CPI and, before that, Students and Youth for a New America after leaving the Marxist-Leninist Workers World Party. He has written for the Russian state-run media outlet RT (formerly Russia Today), and has written positively of the Russian Revolution. ⁷ CPI describes Maupin as its “ideological leader.” ¹

Caleb Maupin was raised in Ohio and became an avowed Communist in elementary school, joining the Marxist-Leninist Workers World Party in his teens. ⁸

In 2015, he sought to break a Saudi blockade and deliver Iran-provided aid to the people of Yemen. At the time, Maupin said, “I love Iran and Iran’s Islamic Revolution.” ⁹

He defends extremist regimes around the world, including North Korea, Iran, and Hamas, on social media. ¹⁰ Maupin also has consistently defended Russian foreign policy. CPI claims that in 2022, the Ukrainian government placed Maupin on a list of “information terrorists” that CPI describes as a “kill list.” ¹

In 2022, several former colleagues of CPI founder Caleb Maupin came forward with allegations of sexual abuse and harassment and other misconduct against him. A letter signed by various “former comrades” of Maupin alleged that “Caleb paid a member for sex who he knew was economically desperate, and then went on to push them out of the group and slander them.” Others alleged that Maupin encouraged them to leverage their personal finances for CPI work and reneged on promises to reimburse them. ²

In August 2022, shortly after these allegations went public, the executive committee of CPI voted to dissolve the organization. ¹¹ In November of that year, the organization reformed after “overcoming an internal struggle, internet smear campaign and attempted hostile takeover.” The group claimed that “individuals involved in the smears and internal sabotage have now admitted they were compensated for their disruptive activities.” ¹  

As of April 2024, Maupin is still publicly affiliated with CPI. ¹