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Person

Whitney Tymas

Nationality:

American
Occupation:

Lawyer and Political Activist
Political Party:

Democrat
Residence:

Richmond, Virginia

Whitney Tymas is a left-leaning lawyer and political activist who advocates for radical criminal justice reforms. 1 She is the president and treasurer of the Justice and Safety PAC, a collection of more than 20 similarly named political action committees (PACs) at the federal and state levels for the purpose of supporting left-leaning district attorneys. 2 3

Tymas has previously commented that African Americans remain “unfree” and claimed “racial injustice” is ever present and underpins American history. 4 Tymas has also commented how Justice and Safety PACs are “leveling the playing field” in prosecutors’ races across the country because local prosecutors’ offices hold the power to curtail police abuses of power. 5 6

Previously, Tymas was the director of the prosecution and racial justice program at the left-of-center Vera Institute of Justice and senior attorney for the National District Attorneys Association. 7

Career

Whitney Tymas is currently the president and treasurer of Justice and Safety PAC and has acted as a political organizer for the PAC since 2015. 8 9 In this role, she leads a network of “safety and justice” PACs, a collection of more than 20 similarly named PACs at the federal and state level funded by George Soros, to support left-leaning district attorney candidates. 10

Previously Tymas was the director of the prosecution and racial justice program at the left-of-center Vera Institute of Justice, a senior attorney for the National District Attorneys Association, and the chair of Maricopa Strong, which opposed controversial then-Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio (R). 11 12

She has been on the board of directors for left-of-center advocacy groups Way to Win and the Civic Participation Action Fund (CPAF). 13 14

Safety and Justice PACs

In her role as president of the Justice and Safety PAC, Whitney Tymas has “directed Soros’ efforts in their campaigns” in many states and municipalities as a part of the “first sustained national effort of its type to engage in tough fights” in district attorney elections across the country. 15 16

Tymas’s PACs have supported left-wing candidates in several high-profile races including:

Tymas is the director or treasurer for state-level “Justice and Safety” PACs, including Arizona Safety & Justice, California Safety & Justice, Colorado Safety & Justice PAC, Florida Safety and Justice, Georgia Safety and Justice, Mississippi Justice & Public Safety PAC, Missouri Justice and Public Safety PAC, Nevada Law & Justice PAC, New Mexico Safety and Justice PAC, New York Justice & Safety PAC, Oregon Law & Justice PAC, and  Texas Justice & Public Safety PAC. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Political Contributions

Whitney Tymas has made Federal Election Commission-reportable contributions to numerous Democratic Party-affiliated candidates, committees, and organizations. Since 2016 she has contributed to the 2020 presidential campaign of Joe Biden (D); the failed 2016 presidential bid of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); and the campaigns of Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and former Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). 29 She has also contributed to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Democratic Party of Virginia, the anti-Trump Need to Impeach super PAC, Let America Vote PAC, Color of Change PAC, left-of-center MoveOn.org Political Action, The Action PAC – Unlimited, and the Democratic Attorneys General Association. 30

Personal Information

Whitney Tymas holds a B.A. from Barnard College and received a J.D. from New York University School of Law. 31 32 She resides in Richmond, Virginia. 33

References

  1. Tymas, Whitney. “Juneteenth: Changing local politics, not just protests, vital for racial progress.” USA Today. June 19, 2020. Updated June 20, 2020. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/2020/06/19/juneteenth-right-prosecutors-not-just-protests-vital-racial-progress/3223742001/.
  2. Tymas, Whitney. “Juneteenth: Changing local politics, not just protests, vital for racial progress.” USA Today. June 19, 2020. Updated June 20, 2020. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/2020/06/19/juneteenth-right-prosecutors-not-just-protests-vital-racial-progress/3223742001/.
  3. “Safety & Justice.” Federal Election Commission of the United States. Campaign Committee Profiles. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00616094/?tab=about-committee&cycle=2016.
  4. Tymas, Whitney. “Juneteenth: Changing local politics, not just protests, vital for racial progress.” USA Today. June 19, 2020. Updated June 20, 2020. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/2020/06/19/juneteenth-right-prosecutors-not-just-protests-vital-racial-progress/3223742001/.
  5. McKinley, Jesse. “Soros Adds Intrigue and $800,000 to D.A. Race, Backing Progressive.” New York Times. November 4, 2019. Updated November 6, 2019. Accessed via Web Archive. September 19, 2021. https://archive.is/z2W4f.
  6. White, Jeremy B. “Floyd death propels police reformers in key prosecutor races.” Politico. June 10, 2020. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/06/10/floyd-death-propels-police-reformers-in-key-prosecutor-races-1291855.
  7. “Whitney Tymas.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 18, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-tymas-56602837/.
  8. Tymas, Whitney. “Juneteenth: Changing local politics, not just protests, vital for racial progress.” USA Today. June 19, 2020. Updated June 20, 2020. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/2020/06/19/juneteenth-right-prosecutors-not-just-protests-vital-racial-progress/3223742001/.
  9. “Whitney Tymas.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 18, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-tymas-56602837/.
  10. “Safety & Justice.” Federal Election Commission of the United States. Campaign Committee Profiles. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00616094/?tab=about-committee&cycle=2016.
  11. “Whitney Tymas.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 18, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-tymas-56602837/.
  12. Billeaud, Jacques. “Tough Phoenix sheriff may have new foe: George Soros.” Associated Press. September 14, 2016. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://apnews.com/article/d8c4fa3a9c784a318d79f1aaeb04ce63
  13. “Way to Win Action Fund Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/825528039/02_2020_prefixes_82-84%2F825528039_201812_990O_2020020617114568.
  14. “The Civic Participation Action Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2020/10/Civic-Participation-Action-Fund-2018-990.pdf.
  15. Tymas, Whitney. “Juneteenth: Changing local politics, not just protests, vital for racial progress.” USA Today. June 19, 2020. Updated June 20, 2020. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/2020/06/19/juneteenth-right-prosecutors-not-just-protests-vital-racial-progress/3223742001/.
  16. “Criminal Injustice.” Pittsburgh Public Radio. November 7, 2017. Accessed September 19, 2021. http://www.criminalinjusticepodcast.com/blog/2018/2/17/70-how-influencing-local-elections-could-reform-the-prosecutors-office?rq=tymas.
  17. Hinton, Rachel. “Another billionaire weights in on state’s attorney’s race: George Soros gives $2 million to group backing Foxx. Chicago Sun-Times. February 20, 2020. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://archive.is/z2W4f.
  18. “Philadelphia Justice & Public Safety.” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Campaign Finance Report. March 28, 2017. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://files7.philadelphiavotes.com/campaign-finance/reports/2017/cycle_2/22_political_action_committees/phila_justice_and_public_safety_pac.pdf.
  19. Jouvenal, Justin and Weiner, Rachel. “PAC funded by George Soros pumps nearly $1 million into local races for prosecutor.” Washington Post. June 4, 2019. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/pac-funded-by-george-soros-pumps-nearly-1-million-into-local-races-for-prosecutor/2019/06/04/c2df1b08-86f0-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html.
  20. Billeaud, Jacques. “Group linked to Soros opposes Phoenix prosecutor’s campaign.” Arizona Central (Associated Press). October 15, 2016. Updated October 15, 2016. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2016/10/15/group-linked-soros-opposes-phoenix-prosecutors-campaign/92156474/.
  21. Walters, Dan. “Billionaire Soros was a big loser in California vote.” Cal Matters. June 27, 2018. Accessed September 29, 2021. https://calmatters.org/commentary/2018/06/george-soros-california-2018-primary/.
  22. Denver Post Editorial Board. “Misleading Attacks by George Soros in Colorado.” The Denver Post. Posted and updated November 2, 2016. Accessed via Web Archive September 19, 2021.  https://archive.is/cevY5.
  23. Cherney, Elyssa. “Records: Billionaire George Soros bankrolling Orange-Osceola State Attorney challenger.” Orlando Sentinel. August 10, 2016. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-george-soros-jeff-ashton-election-federal-and-state-records-indicate-billion-20160810-story.html.
  24. Megan Messerly, Michelle Rindels, Riley Snyder, and Jackie Valley. “Spending spree continues in heated Democratic gubernatorial primary, with Sisolak leading the charge.” The Nevada Independent. June 8, 2018. Accessed September 19, 2019. https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/laxalt-raked-in-big-money-but-spent-more-during-recent-filing-period.
  25. Fleming, Rory. “When a ‘Progressive’ Prosecutor Ditches Reform to Grab More Power.” Filter. April 7, 2020. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://filtermag.org/progressive-prosecutor-ditch-reform/.
  26. Craig, Gary. “Why the Soros-funded ads are creating so much controversy in the District Attorney’s race.” Democrat and Chronicle. October 29, 2019. Updated November 1, 2019. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://archive.is/ZIeiU.
  27. Tilkin, Dan. “Outside money heats up Washington County DA race.” KOIN News. April 25, 2018. Updated April 26, 2018. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.koin.com/news/politics/outside-money-heats-up-washington-county-da-race/1141161739/.
  28. Peterson, Blake. “Soros again pumps money into Harris County district attorney’s race.” Houston Chronicle. September 19, 2021. Accessed via Web Archive. October 13, 2021. https://archive.is/olmgn.
  29. “Individual contributions.” Federal Election Commission. Search Results for Whitney Tymas. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=whitney%20tymas.
  30. “Individual contributions.” Federal Election Commission. Search Results for Whitney Tymas. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=whitney%20tymas.
  31. “Whitney Tymas, ’76: Power Concedes Nothing Without a Demand.” The Potomac School. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.potomacschool.org/exemplary-lives/tymas.
  32. “Whitney Tymas.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 18, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-tymas-56602837/.
  33. “Whitney Tymas.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 18, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-tymas-56602837/
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