Civic Truth Action is a political action committee (PAC) that previously received funding from Evidence for Impact, an advocacy group whose “beneficial owner,” Ezra Reese, is an attorney for legal firm  Elias Law Group. The firm is led by American attorney Marc Elias, whom has provided legal services for left-of-center organizations and Democratic Party-connected campaigns. The PAC was formed in July 2024, and produced campaign ads in support of Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver during the 2024 presidential election. Oliver’s campaign was accused of attempting to steal right-leaning votes away from former President Donald Trump, who would go on to win the general election in November 2024. ^{1 2}

Activities

According to an October 2024 article published by the Washington Free Beacon, Civic Truth Action funded campaign ads via YouTube in support of Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver during the 2024 presidential election. The online ads were targeted primarily at young male voters in key battleground states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada. One ad claimed Oliver was a “fiscally-responsible, anti-big government, [and] true conservative” candidate. ^{1 3 4}

Another ad centered on Pennsylvania voters claimed “[t]he media says voting for the person who will eliminate income taxes and protect freedoms is a waste. You know what I say? Screw ‘em, I’m voting for Chase Oliver.”  ¹

Funding

Am October 2024 Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing discloses that Civic Truth Action received $4,350,000 from Evidence for Impact, a D.C.-based activist group ⁵ whose “beneficial owner,” Ezra Reese, is an attorney for the Elias Law Group. The firm is led by Marc Elias, who has provided legal services for left-of-center organizations and Democratic Party-connected campaigns. ¹ Elias previously served as general counsel for Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign for the Democrat Party nomination. ¹

Financials

According to records on OpenSecrets, between July and November 2024 Civic Truth Action reported $6,224,325 in expenses. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, the PAC spent roughly $3,244,051 to provide support for the 2024 presidential campaign of Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver. ²

Open Secrets and FEC data also show that Civic Truth Action donated to several left-of-center groups in 2024, including $80,000 to Civic Truth Coalition in October ^{1 5} and $55,000 to Retire Career Politicians in July. ⁶

Leadership

Christopher Koob was listed as the treasurer of the group, according to FEC data. ^{7 8} Koob has previously worked for organizations affiliated with Democratic Party campaigns including the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). ⁹

1. Ross, Chuck. “Kamala Harris Campaign Attorney Marc Elias Linked to Swing-State Ads Boosting Libertarian Candidate.” Free Beacon, October 25, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/elections/kamala-harris-campaign-attorney-marc-elias-linked-to-swing-state-ads-boosting-libertarian-candidate/.
2. “Civic Truth Action Recipients, 2024.” Open Secrets. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail/2024?cmte=C00883827&tab=targeted_candidates.
3. “Advertiser – Civic Truth Action.” Google. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://adstransparency.google.com/advertiser/AR17082356813447299073/creative/CR17531452887568220161?region=US&topic=political.
4. “Chase Oliver presidential campaign, 2024.” Ballotpedia. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Chase_Oliver_presidential_campaign,_2024.
5.  “Report of Receipts and Disbursements – Civic Truth Action.” FEC, October 16, 2024. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/366/202410249719536366/202410249719536366.pdf.
6. “Schedule A – Retire Career Politicians.” Federal Election Commission (FEC), July 15, 2024. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202408209666697331.
7. “Civic Truth Action.” FEC.gov. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00883827/?tab=about-committee
8. “Statement of Organization – Civic Truth Action.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00883827/1804925/.
9. “Chris Koob.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-koob-4521595.