Lee Fang
Encyclopedia
Lee Fang is an investigative researcher and blogger. He writes for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress
. Fang has drawn attention for a 2010 article about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Fang was an intern with ThinkProgress and also a researcher for Progressive Accountability. As an undergraduate, Fang also interned for Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones
(D-OH), Media Matters
, and Westin Rinehart.
The story attracted national attention. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce denied Fang's charge, stating on its website that "no foreign money is used to fund political activities. All allegations to the contrary are totally and completely false." Fang discussed the story on National Public Radio, and on MSNC with Keith Olbermann
. Fang told MSNBC's Keith Olbermann
that the Chamber is "going to foreign businesses and foreign individuals, saying, 'if you send us checks, you'll have a voice in American public policy debates.' They're sending those checks to the same bank account used for the attack ads."
While not mentioning Fang by name, The New York Times
judicial columnist Eric Lichtblau
, the Associated Press
, and Factcheck.org questioned the veracity of his ThinkProgress
article's claims. Lichtblau mentioned Fang's article by name, "Exclusive: Foreign-Funded ‘U.S.’ Chamber of Commerce Running Partisan Attack Ads,” and wrote that the press "provided no evidence that the money generated overseas had been used in United States campaigns. Still, liberal groups like MoveOn.org pounced on the allegations, resulting in protests at the chamber’s offices, a demand for a federal investigation by Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, and ultimately the remarks by Mr. Obama himself."
ThinkProgress
ThinkProgress is an American political blog edited by Faiz Shakir that "provide[s] a forum that advances progressive ideas and policies". It is an outlet of the Center for American Progress.-Sections:...
. Fang has drawn attention for a 2010 article about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Early Life and Career
Fang's hometown is in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He attended college at the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated with a B.A. in Government and Politics.Fang was an intern with ThinkProgress and also a researcher for Progressive Accountability. As an undergraduate, Fang also interned for Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Stephanie "Tubbs" Jones was a Democratic politician and member of the United States House of Representatives. She represented the 11th District of Ohio, which encompasses most of downtown and eastern Cleveland and many of the eastern suburbs in Cuyahoga County, including Euclid, Cleveland Heights,...
(D-OH), Media Matters
Media Matters
Media Matters can refer to:* Media Matters for America, progressive media watchdog group founded by author David Brock* The radio program Media Matters hosted by communications professor Robert W. McChesney...
, and Westin Rinehart.
Controversy over Chamber of Commerce article
On October 5, 2010, Fang wrote a story on ThinkProgress.Org stating that the United States Chamber of Commerce funded political attack campaigns from its general fund which solicits funds from foreign sources. The article, citing unnamed legal experts, stated that the chamber is "likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law that bans the involvement of foreign corporations in American elections."The story attracted national attention. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce denied Fang's charge, stating on its website that "no foreign money is used to fund political activities. All allegations to the contrary are totally and completely false." Fang discussed the story on National Public Radio, and on MSNC with Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann
Keith Theodore Olbermann is an American political commentator and writer. He has been the chief news officer of the Current TV network and the host of Current TV's weeknight political commentary program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, since June 20, 2011...
. Fang told MSNBC's Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann
Keith Theodore Olbermann is an American political commentator and writer. He has been the chief news officer of the Current TV network and the host of Current TV's weeknight political commentary program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, since June 20, 2011...
that the Chamber is "going to foreign businesses and foreign individuals, saying, 'if you send us checks, you'll have a voice in American public policy debates.' They're sending those checks to the same bank account used for the attack ads."
While not mentioning Fang by name, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
judicial columnist Eric Lichtblau
Eric Lichtblau
Eric Lichtblau is an American journalist and Washington bureau reporter for The New York Times.-Life:Lichtblau joined The Times in September 2002 as a correspondent covering the Justice Department. Previously, Lichtblau worked at the Los Angeles Times for 15 years, where he also covered the Justice...
, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, and Factcheck.org questioned the veracity of his ThinkProgress
ThinkProgress
ThinkProgress is an American political blog edited by Faiz Shakir that "provide[s] a forum that advances progressive ideas and policies". It is an outlet of the Center for American Progress.-Sections:...
article's claims. Lichtblau mentioned Fang's article by name, "Exclusive: Foreign-Funded ‘U.S.’ Chamber of Commerce Running Partisan Attack Ads,” and wrote that the press "provided no evidence that the money generated overseas had been used in United States campaigns. Still, liberal groups like MoveOn.org pounced on the allegations, resulting in protests at the chamber’s offices, a demand for a federal investigation by Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, and ultimately the remarks by Mr. Obama himself."