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THREAD: Back in February, I started reporting on a trio of brothers who used social media to spread disinformation and sow discord within the GOP, including in MN. The story was shelved when COVID19 hit... until now. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/04/20/behind-calls-to-reopen-economy-a-mn-activist-and-his-family
Ben Dorr and members of his family are behind protests in MN and elsewhere, using their pro-gun social media platforms to demand restrictions meant to fight coronavirus be lifted. They've harnessed the passion of hundreds of thousands of followers to make those rallies happen.
But before they were arguing against quarantine measures, the Dorrs were calling out conservative lawmakers in IA, OH, MN and elsewhere for not being *conservative enough* on issues like gun and abortion. In MN, Ben Dorr operates Minnesota Gun Rights and Minnesota Right to Life.
Rep. Josh Heintzeman, who has what anti-abortion groups would call a "perfect" voting record on the issue, is among Dorr's targets. At the start of this year's #mnleg session, Dorr was filmed asking Heintzeman's son if he knew his dad "votes to kill babies." (That's false.)
Across multiple states, Ben Dorr and his brothers have raised millions using these tactics: Calling out conservative lawmakers for not being conservative enough, posting videos of their confrontations on social media, and asking followers for donations or paid for memberships.
A lingering question is how that money is being spent. In MN, there's little evidence Ben Dorr's group, Minnesota Gun Rights, has spent money on campaigns or lobbying.
But publicly available documents filed with the IRS suggest a lot of that money is going back into printing direct mail - a service provided to the Dorr's non-profit activist groups by a company called Midwest Freedom Enterprises, a for-profit company owned by the Dorrs.
Ties between non-profits and the for-profit companies they hire must be disclosed to the IRS. But to date, the Dorrs haven't made those connections clear on tax forms.
Read more here: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/04/20/behind-calls-to-reopen-economy-a-mn-activist-and-his-family
PS: If you want to know more about the Dorr's father, Paul, read this excellent story from @AlexBaumhardt over at @apmreports. Total coincidence that we ended up reporting months apart on members of the same family, but Alex's insight was invaluable. https://www.apmreports.org/story/2019/08/29/paul-dorr-tactics-to-defeat-school-referendums
