New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against the VDARE Foundation and its leaders, Peter Brimelow and Lydia Brimelow, on charges of rampant self-dealing, misuse of charitable assets, and obstruction of justice. In a press release, the Attorney General's Office detailed how the couple allegedly used at least $2 million from the organization to benefit themselves and their family, a clear violation of New York law.
According to the New York Attorney General's Office, the Brimelows engaged in a nefarious scheme to continuously and deliberately enrich themselves through VDARE's coffers. The lawsuit alleges they went so far as to purchase a castle in West Virginia under the guise of operational needs for offices and conferences, only to then move into it and later transfer its ownership to entities they controlled. "Charities are intended to serve the public, not to bankroll castles or pad personal fortunes," Letitia James stated, stressing the need to hold the Brimelows accountable and prevent further abuse of donor trust.
The investigation, which began in 2022, has been obstructed at numerous turns by the Brimelows, according to the Attorney General's Office. They allegedly ignored subpoenas and withheld records, leading to VDARE being held in contempt of court twice, amassing substantial fines in the process. In response to increased scrutiny, the Brimelows reportedly accelerated their asset-stripping, even though VDARE had falsely claimed to shut down and ceased operating their website.
Venturing further to secure their financial interests, the Brimelows are accused of setting up lease agreements and backdated loans to siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars from VDARE. The lawsuit seeks to achieve justice by ordering the restitution of misused funds, dissolving the VDARE Foundation, and banning the Brimelows from managing or soliciting for any New York charity. Attorney General James also intends to ensure the remaining assets are responsibly distributed to legitimate charities.
The case is being handled by a skilled team from the Civil Rights and Charities Bureaus of the New York Attorney General’s office. By uncovering and addressing the flagrant violations perpetrated by VDARE's leaders, the New York Attorney General continues to reinforce the integrity of charitable organizations and the public's faith in them.
