US authorities prepare offensive against George Soros' foundation.

247 - The U.S. Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has instructed at least six federal prosecutor's offices to develop plans to investigate the Open Society Foundations, a philanthropic network created by billionaire George Soros. This information was revealed by [source missing]. The New York Times, who had access to a copy of the internal memo sent to the prosecutors' offices.

According to the newspaper, the order came from a high-ranking official in the department and lists possible accusations against the agency, ranging from arson to providing material support to terrorism. The document suggests that the department's leaders were carrying out direct instructions from President Donald Trump, breaking with decades of practice that sought to shield the agency from political interference.

Presidential pressure and political targets

Last weekend, Trump intensified public calls for Pam Bondi to take action against longtime adversaries, such as former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has filed multimillion-dollar lawsuits against the current president and his companies. Now, the focus is once again on Soros, who has supported progressive causes for decades and has become a recurring target of the American right.

Following the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in Utah this month, Trump threatened to use the state apparatus to “silence” liberal protesters and funders of progressive organizations. In an interview with NBC News, he stated that Soros is “a bad guy” who “should be in prison.”

Basis of the accusations and the foundation's reaction.

The memorandum, signed by lawyer Aakash Singh, recommends that prosecutors in states such as California, New York, Illinois, and Maryland evaluate charges such as racketeering, wire fraud, and terrorist financing. The text cites a report by the Capital Research Center, a conservative organization that monitors political finance, according to which the foundation allegedly allocated more than $80 million to groups linked to extremist activities—including the Palestinian organization al-Haq, classified by Israel in 2022 as a front for terrorism. At the time, the Open Society criticized the Israeli decision, alleging a lack of evidence and an attempt to silence human rights groups.

Department of Justice spokesman Chad Gilmartin defended the initiative: “This DOJ, along with our dedicated prosecutors, will always prioritize public safety and investigate organizations that conspire to commit acts of violence or other violations of federal law.”

The Open Society Foundations refuted the accusations in a statement: “These are politically motivated attacks against civil society, aimed at silencing speech with which the administration disagrees and weakening the constitutional right to freedom of expression.” The organization further stated that its activities are “peaceful and legal” and that its work in the country aims to “strengthen democracy and defend constitutional freedoms.”

Political context and liberal reaction

The offensive against Soros comes amid a heated political climate. In August, Trump had already suggested on social media that Soros and his son should be prosecuted under the RICO Act, usually used against the mafia, for allegedly supporting violent protests.

Last week, the Open Society joined more than one hundred liberal foundations in condemning political violence and repudiating attempts to criminalize its activities. “Organizations should not be attacked for fulfilling their missions or expressing their values,” the joint letter stated. Around the same time, the Soros family announced a $10 million donation to Democratic campaigns for redrawing electoral districts in California, part of the national contest for control of Congress.