King Street Hides Donors, Tied to GOP

The Lone Star Project has examined documents surrendered by the Houston-based King Street Patriots in response to a legal challenge by the Texas Democratic Party. After reviewing the material, it is clear that the King Street extremists are continuing to hide the source of their income and that they have direct ties to the Republican activists behind the 2004 Swift Boat attacks and the Republican Party itself.

King Street hiding source of $80,000

Though acknowledging the receipt of over $80,000, the King Street extremists refuse to disclose who contributed the money. Incredibly, the group contends that the funds were raised by “passing the hat” at their meetings. To put this outrageous claim into perspective, it would take 1,600 people contributing $50 each to raise $80,000 while a group of 400 people would have to contribute an average of $200 each. According to activist participants, the King Street extremists' meeting space could barely hold 200 people, yet they claim to have raised as much as $15,000 at a single meeting simply by “passing the hat.” Given their reluctance to come clean on their contributors, depositions taken under oath will likely be necessary to expose the actual sources and amounts of funds raised and spent by the King Street extremists.

Multiple Ties to Republican Party Activists and Party Officers

As expected, the documents show that the King Street activists operate more like an arm of the Republican Party than any non-profit organization:

• Office space provided by close supporters of Texas Republican Party Chair
• Online and communication services provided by key Swift Boat player
• Cash payments to a right-wing extremist website

Republican Landlords

King Street Patriots has paid more than $11,000 in office rent to Davis Holdings. Davis Holdings is owned by the Davis Family, including Leon Davis who has donated more than $6,000 to Republican causes and $1,250 to Rick Perry. Yet more interesting is that Leon Davis's son, Ross, a principle in the Davis Group, was one of the earliest supporters of Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri. Ross Davis has also donated to Rick Perry and John “Jack” O’Connor, one of the Republican candidates who donated to KSP from his campaign account (Sources: Texas Ethics Commission, Davis Holdings Website, Texas Inside).

NAMOS founder Scott Swett

Ex-ACORN activist Anita MonCrief

Swift Boat in Houston

Scott Swett, the SwiftVets.com webmaster, has been paid $11,000 this year by KSP for website services. Swett is the founder of New American Media Online Services (NAMOS). Swett is also a director of the extreme right-wing website Free Republic.

Extremist Cash Payment

The website, EmergingCoruption.com, was paid $1,200 cash by KSP. EmergingCorruption, headed by former ACORN activist Anita MonCrief, is a web portal for rambling right-wing reports that make spurious claims of voter fraud for organizations like King Street Patriots.