Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, stated Sunday that he wanted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate GoFundMe, a crowdfunding site, after it closed down a fundraiser supporting truckers protesting Canadian COVID-19 regulations.
“Today I sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asking that the FTC open an investigation into GoFundMe into whether they’ve committed deceptive trade practices,” Cruz said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
GoFundMe announced Friday it had shut down the “Freedom Convoy 2022” fundraiser and would no longer distribute donations to the event’s organizers, citing “police reports of violence and unlawful activity” as justification. The company originally planned to allow donors the opportunity to request refunds and donate any remaining funds to charities. But after public backlash, it decided to automatically refund all contributions.
“[W]hen people gave money, they gave money under the promise it would go to the Freedom Convoy, not to whatever left-wing political ideology GoFundMe and other Silicon Valley companies support,” Cruz said. “They are deceiving consumers and it is wrong,”
Cruz’s comments follow announcements from several Republican state attorneys general that they plan to investigate GoFundMe for potentially violating state consumer protection laws. Other prominent Republican lawmakers include Tennessee Sen. MarshaBlackburn and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan. signaled their intent to scrutinize the crowdfunding site.
“They’re defending Canada, but they’re defending America as well. That is, that is courage on display that the government doesn’t have the right to force you to comply to their arbitrary mandates,” Cruz said. “And they’re standing up for freedom, and of course, big government hates it and is trying to crush them.”
The Daily Caller News Foundation’s content is free to any news publisher who can provide a large audience. Email to inquire about licensing opportunities. [email protected].
You have an opinion on this article? Please email to share your thoughts. [email protected] and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Include the article’s URL or headline, as well as your name and hometown.
