Jewish Voice for Peace Action PAC Accused of Election Law Violations by ADL

Edited by: Fern Sidman

A prominent anti-Israel group, Jewish Voice for Peace Action PAC, faced serious accusations on Monday regarding alleged breaches of election laws. According to a report in The New York Post, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) filed a formal complaint, urging the group to disclose detailed accounts of its financial activities, raising questions about the transparency and legality of its spending.

Jewish Voice for Peace Action PAC, which operates as the political arm and “sister organization” of the anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace, is known for its active involvement in funding and organizing campus protests, as per The Post report. Some of these protests have escalated into violence, attracting significant controversy. The PAC, also referred to as Jewish Vote for Peace, backs several high-profile critics of Israel.

The ADL’s complaint to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleges that the PAC has violated strict election laws governing political spending. According to the ADL, the PAC has spent a total of $82,956 between 2020 and 2023, yet only $1,775 of this amount—approximately 2%—was allocated to political candidates, as was indicated in The Post report.  This discrepancy has raised red flags about the potential misuse of donor funds and the true purpose of the PAC’s expenditures.The PAC also allegedly accepted contributions exceeding the legal limit of $5,000 per donor per year.

The Post also reported that a payment of $19,656 was made to an insurance firm and labeled as legal expenses, despite the firm not being involved in legal practice. The report noted that the PAC’s reports exhibited inconsistencies in cash on hand and other reporting errors from one filing to the next.

Jewish Voice for Peace Action PAC supports a slate of outspoken critics of Israel. Among them is Michigan Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib, who has faced censure by Congress for her remarks calling for the destruction of Israel and justifying the Hamas October 7 massacre as “resistance.”  According to the information contained in The Post report, the PAC also endorses Bronx Representative Jamaal Bowman, who is currently contending with a tough primary challenge due to his anti-Israel stance, and Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, who has been accused of “blood libel” for labeling Jewish students as “pro-genocide.”

The ADL’s complaint calls for the FEC to investigate and hold the PAC accountable for its financial practices. The ADL has been a vocal critic of Jewish Voice for Peace and its affiliates, consistently condemning their actions and rhetoric as harmful to the Jewish community and the broader discourse on Israel.

Steve Sheinberg, an attorney for the ADL, expressed grave concerns about the PAC’s financial activities. “I don’t know what they are doing with the money,” Sheinberg told The Post. “But they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. According to public filings, it looks like they received money, didn’t pay taxes on it and did not give the money to candidates.” These statements highlight a critical issue: the PAC’s failure to adhere to the intended use of political contributions and comply with tax obligations.

Sheinberg emphasized the importance of transparency, particularly given the PAC’s involvement in anti-Israel protests. “Considering JVP’s involvement in all manner of anti-Israel protests, I would like to know what the PAC money is being spent on,” he told The Post.

Indicated in the report was that if found in violation of election laws, JVP Action PAC could face significant sanctions, including fines and other penalties aimed at ensuring compliance and accountability.