New York Attorney General Sues VDARE for $2M Charity Fraud

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against the far-right nonprofit VDARE Foundation and its leaders, Peter and Lydia Brimelow, accusing them of diverting at least $2 million in charitable funds for personal enrichment. The Brimelows allegedly used VDARE funds to purchase a medieval-style castle in West Virginia, which they then occupied and transferred to family-controlled companies, collecting inflated rent payments from the nonprofit. The lawsuit also alleges backdated loans, unauthorized consulting fees, obstruction of investigation, and misuse of donations despite public claims that the organization had shut down. VDARE, founded in 1999 as Lexington Research Institute, operates a website known for promoting white nationalist and anti-immigrant views, and its board has been composed solely of the Brimelows and close associates, enabling unchecked self-dealing. Attorney General James seeks to dissolve VDARE, redirect its assets to legitimate charities, and permanently bar the Brimelows from managing or fundraising for any New York charity. She emphasized that charities must serve the public interest, not personal fortunes, underscoring the need for accountability in such cases.