Last Updated on February 10, 2025
Investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger shared findings this week, supporting the high probability that USAID and the CIA collaborated to impeach President Trump in 2019.
Shellenberger’s recent series exposes concerning details about how the U.S. government has used USAID to support “independent media”. Many of these media outlets, masquerading as impartial journalism sources, have received funding from USAID to influence political landscapes both overseas and, alarmingly, within the United States.
Despite USAID’s public image as a charitable organization focused on supporting impoverished communities, Shellenberger highlights that its activities extend further to funding regime changes globally, with an estimated budget of over $40 billion.
Wednesday, Shellenberger also appeared on Fox News with Jesse Watters to further present his evidence.
The impeachment of President Donald Trump in 2019 was a highly divisive and politically charged event, with underlying motives that may extend beyond a simple political conflict. The impeachment was triggered by a whistleblower report alleging that President Trump leveraged military aid to Ukraine as a means to pressure the country into investigating Joe Biden, the former U.S. Vice President, and his son Hunter Biden.
Investigations into the whistleblower’s claims raise serious concerns, however. It has now come to light that the whistleblower—a CIA analyst—was deeply tied to the Obama administration. Furthermore, this same analyst relied heavily on a report from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) – a group that was closely connected to U.S. government funding.
The OCCRP, presented as an independent journalistic entity, relies on funding from U.S. government agencies like USAID, creating a potentially dangerous conflict of interest.
Shellenberger articulated the danger of these connections, this way:
The CIA, USAID, and OCCRP were all involved in the impeachment of President Trump in ways similar to the regime change operations that all three organizations engage in abroad. The difference here is that it is highly illegal and even treasonous for CIA, USAID, and its contractors and intermediaries, often as “cut-outs,” to interfere in US politics in this way.
OCCRP’s reporting was pivotal to the impeachment narrative, with its investigation alleging connections between Rudy Giuliani and Ukrainian businessmen, as well as accusations that President Trump had orchestrated a foreign intervention in U.S. politics. The claim was critical in shaping the House Democrats’ argument that President Trump was abusing his office for personal gain by soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election.
Further investigation into OCCRP’s ties with U.S. government agencies reveals a troubling picture. A 2024 documentary produced by German broadcaster NDR, alongside investigative outlets like Drop Site News and Latvia-based Mediapart, revealed that USAID plays a significant role in funding OCCRP, even approving its annual work plans and key personnel. Moreover, in a documentary aired by NDR, it was revealed that OCCRP’s founder, Drew Sullivan, has openly admitted that his organization had been involved in influencing political outcomes in several countries, including ousting prime ministers.
🚨BREAKING: Michael Shellenberger tells Jesse Watters that USAID and the CIA are linked to Donald Trump’s impeachment.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 6, 2025
Sullivan’s comments and the financial ties between OCCRP and U.S. government entities raise serious concerns about the role these organizations played in what some consider a domestic coup d’etat. The involvement of the CIA, USAID, and OCCRP, in both foreign and domestic political matters, create a scenario in which the integrity of U.S. democracy could be undermined by foreign-style regime change tactics.
Despite threats from OCCRP to sue Shellenberger for exposing these links, the evidence appears to support the allegations. Shellenberger shared details of a threatening letter received by OCCRP:
In response to questions we sent to OCCRP, it threatened to file a lawsuit against us. “The premise of your article is factually false and defamatory,” wrote Miranda Patrucic, the Editor in Chief of OCCRP, in an email to us. “The claim by Dropsite News and partner media that USAID has control over editorial appointments has been disproven,” she wrote, “and we suggest you read our response to that.”
But neither OCCRP nor anyone else has disproved Drop Site’s allegations and Drop Site stands by them. And the evidence does not support OCCRP’s claim of journalistic independence.”
This story is not isolated. As Shellenberger, DOGE, and other investigative journalists have pointed out, U.S. government-backed media organizations, such as NPR and PBS, have long been criticized for their perceived left-leaning bias. For years, the American public has been exposed to media outlets that, whether intentionally or unintentionally, have been shaped by government interests, presenting a particular view of events that often aligns with political agendas rather than unbiased journalism.
The events surrounding President Trump’s impeachment and the influence of government-funded media organizations provide a sobering reminder of the need for transparency and accountability, especially when the stakes involve the very foundation of our Republic.
