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== Education ==
== Education ==
In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the [[University of Massachusetts]] at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from [[George Mason University]] (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master’s certification in PAC management at [[George Washington University]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>
In 1999, Backer received a bachelor's degree in political science from the [[University of Massachusetts]] at Amherst.<ref>https://issuu.com/uofmassachusettsamherst/docs/umass_amherst_magazine__fall_2015</ref> He received a law degree from [[George Mason University]] (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 2009.<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref> In 2011, Backer completed a master's certification in PAC management at [[George Washington University]].<ref>https://theaapc.org/events-register/annual-pollie-conference/2016-annual-pollie-conference/speakers/dan-backer/</ref>
== Early career ==
== Early career ==
== Political activity ==
== Political activity ==
In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order "to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States."<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton’s handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>
In 2013, Backer helped establish the Stop Hillary PAC in order "to ensure Hillary Clinton never becomes President of the United States."<ref>http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/05/Are-Dems-FEC-Trying-Stop-Stop-Hillary-PAC</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/among-the-hillary-haters/384976/</ref> The PAC, which was critical of Clinton's handling of the Benghazi attacks, renamed itself after the November 2016 election as the Committee to Defend the President.<ref>http://time.com/4654698/donald-trump-defend-ad/</ref> Backer serves as the PAC's treasurer and counsel.<ref>https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-05/pro-trump-super-pacs-have-already-spent-1-million-election-2020</ref>
In 2017, Backer filed a complaint on behalf of the Committee with the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC), accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the [[Democratic Party]] of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/hillary-clinton-campaign-dnc-accused-corrupt-money-scheme-in-new-fec-complaint.html</ref> The FEC complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), Democratic state parties, and Democratic mega-donors, in violation of multiple campaign finance laws.<ref>https://nypost.com/2018/06/09/democratic-parties-accused-of-funneling-84m-into-clinton-campaign/</ref> The complaint garnered significant media coverage from the ''[[Washington Post]]'', FoxNews.com, and dozens of regional news outlets.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/27/whats-behind-the-claim-that-hillary-clinton-got-84-million-in-illegal-contributions/</ref><ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme</ref><ref>https://bangordailynews.com/2018/05/29/politics/federal-lawsuit-alleges-maine-democratic-party-laundered-money-for-hillary-clintons-campaign/</ref>
In 2017, Backer filed a complaint on behalf of the Committee with the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC), accusing Clinton's 2016 campaign and the [[Democratic Party]] of "an unprecedented, massive, nationwide multi-million dollar conspiracy."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/hillary-clinton-campaign-dnc-accused-corrupt-money-scheme-in-new-fec-complaint.html</ref> The FEC complaint alleged an $84 million money laundering scheme between the Clinton campaign, [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC), Democratic state parties, and Democratic mega-donors, in violation of multiple campaign finance laws.<ref>https://nypost.com/2018/06/09/democratic-parties-accused-of-funneling-84m-into-clinton-campaign/</ref> The complaint garnered significant media coverage from the ''[[Washington Post]]'', FoxNews.com, and dozens of regional news outlets.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/27/whats-behind-the-claim-that-hillary-clinton-got-84-million-in-illegal-contributions/</ref><ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme</ref><ref>https://bangordailynews.com/2018/05/29/politics/federal-lawsuit-alleges-maine-democratic-party-laundered-money-for-hillary-clintons-campaign/</ref>
In April 2018, Backer sued the FEC after it refused to act on the complaint.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/16/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme.html</ref> To date, Clinton, the DNC, Democratic state parties, and their donors implicated in the complaint have not released their response to the FEC.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/09/state-level-dems-funneled-84m-to-clintons-campaign-lawsuit-alleges.html</ref>
In April 2018, Backer sued the FEC after it refused to act on the complaint.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/16/fec-hit-with-lawsuit-over-ignoring-civil-complaint-accusing-clinton-dnc-in-election-scheme.html</ref> To date, Clinton, the DNC, Democratic state parties, and their donors implicated in the complaint have not released their response to the FEC.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/09/state-level-dems-funneled-84m-to-clintons-campaign-lawsuit-alleges.html</ref>
On behalf of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, Backer also filed an FEC complaint against Clinton’s campaign, the DNC, their law firm Perkins Coie, and Christopher Steele, the ex-British spy that authored the “pee dossier,” for violating campaign finance laws.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref> Backer claimed those parties concealed payments made to and received by Fusion GPS, which hired Steele to produce the dossier.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref>
On behalf of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, Backer also filed an FEC complaint against Clinton's campaign, the DNC, their law firm Perkins Coie, and Christopher Steele, the ex-British spy that authored the “pee dossier,” for violating campaign finance laws.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref> Backer claimed those parties concealed payments made to and received by Fusion GPS, which hired Steele to produce the dossier.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/07/19/non-profit-files-fec-complaint-against-clinton-campaign-dnc-over-dossier/</ref>
Backer has published numerous op-ed columns criticizing Democrats for violating campaign finance laws and ignoring the Committee's complaint, in addition to op-eds promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/the-anatomy-of-hillary-clintons-84-million-money-laundering-scheme/</ref><ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>
Backer has published numerous op-ed columns criticizing Democrats for violating campaign finance laws and ignoring the Committee's complaint, in addition to op-eds promoting free speech and less restrictive campaign finance rules.<ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/the-anatomy-of-hillary-clintons-84-million-money-laundering-scheme/</ref><ref>https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/even-speech-we-hate-is-protected-speech/</ref> Backer also criticizes what he perceives as anti-speech activism and biased news coverage.<ref>http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20170928/my-turn-dan-backer-medias-unrelenting-anti-trump-bias</ref><ref>http://www.insidesources.com/establishment-sides-weaponizes-fake-news/</ref>