A report by Conservative Brief suggests that the group "Republicans For Harris" may be a creation of Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign rather than a genuine grassroots organization.
The claim is based on an undercover audio recording obtained by the Maine Wire, a local conservative publication. In the recording, Peter Mills, a registered Democrat and prominent figure in the group, is heard discussing the organization with an undercover operative.
Mills indicates that the Harris campaign is organizing the group and directs the operative to Amy Cookson, a staffer on Harris' campaign with an email address ending in "@kamalaharris.com."
Audio recordings released by The Maine Wire last Friday have raised questions about the legitimacy of the "Republicans for Kamala" group. These recordings indicate that the group, which purports to be a grassroots movement of disillusioned Republicans, may instead be a carefully orchestrated effort by Harris’s campaign.
Peter Mills, a registered Democrat and a prominent member of the group, was recorded discussing the origins of "Republicans for Kamala." In the conversation, Mills suggested that the Harris campaign created the group and that its primary goal was to attract Republicans who are dissatisfied with Trump, particularly from Maine’s Second Congressional District.
Mills was recorded by a "citizen journalist" using the pseudonym "Tim Dillon." During the exchange, Mills directed Dillon to contact Amy Cookson, a staffer associated with the Harris campaign. Notably, Cookson’s email address ended with “@kamalaharris.com,” further suggesting her direct involvement with the campaign.
Additional evidence suggests that the group is composed of individuals who may not align with the Republican Party at all. In an email obtained during the investigation, Cookson reportedly outlined the composition of the "Republicans for Kamala" group in Maine. According to the email, the group includes paid lobbyists, registered Democrats, and at least one former Republican politician.
Among those mentioned were Tony Payne, an unaffiliated lobbyist, and Roger Katz, a former state senator. These revelations have fueled skepticism about the authenticity of the group’s Republican identity and its true purpose.
Mills, in his recorded comments, expressed the urgency of the Harris campaign to find Republicans willing to distance themselves from Trump. He suggested that statements from these individuals, even if they remain Republicans, could be “very influential” in swaying public opinion.
The emergence of "Republicans for Kamala" has drawn comparisons to The Lincoln Project, a group formed by Republicans in 2020 to oppose then-President Trump. However, the key difference lies in the level of transparency and apparent independence. The Lincoln Project members did not use email addresses ending in “@joebiden.com,” contrasting with the reported use of campaign-affiliated emails in the "Republicans for Kamala" group.
In a commentary piece, the Western Journal went as far as labeling "Republicans for Kamala" an "astroturfed scam." This term is often used to describe a fake grassroots organization designed to give the appearance of widespread support for a particular cause when, in reality, it is driven by a political or corporate agenda.
The report raises questions about the authenticity of the "Republicans For Harris" group, suggesting it may be an orchestrated effort by the Harris campaign to create the appearance of Republican support. According to the audio, the group is actively seeking Republicans, particularly from Maine's Second District, who are willing to speak out against former President Donald Trump.
The report also mentions that in Maine, the group appears to consist of paid lobbyists, registered Democrats, and Republican critics of their own party. This revelation has led to comparisons with previous anti-Trump Republican groups, such as The Lincoln Project, though with potentially closer ties to the opposing campaign.
