Karl Crow
Credentials
- J.D. Temple University1“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
- B.A. International Relations, George Washington University2“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
- Graduate, Koch Associate Program3“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
Background
Karl Crow was a former lead strategist for Aegis Strategic,4“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog. a group founded by the Koch brothers to handpick state and federal Republican candidates.5Andy Kroll. “New Koch-Linked Political Firm Aims to Handpick ‘Electable’ Candidates,” Mother Jones, January 17, 2014. Archived May 26, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/4USUJ
According to his archived profile at Aegis, Crow was previously a co-founder of and senior analyst for the Koch’s voter data operation, i360. There, he headed up “strategy development and implementation efforts in concert with the End-User, Data and Modeling teams.” Prior to i360, Crow was a project coordinator at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, where he focused “on how political advocates for economic freedom are identified, trained and promoted.”6“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
Crow reportedly led development of another Koch group, Themis, which acted as a database to pool resources and data collected from right-wing groups inside the Koch network.7Ed Pilkington. “Koch brothers: secretive billionaires to launch vast database with 2012 in mind,” The Guardian, November 7, 2011. Archived August 16, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PVp4J
According to his 2019 LinkedIn profile, Crow was most recently a manager for the the Koch’s Seminar Network, later rebranded as Stand Together. He has also worked as a project manager and senior analyst for Freedom Partners. Crow no longer appears to have a LinkedIn account. 8“Karl Crow” LinkedIn profile. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Stance on Climate Change
Karl Crow is a former president of Trees of Liberty, a nonprofit group that funded attack ads against Mark Jacobs, a retired energy executive who ran against now-Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Ia.) in the 2014 Iowa Republican primary—for his support of a carbon tax:
Key Quotes
June 2010
Karl Crow introduced the mission of the group Themis at the Koch network’s gathering in Aspen Colorado, The Guardian reported:9Ed Pilkington. “Koch brothers: secretive billionaires to launch vast database with 2012 in mind,” The Guardian, November 7, 2011. Archived August 16, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PVp4J
“Is there a chance to elect leaders who are more strongly committed to liberty and prosperity,” he said, adding that he wanted to put forward a “strategic plan to educate voters on the importance of economic freedom.”
Key Deeds
April 2014
While Karl Crow was president of Trees of Liberty, the group launched a $257,000 television advertising campaign attacking Mark Jacobs, a retired energy executive and Republican candidate for Senate in 2014. Joni Ernest won the primary and the race, becoming a senator in 2015, Politico reported.10“How the Kochs launched Joni Ernst,” Politico, November 12, 2015. Archived August 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/29vbK
In one video, Trees of Liberty targeted Jacobs for statements he had made in favor of cap and trade.11“TOL Video,” YouTube video uploaded by user “Kevin Jones,” April 24, 2014. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
In 2016, the government watchdog groups Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) submitted complaints to the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Justice. The groups requested a federal investigation into whether Trees of Liberty, which was registered the IRS as a tax-exempt organization, had broken the law with this political spending, Politico reported.12Kenneth P. Vogel. “Watchdogs seek investigation of Koch spending,” Politico, January 28, 2016. Archived August 15, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/8djDz
“Trees of Liberty appears to have knowingly and willfully omitted information and made false statements on its 2014 Form 990 tax return with respect to its political activities, in violation of both the tax code and Federal criminal law 18 U.S.C. § 1001,” the complaint alleged. “It appears that Trees of Liberty’s political intervention that year was so extensive that it was primarily engaged in non-exempt political activities, and thus also ineligible for section 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status.13“Re: Complaint against Trees of Liberty, Inc.” (PDF), CREW and Center for Media and Democracy, January 28, 2016.
June 2010
In an opinion piece published in the Capital Research Center‘s June 2010 Organization Trends newsletter, Crow framed the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision as pitting “defenders of free speech against their primarily left-wing opponents.” 14Karl Crow. “Citizens United v. FEC: Protecting Free Speech for Nonprofit and For-Profit Corporations,” Organization Trends, June 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“The debate has been rife with deliberate mischaracterizations and apocalyptic predictions.” Crow claimed. “You might think self-professed ‘progressives’ would support free speech and increased political advocacy, but for the most part you would be wrong.”15Karl Crow. “Citizens United v. FEC: Protecting Free Speech for Nonprofit and For-Profit Corporations,” Organization Trends, June 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Crow also argued that some changes are not enough, and said FEC rules on coordination in advertising would still “chill free speech.”16Karl Crow. “Citizens United v. FEC: Protecting Free Speech for Nonprofit and For-Profit Corporations,” Organization Trends, June 2010.Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
ThinkProgress commented in October on Crow’s analysis:17Lee Fang. “MEMO: Health Insurance, Banking, Oil Industries Met With Koch, Chamber, Glenn Beck To Plot 2010 Election,” ThinkProgress, October 20, 2010. Archived September 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.vn/JFreT
“[Crow] advised specifically that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 501(c)(6) and Americans for Prosperity’s 501(c)(4) can ‘now use general treasury funds to produce communications materials opposing or supporting specific candidates’ and corporations can aggressively pressure their employees to vote a certain way.”
June 2010
As a speaker at a Koch network gathering in Aspen, Colorado, Crow reportedly described the mission of Themis “under the heading ‘Mobilising Citizens’” according to The Guardian. 18Ed Pilkington. “Koch brothers: secretive billionaires to launch vast database with 2012 in mind,” The Guardian, November 7, 2011. Archived August 16, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PVp4J
“At the same gathering,” The Guardian reported, “the kernel of the idea for Themis was unveiled as a ‘micro-targeting'”‘ initiative that would allow a more thorough understanding of the electorate. ‘”‘How can we take advantage of this advanced technology?’ the agenda asked.”
Affiliations
- The Seminar Network — Manager, PMO as of August 2018“19Karl Crow,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Themis — Reportedly the “spearhead” of the project20Ed Pilkington. “Koch brothers: secretive billionaires to launch vast database with 2012 in mind,” The Guardian, November 7, 2011. Archived August 16, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PVp4J
- Freedom Partners — Project manager Jan. 2017 – Aug. 2018, senior analyst Jan. 2016 – May 201621“Karl Crow,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Trees of Liberty — Former president as of 2015, according to IRS Form 990 filings
- Aegis Strategic — Former lead strategist June 2013 – Jan. 201622“Karl Crow,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- i360 — Co-founder, senior political analyst23“Karl Crow,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation — Policy analyst June 2008 – March 2010. Among other responsibilities, “coordinated research into groups identifying, recruiting and training political candidates and staff.”
Social Media
- Karl Crow on LinkedIn – Account appears to be closed as of late 2022.
Publications
- “Citizens United v. FEC: Protecting Free Speech for Nonprofit and For-Profit Corporations,” Organization Trends, a publication of the Capital Research Center, June 2010.
Other Resources
Resources
- 1“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
- 2“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
- 3“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
- 4“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
- 5Andy Kroll. “New Koch-Linked Political Firm Aims to Handpick ‘Electable’ Candidates,” Mother Jones, January 17, 2014. Archived May 26, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/4USUJ
- 6“Your Aegis Team,” Aegis Strategic. Archived November 2, 2015. *Note that Internet Archive functionality is limited. Background information is available in page source data and on file at DeSmog.
- 7Ed Pilkington. “Koch brothers: secretive billionaires to launch vast database with 2012 in mind,” The Guardian, November 7, 2011. Archived August 16, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PVp4J
- 8“Karl Crow” LinkedIn profile. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 9Ed Pilkington. “Koch brothers: secretive billionaires to launch vast database with 2012 in mind,” The Guardian, November 7, 2011. Archived August 16, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PVp4J
- 10“How the Kochs launched Joni Ernst,” Politico, November 12, 2015. Archived August 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/29vbK
- 11“TOL Video,” YouTube video uploaded by user “Kevin Jones,” April 24, 2014. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
- 12Kenneth P. Vogel. “Watchdogs seek investigation of Koch spending,” Politico, January 28, 2016. Archived August 15, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/8djDz
- 13“Re: Complaint against Trees of Liberty, Inc.” (PDF), CREW and Center for Media and Democracy, January 28, 2016.
- 14Karl Crow. “Citizens United v. FEC: Protecting Free Speech for Nonprofit and For-Profit Corporations,” Organization Trends, June 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 15Karl Crow. “Citizens United v. FEC: Protecting Free Speech for Nonprofit and For-Profit Corporations,” Organization Trends, June 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 16Karl Crow. “Citizens United v. FEC: Protecting Free Speech for Nonprofit and For-Profit Corporations,” Organization Trends, June 2010.Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 17Lee Fang. “MEMO: Health Insurance, Banking, Oil Industries Met With Koch, Chamber, Glenn Beck To Plot 2010 Election,” ThinkProgress, October 20, 2010. Archived September 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.vn/JFreT
- 18Ed Pilkington. “Koch brothers: secretive billionaires to launch vast database with 2012 in mind,” The Guardian, November 7, 2011. Archived August 16, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PVp4J
- 19Karl Crow,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 20Ed Pilkington. “Koch brothers: secretive billionaires to launch vast database with 2012 in mind,” The Guardian, November 7, 2011. Archived August 16, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PVp4J
- 21“Karl Crow,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 22“Karl Crow,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 23“Karl Crow,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 15, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
