After George Soros, he is the new enemy
Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss targeted by US ultra-right
The Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who lives in the USA, rarely speaks publicly. Now he’s involuntarily making headlines: the US ultra-right accuses him of supporting Democratic US President Joe Biden.
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Hansjörg Wyss donates billions in the USA through his Wyss Foundation. He is repeatedly accused of supporting political activities.
Jean Claude RaemyEditor Economics
Hansjörg Wyss (86) invests “dark money” in the alleged criminal activities of US President Joe Biden (80) and his family. This is how ultra right-wing US news platforms are shouting it out into the world these days, including the obscure portal Weekly Blitz, which writes about itself that it “fears no one but God”.
At least since the right-wing conservative broadcaster Fox News reported that the Swiss billionaire was transferring vast sums of money to allegedly dubious projects of the Democrats, the negative comments on Twitter have escalated.
In a pot with George Soros
Wyss is mentioned in the same breath as George Soros (92), the number one enemy of the American right. A native of Hungary with a US passport, he uses his billions in stock market earnings to support civil rights movements, educational institutions and other charitable causes. For years he has been associated with conspiracy theories and attacked.
In the US, monetary donations are an integral part of the political system. However, according to US law, no money from foreign sources may be used for political purposes. Wyss is not a US citizen and does not have a “green card”, i.e. a permanent residence permit.
He himself once told Blick that he does not support any party directly and that he abides by the law. The fact that he is said to support US President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party financially, Wyss called “factless”.
The lawsuit as a means of defamation
In connection with the renewed allegations against him, Wyss is now also indirectly faced with a lawsuit: the right-wing organization “Americans for Public Trust” (APT) is suing the “Federal Election Commission” (FEC). This regulates campaign financing and has so far not responded to the allegations against Wyss. Therefore, the APT is suing the FEC.
Wyss and the FEC are the subject of hate speech online, especially on Twitter. The “wannabe Soros” should not interfere in the USA, so the tenor.
In the US, defamation by lawsuit has a system. Even if the lawsuit is dismissed or a hearing is lost: Doubt is sown. President Joe Biden is framed for receiving secret money from an obscure Swiss.
Philanthropic active
Wyss made his billions with the sale of the medical technology company Synthes, among other things. He is a member of the Giving Pledge, an association of billionaires who have pledged to donate at least half of their wealth.
According to a 2020 interview in the “Bilanz”, Wyss has already transferred most of his assets to the Wyss Foundation based in Washington DC. So far, according to his own statements, he has already donated over three billion – for “environmental and social affairs” through around 150 projects.