The Free Press
NewslettersSign InSubscribe
Exclusive: Trump’s D.C. Prosecutor Threatens Wikipedia’s Tax-Exempt Status
A Trump-allied prosecutor accused the Wikimedia Foundation of engaging in activities that are “implicating the national security and the interests of the United States.” (Illustration by The Free Press)
In a letter obtained by The Free Press, Trump appointee Ed Martin accuses the Wikimedia Foundation of violating the law. Critics say his tactics are ‘grandstanding.’
By Gabe Kaminsky
04.25.25 — U.S. Politics
--:--
--:--
Upgrade to Listen
5 mins
Produced by ElevenLabs using AI narration
166
87

Ed Martin, the firebrand Republican activist whom President Donald Trump picked to be the top prosecutor in D.C., has a new target: Wikipedia.

Martin, the interim U.S. attorney in Washington and Trump’s permanent selection to serve in that role, sent a letter on Thursday afternoon to the Wikimedia Foundation that alleged it “is engaging in a series of activities that could violate its obligations” under 501(c)(3), a section of the IRS code for charities. It is Wikipedia’s parent group.

The letter, which was obtained by The Free Press, accused the largest online encyclopedia of “allowing foreign actors to manipulate information and spread propaganda to the American public.” The Wikimedia Foundation, Martin said, is directed by a board “that is composed primarily of foreign nationals” who are “subverting the interests of American taxpayers.”

Continue Reading The Free Press
To support our journalism, and unlock all of our investigative stories and provocative commentary about the world as it actually is, subscribe below.
Annual
$8.33/month
Billed as $100 yearly
Save 17%!
Monthly
$10/month
Billed as $10 monthly
Already have an account?
Sign In
To read this article, sign in or subscribe
Gabe Kaminsky
Gabe Kaminsky is an investigative reporter for The Free Press. He covers the intersection of money, politics, and influence in Washington, D.C., where he is based. He grew up outside Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh.
Tags:
Law
Policy
Tech
Comments
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts and connect with other readers by becoming a paid subscriber!
Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

No posts

For Free People.
LatestSearchAboutCareersShopPodcastsVideoEvents
Download the app
Download on the Google Play Store
©2025 The Free Press. All Rights Reserved.Powered by Substack.
Privacy∙Terms∙Collection notice