George Soros

Committees funded by Soros supported district attorney or local prosecutor candidates favouring criminal justice reforms for more than a decade, contributing to dozens of election races. Opponents denounced what they saw as disproportionate influence by a billionaire over local criminal justice policy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The press reported that a US Justice Department official had asked several federal prosecutors to examine whether Open Society foundations could be investigated under various legal provisions, particularly in connection with funding provided to activist organisations. The foundation denounced the initiative as politically motivated.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Soros argued that the Adani group's difficulties could weaken Narendra Modi's position and create an opening for democratic renewal in India. BJP officials and the foreign minister accused the billionaire of interference and attempting to shape political outcomes.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Viktor Orbán's government made Soros the central target of a political campaign accusing him of encouraging immigration and influencing Hungarian sovereignty. A series of laws known as 'Stop Soros' increased restrictions on NGOs, and Open Society Foundations moved its operations from Budapest to Berlin.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Central European University, founded by Soros, announced that it was moving its American programmes to Vienna following the adoption of Hungarian rules that made its ability to continue operating in Budapest uncertain. The affair became a European symbol of the conflict between Orbán and institutions associated with Soros.

State of the evidence

Documented

Russia declared Open Society Foundations and the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation 'undesirable', with authorities claiming they threatened the country's constitutional foundations and state security. The decision prevented much of their activity in Russia.

State of the evidence

Documented

Soros was convicted in France of insider trading concerning transactions carried out in 1988 around an attempted takeover of Société Générale. He challenged the conviction as far as the European Court of Human Rights, which rejected his argument that French law at the time had not been sufficiently foreseeable.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Personally implicated

Soros devoted tens of millions of dollars to so-called 527 organisations and other structures seeking to mobilise voters and prevent George W. Bush's re-election. His role intensified the US debate about political influence wielded by the very wealthy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad accused Soros and other speculators of attacking Southeast Asian currencies and contributing to the Asian financial crisis. Soros became a political symbol of international hedge funds.

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Quantum Fund managed by George Soros took a massive position against sterling while the United Kingdom attempted to defend its exchange rate within the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. After the pound left the ERM, Soros was dubbed 'the man who broke the Bank of England' and reportedly made around one billion pounds.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated