WASHINGTON (AP) – They’re at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but two Washington groups that had been focused squarely on Hillary Clinton now have something in common: preserving their very existence.
On Tuesday, each made its first stab at carving out a new mission, touting their ability to bird-dog the incoming Trump administration. They’ll use similar tactics, including Freedom of Information Act requests, lawsuits and public shaming, but a conservative group operating in Republican-led Washington is likely to have a tougher time pleasing its donors.
American Bridge, a liberal-funded super PAC, is vowing to hold President-elect Donald Trump accountable by vetting his administration picks, highlighting his business conflicts of interest and reminding voters when he’s breaking his campaign promises. That comes after serving as Clinton’s main opposition research shop throughout her presidential campaign.
David Brock, the group’s founder, said Tuesday on a conference call with reporters that several donors approached him at Clinton’s concession speech in New York and asked him to stay active. Clinton herself was pleased with American Bridge’s new Trump focus, Brock said, saying the two had spoken after the election.
“Even though the moment was bleak, she was happy to hear we are staying in the fight,” he said.