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Cosmetics Billionaire Fed Up with Antisemitic Law Makers, Puts Up $25M to Fight Them

Cosmetics billionaire and president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, 75, announced the launch of the Anti-Semitism Accountability Project on Monday.

The campaign, named the Anti-Semitism Accountability Project, or ASAP, will invest $25 million in aggressive political campaigns against federal, state, and local candidates who support or normalize anti-Semitism.

"We’ve had polls, we’ve had conferences, we’ve had different speeches. But no action," Lauder told the New York Times.

The group will consist of both a nonprofit and a super PAC, with Lauder determining which politicians will be targeted from both parties who are on the ballot before or on Election Day in November 2020. "Although I am a lifelong Republican, antisemitism knows no political party. I’m going after the right as well as the left," he added.

The launch of ASAP comes about as a response to the rise in anti-Semitism across the country. They plan to partner with existing organizations that are working throughout the country to combat anti-Semitism. 

ASAP will produce and run television and digital advertisements, conduct research, grassroots and grasstops outreach, on-campus organizing and work towards defeating candidates who support anti-Semitic ideas.