US Republicans vow to investigate GoFundMe decision to stop Canadian truck donations

(Reuters) – On Saturday, some U.S. Republicans vowed to investigate GoFundMe’s decision to remove a page that allowed donations to protest in Canada, even though GoFundMe said early Saturday that it would return all donations.

Freedom Convoy 2022 began as a move against the Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers, but has become a rallying point against Canada’s public health measures. He has also garnered more support from U.S. Republicans, including former President Donald Trump.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday it was a scam for GoFundM to “promise” $ 9 million in donations to truck drivers to Freedom Convoy and said it would work with its state attorney general, Ashley Moody. “() These donors must be reimbursed.”

But just hours before DeSantis posted his statement on Twitter (NYSE :), GoFundMe tweeted that it had revised its original plan to help truck drivers protest how to manage funds already donated, saying all donations would be returned.

“This refund will be automatic; you do not need to submit a request. Donors can expect to see refunds within 7-10 business days,” GoFundMe said in a tweet.

GoFundM withdrew its Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraising page on Friday, saying it violated its terms of service. At the time, he said donors would have two weeks to apply for a refund, with the remaining funds distributed to “credible and fixed charities.”

Prosecutors in West Virginia and Louisiana were among those asked to let voters know if they were donors.

“My office will examine whether #GoFundMe has violated our state law. If you are a Louisiana lender on #FreedomConvoy, please contact my #ConsumerProtection Section!” Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said on Twitter on Saturday.

GoFundMe did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Demonstrators have been closing down downtown Ottawa, Canada’s capital, for eight days, saying some participants waved Confederate or Nazi flags and others wanted to overthrow the Canadian government. To heighten the anger of residents, Ottawa police have been largely present and have seen some protesters smash windows, threaten journalists and health workers and mistreat racial minorities.

Toronto, Canada’s largest city, and other cities were preparing for a ceasefire on Saturday as protests spread from Ottawa and sparked fears of clashes with opposition protesters.

Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s eldest son, has asked all of the republic’s top prosecutors to look into the GoFundM movement on Twitter on Friday night.