Investigation Methodology
How AFNPT conducts investigations, verifies claims, and ensures every published finding meets our primary source standard.
Our Standard: Receipts or It Doesn't Count
Every factual claim published by AFNPT is sourced to a primary government record or verifiable public document.
AFNPT does not rely on anonymous sources, leaked documents, or unverified claims. Our investigations are built entirely from publicly available records that any person can independently access and verify. When we cannot verify a claim from primary sources, we do not publish it. When we offer analysis or interpretation, we clearly label it as such.
Primary Source Categories
FARA Filings (DOJ)
Registration statements, exhibit documents, supplemental statements, and informational materials from the Department of Justice Foreign Agents Registration Act database at efile.fara.gov. Every FARA filing cited by AFNPT is downloaded directly from the DOJ's official repository.
https://efile.fara.govIRS Form 990 Filings
Annual information returns filed by tax-exempt organizations, accessed via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API or direct IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) downloads. We analyze Schedule I (grants), Schedule F (foreign activities), Schedule R (related organizations), and compensation data.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/State Corporate Filings
Entity formation documents, annual reports, registered agent records, and dissolution filings from official Secretary of State databases: Nevada SilverFlume, Delaware Division of Corporations, California Secretary of State, and other state repositories.
https://esos.nv.gov/EntitySearch/OnlineEntitySearchFEC Campaign Finance
Federal Election Commission records including individual contributions, PAC expenditures, independent expenditures, and candidate committee filings accessed through the FEC's official data portal.
https://www.fec.gov/data/Federal Court Records
Published court opinions, civil and criminal filings accessible through PACER and public court records systems. We do not use sealed or confidential court documents.
On-Camera Statements
Public statements made in interviews, congressional hearings, press conferences, or published media appearances. We cite specific timestamps and provide context for quoted statements.
Investigation Process
Document Collection
We identify and download all relevant primary source documents from government databases. For FARA investigations, this includes the complete filing package: registration statement, exhibits, supplemental statements, and informational materials.
Cross-Reference Verification
Every entity, date, dollar amount, and factual claim is cross-referenced against at least one independent primary source. For example, a FARA filing claim about contract value is verified against the exhibit contract document.
Entity Mapping
We build entity relationship maps documenting the connections between people, organizations, addresses, filing numbers, and financial flows. These maps are generated from primary source data, not inference.
Financial Forensics
For 990-based investigations, we conduct line-by-line analysis of the return, comparing reported figures across multiple filing years, identifying Schedule I grant patterns, Schedule F foreign activities, and compensation structures.
Analysis Labeling
All editorial analysis, interpretation, and opinion is clearly separated from factual findings and labeled with 'AFNPT Educational Analysis' markers. Readers can always distinguish between documented fact and our professional assessment.
Pre-Publication Review
Before publication, we seek comment from individuals and organizations portrayed negatively, verify all source links are active and accessible, and conduct a final factual accuracy review.
What We Do Not Do
- We do not rely on anonymous sources
- We do not use leaked or stolen documents
- We do not accuse individuals of criminal wrongdoing
- We do not publish speculation as fact
- We do not pay for information
- We do not accept editorial direction from donors
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