According to an account in NPR, he was "watchdogging all those limousine liberals with their checkbooks". Rich's letters to prominent liberal contributors of liberal causes told them that he's watching these donations; the letter read as follows: "As a donor to one or more of these organizations and efforts, you have been able to engage in these activities without notice, operating in relative obscurity … I am writing to inform you that this will no longer be the case." There was a threat of exposing donations which violated laws or which were being funneled for illegal purposes.
A report by NPR stated that he was overseeing liberal donors who used their funds discreetly. Rich's letters to influential liberal supporters informed them that he would be keeping tabs on their contributions; one letter read: "As a donor to one or more of these organizations and efforts, you have been able to engage in these activities without notice, operating in relative obscurity … I am writing to inform you that this will no longer be the case." He threatened to expose donations that were unlawful or being misused.