From what I understand, Vdare’s big mistake was buying a castle, then signing the lease as both landlord and tenant, and doing this under a nonprofit — which is not legal. That’s what got them into trouble. They had a lawyer too but they obviously didn’t consult with him on this matter beforehand. Vdare’s president Brimelow claimed that they’re being shut down solely because of their political views, as if their First Amendment rights were being violated, but that’s a huge lie — and it’s important to point that out because people in this movement want you all to believe that you actually have no rights in the US.
This is why New York State’s general attorney prosecuted Vdare.
I’m not a lawyer, but a lawyer helped me understand that Vdare didn’t play by the financial rules that all nonprofits are supposed to follow.