Cambridge Analytica , the data firm at the center of a scandal about misused Facebook information, sent dozens of foreign nationals to work on U.S. elections in 2014, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.

Three of the firms former employees, including whistleblower Christopher Wylie, said the company was mostly staffed with non-U.S. citizens as it worked across several states to help elect Republicans . The campaign dubbed Project Ripon continued even after an attorney warned the firm to obey U.S. election laws, which mandate foreigners cannot directly or indirectly participate in the decision-making process in a political campaign.

Despite the warning, at least 20 non-Americans were sent to advise congressional and legislative campaigns in 2014, and helped to decide who to target with political messages, the Post reported. Such voters were dubbed hidden Republicans.