The Internal Revenue Service revoked the nonprofit status of the veterans benefit organization that hosted and sold tickets to a foreign policy speech by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump aboard a retired U.S. battleship, The Associated Press has learned. The group's endorsement of Trump at the event also could raise legal problems under campaign finance laws.
Trump's campaign did not respond to questions from the AP about whether it was aware that the IRS had revoked the nonprofit status of the Veterans for a Strong America, which sold tickets to Trump's event for up to $1,000 as a fundraiser. The IRS issued its decision Aug. 10, citing the group's failure to file any tax returns for three consecutive years, according to IRS records reviewed by the AP.
The group's chairman, Joel Arends of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said the organization was appealing the IRS decision. He would not provide AP with copies of any tax returns, which would show how much money the group has collected over the years and how it spends its money. By law, such records are supposed to be available to the general public for inspection.
"We disagree with the IRS determination letter," Arends told the AP in an interview. He appeared alongside Trump on Tuesday night on the ship.
"We disagree?" Doesn't he mean "I" disagree?
Gee I wonder if the Right Wing will suggest that this is yet another example of Obama's IRS hit men coming after conservative groups due to their ideologies, or if this smells a little too shady for even them to touch with a ten foot pole?
Thanks for this post Mr. G. Isn't this the same "group" that Rachel Maddow reported on a few days ago? Seems that Mr. Arends is the "group".
ReplyDeleteYet another reason for them to lose their tax exempt status.
DeleteI did paperwork to turn our school PTA into a 501c3. Tax returns aren't hard. You send in a post card. You can even do it online.
I guess this guy wanted to hide the fact it was only him and he was the sole recipient of all donations.
So Liar, Tax Fraud.
Anyone surprised?
I ultimately blame the Supreme Court, which would be Alito, Thomas, Scalia and Roberts.
Oh, and Georgie Porgie "Kept us Safe my ass" Bush.
I am impressed with the IRS....Rachel smelled a rat, but they smelled it sooner...and Trump is right in the middle of it. Awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteGroup of 1 according to Maddow.
ReplyDeleteThe Master Bullshitter was bullshitted. Cool beans!
Think someone at that "group" needs to read the laws regarding non-profits. Glad the IRS caught up with them
ReplyDeleteBut rules are for the little people. Rules never apply to them.
DeleteThe Right wing are always victims. They did nothing wrong. Since the dawn of time. Just ask Sarah.
ReplyDeleteThe tundra twat taught them well how to grift. Lots more of these will be uncovered in the next few years. What will happen to them? Nada - they are VICTIMS, I say, VICTIMS.
ReplyDeleteRachel Maddow has covered this on her outstanding show. Interesting that no one else in the news and media have paid attention to it.
ReplyDeleteTrump keeps hanging in there - he's so far ahead in most polls - the doctor's numbers are substantially lower than those of The Donald. And, the rest of the Republican candidates have such low, low numbers!
It amazes me!
Where's the FEC on this?
ReplyDeleteGood News!!! All that vet lovin self aggrandized ego stroking millionaire wasted on fake organizations. Shows poor judgment.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/search?sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&btnG=Search&q=Veterans+for+a+Strong+America+wiki
ReplyDeleteDo the google search on this fake ass group and you'll find out they didn't even have a wiki page entry until last night:
(cur | prev) 19:58, 18 September 2015 Cwobeel (talk | contribs) . . (1,493 bytes) (+1,493) . . (start new article)
Read the Mother Jones article and you'll find out they were trying to swiftboat President Obama during the 2012 election cycle:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/05/swift-boat-obama-bin-laden-video
Joel Arends has ties to the Koch-funded group Americans for Prosperity and it wouldn't surprise me if all his "dark money" donors are the two Koch brothers.
There's a LOT of information about Mr. Arends in the Mother Jones article and I recommend reading it completely.
American Encore
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Encore
"The Washington Post described it as a "major cash turnstile for groups on the right during the past two election cycles," because it received large amounts of money from Freedom Partners and TC4 Trust as part of the $400 million Koch political network."
Guess who received a bit of that largesse in 2012?
Veterans for a Strong America: $937,000
P.S. If you stare too long at the diagrams of the money flow you might think you're experiencing a drug flashback. It's THAT crazy!