CREW files IRS complaint against Grover Norquist's charities

[digitalwanderer]

CREW FILES IRS COMPLAINT AGAINST GROVER NORQUIST'S AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM (http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/newsrelease.php?view=109)

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) today filed an Internal Revenue Services (IRS) complaint against Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), and American for Tax Reform Foundation (ATR Foundation), conservative, non-profit organizations led by right-wing activist Grover Norquist. The complaint asks the IRS to investigate activities by the groups which may violate IRS regulations and require a revocation of their tax-exempt status.

The complaint alleges that Norquist used either or both ATR and ATR Foundation as commercial enterprises by laundering money derived from Indian casino clients of former lobbyist and convicted felon Jack Abramoff. The casinos made contributions to ATR, which then skimmed a fee off the top before passing the money on to former Christian activist Ralph Reed and other anti-gambling activists. In this way, Norquist, Reed and Abramoff were able to disguise the fact that the money used to fund anti-gambling activities was generated through Indian gambling. The point of the anti-gambling campaigns was to prevent competition to the Indian casinos.

Reed originally denied knowing the funds came from Indian casinos, but during hearings held by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Sen. John McCain released numerous e-mails clearly demonstrating that he did, in fact, know where the money came from. The e-mails show that Reed and Norquist worked with Abramoff to create the anti-gambling campaigns and to develop the scheme to hide the origins of the money.
From the evidence so far it looks like Norquist is screwed. :)

[digitalwanderer]

And this also ties in neatly to Gale Norton's sudden decision to resign a little while back (http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/)...

March 12, 2006 -- Gale Norton's sudden decision to resign as Interior Secretary is a sign that the Jack Abramoff investigation is closing in on higher-ranking Bush administration officials, according to informed Washington insiders. Norton is at the center of the scandal that has embroiled convicted GOP lobbyist Abramoff, her Interior Department deputy Steven Griles (accused by Interior's chief attorney of meddling in decisions involving the Coushatta tribe of Louisiana, which was an Abramoff client) and Italia Federici, the president of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, a corporate-funded front co-founded by Norton and GOP policy adviser Grover Norquist that arranged for access to Norton and top Interior officials in exchange for tribal donations to the group.
Hmmmm....

[digitalwanderer]

The republicans blast back (http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/031406/news2.html):

Tax experts say the activities of a controversial government watchdog group that has publicized four ethics complaints against Republican lawmakers since the beginning of this year raise red flags at a time when the IRS has renewed its focus on the political activities of tax-exempt groups.

In the past few weeks, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has filed complaints with the Senate and House ethics panels against Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas). It has filed more ethics complaints against congressional lawmakers than any other prominent advocacy group in the past two years.

CREW’s activity could draw scrutiny from the IRS, which late last month issued new guidance on political activity by 501(c)3 tax-exempt groups. CREW is such a group, which means donations to it are tax-deductible.
Oh, lawyers sicking the IRS on each other....does it get any better? :lol: