APNewsBreak: Vet group hosting Trump lost nonprofit status

[NuclearDem]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/43dc56adf67e44dca3754643a5b6cd70/apnewsbreak-vet-group-hosting-trump-lost-nonprofit-status

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Good work shutting this scam artist down, IRS.

[4lbs]

1. You don't want to follow the rules to be considered a non-profit, then you don't get to be

a non-profit.

Simple as that.



Although, I'm sure that the "timing" of this revocation (even though it was 3 years in the making and totally the fault of the organization), will make the Repukes and Teabaggers think that Obama pressured the IRS into this because the group "supports" Trump.

[dorkzilla]

12. Who fucking cares what those clowns think?

Global warming is a hoax and Obummer is a Muslin Marxist Fascist Atheist! !!11!!!!

Actually, an argument could be made that those clowns NEVER think.

[daleanime]

16. They would have thought that no matter when it happen....

[douggg]

2. Looks like they were making a pretty good profit.

Did they go to Trump University?

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Gee, that's too bad.

Hahahahahahaha *breathe* hahahahahaha.

[SoapBox]

4. I'm just hoping the Iowa can be sanitized after Rump was there.

May be an exorcism as well.

[Archae]

9. The Iowa was the scene of the worst postwar battleship disaster, that was covered up badly.

They were using expired powder that blew up prematurely, and came up with a bizarre fantasy to try to cover that up.

Corruption, incompetence and simply not giving a damn.

Should have been perfect for Trump.

[roscoeroscoe]

20. Very good reference

The more you know, the more irony there is in the world to enjoy

[Kelvin Mace]

23. As I recall,

they blaimed it on "teh gays".

[HooptieWagon]

26. Yep, as I recall.

Couldn't have been the 40 year old gunpowder bags.

[Ilsa]

5. Off to the Greatest page... nt

[longship]

6. Rachel revealed about this scum last night.

She claimed that there is no organization, that it's just this one guy.

In other words, a scam.

R&

[angryvet]

7. according to Rachell they only had one member

that Arends guy. They had $30.00 in the bank and owed $300+ to Arends. This is just another phony veterans organization.

[Stallion]

8. A Fundamental Requirement for Non-Profits-NO ENDORSEMENTS on Political Campaigns

even if they appeal-they have seemingly clearly violation one of the central premises for non-profit status. This is RED LETTER law for non-profits

[peacebird]

27. well you can't expect a one man organization to have time to read the rules, can you?

I wonder what cut of the fundraiser his "group" was getting?

[OneCrazyDiamond]

10. I blame Lois Lerner.

Time to investigate the IRS again.

[Roland99]

11. Joel Arends...I knew that name sounded familiar. He's a real winner alright....

Bosworth blames attorney Arends for illegal signatures
http://www.argusleader.com/story/davidmontgomery/2014/06/18/bosworth-blames-arends/10809387/

Meet the Astroturfer Planning to Swift Boat Obama
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/05/swift-boat-obama-bin-laden-video

Patrick Davis, Joel Arends Embroiled in Texas Super PAC Controversy
http://dakotafreepress.com/2015/03/20/patrick-davis-joel-arends-embroiled-in-texas-super-pac-controversy/

[AlbertCat]

13. So....

When is the IRS gonna get to the churches that support specific candidates/parties?

[Plucketeer]

24. I'm going to stand up and cheer

The day the IRS cracks down on all the phony and rule-violating "churches" that abound!

[freebrew]

28. YES!...nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. I can picture Trump tossing this guy aside calling him a loser.

[NuclearDem]

15. Given Trump's attitude towards veterans, I imagine he'll stand by his con man.

[7962]

25. a low-energy looooooser

[oldandhappy]

17. So the guy takes the money and runs?

Interesting way to make a living. Wonder how Arends and Trump know each other.

[NuclearDem]

19. After Trump pulled his "I don't like the guys who get captured" nonsense

Arends was possibly the only person to not only not condemn what he said, but actually defend it.

This whole thing was just Trump scratching Arends' back. If he really cared about veterans, he could have done a fundraiser with VFW, IAVA, Yellow Ribbon, Wounded Warrior, or DAV, but instead he went for his stooge's "veterans group."

[Fred Sanders]

18. A real journalist would uncover the entire con game of these too many to count political "non-profits" in a heartbeat.

Kudos to the IRS for lifting the veil.

The government of the people fights back against the lies.

A real media would do the same for conman Trump and GOP lies, it would fight them, not coddle them.

The fall of all of them will be the revolution.

[Ford_Prefect]

21. Sic-em, Dano!

[Kelvin Mace]

22. High comedy: "could raise legal problems under campaign finance laws"

Adolf Hitler could rise from the grave and hand over a box car full of Nazi gold rendered from Jewish teeth to every GOP candidate and the FEC would, at best, issue a stern letter.

Our campaign finance laws are a joke.

Thanks Injustice Roberts!