Falwell Endorsement Target of Complaint
Wed Jul 28, 7:36 PM ET
By JUSTIN BERGMAN, Associated Press Writer
RICHMOND, Va. - A watchdog group claims the Rev. Jerry Falwell violated campaign finance laws by endorsing President Bush (news - web sites) and soliciting funds for a conservative political action committee on his ministries' Web site.
In a complaint filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission (news - web sites), the Campaign Legal Center said Jerry Falwell Ministries and a lobbying organization affiliated with Falwell were politicking for the president by endorsing him earlier this month, which they are barred from doing as nonprofit corporations.
The complaint follows a separate letter sent by a religious watchdog group to the Internal Revenue Service (news - web sites) accusing Falwell of violating his ministries' tax-exempt status by endorsing a political candidate.
In an e-mail newsletter sent to followers July 1, Falwell urged conservatives to vote for Bush and "flood Campaign for Working Families with financial help." The Campaign for Working Families is run by Gary Bauer (news - web sites), a conservative activist who opposes abortion and gay marriage.
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