Frameshop: Donohue Smear of Edwards May Violate 501(c)(3) Laws
Jeffrey Feldman printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Thu Feb 08, 2007 at 04:40:03 PM EST
bumped over from the diaries -- ed

DONOHUE MAY HAVE BROKEN LAW PROHIBITING INTERVENTION IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

According to United States law governing the behavior of 501(c)(3) organizations, it seems highly likely that William Donohue--President of the Catholic League, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization--may have broken the law by attempting to intervene in a political campaign.

The IRS document Organizational Test - IRC 501(c)(3) (link opens PDF file) states explicitly that an organization with this tax exempt status cannot intervene in a political campaign.

Despite the legal restrictions on his organization, Donohue appears to be using the Catholic League to campaign against John Edwards bid for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President, in particular the IRS strict prohibition for 501(c)(3)'s on "issue advocacy" as a form of political  intervention.

Beyond Donohue's appearances on broadcast media, during which he ha