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Cold Case Posse: tax exempt status attacked

According to a document uploaded to Scribd, a complaint was referred today against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Cold Case Posse Inc., a tax-exempt educational organization under the IRS code. Of late, the Cold Case Posse has been engaged in open political activity against the likely Democratic Party candidate for President this year and apparently I’m not the only one who sees the Cold Case Posse as “political theater.”

In addition to alleging that the Cold Case Posse is involved in political action, the complaint further raises the issue of Mike Zullo personally realizing profits from the sale of the e-book that came out of the investigation of the President’s birth certificate, and enjoying a jaunt to Hawaii paid for by the tax-exempt Posse. The complaint says:

Mike Zullo admitted that the e-book was intentionally produced and distributed in an attempt to affect the outcome of the election and that he personally made the decision to produce it.

The name of the complainant is blacked out, but it appears to me (and I am not a lawyer) that a legal professional wrote it because of its well crafted presentation of the evidence, its lack of sensationalism, and statement of applicable law. It has the same structure and style that I have seen in countless briefs and court decisions. And no, I have no idea who filed it.

The complaint asks for revocation of the tax-exempt status of the Cold Case Posse and a “10% excise tax on all ‘investigation costs’ incurred in the prohibited political activity.” My understanding is that we will not know how this turns out unless the tax-exempt status is revoked.

Read the full complaint:

 

2012-06-24 – IRS Referral Re MCSO CCP – Redacted

27 Responses to Cold Case Posse: tax exempt status attacked

  1. bovril June 24, 2012 at 9:24 pm  (Quote) #

    A very interesting read and as noted, carefully crafted.

    Waiting on the inevitable sqeals of how Da Ebil Userpator and Soros are at the bottom of this……

  2. Jim June 24, 2012 at 9:48 pm  (Quote) #

    Thanks Doc, fun read. Hope the IRS does something!

  3. Dr. Conspiracy June 24, 2012 at 10:02 pm  (Quote) #

    I think that the points in the complaint are well-taken, and I am gratified that someone with the knowledge of the law has filed it.

  4. SluggoJD June 24, 2012 at 10:31 pm  (Quote) #

    Where’s John, our quintessential birther? He should be all over this, cause there’s no doubt Obama wrote this.

  5. Joe Acerbic June 24, 2012 at 10:50 pm  (Quote) #

    Anybody know if any RWNJ organization has ever had tax-exempt status revoked? They don’t seem to need to follow any laws or rules.

  6. JPotter June 24, 2012 at 11:30 pm  (Quote) #

    I’d guess an AZ origin, but who knows? Smells like righteousness … someone is loaning these gravediggin’ fools a shovel!

  7. G June 24, 2012 at 11:47 pm  (Quote) #

    Same here! Kudos to whomever crafted and filed it. A further kudos to you for bringing it to our attention!

    8)

    Dr. Conspiracy:
    I think that the points in the complaint are well-taken, and I am gratified that someone with the knowledge of the law has filed it.

  8. Dr. Conspiracy June 25, 2012 at 12:07 am  (Quote) #

    That was my thought also.

    JPotter: I’d guess an AZ origin

  9. Rickey June 25, 2012 at 12:32 am  (Quote) #

    Joe Acerbic:
    Anybody know if any RWNJ organization has ever had tax-exempt status revoked? They don’t seem to need to follow any laws or rules.

    I have heard of churches which have lost their tax-exempt status for endorsing political candidates, but the last one was 20 years ago.

    http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rep-walter-jones-likens-church-tax-rule-communism

  10. raicha June 25, 2012 at 12:44 am  (Quote) #

    The IRS recently revoked the tax-exempt status of “Emerge America”, based on its political activities.

    http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/1221028.pdf

  11. G June 25, 2012 at 1:56 am  (Quote) #

    Hurray! 🙂

    raicha:
    The IRS recently revoked the tax-exempt status of “Emerge America”, based on its political activities.

    http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/1221028.pdf

    Considering how many stories there have been over the past 8+ years of religious institutions who’ve crossed the line of politicized proselytizing, it is a crying shame that more tax-exept statuses haven’t been revoked. This is an area of abuse that won’t slow down until the IRS takes off the kid gloves and “puts the fear of God” into them…so to speak…

    Rickey: I have heard of churches which have lost their tax-exempt status for endorsing political candidates, but the last one was 20 years ago.

    http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rep-walter-jones-likens-church-tax-rule-communism

  12. doloras June 25, 2012 at 3:18 am  (Quote) #

    SluggoJD:
    Where’s John, our quintessential birther?He should be all over this, cause there’s no doubt Obama wrote this.

    Are you kidding? Obama never wrote anything in his life because he’s a functional illiterate as well as an evil genius. It was written for him by Bill Ayers.

  13. Joe Acerbic June 25, 2012 at 3:23 am  (Quote) #

    raicha:
    The IRS recently revoked the tax-exempt status of “Emerge America”, based on its political activities.

    This “Emerge America”? http://www.emergeamerica.org

    That’s a liberal org and so I was wondering if any of the rabidly, proudly partisan political repuke outfits EVER got busted?!?

  14. JPotter June 25, 2012 at 8:37 am  (Quote) #

    Here’s a list of groups that had 501(c)3 status revoked since 2005 (surprisingly short!):

    http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=141466,00.html

    You can check the status of an organization here:

    http://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/

    The CCCP is a “public charity”, donations to which are currently deductible.

    ____________________

    A fun sidenote … last year, 275K organizations lost tax exemptions by failing to file required paperwork:
    http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=240239,00.html

    Quite a bit of related spin out there on that one!

    ____________________

    Another… an old WND story about a church getting booted for having paid for Clinton ads in 1992:
    http://www.wnd.com/2000/05/4497/

  15. JPotter June 25, 2012 at 8:38 am  (Quote) #

    And what’s Farah saying about his pet SherifF?

    NOW MORE THAN EVER, SUPPORT ARPAIO
    Exclusive: Joseph Farah warns of ‘barrage of constant attacks’ on America’s favorite sheriff

    http://www.wnd.com/2012/06/now-more-than-ever-support-arpaio/

    Well, duh.

  16. Rickey June 25, 2012 at 10:50 am  (Quote) #

    G:

    Considering how many stories there have been over the past 8+ years of religious institutions who’ve crossed the line of politicized proselytizing, it is a crying shame that more tax-exept statuses haven’t been revoked.This is an area of abuse that won’t slow down until the IRS takes off the kid gloves and “puts the fear of God” into them…so to speak…

    This appears to be the most recent complaint:

    http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2012/06/terry_jones_irs_complaint_obama.php

    And another:

    http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/21/group-calls-on-kentucky-church-to-give-up-tax-exemptions-over-anti-obama-sermon/

  17. Rickey June 25, 2012 at 11:18 am  (Quote) #

    JPotter:
    And what’s Farah saying about his pet SherifF?

    NOW MORE THAN EVER, SUPPORT ARPAIO
    Exclusive: Joseph Farah warns of ‘barrage of constant attacks’ on America’s favorite sheriff

    Somewhat off-topic, but SCOTUS just shot down most of Arizona’s immigration law. I haven’t read the decision yet, but apparently the only part remaining is that the police can check on a suspect’s immigration status when detained for other reasons.

  18. Thomas Brown June 25, 2012 at 12:40 pm  (Quote) #

    doloras: Are you kidding? Obama never wrote anything in his life because he’s a functional illiterate as well as an evil genius. It was written for him by Bill Ayers.

    If you’re kidding, pretty good. If you’re serious, you’re an idiot.

  19. BillTheCat June 25, 2012 at 12:54 pm  (Quote) #

    doloras: Are you kidding? Obama never wrote anything in his life because he’s a functional illiterate as well as an evil genius. It was written for him by Bill Ayers.

    I know it’s hard for you to accept a black president, let alone one who is intelligent and can write.

  20. justlw June 25, 2012 at 1:18 pm  (Quote) #

    doloras: a functional illiterate as well as an evil genius

    I’m calling “Poe” here.

  21. justlw June 25, 2012 at 1:21 pm  (Quote) #

    Cold Case Posse Inc., a tax-exempt educational organization

    I guess in a “Darwinist” or “swift kick in the fork” sense. But is our birfers learning?

  22. JPotter June 25, 2012 at 1:26 pm  (Quote) #

    justlw: I guess in a “Darwinist” or “swift kick in the fork” sense. But is our birfers learning?

    I think it was educational via process of elimination. other options include “scientific” (yeah right!) or “religious”. I would have suggested “religious education” for double-coverage. 😉

  23. Stanislaw June 25, 2012 at 2:47 pm  (Quote) #

    Thomas Brown: If you’re kidding, pretty good.If you’re serious, you’re an idiot.

    BillTheCat: I know it’s hard for you to accept a black president, let alone one who is intelligent and can write.

    I’m pretty sure doloras wasn’t serious. He (or she) was just poking fun at some of the nutty contradictions that one has to overlook to embrace birtherism.

  24. Thomas Brown June 25, 2012 at 3:44 pm  (Quote) #

    Stanislaw:
    I’m pretty sure doloras wasn’t serious. He (or she) was just poking fun at some of the nutty contradictions that one has to overlook to embrace birtherism.

    Yabbut… how can you be sure when there’s nothing too m’shugge for a Birther to swallow?

  25. Majority Will June 25, 2012 at 3:56 pm  (Quote) #

    Stanislaw:
    I’m pretty sure doloras wasn’t serious. He (or she) was just poking fun at some of the nutty contradictions that one has to overlook to embrace birtherism.

    My sarcasm meter sounded a full strength alarm.

  26. misha June 25, 2012 at 4:06 pm  (Quote) #

    Thomas Brown: how can you be sure when there’s nothing too m’shugge for a Birther to swallow?

    And I have something to say to birthers:

    Hok mir nit kayn chainik. [bada-bing]

  27. misha June 25, 2012 at 4:33 pm  (Quote) #

    The lawyer who filed the complaint should also have checked off the box for:

    “Organization is engaged in commercial, for-profit business activities”

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