Originally published in The Frontrunner February 1, 2005
Copyright 2005 Bulletin News Network, Inc.
The
Baltimore Sun (2/1, Brewington) reports, "Charging that an IRS audit
was 'motivated by partisan politics,' NAACP Chairman Julian Bond
announced Monday that the civil rights group would not comply with the
federal probe alleging Bond had inappropriately intervened in the
presidential campaign by criticizing President Bush. 'We are prepared
to fight,' Bond said Monday."
The IRS
recently "requested documents for the investigation into the group's
tax-exempt status." However, attorneys for the NAACP "refused to
deliver the documents, saying Bond did nothing wrong by criticizing the
president in a speech last summer at the group's annual convention."
The
AP (2/1) reports, "The IRS has said it's probing about 60 charities,
churches and other tax-exempt groups for potentially breaking federal
rules that bar them from participating in political activity." In a
letter to the House Democrats' top tax writer in November, "IRS
Commissioner Mark Everson said the agency received two letters
questioning political activity of nonprofit groups from members of
Congress. None came from the White House or any federal political
appointee."
The Washington Post (2/1, A9,
Fears) reports, Angela Ciccolo, an attorney for the NAACP, said, "The
timing of the investigation is critical here," adding, "The remarks [by
Bond] were made in July, and in October, when we're trying to register
African American voters, we get this order. We think it's important to stand up to this type of intimidation, especially in an election year."