National Organization For Marriage In ‘Direct Violation Of Federal Law’ Says HRC

HRC is accusing NOM of violating IRS rules and has filed a complaint “in order to compel NOM to abide by the law.”

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is accusing NOM, the National Organization For Marriage, of violating the law by not making their IRS 2013 Form 990s publicly available. This is not the first time NOM has been accused of being in violation of this law. Former GOP presidential candidate and LGBT activist Fred Karger says he has repeatedly found NOM in violation of the law.

990 Forms are important because they include basic operating expenses and income, a list of Board members and their compensation as well as the compensation for key employees, business transactions, and loans. 

HRC says it “first made an in-person request for the public financial documents on Monday morning and again on Tuesday – both times NOM was unable to produce the documents. Federal law requires organizations to publicly release their 990s the same day an in-person request is made.”

RELATED: Mormon Church And NOM Accused Of Violating Hawaii Election Laws

“NOM has once again failed to meet one of the most basic standards for public accountability for any nonprofit organization, and it raises serious questions as to what in the world is going on,” Fred Sainz, HRC Vice President for Communications & Marketing, said in a statement issued overnight. “Are they simply demonstrating the same flagrant disregard that they did in Maine with state campaign finance laws? Are they attempting to hide something from the public in these documents that reflects even more poorly on the organization and their failed work? NOM should do the right thing and immediately release these financial documents that the public has a right to see.”

UPDATE: NOM’s Funding Nosedives, Anti-Gay Organization In Red By More Than $2.5 Million

NOM has had significant issues with IRS and state disclosure laws in the past.

Earlier this year, NOM lost its case with the Maine State Ethics Committee, which ruled unanimously that the anti-gay marriage group was guilty of breaking Maine’s campaign finance laws. It was charged the highest fine ever in the state, over $50,000. It is not known if NOM has yet paid that fine.

Last year in a unanimous decision, the Maine Supreme Court ruled against NOM in a case reaching back to their 2009 refusal to comply with state law and reveal the names of their donors to their Maine campaign against same-sex marriage.

Also last year, Karger accused NOM of “money laundering” in Iowa elections and engaging in a “pay to play” scandal. 

In their statement today, HRC adds that in 2012, “the National Organization for Marriage Education Fund, NOM’s 501(c)(3) charitable education arm, loaned NOM nearly $1.7 million. This raised questions over whether the Education Fund’s loans allowed NOM to engage in electoral or excessive lobbying activity that violates the Education Fund’s tax-exempt status.”

 

Image via Flickr