College Leader's Presidential Endorsement Sparks Call for IRS Inquiry

December 05, 2007

College Leader's Presidential Endorsement Sparks Call for IRS Inquiry

Liberty University is facing criticism following comments made by its chancellor in support of Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign.

Jerry Falwell Jr., the university’s chancellor and the son of the noted evangelist Jerry Falwell, held a forum last month for the former Republican governor of Arkansas at the university, in Lynchburg, Va. Mr. Falwell also endorsed the candidate on the university’s Web site.

A news alert posted on the college’s Web site reported that “Falwell gave his personal endorsement in a news conference after the service.” It quoted Mr. Falwell as saying Mr. Huckabee is “my top choice.”

“He’s one of us,” Mr. Falwell said in the article on Liberty’s Web site. “A lot of the other candidates try to talk like evangelicals, but he’s actually one of us. He believes like we do on all the issues. He’s really, I think, got a good chance at being the next president of the United States.”

Liberty University’s spokesman did not return a call from The Chronicle seeking comment.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in Washington, has filed a complaint with the IRS calling for an investigation into the statements.

Leaders of nonprofit organizations are allowed to endorse candidates as private individuals but are prohibited from using their institution’s resources to support or oppose candidates.

“These types of political endorsements are illegal,” said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Tax-exempt religious institutions may not be used to support or oppose candidates for public office.”

The Internal Revenue Service does not comment on what organizations or people it is investigating. But the tax agency said last month it will monitor political activities by nonprofit organizations.

The IRS received 237 public complaints alleging illegal campaign activities by nonprofit groups during the 2006 election cycle. Those complaints prompted 100 formal investigations.

And the IRS has already been receiving complaints related to the 2008 election.

Mr. Lynn’s organization this spring complained to the IRS about statements made by the evangelist Bill Keller, president of Bill Keller Ministries, in St. Petersburg, Fla., regarding the Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

— Peter Panepento

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