End Citizens United (ECU) today called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) for violating its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. The complaint argues that CPI is operating for the private benefit of the Republican Party and does not serve a public purpose. Therefore, it should have its tax-exempt status revoked.
Click here to read coverage of the complaint in Raw Story.
The call for an investigation comes on the heels of leaked information from the Republican National Committee’s private donor retreat. At the event, Cleta Mitchell, head of CPI’s anti-voter program, decried the ease of voting on college campuses and offered suggestions on how to restrict voting for college students in order to win elections.
“Cleta Mitchell, the head of CPI’s anti-voter program, said the quiet part out loud. The leaked information that came to light from the Republican National Committee’s private donor retreat revealed that CPI is operating under the guise of a social welfare program, but in reality, it’s a front group for the Republican Party,” said ECU President Tiffany Muller. “They’re using the group as a vehicle for big Republican donors to hide their political contributions – and get a tax break for doing so. It’s a flagrant abuse of what the IRS’ tax-exempt status is intended for. We’re calling on the IRS to immediately investigate CPI for this fraud and to revoke their tax-exempt status.”
A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization must be organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals. CPI’s stated mission to provide tools, tactics, resources, and strategies to conservatives in a partisan manner constitutes impermissible political activity. Only Republican candidates, political organizations, and members of Congress benefit from CPI’s provision of their facilities and resources.
Excerpt from the letter:
“Since its inception, Conservative Partnership Institute has operated as an action organization under the guise of a charitable organization. Further, it operates for the private benefit of the Republican Party and the Republican National Committee rather than for a public purpose. Its very mission—to provide staffing support and trainings only to Republican Members of Congress and political committees—evinces its non-exempt purpose. Its digital media production services appear only to be offered to individuals affiliated with the Republican Party, as are its legal services. It makes its facilities available for rent only to Republican candidates and political committees. And most troublingly, its programs solicit tax-exempt funds to promote the Republican Party’s electoral mission.
“In light of the fact that CPI is operating as an action organization and for the private benefit of the Republican Party, we ask the IRS to take immediate action to investigate whether the organization’s 501(c)(3) status should be revoked.”
Click here to read the letter.
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