Foundation behind network pushing election and coronavirus conspiracies had its tax-exempt status...

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: CNN

Foundation behind network pushing election and coronavirus conspiracies had its tax-exempt status revoked. It still solicits donations

By Casey Tolan and Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN

Updated 12:55 PM ET, Mon January 10, 2022

(CNN) -- An online media network that promotes election and coronavirus-related conspiracy theories is soliciting donations and telling donors their contributions will be tax-deductible -- even though its foundation's tax-exempt status has been revoked by the IRS.

The Worldview Weekend Broadcast Network -- which has given a platform to conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell and other right-wing figures who have pushed falsehoods about the 2020 election -- collects donations through a nonprofit organization, the Worldview Weekend Foundation, which they say funds some of its operations.

The IRS revoked the foundation's tax-exempt status in May after it failed to file tax returns for three consecutive years, according to the agency's records. That means that donors who give money to the foundation can't deduct those contributions from their taxes unless the IRS reinstates its status.

But more than seven months later, the organization is still actively soliciting donations and telling potential donors their contributions will be deductible. This week, a large pop-up ad on the website declared that "your tax deductible contribution is vital to continue operations," while a banner ad urged supporters to "make your end of the year tax deductible donation!"

The network asks for donations in a form at the bottom of every page on its website, which states three times that contributions are "100% Tax-Deductable" (sic). And its audio and video broadcasts and social media posts often include similar requests for donations and claims about deductibility.

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Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/10/politics/worldview-weekend-foundation-tax-status-irs-invs/index.html

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Daniel Dale Retweeted

https://twitter.com/ddale8

Conspiracy-theory outlet WVW Broadcast Network (pushed the now-infamous Hammer/Scorecard election nonsense) claims donors’ contributions are tax-deductible -- but its foundation's tax-exempt status has been revoked. Via
@caseytolan

@YahyaGhazala

Link to tweet

Foundation behind network pushing election and coronavirus conspiracies had its tax-exempt status...
An online media network that promotes election and coronavirus-related conspiracy theories is soliciting donations and telling donors their contributions

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Sounds like to me anyone declaring a tax break on their returns (falsely as it seems too,

due to this Foundation claiming wrongly that its donations were tax deductible) can now sue this Foundation for wrongly and falsely claiming otherwise. Also, I suspect that some sort of wrongdoing / illegal act is possible (wire fraud), being used to solicit these funds.

[Picaro]

2. Revocation of tax exempt status should happen much more often

There are many churches and so-called religious groups that should have their tax exempt status revoked.

Why? Because they are very involved in right wing politics and should be disqualified from 501-3 C status. The churches hide behind the 501-3c bylaws and then use only a scant percentage of their take for charitable activities if there is any charitable giving at all.

This group was simply arrogant or incompetent and didn't file the required IRS forms. It still took 3 years to have their status revoked and now they're just lying to their contributors about the deductibility of their contributions.

After all, when you're lying about the very reason for the organization's existence what is one more lie? Besides, those that itemize will not see any impact unless they get audited by the IRS--who are so underfunded and short staffed that few audits of any kind are happening.

[PSPS]

3. So what? The IRS hasn't seized their bank accounts. We don't punish republican wrongdoing.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Can we give up on the absolutist negativity? It's false. Write instead

"We don't punish Republicon wrongdoing often enough."

This binary all-or-nothing thinking is nihilistic and self-defeatist doom-and-gloom.

You can do better.



And the IRS can seize their bank accounts but not instantly at your command.

They are especially careful because of the controversies regarding this exact issue: revoking tax-exempt status of politically-involved entities. There was a tremendous kerfuffle about this a few years ago.

[PSPS]

5. "The IRS revoked the foundation's tax-exempt status in May." That's nine months ago.

I'm not the one who "can do better." It's our laughable "justice system." While they're doing their usual foot-dragging and slow-walking and letting everyone skate, these crooks are still raking in their cash which, I;m sure, are being dutifully tithed (or better) as GOP "campaign contributions."

[Ford_Prefect]

6. Any information on who exactly is the foundation?

Who put up the money and filed the paperwork? Who are the officers of the foundation who might be considered to be responsible parties?

Who is the foundation fronting for? Mercer, Koch, Putin, the Chao family bank, or one of the other RW dark money sources?