Harassing Charity
by Bob Barr
Issue 97 - December 12, 2007

I am considering sending the following letter to U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa:

"Dear Sen. Grassley:

I see where you recently sent letters to six ministries in four states, including my home state of Georgia, requesting detailed information on the finances of those ministries. Apparently, your concern was sparked, at least in part, by reports that these ministries and the individuals leading them might be spending monies in excess of what you believe is proper and in excess of what a tax-exempt institution is allowed.

I commend your diligence in monitoring the funds donated to these ministries.

Being now aware of your keen interest as a watchdog for questionable spending patterns, I would urge you to inquire into the practices of a certain individual who exhibits the following expenses that appear to indicate a lavish business lifestyle far in excess of that which his reported annual salary of $165,200 could reasonably sustain:

• He maintains a beautifully decorated and expansive office in one of the most exclusive addresses in Washington, D.C.

• He keeps six additional offices in the state that is his permanent declared residence.

• He has an office staff of at least three dozen men and women.

• His travel expenses run into the tens of thousands of dollars each year.

• He works for a nonprofit entity that spends lavishly on all manner of programs not authorized by its charter and that are far in excess of its income each year."

Oh, I'm sorry, I neglected to give you the suspect person's name. It is U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, whose primary office is in the Hart Senate Office Building, and who maintains six additional offices in the state of Iowa.

Obviously, Grassley is not going to investigate himself, even though there appear to be superficial questions concerning his ability to maintain a huge staff and multiple offices on a senator's salary. And it makes about as much sense for him to use the power of his Senate office to inquire into the expenditures of a handful of pastors because they reportedly spend money on items that don't meet his notion of legitimate expenditures.

The fact is, the items on which the Rev. Creflo Dollar and Bishop Eddie Long of Georgia —and their colleagues in other states who have received letters of inquiry from Grassley — spend their money apparently do meet with the approval of their constituents. In this respect the ministers are just like Grassley, since, presumably, the Iowa Senator's constituents approve of the manner in which he is spending their "donations" (even though others may take issue with how the senator spends money over which he has control).

For both the senator and the ministers, if there were any real evidence any of them were defrauding those funding their operations, there are legitimate, clearly defined avenues of redress. Attempting to intimidate private citizens, especially those heading recognized religious institutions, however, is not among them. If the good senator believes Dollar, Long or any other minister of a tax-exempt organization is defrauding their constituents or the government, then he can — indeed, should — request that the appropriate federal agency investigate to determine if such allegations are true and if so, prosecute them.

Additionally, if the leaders of any one of the ministers suspect in Grassley's eyes is defrauding their donors, then those believing themselves cheated have full recourse to the courts of this land to seek redress and hold the ministers accountable.

This is the path that those at Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma have chosen to pursue. Interestingly, Grassley chose not to investigate Oral Roberts ministries.

Grassley may simply have forgotten he is no longer chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, but only the ranking minority (Republican) member. As such, he cannot himself compel any person — minister or layperson — to turn over to him detailed financial information of their income or expenses to peruse at his leisure and share with whomever he might like. The majority Democratic Party is now empowered to do that. It is hoped, in accord with long-standing precedent, including the doctrine of separation of powers, the majority will exercise sounder judgment than the ranking member.

For now, Dollar, Long and the others should pray for the senator and simply ignore his ill-advised and unenforceable request.

Former congressman and U.S. Attorney Bob Barr practices law in Atlanta. Web site: www.bobbarr.org