News

Harris Breaks Federal Election Law

A regular occurrence for Democrats.

With the polls neck and neck in the Virginia gubernatorial race the Democrats are getting desperate. They decided to do something any rookie campaign aide would steer away from. They are directly campaigning in churches. That is not only a violation of federal law, but it puts the church’s nonprofit status at risk.

They figure their lapdog AG won’t prosecute and if Democrat McAuliffe wins all will be forgotten. Perhaps. But if they lose, as at this point they likely will, then all bets are off. Jonathan Turley breaks it down.

 

Turley: Democratic leaders have pulled out the stops to help Terry McAuliffe’s struggling campaign for governor of Virginia. Figures from Barack Obama to Stacey Abrams have stumped for McAuliffe, who is in a tight race with businessman Glenn Youngkin.

The key for McAuliffe is Black voters and, to spur turnout, Vice President Kamala Harris has taped an endorsement of McAuliffe that is reportedly being played at hundreds of African American churches around the state. The problem is the “Johnson Amendment” makes such political pitches in churches a violation of federal law.

Making matters worse, this knowing violation occurred just days after the filing of a complaint against White House presssecretary Jen Psaki for clearly violating the Hatch Act in using the White House press room to support McAullife.

The Harris video was aired last Sunday and is scheduled to air again next Sunday. It was also quoted and aired by CNN. As Harris said in her much maligned “Space video,” you can see the violation of federal law “with your own eyes.”

It is part of McAuliffe’s push called “Souls to the Polls” and is a full-throated endorsement of McAuliffe that calls on Black churches to turn out for his election. Harris declares “I believe that my friend Terry McAuliffe is the leader Virginia needs at this moment.”

The problem is that such direct politicking in tax-exempt churches has been unlawful for decades. Section 501(c)3 states: “Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”

If this is indeed played in churches (as opposed to simply posted on internet sites), it does appear a premeditated and unambiguous violation of the federal law governing churches as non-for-profit institutions.

This piece was written by David Kamioner on October 20, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.

Share your opinion

COMMENT POLICY: We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, hard-core profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment!