A Denver advocacy group Thursday called on James Dobson to release his 2004 campaign visit records to clarify whether he and Focus on the Family followed tax rules that limit nonprofit groups’ involvement in political activities.
Michael Huttner, executive director of ProgressNow.org, formerly the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network, said his group does not have proof that rules were had violated, only that “red flags” had been raised about whether Dobson used the group he founded 28 years ago to improperly organize support for candidates.
An attorney for the Colorado Springs-based evangelical Christian ministry called the claims baseless and said Focus already files forms with the government detailing how it spends its money, documents that are public record.
“That’s just trash-throwing – smearing people’s reputations by raising totally unsubstantiated and unfounded charges,” said James Bobb of Terre Haute, Ind., a tax and nonprofit law specialist who represents Focus. “We have and do comply with every applicable state and federal law as it relates to nonprofits.”
Huttner questions whether Focus on the Family helped subsidize Dobson’s 2004 political activities, including his supporting several Senate candidates.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group, Focus on the Family is barred from participating or intervening in political campaigns helping or opposing any candidate. Dobson formed Focus on the Family Action as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit in 2004 because that category of nonprofit can do some work in partisan races. In endorsing candidates, however, Dobson emphasized he speaks as a private citizen.
Huttner said taxpayers and the media have the right to see Dobson’s e-mail and correspondence on Dobson’s campaign activity. He also questioned whether links on Focus Web pages and articles in its magazines about politics crossed the line. Bobb said they don’t.
In February, Citizens Project in Colorado Springs filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against Focus regarding an article in a Focus magazine about John Kerry. Under IRS policy, the agency does not comment on complaints.
Staff writer Eric Gorski can be reached at 303-820-1698 or egorski@denverpost.com.