On the heels of Poltico's report, Falwell Jr. "I think individuals taking advantage of a non-profit to their benefit raises real questions that should be answered ideally by the board, and, if not them, then by the government," Hackney said. ![]() "State attorney generals normally don't have the type of resources to deal with those sort of things, and they can get generally political, which might make them very hesitant to step in," said Philip Hackney, an associate professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh.īut Hackney said that if Herring does not probe Falwell's actions, "The more immediate answer is the board needs to look into these things." One tax expert said Herring might be reluctant to launch an investigation into Falwell Jr.'s conduct at Liberty because of of a lack of manpower - or fear by a Democratic attorney general that he will be accused of acting for partisan reasons against the backer of a Republican president. "During that trip, Trey posted a now-deleted photo to Instagram of around $12,000 in cash spread on a hotel bed, raising questions about his knowledge of Gauger's poll-rigging work," Politico reported. Politico's recent article added to that account, citing a half-dozen Liberty University sources who said when the information officer, John Gauger, went to New York to collect payment from Cohen, "he was joined by Trey Falwell," who is both a vice president at Liberty and the son of Falwell Jr. ![]() One such poll, conducted by CNBC, ranked the nation's top business leaders, while the other, a Drudge Report poll, ranked potential Republican candidates for president. The Wall Street Journal reported in January that Trump's then-personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, hired a technology company operated by Liberty University's chief information officer to "try to rig online polls in" Trump's favor in 20. elections, full stop," Torres-Spelliscy said. "Nonprofits like Liberty University are not allowed to intervene in U.S. Politico's report detailed how, when Trump visited the university in 2017, Liberty University printed and sold Trump-branded T-shirts and hats, emblazoned with the university logo and Trump's signature campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again.įederal law and Virginia state law prohibit nonprofits from using their resources to support, donate to, or endorse political candidates or campaigns. Trump's first commencement speech as president was at Liberty University. ![]() The article detailed "a culture of fear and self-dealing" at the school under the leadership of Falwell Jr.įalwell spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention that nominated Trump for the White House. "The allegations in the Politco exposé of Liberty University and its management are serious and likely merit investigation from state and federal regulators," said Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a professor at Stetson University College of Law.Įllen Aprill, a professor of tax law at Loyola Law School, said, "I think the self-dealing transactions are violations of tax law and probably the state nonprofit law."įalwell Jr., whose late father, the Southern Baptist preacher Jerry Falwell Sr., founded Liberty University, has repeatedly used his office as school president to give favorable contracts and loans from the university to family and friends, according to Politico. Virginia's Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment.Įxperts in nonprofit law who were interviewed for the Politico article told CNBC this week that the allegations involving Falwell, a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump, were more than than enough to warrant a probe by Herring and his office into Liberty University's business practices. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or LowerĪ senior Liberty University official said that the school has "absolutely not" been notified that it is the subject of an investigation from Herring's office, the FBI, or any other government authority.Īn Internal Revenue Service spokesman declined to comment whether it will investigate Liberty University, citing department policy. Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower ![]() Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
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