NJ Republican Chairman Tom Wilson

GOP DEMANDS THAT DEMOCRAT PARTY FRONT GROUP REVEAL DONORS AND EXPENSES
-- Illegal Campaign Activity results in FEC complaint and challenge to charitable status for Our Community Votes Inc.--

Trenton, NJ - New Jersey Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson announced his intent to file complaints with the Federal Election Commission, Internal Revenue Services and State Attorney General regarding the illegal activities of "Our Community Votes, Inc.'s" activities on behalf of the Democratic Party and made the following statement today:

"Our Community Votes is nothing more than a front group for the Democratic Party of New Jersey masquerading as a not for profit, non-partisan corporation. How do we know this? Just look at who is behind this group and what they are doing. The linkages to the Democratic Party are clear and indisputable and the intent of their effort cannot be read in any way other than to benefit the Democratic Party's candidates. They are Democrats who are violating the law to benefit the Democratic Party and their candidates exclusively. They must reveal within 24 hours a detailed account of who their donors are and how they spend their money. The voters deserve to know what dark hand, what special interests are out breaking the law on Bob Menendez's behalf.

On Monday, I will be filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over the activities of Our Community Votes Incorporated. Our Community Votes has violated their tax exempt status, broken campaign finance laws banning corporations from engaging in partisan activity by conducting partisan voter registration and get out the vote activity and funded election-related partisan public communications.

The attorney listed as having incorporated Our Community Votes Inc is Marc Elias, Bob Menendez's criminal defense attorney. Just yesterday, Mr. Menendez noted that Mr. Elias has extensive ties to the Democratic party and is also counsel the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Its registered agent is Sandy Castor, who worked on Jon Corzine's campaign for Governor last year. The officers and incorporators of Our Community Votes Inc. are Steven Rosenthal, Tom Lindenfeld and Michael Matthews are listed on Menendez for Senate and New Jersey Democratic State Committee campaign finance reports as consultants employed by the campaign.

By pretending to be a not for profit, non-partisan entity Our Community Votes is avoiding FEC regulations which include limitations on the amount and source of contributions as well as strict disclosure requirements. We are asking the FEC to require Our Community Votes to register and report with the FEC as a political committee and to penalize them failing to do so. Further we are asking that they find Our Community Votes to be in violation of the prohibitions on partisan corporate activity and to penalize them accordingly.

By pretending to be a not for profit, non-partisan entity, they also permit their donors to avoid paying federal taxes on their contributions to Our Community Votes. Given their obvious partisan activity, we will be challenging the 501c4 tax exempt status of Our Community Votes with the IRS.

Finally, we will be filing a complaint with the Attorney General of New Jersey as Our Community Votes also falls under New Jersey's Charitable Registration and Investigation Act, the law that govern charitable organizations that solicit funds in New Jersey. This law is designed to make information concerning the financial activities of charitable organizations more readily available to the public.

Sadly, Our Community Votes typifies the kind of unlawful activity that New Jersey Democrats have come to stand for. This is nothing more than a deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of this election, prevent the public from knowing who is paying for it and who is being paid, and give their donors a nice tax deduction."

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