The Minnesota Independent

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With CREW complaint, ‘Super Bowl of Freedom’ goes into overtime

By Chris Steller | 11.17.09 | 1:03 pm

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann broke House rules by using her taxpayer-funded website to urge people to attend her Nov. 5 “Super Bowl of Freedom” rally, according to a complaint by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).

FEC: Coleman can’t pay all legal bills with campaign cash

By Chris Steller | 06.18.09 | 4:53 pm

Norm Coleman may not dip into his campaign coffers to cover all his expenses stemming from lawsuits and other complaints that allege misconduct by him or his donors. That’s the upshot of draft advisory opinions issued Thursday by the Federal Election Commission.

FEC OKs Palin spending spree that started at Minneapolis Neiman-Marcus

By Chris Steller | 05.19.09 | 4:31 pm

A clothes-shopping spree that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin started in Minnesota didn’t break the law, in the opinion of the Federal Election Commission, even though it was paid for by the GOP.

Coleman bid to have campaign pay personal lawyers draws formal objection

By Chris Steller | 05.19.09 | 1:26 pm

crew-logoNorm Coleman shouldn’t be able to use campaign funds to pay lawyers for work related to cases in which he’s not a defendant and hasn’t even been called as a witness. That’s what Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics…

Coleman cites media in plea to use campaign cash for civil suits

By Chris Steller | 05.13.09 | 12:23 pm

Norm Coleman used media coverage of his dealings with friend and benefactor Nasser Kazeminy to argue to the Federal Election Commission that he should be able to spend campaign cash to fight two lawsuits that implicate him in a cash-funneling scheme.

Bachmann noted as one of most embarassing reelected members of Congress

By Andy Birkey | 12.08.08 | 4:02 pm

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington picked their list (PDF) of the nine most embarrassing reelected members of Congress. Among the Democrats and Republicans featured in the watchdog group’s booklet, Rep. Michele Bachmann gets top billing (they…

Mac Hammond’s Living Word facing IRS investigation

By Andy Birkey | 08.22.08 | 9:12 am

The Internal Revenue Service is investigating whether Living Word Christian Center violated the law for favorable compensation and loan dealings it gave to church founder and pastor Mac Hammond. Those compensation and loan dealings were first reported by the Minnesota Independent in February 2007.

The church has resisted demands by the IRS to open its books for an audit, and the agency filed a petition in United States District Court ordering the church to comply. Earlier this month, a magistrate ordered the church to appear and explain its refusal to comply with the IRS. In response to a summons in March, a church attorney told the IRS they would not comply until “an appropriate high-level IRS official” using “reasonable belief” requested information.

Law Firm Demands CREW Remove Financial Documents from Web Site; CREW Refuses

By Robin Marty | 02.09.07 | 5:49 pm

A legal firm representing the banking group involved in the 2003 financial assessment of Living Word Christian Center (LWCC) has sent a cease and desist letter to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).  The letter

CREW Alleges Living Word Paid for Pastor’s Stunt Plane

By Jeff Fecke | 02.09.07 | 11:17 am

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) today provided the Internal Revenue Service additional information, alleging further improper financial support from Living Word Christian Center (LWCC) for its pastor, Mac Hammond.

CREW alleges that the Brooklyn Park church…

CREW Files IRS Complaint Against Living Word Christian Center For Bachmann Endorsement

By Robin Marty | 10.17.06 | 12:28 pm

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has just reported that they have filed an IRS complaint against Living Word Christian Center for their endorsement of Congressional candidate Michele Bachmann (R- MN6).

From the press release:

On October 14,