WP: Nader Had Campaign Office at Charity

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37363-2004Jun12.html

Since October, Ralph Nader has run his campaign for president out of the same downtown Washington offices that through April housed a public charity he created -- an overlap that campaign finance specialists said could run afoul of federal laws.

Tax law explicitly forbids public charities from aiding political campaigns. Violations can result in a charity losing its tax-exempt status. In addition, campaign law requires candidates to account for all contributions -- including shared office space and resources, down to the use of copying machines, receptionists and telephones.

Records show many links between Nader's campaign and the charity Citizen Works. For example, the charity's listed president, Theresa Amato, is also Nader's campaign manager. The campaign said in an e-mail to The Washington Post that Amato resigned from the charity in 2003. But in the charity's most recent corporate filing with the District, in January, Amato listed herself as the charity's president and registered agent.

The office suite housing the campaign, the charity and other sub-tenants had a common receptionist for greeting visitors.

And Federal Election Commission records show the campaign paid rent to Citizen Works and Citizen Works' landlord. Nader said the campaign has taken over the charity's lease on its coveted location on 16th Street NW.

The Bush cabal needs his campaign desperately, so they'll make sure this isn't prosecuted.

I read this WaPo retread on DU many months ago-

Isn't he getting enough money from the RNC?

!

"Citizen Works spokesman Drutman said Amato resigned as executive director of Citizen Works to become manager of Nader's exploratory committee, which was formed in October. Drutman said Amato now "has no official capacity" with Citizen Works. Amato said in a statement faxed Thursday to The Post: "I do not speak for Citizen Works and I have not worked for Citizen Works since 2003. Questions about Citizen Works are appropriately directed to Citizen Works."

However, the group's latest annual report filed with the District, dated Jan. 13, 2004, states that Amato is the president and the registered agent for Citizen Works. She signed the corporate filing."

huh, ralph? give it up, buddy. it's not your time this year. focus on getting some more hybrid cars on the road or something.