An outside lawyer will review allegations that Herman Cains presidential campaign accepted tens of thousands of dollars in goods and services from a tax-exempt organization founded by his chief of staff, a spokesman for the candidate said Wednesday.
The group, Prosperity USA, appears to have paid for plane tickets, chartered planes and computer equipment for Friends of Herman Cain, Mr. Cains presidential committee, raising the prospect of serious violations of tax and election laws by both Mr. Cains campaign and the organization. The internal documents showing the expenses were first obtained by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
As with any suggestions of this type, said J. D. Gordon, Mr. Cains spokesman, we have asked outside counsel to investigate The Milwaukee Journal Sentinels suggestions and may comment, if appropriate, when that review is completed.
Mr. Gordon did not identify the individual or firm that would conduct the review, or say when it would be complete.
Word of the review came as Mr. Cain faced growing accusations this week of sexual harassment by former employees of the restaurant trade association he headed during the 1990s, consuming Mr. Cains campaign with questions about his judgment and management style.
Prosperity USA was founded last year by Mark Block, a conservative activist and political consultant who is now Mr. Cains chief of staff. Mr. Block formerly ran the Wisconsin chapter of Americans for Prosperity, the Tea Party group co-founded by the billionaire Koch brothers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/u...w-links-to-a-nonprofit.html?_r=2&ref=politics
The group, Prosperity USA, appears to have paid for plane tickets, chartered planes and computer equipment for Friends of Herman Cain, Mr. Cains presidential committee, raising the prospect of serious violations of tax and election laws by both Mr. Cains campaign and the organization. The internal documents showing the expenses were first obtained by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
As with any suggestions of this type, said J. D. Gordon, Mr. Cains spokesman, we have asked outside counsel to investigate The Milwaukee Journal Sentinels suggestions and may comment, if appropriate, when that review is completed.
Mr. Gordon did not identify the individual or firm that would conduct the review, or say when it would be complete.
Word of the review came as Mr. Cain faced growing accusations this week of sexual harassment by former employees of the restaurant trade association he headed during the 1990s, consuming Mr. Cains campaign with questions about his judgment and management style.
Prosperity USA was founded last year by Mark Block, a conservative activist and political consultant who is now Mr. Cains chief of staff. Mr. Block formerly ran the Wisconsin chapter of Americans for Prosperity, the Tea Party group co-founded by the billionaire Koch brothers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/u...w-links-to-a-nonprofit.html?_r=2&ref=politics