NOM Is Late With Donor Disclosures

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign:

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has refused to make its 2013 Form 990s publicly available following their November 17 deadline – a direct violation of federal law. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) first made an in-person request for the public financial documents on Monday morning and again on Tuesday – both times NOM was unable to produce the documents. Federal law requires organizations to publicly release their 990s the same day an in-person request is made. As a result, HRC is filing a complaint with the IRS in order to compel NOM to abide by the law.

“NOM has once again failed to meet one of the most basic standards for public accountability for any nonprofit organization, and it raises serious questions as to what in the world is going on,” said Fred Sainz, HRC’s Vice President for Communications & Marketing. “Are they simply demonstrating the same flagrant disregard that they did in Maine with state campaign finance laws? Are they attempting to hide something from the public in these documents that reflects even more poorly on the organization and their failed work? NOM should do the right thing and immediately release these financial documents that the public has a right to see.”

This isn’t the first time that NOM has run into trouble with public disclosure laws. Earlier this year, the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices voted unanimously to impose record civil penalties against NOM totaling $50,250. The Commission also directed NOM to file disclosure reports after a four-year investigation exposed “a significant violation of law” by the national anti-LGBT organization. The penalties are reportedly the largest ever imposed for a campaign finance violation in Maine history.

Meanwhile Brian Brown is at the Vatican attending yet another anti-gay convention.