A Florida Planned Parenthood chapter has been accused of violating tax laws after providing the Harris-Walz presidential campaign with office space, according to a report from Fox News.
“The provision of office space juxtaposes its tax-exempt privilege against a politically charged environment, serving as a clear indicator of political endorsement or opposition of particular candidates and parties,” the IRS complaint says.
Shawn Carney, CEO of pro-life organization 40 Days for Life, told the outlet that the organization has witnessed Planned Parenthood engage in “many violations” of tax law.
“This was clearly noticeable. They were giving out flyers that said Tim Walz Tuesdays, which doesn’t sound like the greatest time in the world, but nevertheless, they were promoting all these events of hosting Walt Harris campaign events and providing their space to do that, which, of course, they did not do for the Republicans. And you just can’t do that as a 501c3,” Carney said. “This is very, very basic.”
40 Days for Life also filed an IRS complaint against Planned Parenthood last summer after the abortion provider set up a mobile van near the Democratic National Convention.
“This deployment by federally tax exempt organizations organized under I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3) in relation to a massive, nationwide political event gives rise to serious concerns about the potential infringement of the tax-exempt requirements,” the August letter to the IRS read. “These actions by Planned Parenthood openly advertise and provide free services from not-forprofit entities to participants of and in direct relation to a nationwide political rally for one party and certain political candidates. These actions clearly are and/or suggest direct or implicit endorsements of a certain party, platform and candidates, in direct violation of prohibited political activities under I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3) and otherwise under Law and Rule.”
“Planned Parenthood’s activities, in this case, are starkly different from permissible lobbying,” the complaint alleged.
