Press Release

Contact: Craig Robinson, President // Email: [email protected]

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2020

Urbandale, Iowa — The Patriots Foundation filed 3 IRS complaints against 4 nonprofit organizations run by leading leftwing activist David Brock: (1) Media Matters for America, (2) American Bridge 21st Century Foundation, (3) Franklin Education Forum, and (4) Franklin Forum.

“David Brock, a powerful, influential liberal political consultant, raises millions of dollars every year to influence the media, politics, and campaigns. Behind the scenes, his network of organizations have engaged in a variety of transactions that raise troubling questions and need to be thoroughly investigated,” said Craig Robinson, the president of the Patriots Foundation.

“Taken together, the three complaints we filed outline how Brock used his network of organizations to circumvent campaign finance rules and has exploited some of the organizations tax-exempt status for his personal benefit. It appears these groups also frequently practiced non-educational advocacy and impermissible campaign activity. We are calling on the IRS to conduct a robust investigation of Brock’s organizations and to hold them accountable for any violations.”

Highlights of 3 of the many findings in the IRS complaints:

• American Bridge 21st Century Foundation made interest free loans worth over $900,000 to an unnamed “individual” in apparent violation of IRS rules outlawing use of tax-exempt resources for private benefit.
• American Bridge 21st Century Foundation transferred over $2.7 million to a for-profit entity controlled by Brock in apparent violation of IRS rules outlawing use of tax-exempt resources for private benefit.
• Franklin Education Forum and Franklin Forum appears to have operated a scheme to transfer tax-exempt non-profit 501(c)(3) funds to a sister 501(c)(4) organization engaged in activities not permitted by 501(c)(3) groups. These transfers appear to be designed as an effort to skirt IRS rules and allow for Brock’s donors to take a tax deduction they would not be entitled to if they donated directly to the 501(c)(4) organization.

Shining light on the inner-workings of the federal government and our election process promotes accountability of elected, appointed, and employed government officials to the people they serve. The goal of the Patriots Foundation is to curb corruption and promote integrity not only within the walls government and those in power, but also to ensure the credibility of our election process. The Patriots Foundation was founded in 2013 and is based in Urbandale, Iowa.

 

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The Patriots Foundation is a 501(c)3 committed to serving as a government watchdog, promoting open and transparent government by monitoring the activities of policymakers.