Gaza and Charities at War: Virginia AG Opens Investigation Re: Charitable Solicitations

From a Press Release this week:

RICHMOND, VA – Attorney General Jason Miyares today announced that the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section has opened an investigation into AJP Educational Foundation, Inc., also known as American Muslims for Palestine, for potential violations of Virginia’s charitable solicitation laws.

The Attorney General’s Office has reason to believe that the organization may be soliciting contributions in the Commonwealth without first having registered with the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In addition, the Attorney General will investigate allegations that the organization may have used funds raised for impermissible purposes under state law, including benefitting or providing support to terrorist organizations.

The AJP Educational Foundation Inc. is a public nonprofit with its headquarters located in Falls Church, Virginia. Under Virginia law, the Office of the Attorney General has the jurisdiction to investigate possible violations of the state’s charitable solicitation law. 

American Muslims for Palestine had already been found liable in tort for whatever role it played in the gunning down of a group of Israelis students waiting for at a bus stop nearly 30 years ago. It is still tax exempt, according to its website.  IRC 501(p) requires the suspension of tax exemption for designated terrorist organizations but I didn’t see American Muslims for Palestine on the list.  

darryll k. jones