Ways and Means Chair Issues Enemies List of Nonprofits

John Dean’s cover memo to the original “enemies list,” dated August 16, 1971.

Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith has compiled a political enemies list of organizations whose tax exempt status should be revoked.  He sent Werfel a 111 page dossier with lots of exhibits featuring news articles from conservative media.  He wants the Service to revoke tax exemptions of eight nonprofits that he says have engaged in speech and activities making them ineligible for (c)(3) status. The eight exempt organizations are (1) Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundation, American Muslims for Palestine, the National Students for Justice in Palestine, the Alliance for Global Justice, the Islamic Relief Agency, Jewish Voice for Peace, The People’s Forum, the Tides Foundation, United Hands Relief, and the Westchester Peace Action Committee foundation.  Here is a sample from one of the 8 letters containing the identical accusation — that the groups “sow chaos and discord in our society.”

I write today to refer Jewish Voice for Peace (“JVP”) for investigation and ultimately revocation of its tax-exempt status. JVP has engaged in conduct that includes organizing protests that have turned violent and support for illegal encampments on college campuses, despite its stated tax-exempt purpose as an advocacy and human rights organization. This conduct is designed to sow chaos and discord in our society, has involved illegal activities, and certainly is not in furtherance of any tax-exempt purpose.

The single characteristic common to all organizations on Smith’s list is that they are vocal opponents of war or they serve as fiscal sponsors for groups that loudly oppose war. Other than that, the groups’ concerns are as varied as covert U.S. involvement in Venezuela and earthquakes in Turkey.  That doesn’t matter to Smith.  In a press release, he proclaims that Ways and Means will “continue putting pressure on the Biden-Harris Administration until it stands up to the pro-Hamas wing of the Democrat Party and puts a stop to this antisemitic and anti-American behavior once and for all.”

It all seems pretty asinine, if you ask me.

darryll k. jones