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| Trump lawyer targets poor for donations to fight Obamacare via charity that pays his family millions | Trump lawyer targets poor for donations to fight Obamacare via charity that pays his family millions |
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| An attorney to Donald Trump is pressuring hard-up Americans to donate money to the Christian not-for-profit group that pays his family millions of dollars, saying the funds are urgently needed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. | |
| Jay Sekulow this month again directed fundraisers for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism (Case) to push people for contributions if they said they could not afford to give money to the group, according to a contract obtained by the Guardian. | Jay Sekulow this month again directed fundraisers for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism (Case) to push people for contributions if they said they could not afford to give money to the group, according to a contract obtained by the Guardian. |
| A script agreed in the contract, which was signed by Sekulow, instructed the fundraisers to tell people their money was needed for Case’s “massive campaign to repeal and replace Obamacare” if they initially declined to donate a suggested sum. | A script agreed in the contract, which was signed by Sekulow, instructed the fundraisers to tell people their money was needed for Case’s “massive campaign to repeal and replace Obamacare” if they initially declined to donate a suggested sum. |
| “Many people are helping with smaller amounts,” fundraisers were told to say. “Can Jay count on you for a smaller, but just as important gift?” People should be urged a third time to donate if they continued to resist, the script said. | “Many people are helping with smaller amounts,” fundraisers were told to say. “Can Jay count on you for a smaller, but just as important gift?” People should be urged a third time to donate if they continued to resist, the script said. |
| Fundraisers were told that if asked for information on Sekulow, they should say: “He never charges for his services”. Since 2000, the not-for-profit group and an affiliate have steered more than $60m to Sekulow, members of his family and businesses where they hold senior roles. | Fundraisers were told that if asked for information on Sekulow, they should say: “He never charges for his services”. Since 2000, the not-for-profit group and an affiliate have steered more than $60m to Sekulow, members of his family and businesses where they hold senior roles. |
| The contract was signed with the Ohio-based firm Donor Care Center and covers Case fundraising activities in at least 16 states. It came into effect on 1 June and lasts until 31 May next year. The Guardian on Tuesday reported that Sekulow approved a similar plan to press low-income people for donations in 2009. | The contract was signed with the Ohio-based firm Donor Care Center and covers Case fundraising activities in at least 16 states. It came into effect on 1 June and lasts until 31 May next year. The Guardian on Tuesday reported that Sekulow approved a similar plan to press low-income people for donations in 2009. |
| Sekulow and Case brought several legal challenges against Barack Obama’s administration over the former president’s signature healthcare law but currently lead no active federal cases focused on fighting it, according to a review of district court dockets. They have more recently filed briefs supporting Trump’s travel ban. Sekulow did not respond to questions about how new donations would be spent. | Sekulow and Case brought several legal challenges against Barack Obama’s administration over the former president’s signature healthcare law but currently lead no active federal cases focused on fighting it, according to a review of district court dockets. They have more recently filed briefs supporting Trump’s travel ban. Sekulow did not respond to questions about how new donations would be spent. |
| In an earlier statement, his spokesman said: “The financial arrangements between the ACLJ, Case and all related entities are regularly reviewed by outside independent compensation experts and have been determined to be reasonable. In addition, each entity has annual independent outside audits performed by certified public accounting firms. Further, the IRS has previously conducted audits of the ACLJ and Case and found them to be in full compliance of all applicable tax laws.” | In an earlier statement, his spokesman said: “The financial arrangements between the ACLJ, Case and all related entities are regularly reviewed by outside independent compensation experts and have been determined to be reasonable. In addition, each entity has annual independent outside audits performed by certified public accounting firms. Further, the IRS has previously conducted audits of the ACLJ and Case and found them to be in full compliance of all applicable tax laws.” |
| The 2017 script for Case’s telemarketers detailed only the latest in a series of forceful requests for money the group has made over recent years. Scripts for several years were obtained by the Guardian. The not-for-profit group raises more than $40m per year, most from small contributions made by Christians across the US who receive alarmist political messages by telephone or in the mail. | The 2017 script for Case’s telemarketers detailed only the latest in a series of forceful requests for money the group has made over recent years. Scripts for several years were obtained by the Guardian. The not-for-profit group raises more than $40m per year, most from small contributions made by Christians across the US who receive alarmist political messages by telephone or in the mail. |
| At the height of last year’s presidential election, Sekulow instructed his telephone fundraisers to “listen, empathize, [and] relate” to people who said they could not afford to donate to Case, before pushing these people twice more for an “urgently needed gift”. A script signed by Sekulow told the marketers to “overcome [the] objection” to donating, and to tell the person on the line that “many people are finding ways to help with smaller amounts as well”. | At the height of last year’s presidential election, Sekulow instructed his telephone fundraisers to “listen, empathize, [and] relate” to people who said they could not afford to donate to Case, before pushing these people twice more for an “urgently needed gift”. A script signed by Sekulow told the marketers to “overcome [the] objection” to donating, and to tell the person on the line that “many people are finding ways to help with smaller amounts as well”. |
| Telemarketers for Case have over the years delivered frightening warnings about a variety of issues, depicting Christians in the US as under siege from both Muslim terrorists and a liberal political elite led by a president supposedly desperate to increase the national abortion rate. | Telemarketers for Case have over the years delivered frightening warnings about a variety of issues, depicting Christians in the US as under siege from both Muslim terrorists and a liberal political elite led by a president supposedly desperate to increase the national abortion rate. |
| “Islamic extremists are headed in your direction, and you are most likely the main target,” Sekulow himself told people in a recorded message used in fundraising calls during 2011. Telemarketers were instructed to tell people who initially said they could not donate that Islamist extremists “will succeed if we don’t do something RIGHT AWAY.” If the person resisted a second time, the script said to tell them: “It sounds like you really WANT to help.” | “Islamic extremists are headed in your direction, and you are most likely the main target,” Sekulow himself told people in a recorded message used in fundraising calls during 2011. Telemarketers were instructed to tell people who initially said they could not donate that Islamist extremists “will succeed if we don’t do something RIGHT AWAY.” If the person resisted a second time, the script said to tell them: “It sounds like you really WANT to help.” |
| In 2010, the Case fundraisers were given a special script to deal with people who declined to donate because they were contributing to relief efforts following that year’s deadly earthquake in Haiti. Fundraisers were told to say that while the Haiti disaster was “a terrible tragedy,” some people were managing to give money to Sekulow’s not-for-profit group as well. The person on the line was told that doing so would mean “protecting your family.” | In 2010, the Case fundraisers were given a special script to deal with people who declined to donate because they were contributing to relief efforts following that year’s deadly earthquake in Haiti. Fundraisers were told to say that while the Haiti disaster was “a terrible tragedy,” some people were managing to give money to Sekulow’s not-for-profit group as well. The person on the line was told that doing so would mean “protecting your family.” |
| People receiving calls in 2010 who declined to donate on the grounds that they could generally not afford to contribute were told by telemarketers: “I wouldn’t call if this weren’t an absolute EMERGENCY,” and that abortions would be funded by Obamacare. “Just in the time that we’ve talked, 3 more innocent babies have lost their lives,” said the marketers’ script.If still resistant to donating, people were to be told: “Millions of lives may be at stake.” | People receiving calls in 2010 who declined to donate on the grounds that they could generally not afford to contribute were told by telemarketers: “I wouldn’t call if this weren’t an absolute EMERGENCY,” and that abortions would be funded by Obamacare. “Just in the time that we’ve talked, 3 more innocent babies have lost their lives,” said the marketers’ script.If still resistant to donating, people were to be told: “Millions of lives may be at stake.” |
| Case’s marketing callers have focused on grim stories about abortion year after year. People who initially resisted a request to donate money in 2012 were told: “Unbelievably, through ObamaCare, Planned Parenthood could run a health care clinic in your child’s or grandchild’s middle school or high school and receive federal tax dollars to do it”. | Case’s marketing callers have focused on grim stories about abortion year after year. People who initially resisted a request to donate money in 2012 were told: “Unbelievably, through ObamaCare, Planned Parenthood could run a health care clinic in your child’s or grandchild’s middle school or high school and receive federal tax dollars to do it”. |
| Callers in 2014 who said they could not donate were warned: “It’s clear that Planned Parenthood’s primary motivation is the dollar.” That year, Sekulow’s not-for-profit groups paid him and three companies where he held leading roles $4.8m in compensation and contracts. His brother, Gary, received a pay package totalling $848,649 for being chief financial officer and chief operating officer. A production company owned by Gary’s wife, Pam, was paid $677,300 in contracts. Gary and Pam’s son, Adam, received $237,295 as director of development. Another $139,529 in compensation was shared by Jay Sekulow’s wife, the secretary of the not-for-profit groups, and their two sons, who were directors. | Callers in 2014 who said they could not donate were warned: “It’s clear that Planned Parenthood’s primary motivation is the dollar.” That year, Sekulow’s not-for-profit groups paid him and three companies where he held leading roles $4.8m in compensation and contracts. His brother, Gary, received a pay package totalling $848,649 for being chief financial officer and chief operating officer. A production company owned by Gary’s wife, Pam, was paid $677,300 in contracts. Gary and Pam’s son, Adam, received $237,295 as director of development. Another $139,529 in compensation was shared by Jay Sekulow’s wife, the secretary of the not-for-profit groups, and their two sons, who were directors. |
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