| May 20, 2023, 5:00 a.m.
Whistleblower David A. Nielsen is stepping up his push for federal authorities to fully investigate his billion-dollar allegations of financial wrongdoing by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its investment arm, Ensign Peak Advisors.
So far, though, there’s little public indication that major investigations are underway.
In a statement issued to The Salt Lake Tribune days after the former Ensign Peak portfolio manager appeared on “60 Minutes,” Nielsen’s attorney said the IRS and U.S. Department of Justice “must not shrink from the responsibility of enforcing the rule of law” in exploring allegations the church violated its tax-exempt status by amassing upward of $100 billion from investments of tithing funds from members, without spending any of it on charity.
Nielsen has provided enough evidence of church actions in avoiding paying billions in taxes, Atlanta-based lawyer Michael Sullivan said, to warrant deeper government scrutiny.
“Otherwise,” Sullivan said in the release, “a powerful, well-connected organization will be seen as escaping the equal application of our laws.”
He issued the statement after church officials called the “60 Minutes” report “unfortunate,” saying it was based on “unfounded allegations.”
While the Salt Lake City-headquartered faith now disputes Nielsen’s allegation the investment fund was...
Dish Wireless LLC agreed to pay roughly $17 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, common law, and the Communications Act of 1934 relating to claims submitted to Fed...