February 18, 2011 07:18 PM UTC

Did Doug Bruce commit perjury? Tax fraud?

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• by: Ah Choo

Fascinating story in the Colorado Springs Gazette about Doug Bruce’s old 501(c)3 “charity.” Fascinating in that after all these years Doug Bruce hasn’t been jailed.

Bruce signed and filed the IRS’s required 990 forms for his charity, Active Citizens Together. The signature is made under penalty of perjury.

Tax-exempt organizations such as ACT are required to file 990 tax forms with the IRS.

The forms report the organization’s income and expenses to the federal government.

A box on 990 forms from 2005 to 2007 reads, “During the year, has the organization attempted to influence public opinion on a legislative matter or referendum? If ‘yes,’ enter the total expenses paid or incurred in connection with the lobbying activities.”

Bruce checked the “no” box, and wrote on the form that ACT had no political expenses.

Yet the Springs Gazette has determined:

ACT also spent money on political campaigns in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

…

Since 2005, ACT has advocated for and against at least 12 separate ballot issues. Its mailers were caustic on measures ACT opposed and were decidedly upbeat on measures it supported.

The Springs reviewed the group’s political literature over the years, which included 2005 opposition to Refs C and D.

Bruce is running for the at-large council seat in Colorado Springs. Local voters are probably fed up with the crazy, regardless of possible tax fraud and potential perjury charges. What’s amazing is that this guy has stayed out of jail so long.