The Secrets of Jay Sekulow

Legal Times (via Law.com) ^ | November 1, 2005 | Tony Mauro

[Lurking Libertarian]

But there is another side to Jay Sekulow, one that, until now, has been obscured from the public. It is the Jay Sekulow who, through the ACLJ and a string of interconnected nonprofit and for-profit entities, has built a financial empire that generates millions of dollars a year and supports a lavish lifestyle -- complete with multiple homes, chauffeur-driven cars, and a private jet [...][snip]

That less-known side of Sekulow was revealed in several interviews with former associates of his and in hundreds of pages of court and tax documents reviewed by Legal Times. Critics say Sekulow's lifestyle is at odds with his role as the head of a charitable organization that solicits small donations for legal work in God's name.

For example, in 2001 one of Sekulow's nonprofit organizations paid a total of $2,374,833 to purchase two homes used primarily by Sekulow and his wife. The same nonprofit also subsidized a third home he uses in North Carolina.

At various times in recent years, Sekulow's wife, brother, sister-in-law, and two sons have been on the boards or payrolls of organizations under his control or have received generous payments as contractors. Sekulow's brother Gary is the chief financial officer of both nonprofit organizations that fund his activities, a fact that detractors say diminishes accountability for his spending.

According to documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service, funds from his nonprofits have also been used to lease a private jet from companies under his family's control. And two years ago, Sekulow outsourced his own legal services from the ACLJ, shifting from a position with a publicly disclosed salary to that of a private contractor that requires no public disclosure. He acknowledged to Legal Times that his salary from that arrangement is "above $600,000" a year.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Why don't we investigate some of the top brass at the ACLU?

I'd rather see someone start with Morris Dees.

[commish]

Before Jay formed ACLJ he had his own private practice and investment firm. The man was worth millions before he ever even began ACLJ.

It is a shame to see a hit piece like this based solely on someones success in life.

Is Jay Sekulow spotless, no he isn't, look at the Atlanta Investment fiasco, but the fact is Jay was quite well off before ACLJ.

[AppyPappy]

The amount of the salary doesn't bother me very much. The fancy accounting practices outlined in the article do start to smell a bit,

They tend to go hand-in-hand. That's why the Bible says that leaders should avoid even the hint of impropriety. It tends to snowball.

[A Jovial Cad]

Jay is not my spiritual hero - that would be Jesus. I just hope Jay is a good lawyer. If he gets rich fighting the ACLU, more power to him.

On that we both agree.

[Thorin]

>>>>>>Sekulow is a brilliant man and would be making millions annually working for a private law firm. This career option looks more like volunteer work than hitting his monetary potential. Just because you work for the causes of the Lord doesn't mean that you live like a church mouse.

The issue isn't Sekulow's wealth. The issue is how he got it. Is it really right to be living a lavish life-style funded by small donors, who are constantly hit up for new donations, to fund the life-style?

[litehaus]

Does he have any bastard children?

[Jorge]

Of course if God had anything against a man getting rich, He wouldn't have made King Solomon the richest man in the world.

In fact many men of God in the Bible were wealthy.

And we all know Jesus IS God incarnate.

[blaise]

BTW, look at the money that "public servants" like the Clinton's are able to rake in.....

Clinton, or Bush Sr., or Carter or Ford can do anything they wish now, because they are out of office. In office, they are supposed to divest of anything that can be a conflict of interest, and their $$ put into a blind trust. At least in principle.

The problem isn't with making money. The problem is blending the "for profit" and "non-profit" monies. That's where Jay opens himself up to question - and being a smart attorney he really should know better.

In most things, but particularly in public life, perception is reality, and one doesn't want to taint the good one does with the whiff of scandal.

[mlc9852]

All he needs is one mega-case in private practice. Look at John Edwards.

[litehaus]

Mercer???????????// U gotta B kiddin!

[Jorge]

And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! -Mark 10:24

Who ever said Jay Sekulow "trusts" in his riches?

[CAWats]

And you get to decide what is extreme and what isn't.

[Steve_Seattle]

Should have had a LIBERAL DOUBLE STANDARD warning. We never seem to see these stories about JJ, Joseph Wilson, Clinton, et al.

[AppyPappy]

Nah. It's pretty obvious most of the time.

[RC30]

This article scares me. I really couldn't care if Jay made 15 million a year. What scares me though are his Wife, Son, and Brother working for him, and the ACLJ not being financially accountable to an outside Christian financial watchdog group, especially with the financial Shell games that are going on. Any Christian in his position needs to have extra accountability set in place to make sure that they remain true to their donors. I am currently a lifeline (Affinity 4 now I guess) long distance customer and have a small amount of my telephone bill given to the ACLJ every month. I'm debating on shifting it elsewhere though. I think the ACLJ is a great idea and a great cause, but the sense of something shady going on and the lack of accountability makes me worried that the ACLJ House may be crumbling. I also don't like that Jay would give a Supreme Court Judge a ride on his plane and play it off nonchalantly. What would we say if Jesse Jackson, or Farrakhan did the same?

[joesnuffy]

Just got an email from Jay sent him this post as a return
email...

Hope he replies

[RoseofTexas]

It's open season on Conservatives and Christians! Only by the grace of God do we STILL live in a free America, otherwise we'd be 6 feet under!

[A Jovial Cad]

I'm just quoting some of His reflections on the matter. If you don't like the Author of those words, take it up with Him.

*P.S.- The life of King Solomon is not really the example you want to use to back up your argument, is it? If so, I'd study my Bible a little closer...

[HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath]

Nothing wrong with money if you use it for good, don't replace God with it, and make it honestly. And I'm not a big proponent of the "prosperity gospel", but God will those who obey him. Like I always say, its better that God's people have the money than the devil's crowd.

As for the focus on Jay, I would say the oil-for-greed scandal could keep investigative journalist busy for years, but that might require implicating truly wicked people.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.