Posted on 11/02/2005 12:17:55 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at law.com ...
My first choice too!
Personally, I could care less if Jay Sekulow is as rich as Bill Gates--that's none of my business. My only input is to remind folks that the Word of God is not a get-rich-quick manual, and that those who profess to speak in His name should be cautious about amassing wealth while doing so. Not calling for any vows of poverty, but...three homes? C'mon.
Again, excellent post.
Oh my goodness! A lawyer getting rich? Who the hell does he think he is, John Edwards?
Mark
"... if the average joe like me starts to question Jay's motives, even if there is no wrong doing..."
If you question Jay's motive without evidence of wrong doing... the problem doesn't lie with Jay.
With all the accusations coming from the left lately, everything I hear or read is suspect.
For as long as it is, it doesn't give much that is definite. The IRS would hunt him down if these allegations could be proven! People know how the liberal media make mountains out of mole hill; they don't think the MSM wouldn't make hoopla out of THIS?
If Sekulow is indeed making living through the organization and not through his services, then there's a problem. True Christian are/should be against people taking advantage of situations. If the charges are true.
There's been a rise on liberals making conservatives (moral and financial) look to be hypocrites to make supporters distant themselves. This smells like that.
If people really do care about the matter, they should give the subject more reading.
Noticed your tagline: How's ole Kenny's latest fund raising appeal coming along? That "prosperity doctrine" is just a swell spiritual experience, ain't it now?
/sarcasm
Is this legitimate or just another attempt to smear him because he supports conservative causes, especially Alito right now? If he's an attorney he should make good money.
What do the ACLU people make?
And you can bet the anti-Americans at MoveOn, et al, will do all they can to see that "widespread revelation" occurs.
Living large is acceptable for liberals...especially tools artificially propped up to further the cause such as those you name.
LOL...well, to the extent that I do at least I'm not distorting the Word of God and besmirching the name of Jesus to garner that prosperity.
Is that really your best rejoinder? The ranks of the "prosperity doctrine" crowd are more intellectually thin on the ground than I supposed...
"If Jay Sekulow has been enriching himself through his nonprofit ACLJ, it will be a black eye for both him and his mentor, Pat Robertson. Even if what he did was within the letter of the law, widespread revelation of Sekulow becoming wealthy in this manner would likely destroy ACLJ. That would be a shame, as this organization has done a great amount of advocacy for Christians whose rights to expression have been challenged by school districts and government agencies."
Sekulow deserves to make a million a year. Don't play into the hands of the left who would love to get him out of monitoring their evil deeds.
BTTT
" That's where Jay opens himself up to question - and being a smart attorney he really should know better. "
!) He DOES know better.
2) This is a hit piece.
3) Jay was already wealthy.
4) Nothing here is noteworthy.
Exactly. Nobody faults the man for having money, some are questioning how he makes it. Yes Jackson and Sharpton are crooks but we aren't like them.
So?
A conservative makes a good profit doing good work? Oh, the humanity.
Interesting hit piece.
Lawyers that appear before the supreme court can bill up to $800 an hour. If they only bill 40 hours a week that is more than $1.5 million per year. If he's being paid $600,000 a year, he's a bargain. I thought only libs whined about what someone else was being paid?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.