Questionable books (Minuteman-Simcox)

The Washington Times ^ | July 25, 2006 | Staff

[Anti-Bubba182]

As supporters of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, we were disheartened to read Jerry Seper's front-page article Thursday about questions and criticisms of President Chris Simcox's management of the organization. According to the article, the volunteer group has not made any financial statements or fundraising records public since April 2005 -- circumstances that have strained relations between Mr. Simcox and several of his top employees, some of whom have resigned in protest.

Mr. Simcox must resolve these problems quickly. Failure to do so would only encourage the organization's critics -- who have made no secret of their desire to see the Minuteman volunteers arrested for vigilantism. But more importantly, according to Mr. Simcox's estimate, Americans have donated $1.6 million to the corps because they believe in their mission to secure the southern border. In return, the least they should expect is transparency and the assurance that their donations went to help the volunteers in the field. But the truth is that no one except Mr. Simcox knows how much money has been donated and what it has been used for.

So far, Mr. Simcox has been unable to come up with a good explanation -- at least one that can be independently verified. And while he insists the money went to help field operations, workers at these locations tell a different story. For instance, Vern Kilburn, who resigned earlier this year as director of operations for the organization's northern Texas sector, told The Washington Times that only two checks for $1,000 came from Minuteman headquarters in October and that other directors across the country "are having similar problems." Some volunteers said that money promised by Mr. Simcox for food and supplies never arrived. "An awful lot of equipment I saw was donated," said Mike Gaddy,...."

[EternalVigilance]

Funny how our men and women in uniform are able to cope with it WHILE GETTING SHOT AT in Iraq.

Yeah, gotta make sure that border's secure, don't we...

Sorry bub. We're talking average folks here, not seasoned troops. Unfortunately.

[Texasforever]

Funny how our men and women in uniform are able to cope with it WHILE GETTING SHOT AT in Iraq.

Yep and according to EV and Simcox this fence is the most important issue the country faces. They sure have a funny way of showing it. I'll bet it ain't too hot to collect money though.

[Texasforever]

Sorry bub. We're talking average folks here, not seasoned troops. Unfortunately.

NO we are talking about the Contractor and his workers. The volunteers are long gone. They left an hour after the cameras over Memorial Day along with Simcox and Keyes.

[EternalVigilance]

THe article is from mid June, where is the clarification from Simcox?

Where's the direct quote?

[Bob J]

"Simcox will have to make a full accounting to the FEC and the IRS. This audience is child's-play compared to them."

I have to disagree. If they're accounts are in order it would be a short audit (BTW - Nobody has mentioned anything about an IRS audit). If you get the stench of corruption on you, people will leave you and never turn back. Just ask Jim Baker.

No offense Tom, but this statement reveals a little naivety on your part.

"I had to laugh at that one...for him to satisfy your curiousity, he has to expend more money for things that aren't porta-potties and fence-building materials. ;-)"

Tom, he should have had the 990's and financial summaries posted on his website. If he had done that he wouldn't be spending money on audits.

[Texasforever]

Where is the demand for retraction?

[Howlin]

Skeet, so good to see you!

[Bob J]

How you been buddy? Check your FRMail...

[MikefromOhio]

Yeah, gotta make sure that border's secure, don't we...

Sorry bub. We're talking average folks here, not seasoned troops. Unfortunately.

Contractors work in temperatures that hot all the time. You act like it's something that's never happened before when you KNOW that's not the case. So in essence, you are again trying to BS everyone.

[MikefromOhio]

But it IS too hot to account for the money given to the organization.

[TLI]

I am just waiting for them to eat some crow and maybe just maybe talk about how they were snookered along with everyone else

Sean Hannity? We tried to "advise" him about Simcox a year ago. Would not listen...

[Registered]

Do you know Peter Kunz? I think one of his email addresses is peter@dienerconsultants.com Do you know what his background is as a contractor..as an attorney? I couldn't find him listed in any legal circles.

[Rex Anderson]

FGS, Bob. It's hotter than a blast furnace down there right now.

As of this morning, Mr. Hodges, one of the local residents near Palominas, is under the impression that an Israeli-style fence will be built on his property in August.

Article and video here

And before you get all bent out of shape and blame the reporter, you should know that this is a positive report on Simcox's group.

[af_vet_rr]

Chris Simcox needs to solve this so people will have confidence to donate to the Minutemen.

Or so that they will donate to other groups. He needs to step up and step up now, because otherwise it will hurt other groups who come along after him. I thought it was a wonderful idea, but there has been some shady stuff going on as of late. I can believe that their group was overwhelmed by donations of money, materials, etc., but it would be easy enough for them to have hired people well before now, to take care of the finances and explain how the money is being spent.

The fact that they haven't hired somebody (or several) to handle the financial side of things doesn't necessarily indicate financial mismanagement, but it does indicate a breakdown in communications and management in general. If they have hired somebody to handle the finances properly, and just are refusing to release the details, then there is a serious problem. You don't take over a million dollars from hard-working Americans and tell them "it's none of your business" when they ask where the money is going.

[Rex Anderson]

Simcox has told reporters that he takes no salary, but speaks at events for pay, and lives off his new wife's income.

What does his wife do for a living? Does she work for MCDC, or any umbrella group MCDC is under?

[TLI]

Corsi and Simcox are on with George Noory tonight

Nope. Corsi and Jim Gilchrist, founder of The Minuteman Project. And it was a very normal conversation on the subject of the condition of the southern border.

[catholicfreeper]

This american caging thing is weird too. Their political clients and political associations are all involved in this too. I havent quite figured it out. Also it still appears they havent paid their taxes to be a corporation in good standing. That is strange yet money is still going through them.

[EternalVigilance]

What does his wife do for a living? Does she work for MCDC, or any umbrella group MCDC is under?

I don't know. Now you're investigating his wife?

[Registered]

Some background, Phil Sheldon is linked to the Diener Consulting group (and William Greene's Rightmarch.com where he pulled down a $100 thousand a year for being the Secretary of that organization in 2004).

Doing some research, I found this pdf document is VERY interesting to read. http://www.borderwatch.us/mcdc/Message%20for%20North%20Texas%20MmCDC%20chapter.pdf

It's apparent there are organizations that these people are raking LOTS of money in from.

[EternalVigilance]

Good for them.

I've never had any reason to doubt that they would build fence...as soon as they cleared all the hurdles put in their way by the local version of the FROBL.