National Legal & Policy Center Calls For Investigation Of Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Speak2free · 11-03-2005

http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=5019

Sean “Diddy” Combs is being scrutinized by The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), as the group filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Combs today (Nov. 3).
Peter Flaherty, President of The NLPC alleges that Combs and his non-profit, Citizen Change, may have violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and the Internal Revenue Service Code, when he rallied support for John Kerry and called for the defeat of President George W. Bush during last year’s presidential election.
The NLPC alleges that Citizen Change rallies called for the election of Kerry and the ousting of Bush and references two rallies in particular, including an Oct. 26, 2004 event at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
The group says violations occurred when Leonardo DiCaprio and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick urged the crowd to vote for Kerry.
The Complaint states that Citizen Change’s address was listed as the same as Combs’ business address and alleges that Combs could have used his company’s corporate funds to illegally support Citizen Change’s activities.
The NLPC is asking the FEC to investigate whether or not Combs used the Vote or Die campaign to advance “commercial activity, namely Combs' line of clothing and/or his clothing company.”
"The Vote or Die Campaign was little more than a way for Combs to call attention to himself,” Flaherty said in a statement released to AllHipHop.com. “In terms of effectiveness, it was a joke."
Flaherty says Combs’ Citizen Change did promote voter mobilization, but claims the non-profit engaged in prohibited electioneering activities.
Tonight, Combs is being honored by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund during the National Equal Justice Award Dinnner in New York City.
Congressman John Lewis (D-GA.), Johnson Publishing Company President Linda Johnson Rice, Combs were selected to be honored at the NAACP’s most important annual event at the Hilton New York & Towers.
“Honoring Combs shows how badly the civil rights movement has lost its way,” Flaherty stated. “I think of the courage and decency of Rosa Parks, and then I think of what Combs represents."
In a previous press release, LDF Director-Counsel and President Theodore M. Shaw labeled Combs and the other honorees “21st century advocates of democracy."
"Their combined efforts have helped to change the political, economic and cultural landscapes of America and brought the nation closer to realizing its democratic ideals," Shaw stated.
Combs was not available for comment at press time.

IMAX · 11-03-2005

Ok, so why aren't they going after some of the Churches that urged us to vote for Bush, cause of his stand on Gay & Lesbians? I'll tell you why. CAUSE DIDDY IS BECOMING TOO POWERFUL!!! Watch they'll go after Oprah, when she really starts getting too big for her drawls (no pun intended. or was it? naw not intended).

Speak2free · 11-04-2005

Oprah safe!!! She got to many of the other folks as her fans!!!!

HALFMAN-HALFAMAZIN · 11-04-2005

I have nothing intelligent to say on the business practices of Mr. Sean "Diddy" Combs... Whether he did or didn't try to use his non-profit company to gain sales for his clothing line really doesn't make a bit of difference to me... Of course I'm sure the added exposure didn't hurt him any but, it didn't help Kerry win either so who really cares...