Fact Checker: President Trump’s shifting claim that 'we got rid' of the Johnson Amendment
By Salvador Rizzo Salvador Rizzo Reporter for The Fact Checker Email Bio Follow May 9 at 3:00 AM “We got rid of the Johnson Amendment.” Among the many things Lyndon B. Johnson cemented into law is the “Johnson Amendment,” a provision of the U.S. tax code that prohibits religious organizations and many nonprofits from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
“Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity,” the IRS advises. “Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.”
Let’s zoom ahead a few decades. Trump, Vice President Pence and ideologically aligned groups including the National Religious Broadcasters, the Christian Coalition of America and the Family Research Council have been pushing for an end to the ban on supporting or opposing candidates. In a civil complaint filed in June, then-Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood of New York charged that the now-defunct Donald J. Trump Foundation had violated the Johnson Amendment’s prohibition on supporting candidates for office.
But in an August 2017 legal filing, the Justice Department said Trump’s executive order did not lift restrictions on religious organizations. In this variation, Trump claims the Johnson Amendment was “interfering with your First Amendment rights” — whatever that means — until his executive order came along. But it didn’t change anything in practice.May 3, 2018: “Last year on this day, I took executive action to prevent the Johnson Amendment — a disaster — from interfering with our First Amendment rights.”
In this grandiose variation, Trump claims he “nullified” the Johnson Amendment. But his executive order doesn’t do that.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Melinda Gates: Capitalism needs work, but it beats socialism and the US is 'lucky' to have itMelinda Gates, in an interview with CNBC's Becky Quick, says people living in developing countries 'want to live in these types of capitalistic societies.'
Read more »
Should we be concerned about Netflix monetizing our user data?Netflix continues to invest billions of dollars building its library of content, with analysts predicting the company will spend $15 billion on content in 2019. But their business model warrants a closer look, says Jason Mittell. Mittell, a film professor at Middlebury College, joined THINK to discuss why we shouldn’t trust Netflix with our data just yet.
Read more »
Analysis | President Trump’s claim that Puerto Rico ‘has been given’ $91 billionThe Fact Checker: It’s simply false for the president to assert that Puerto Rico has received $91 billion
Read more »
Spotlight shifts to Johnson & Johnson as first major opioid trial nears in OklahomaThe family-friendly health care conglomerate is not generally associated with the opioid epidemic. But Oklahoma will try to prove its role in the drug crisis.
Read more »
Analysis | Brazil’s president resurrects the zombie claim that Nazism was a leftist movementBrazilian president Jair Bolsonaro says there 'no doubt' that Nazis were leftists. That's a false claim repeatedly spread through social media.
Read more »
Analysis | Trump’s claim of ‘amazing’ success in cutting opioid prescriptionsTrump suggests he reached a three-year goal in one year. But the trend predates his presidency.
Read more »
Analysis | After the Barr hearing, President Trump singles out Sen. Kamala HarrisAfter Democrats grilled Attorney General William Barr, Trump has the toughest words for the presidential candidate from California.
Read more »
Trump claims China holding out on trade talks for Biden or other 'very weak' Dem presidentPresident Trump claimed China backpedaled in trade talks because Beijing is hoping for more favorable negotiations with one of the Democratic primary candidates vying for the White House in 2020
Read more »
Buttigieg claims more experience than Trump and Pence, would take on president with 'very different energy'The 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, spoke with NBC News' Craig Melvin while campaigning in South Carolina.
Read more »
Analysis | How the Democrats’ shift to the left indirectly aids Joe BidenAnalysis: How the Democrats’ shift to the left indirectly aids Joe Biden
Read more »
Analysis | Maybe it’s easier to list Democrats who aren’t running for presidentAnalysis: Maybe it’s easier to list Democrats who aren’t running for president
Read more »