JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Records obtained by The Associated Press show that Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens used an email address for a veterans charity he founded to arrange political meetings as he prepared to run for office.
Federal tax law prohibits 501(c)(3) charities such as The Mission Continues from participating in any political campaign on behalf of a candidate for public office.
Experts on rules governing nonprofits told the AP that a scenario such as Greitens’ use of the charity’s email account could cross the line of what’s allowed, but they said that line is not clearly defined.
The email invitations were sent to three political consultants for a series of meetings with state lawmakers in January 2015. Participants in the meetings told the AP the topic of discussion was Greitens’ impending candidacy.