National Legal & Policy Center files complaint against Sean Combs and Citizen Change

The National Legal and Policy Center filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Sean Combs & his Citizen Change organization Thursday, November 3rd.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. Citizen Change purported to promote voter mobilization, consistent with the activities of a nonprofit organization, but engaged in prohibited electioneering activities.The Complaint cites Citizen Change rallies where speakers called for the election of Kerry and the defeat of Bush, including an event on October 26, 2004 at Wayne State University where actor Leonardo DiCaprio urged the crowd to vote for Kerry, as did Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.The Complaint notes that Citizen Change is at the same address as Combs' businesses, raising the possibility that corporate funds were illegally used in support of Citizen Change's activities. In documents filed on November 3, 2005 cites the legal status of Citizen Change:

The citizen change address in New York City is the same as that of BBWEG (Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group) one of BBWEG's publicly listed phone numbers is 212-381-1590. citizen change listed on its website its phone number as 212-381-1589, one digit removed. see Exhibit I. Does citizen change share office space, telephones, office equipment and staff with BBWEG, a for-profit corporation? We're the activities of Citizen Change underwritten by BBWEG? Were BBWEG assets illegally used to promote the candidacy of John Kerry? The Commission has an obligation to find out.

The Complaint also points to the campaign's emphasis on fashion, style and conspicuous consumption, and asks the FEC to investigate whether the real purpose of the Vote or Die campaign was to advance a commercial activity, namely Combs' line of clothing and/or his clothing company.Also, cited in complaint:

According to a Citizen Change press release dated July 20,2004 (Exhibit A), citizen change sought "to create a sexy, fashionable t-shirt line with the VOTE or DIE! slogan' Head designers at the Sean John clothing will join with those at Ecko, Phat Farm' and Rocawear to create a line featuring distinct, nip intrtprtations of the campaign's message."

Tonight, Combs is being honored by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund during the National Equal Justice Award Dinner in New York City.  A special award will be presented to Combs for his innovative efforts to register voters and engage America's youth in the democratic process.

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."

No immediate comments from Bad Boy Entertainment or Combs were available.

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