January 1, California DOJ Issues Warning to BLM Over Missing Financial Records

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The California Department of Justice sent a letter to Black Lives Matter (BLM), warning that the charity’s leaders could be held personally liable if they neglect to provide financial records within 60 days.

“The organization BLACK LIVES MATTER GLOBAL NETWORK FOUNDATION, INC. is delinquent with The Registry of Charitable Trusts for failing to submit required annual report(s),” the letter reads.

The letter comes after a report found that no one has been in charge of BLM or its $60 million in funds since its co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, resigned in May.

Until the organization submits its 2020 Form 990 and other financial records to the state DOJ, BLM is prohibited from “soliciting or disbursing charitable funds.”

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the legal entity representing the national BLM movement, faces fines for “each month or partial month for which the report(s) are delinquent.”

“Charitable assets cannot be used to pay these avoidable costs,” the letter states.

“Accordingly, directors, trustees, officers and return preparers responsible for failure to timely file the above-described report(s) are personally liable for payment of all penalties, interest and other costs incurred to restore exempt status.”

On Tuesday, Paul Kamenar, counsel for conservative watchdog group the National Legal and Policy Center, said his organization is filing a complaint against BLM over its lack of transparency.

“The National Legal and Policy Center will be filing a formal complaint with the Attorney General of Washington to impose the maximum penalties on BLMGNF for their flagrant and repeated violations of the charity disclosure laws in that state and it seems in many others,” Kamenar said.

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California threatens to hold BLM’s leaders personally liable over missing financial records