
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 1, 1994                   TAG: 9410030062
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: COLUMBIA, S.C.                                  LENGTH: Short

CHRISTIAN COALITION INVESTIGATED

The Federal Election Commission has Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition under investigation in 35 states over complaints that the group broke the law on political activity in 1992, The State newspaper reported Friday.

The investigation follows an October 1992 complaint from the Democratic National Committee that the coalition raised money as a tax-exempt group but spent it on pro-Republican activities without registering as a political group.

FEC spokesman Ron Harris wouldn't confirm the existence of an investigation.

Democrats want the coalition, based in Chesapeake, Va., to be ordered to form a political action committee, report contributions and expenditures, and refund all gifts in excess of federal limits.

Three South Carolina chapter members have been asked to appear in federal court Tuesday in Greenville to answer questions about how the organization operates in the state, the Columbia newspaper reported.

In addition, the coalition's state director, Roberta Combs, has been asked to provide information such as copies of checks and written communications with political candidates and parties, The State said.

The coalition founded by the religious broadcaster refused to discuss the investigation in detail. Spokesman Mike Russell dismissed it as a partisan ploy ``to thwart our efforts at voter education and in getting people to turn out at the polls on Election Day.''

The coalition's efforts are ``strictly nonpartisan'' and comply with the law, Russell said.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB