ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607220093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
The contractor who handles the Christian Coalition's immense direct-mail operation acknowledged that federal prosecutors have questioned him about charges that he overbilled the organization by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
``They've asked questions and things,'' said Benjamin Hart, whose Springfield company, Hart Conover, is the coalition's primary mail contractor. ``There is an inquiry going on.''
Asked whether documents have been subpoenaed, he said, ``I've been advised I shouldn't comment on that.''
Hart acknowledged that since questions were raised about his billing practices by Judy Liebert, the Christian Coalition's chief financial officer, he also has been audited by a private firm hired by the coalition. The audit should be completed soon, he said.
``We're 100 percent confident they will find everything to be in order, and everything's going to be fine,'' Hart said in a telephone interview. ``We expect to continue to do work for them in the future.''
Hart is a close friend and frequent golf partner of coalition executive director Ralph Reed. Property tax records in Fairfax County show that Hart built an $855,000 home in the county's upscale McLean area last year.
Earlier this year, Liebert discovered billings she believed were excessive, based on the cost of previous work done by Hart's company, said her attorney, Moody Stallings. She pointed out the apparent discrepancies to her superiors, including Reed, Stallings said.
The coalition's most recent tax disclosure form shows it spent more than $11.3 million in 1994 on printing, postage and list rental.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB