Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance’s participation in a far-right Christian revival tour last month may have violated tax and election regulations, according to experts. On September 28, Vance attended a campaign event in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, in association with the Courage Tour. This series of swing-state rallies, hosted by a pro-Trump Christian influencer, integrates prayer, speeches, and voter mobilization efforts.
The Courage Tour is funded by Ziklag, a secretive group composed of wealthy Christians, as revealed by documents obtained by ProPublica and Documented. Ziklag’s private donor video outlined plans to allocate $700,000 in 2024 to motivate Christian voters by sponsoring rallies in swing states, led by influencer Lance Wallnau.
Prior to Vance’s event, ProPublica reported that tax experts believed Ziklag’s activities related to the 2024 election might breach tax laws. The Vance event heightened concerns about whether a tax-exempt charity improperly supported the Trump-Vance campaign.
According to Texas corporation records, the Courage Tour is a project of Lance Wallnau Ministries Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity overseen by Wallnau. This year, five Courage Tour events have occurred, with Vance being the only high-profile candidate to participate.
Wallnau has previously made controversial claims about Vice President Kamala Harris and is an adviser to Ziklag. Ziklag aims to help conservative Christians assert influence over vital societal sectors.
During the Courage Tour, Vance’s campaign segment was presented as Wallnau’s podcast hosting the event, not the Courage Tour itself. Despite this, promotional emails portrayed Vance’s discussion as part of the Courage Tour, albeit as a separate event.
The proximity and overlap of the events may create legal challenges for Wallnau, the Courage Tour, and Ziklag. Vance’s event took place on the same stage and included the same audience, leading to potential legal issues.
Experts in tax and election law have raised concerns about the campaign aspect of Vance’s appearance, especially considering the tax-exempt status of the involved organizations. Both Lance Wallnau Ministries and Ziklag are 501(c)(3) charities, restricted from participating in political campaigns.
Internal documents from Ziklag outlined the potential influence of the Courage Tour on the 2024 election, with plans for large-scale rallies in critical areas. Although Wallnau tried to separate Vance’s appearance from the event, tax experts suggest this may not suffice to avoid legal issues.
The Trump-Vance campaign promoted Vance’s appearance as part of the Courage Tour. At the event, discussions included political commentary and calls to action for the upcoming election.
Wallnau later solicited donations while linking Vance’s appearance to the Courage Tour, despite a staff member later clarifying it was aired as a separate podcast.
Experts emphasized the potential violation of regulations prohibiting 501(c)(3) organizations from participating in or intervening in political campaigns. The situation poses questions about whether the charity funded the campaign appearance, which could breach tax laws if confirmed.
The potential legal implications are not limited to tax concerns. Federal election law also prevents corporations, including nonprofits, from contributing directly to political campaigns, raising further issues if corporate funding supported Vance’s event.
ProPublica reached out to Ziklag, Wallnau, and the Vance campaign for comments, but received no response. Some tax experts pointed to historical precedents where similar activities led to IRS intervention, suggesting potential scrutiny from regulatory bodies.