IRS investigating televangelist Keller

Controversial televangelist Bill Keller is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service for violating federal regulations that prohibit tax-exempt organizations from political partisanship.

Keller, host of a live television program on the Internet, said the IRS investigation was triggered by his criticism of former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith.

Keller, 50, said that "a vote for Romney is a vote for Satan." He insists he did nothing to break the law.

"My whole issue with Romney is, just be honest about what your cult believes and quit trying to pass yourself off as a Christian," he said, adding that his responsibility is to educate people about spiritual matters.

Keller could be heading for further trouble. In recent weeks he has stepped up his criticism of presidential candidate Barack Obama.

"He has aggressively marketed himself to the public as a Christian," Keller said during a telephone interview Tuesday. "The problem is in his public statements, he has stated numerous things that are totally inconsistent with the Christian faith."

Keller, who lives in Largo and has his TV studios there, added that his criticism of Obama "has nothing to do with his politics, his race."

The line between religion and partisan politics is blurred, said T. Wayne Bailey, a professor of political science at Stetson University in DeLand.

"I think, in the past, when it became a controversial issue, the authorities have gone far afield to presume in the direction of the right of free expression. So unless someone commits a hard and fast violation, I think … administrations have simply relied on caution rather than punishment."

Keller is not new to controversy. He has parted ways with three television stations after disagreements about his program's content and format. At the beginning of this year, he relaunched his program at LivePrayer.com. He says it has over 2.4-million subscribers around the world.

Keller, who launched his TV program in 2003, has been an ordained minister for the past 17 years. Before that he served 31 months in federal prison for insider trading, completing his sentence in 1992

In February, he said, the IRS gave him a week to assemble documents and videos of his television programs.

Under the law, 501(c)(3) organizations may not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or against any candidate for public office.

Keller said he is prepared to fight if his ministry loses its tax-exempt status.

Comments on this article

by Jackson	Jun 25, 2008 5:15 PM
B.K. has said from day one of his ministry that he will open his books to anyone who wants to know where the money goes. He lives on a salary of $40k per year. No private jets or Mercedes limos and his office is in the back room of a used car lot.

by JOHN	Jun 25, 2008 5:15 PM
Tax ALL the churches...in one way or another they influence voters from the pulpit. Taxing ALL churches on their income (that ol' collection plate) and their property would help ease the current tax crisis. Tax ALL churches!

by Jason	Jun 25, 2008 5:15 PM
I support Keller! He spoke the truth.

by Joe	Jun 25, 2008 4:18 PM
Keller knows what he is talking about... he has truly been changed since his criminal days! The money coming into his ministry is going out to teach people about Christ. So, the money is for all of you NON-believers who are bagging on him.

by Mark	Jun 25, 2008 4:17 PM
I don't know too much about this guy, so I can not agree or disagree with his teachings. BUT I have notice this, that freedom of speech seems to be okay for everyone but Christains these days.

by Jen	Jun 25, 2008 1:09 PM
Did Keller's voting rights get restored? Was Romney against restoring Felon's voting rights? Too much baloney to believe! Did he come up with the scam preacher idea in the pen? How can anyone in their right mind give this crook money? LOL

by Jeremy	Jun 25, 2008 1:08 PM
All religions including christianity, scientology etc... are frauds that take peoples' money. They should all be investigated and put away!

by joe tampa	Jun 25, 2008 1:08 PM
Read the US Constitution: 'Congress shall make no law....' means that our government has no authority over a religion. Doesn't matter what he teaches.

by Orbin	Jun 25, 2008 1:08 PM
I have never heard Bill Keller tell anyone to vote/not vote for Barack Obama. Mr. Keller analyzes Obama speech/actions according to the Bible, which he has every right to do.

by bobo	Jun 25, 2008 12:16 PM
This guy is nothing but a con man using Jesus as a tool. The IRS should investigate most televangelists that are out there including Pat Robertson.

by John	Jun 25, 2008 12:16 PM
I fully support Bill Keller. There is no fine line between politics and religion. The 2 are quite distinct and Senator Obama, although he has every right to lobby the Christian vote, must be very careful how he portrays his Christian principles.

by Nan	Jun 25, 2008 12:01 PM
"A dollar for Keller is a dollar for Satan"

by Mike	Jun 25, 2008 12:01 PM
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! This is just the beginning. All churches should be investigated for these infractions! Faux morality shall not have a free ride in this country!

by Brian	Jun 25, 2008 12:01 PM
All Keller said was "a vote for Romney is a vote for Satan". That is his opinion & he has a constitutional right to share it with anyone who wants to listen. He never once told anyone who to vote for or against. Leave him alone, IRS.

by Sherri	Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
KELLER HAS GONE ON RECORD AS SAYING: "if Barak Hussein Obama is elected President, you can mark that date as the date God took His hand off of this nation!!! ANOTHER OF KELLERS FALSE PROPHECIES. REVOKE HIS TAX EXEMPTION.

by Allan	Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
I don't agree with Bill Keller on a number of issues, but how can the government condemn Keller while permitting politicians to campaign in churches?

by Jean	Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
If you sell hate don't expect to skip out on paying taxes. Mr. Keller is a hate monger con man. He incites violence in the name God. He is no different then any terrorist recruiter. Except that he is on American soil. Stop all spiritual violence.

by neil	Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
I hope they throw this shyster in jail. ALL religions are cults and the people that fund them are fools.

by Bob H	Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
To all the blowhards decrying the loss of First Amendment rights, nobody (including the IRS) is saying Keller can't criticize Romney or anyone else. Shout it from the rooftops, but be aware that you'll lose your precious tax-exempt status.

by neil	Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
Keller said it himself when he talked about "your cult". That is exactly what his and every other religion is, a cult.

by David	Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
He reminds me of all the white christian segregationist hypocrites and racists. He really is a scum bag. The crook.

by Adam	Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
Nobody is trying to shut him up. This is not a free speech issue. He needs to decide if he wants to be tax-exempt or campaign for his buddies. It is nice to see he is sticking with what he knows, removing dollars from the pockets of sheeple.

by chris	Jun 25, 2008 11:13 AM
Still think tax dollars hsould be used ofr religious schools and charities?

by Jeff	Jun 25, 2008 11:13 AM
The governments way of muzzleing the ox. They need to read and listen to previous history. During the 1760's when our government was having birth pangs, organizational meetings, political in nature were held in churches. Get out of our lives.

by JV	Jun 25, 2008 11:13 AM
Like him or not, Keller has crossed a line. Attacking individual politicians from the pulpit violates the law, and also takes away from what really needs to be happening at the pulpit. That said, why hasn't Obama's "old" church also been cited?

by bryan	Jun 25, 2008 11:13 AM
Leave Keller alone you unbiblical idiots. he has done nothing wrong!

by Zonker	Jun 25, 2008 11:13 AM
Get over yourself, Keller. There is no god or satan. You're a phoney who's using fear tactics to line your own pockets.

by Jimbo	Jun 25, 2008 11:13 AM
People like him, Hagee, Jakes, White, Robertson, & many others, make a mockery of the Church & will burn for their sins. They lie, cheat, & steal, & conceal it by pointing the finger at other denom's. Shame on them, they'll get what they deserve.

by Betty	Jun 25, 2008 11:13 AM
Bill Keller has every right to speak up for what he believes. What ever happened to FREE SPEECH? He isn't telling you who to vote for, just his viewpoint. LEAVE THE MAN ALONE.

by Nehor	Jun 25, 2008 11:12 AM
PREACHING FOR MONEY = PRIESTCRAFT One of the oldest, and most lucrative, professions in the world. Religion and government is a terrible combination; haven't we learned anything from our European ancestors?

by Paul	Jun 25, 2008 11:12 AM
The first amendment disappeared when the federal government starts to decide who gets tax exempt status based on religion. No person or organization should be tax exempt.

by belle	Jun 25, 2008 11:12 AM
The NAACP was investigated for samae practice. Now, lets take a look at a racist church in Brandon.

by JOHN	Jun 25, 2008 11:12 AM
I can't imagine my Savior spewing such vile ilk as Obama's ministers. Why are they not being investigated?

by Jer	Jun 25, 2008 7:53 AM
He didnt do anything wrong accept put the truth on paper and send it. Give me a break.

by frankie	Jun 25, 2008 6:59 AM
This is no surprise. Freedom of speech is fading fast. When religion gets too powerful in the eyes of the government,it finds ways to smother religious freedom.Back in the USSR