Mr. Porter has reported that Freedom Calls LLC began being paid for fundraising expenses beginning in February 2024. Reporting from February to November shows Freedom Calls LLC has been paid approximately $4,000 per month totaling $45,600 from February 2024 to November 2024.The Delaware Certificate of incorporation as an LLC shows Austin Padget as the registered agent of Freedom Calls LLC.
Up to this time I have seen no reporting accrediting fundraising from Freedom Calls LLC to the LNC. On that grounds alone I feel it is appropriate to terminate the contract.
Thank you, Paul.
Questions...
LNC financial reports (budgets, quarterly P&Ls, etc):
1. Are they available to us and how would I acquire/view them? Is there a link you could provide?
2. Do the reports include vendor information? LPTexas financial reporting shows any significant vendor being paid within the budget category line item... and I'm hoping their reports do something similar.
3. Wich budget category was this expense classified under?
Contract with Freedom Calls:
1. You mentioned the current contract is being alleged as replacing the one the LNC canceled. Has the LNC seen this current contract?
2. Can I see it? If so, how?
3. Who are the signatories on it?
4. What are the obligations of the parties (and terms)?
5. How does a contract like this typically get executed on the LNC? (Does the LNC typically vote on it, does the executive director or chair handle them, etc). I'm a bit confused by how money could have been flowing to the chair's boyfriend for an entire year without anyone on the LNC being aware of it.
Also, you said you felt that as there was no reporting back from Freedom Calls, that was justification for ending the contract on its own. I would agree, assuming that was an obligation set forth in that contract.
Conflict of interest:
1. Can you explain how conflicts of interest are supposed to be handled per the LNC rules?
2. Was it handled properly in this case?
The mere fact that Austin Paget is shown as the incorporator constitutes a conflict of interest that should have been reported to meet commonplace ethical obligations regardless of whether or not any requirement existed within the rules that govern LNC action.
Lots of moving parts here. Were I on the LNC and I found the chair refusing to communicate on this issue and Freedom Calls failing to meet their contractual obligations, I'd make contact with Oliver Hall to discuss possible suit against Freedom Calls for non-performance. Just fyi, such a suit should allow for pre-suit depositions and discovery (depending upon the laws of the state in which the suit takes place).