Ashley Biden’s charity accused of failing to report $500K in donations

Ashley Biden’s charity, Women’s Wellness Spa(ce), is facing allegations over a discrepancy amounting to $500,000 in its financial documentation submitted to the IRS for 2023. A watchdog group has filed a complaint, accusing the organization of improper disclosure of major donations.

The charity, launched by Ashley Biden during her father’s presidency, allegedly failed to report contributions from significant donors accurately, possibly breaching IRS regulations, as the Washington Free Beacon reports.

The organization came under scrutiny when it reportedly received notable grants amounting to $500,000 yet declared receiving a significantly lower figure of $170,296 in their tax filings for the year.

Launched in 2023, while Joe Biden was serving as the U.S. head of state, Women’s Wellness Spa(ce) was aimed at promoting wellness in Philadelphia. Ashley Biden, the daughter of the then-president, oversaw its establishment and operations. Her role as president involved signing off on the charity’s IRS submissions, which led to allegations of perjury if the discrepancies are confirmed.

Accusations emerge

Two significant donations from well-known foundations form the backbone of the current controversy. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell Foundation contributed a substantial $250,000 grant, with an equal amount also reported from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. This significant financial backing is documented in the 2023 tax files of both organizations.

In contrast, the charity’s 2023 filings indicated they received merely $170,296 from all sources combined and declared that no single contribution surpassed $5,000. This inconsistency has fueled speculation about potential mismanagement or intentional misreporting of funds.

A formal complaint lodged by Paul Kamenar from the National Legal and Policy Center adds further weight to the situation. Kamenar is pushing for an IRS audit to investigate the potential misreporting of the $500,000 in donations, suspecting the possibility of other unreported grants as well. He argues that penalties might be necessary if wrongdoing is confirmed.

Defenses, discrepancies come to light

The charity’s accountant, Greg Mangasarian, has come forward defending the financial handling of Women’s Wellness Spa(ce). He clarified that the commitments from 2023 were only partially received, explaining that the outstanding balance would subsequently be filed in the following year’s disclosure.

Despite this defense, Kamenar has noted a flaw in this argument, pointing to the charity’s choice of accrual accounting—the method requiring that financial commitments should be publicly disclosed at the time of commitment and not at receipt. This contradiction raises further questions about the organization’s adherence to financial regulations.

This incident has also reignited discussions surrounding tax matters within the Biden family. Hunter Biden, another of President Biden’s offspring, has previously encountered legal troubles over unpaid taxes, linking back to broader concerns about transparency and accountability within the family and their affairs.

Questions surround high-profile contributions

Aside from the figures disclosed, questions also arise from the identities of the benefactors to Women’s Wellness Spa(ce). Markle’s contribution during a pivotal election year has led to scrutiny over potential motivations behind such donations. Markle, linked to Joe Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, through past associations, might have unwittingly opened doors to accusations of influence-seeking.

While no official comments have been issued by Archewell or the Silicon Valley Community Foundation regarding the ongoing situation, these developments have caught the attention of high-profile watchdogs. The Heritage Foundation has deemed this case significant enough to warrant thorough examination, focusing specifically on the implications of such influential philanthropic support.

Adding to the current allegations, it is worth noting that this isn’t the first time Ashley Biden’s charity has been under the microscope. Earlier grievances were made against Biden concerning her reportedly inflated work hours and a failure to accurately list board members in the 2023 filings.

Potential repercussions and outcomes

With an IRS audit potentially on the horizon, Women’s Wellness Spa(ce) faces the difficult challenge of addressing these serious allegations while continuing its mission in Philadelphia. The IRS’s future actions and Kamenar’s continued endeavors could arguably shape how charities linked to high-profile figures are handled and scrutinized in the future.

As the situation progresses, the implications of the charity’s alleged misreporting remain to be seen. With pressure mounting over the need for transparency, Ashley Biden’s organization will continue to be under observation from various public and political sectors.