Warnock's church faces subpoena threat over charity registration

After Sen. Raphael Warnock’s (D., Ga.) church failed to respond to an Oct. 12 inquiry into its charity registration, the Georgia Office of Secretary of State is weighing whether to file a subpoena against the group, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.

Authorities are mulling how to ratchet up the pressure on the Ebenezer Building Foundation, including whether to issue a formal subpoena against the church if it does not respond when a Georgia state investigator delivers another investigative letter, a spokesman for the state charities division told the Free Beacon on Thursday. Though it is not clear precisely when the second letter will be delivered, authorities are expected to do so in the coming days. …

The state’s threat of an investigative subpoena against Ebenezer’s charity could pose problems for Warnock as he launches his runoff campaign against Republican challenger Herschel Walker. The Dec. 6 runoff contest could determine which party controls the Senate if Republicans notch a victory in Arizona or Nevada, which are still tabulating votes from Tuesday’s election.

The church, which pays Warnock a $7,417-per-month tax-free housing allowance, intermingles its finances with the charity. The two entities ended 2021 with combined cash and “cash equivalents” exceeding $1.2 million, according to audited financial statements obtained by the Free Beacon.