Preacher’s Relatives Come Under Investigation

The lucrative jobs and prosperous lifestyles of relatives of Kenneth Copeland, a prominent televangelist, have been called into question as part of a broader inquiry led by the Senate Finance Committee into the spending and financial-accountability practices at six large televangelist groups, reports the Associated Press.

“There are far too many relatives here,” said Frances Hill, a University of Miami law professor who specializes in nonprofit tax law, referring to her analysis of Mr. Copeland’s Texas ministry. “There’s too much money sloshing around and too much of it sloshing around with people with overlapping affiliations and allegiances by either blood or friendship or just ties over the years. There are red flags all over these relationships.”

All those in question have denied any wrongdoing, and Mr. Copeland’s church has started a Web site, Believers Stand United, to “help set the record straight.” The church has also said it welcomed an Internal Revenue Service audit.