A.G. Gancarski
On Tuesday, Marco Rubio urged the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to open an investigation into the Global Ministries Foundation.
When visiting Eureka Garden Apartments in Jacksonville earlier this month, Rubio vowed to “bring to bear the full efforts of every agency with jurisdiction over this issue in order to hold GMF accountable” after seeing the horrors on hand.
And he has proven as good as his word.
Rubio wrote Attorney General Loretta Lynch on the subject.
“GMF has received millions of dollars in federal funding, raised hundreds of millions in municipal bonds, and claims exceedingly high property values — yet they can’t seem to find the money to maintain a decent standard of living at their facilities,” the senator asserted.
Rubio also wrote the Treasury Department, seeking an inquiry into its tax status as a 501(c)(3) organization, urging the IRS to use GMF’s Form 990’s to verify how much of the over $6 million it receives annually for its Jacksonville operations were spent on repairs.
Rubio also urged HUD to look into the matter, and support investigative efforts.
“It is my hope that the coordinated effort of responsible agencies can correct the failures created by a faulty process and a slumlord,” Rubio wrote to HUD Secretary Julian Castro.
The senator also urged the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to hold a hearing to investigate property owners like GMF and conduct oversight of HUD’s inspection process.
