Politics & Government

Murphy Calls for IRS Investigation of Missing Newtown Donations

Murphy called for investigations after the group's founder disappeared at the same time as $70,000 in donations.

The Newtown-related charity fund that reported more than $70,000 in missing donations last week has spurred calls for a full investigation, Sen. Chris Murphy's office announced today.

An organizer for 26.4.26, a Nashville-based charity raising funds for Newtown through marathons, said last week its founder and financial overseer Robbie Bruce had disappeared, along with the $70,000 in funds.

"It's outrageous that somebody would run off with even one penny intended to help this community heal,” said Murphy in a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "It is unacceptable to me and to the people of Newtown that goodwill from strangers in the wake of this tragic event has been exploited by people associated with this Foundation. I worry that if this incident remains unresolved it will discourage other generous people from across the country and around the globe from donating money to help Newtown recover."

Murphy called on Koskinen to open an investigation into the foundation's actions. Founders have already lodged formal complaints with the Tennessee Attorney General's office and the FBI.

26.4.26 organizer Ryan Graney told the Associated Press she was "in tears, sick about this" last week. In December, the organization posted a statement on their Facebook page announcing the fund's closure.

"We are saddened to see this great movement come to such a crumbling and embarrassing end," wrote the unnamed page administrator. "We fought so hard to do good and in the end 26.4.26 was taken advantage of and for that we are sorry."

On Monday, a followup post on the group's Facebook page promised an official statement "coming soon."

The fund raised a total of $103,000 through marathon-related efforts following the Dec. 14 shooting. Bruce presented $30,000 to the Newtown Youth Academy in January 2013.


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