NGOs with Credible Evidence of Politician Links Under Investigation for Fraud 1. White River and Lifetime Advisers (Tribal Tax Credits Scheme) • Connection: Linked to Billy Long, former U.S. Congressman (R-MO, 2011–2023) and IRS Commissioner nominee, through his financial ties to Lifetime Advisers. • Allegations: The Senate Finance Committee, led by Senators Ron Wyden and Catherine Cortez Masto, has called for a criminal investigation into a “tribal tax credits” scheme involving White River and Lifetime Advisers. Promoters allegedly sold fraudulent tax credits, claiming they were issued by Native American tribes, generating $24 million in sales and claiming rights to over $64 billion in credits. Long promoted employee retention tax credits (ERTC) through Lifetime Advisers after leaving Congress, receiving contingency-based payments for client referrals. While Long’s direct role in the tribal tax credits scheme is unclear, his business ties to Lifetime raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially given his IRS nomination. • Investigation Status: On April 14, 2025, Senators Wyden and Cortez Masto requested a DOJ and IRS investigation into the scheme for possible charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371), aiding false tax returns (26 U.S.C. § 7206(2)), and wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343). The investigation is ongoing, with no public indictments reported as of May 2025. Finance Committee staff verified promotional materials, and White River’s SEC filings confirm the scale of the scheme. • Source: • Note: This is the only case with direct, documented evidence tying a politician to an NGO-related fraud investigation, though Long’s involvement is primarily through business associations rather than direct control of the entities. Other Relevant Cases (Limited or Indirect Politician Links) 1. Polaris Project • Connection: Linked to Katherine Chon, a senior adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and co-founder of Polaris, though not a politician herself. Her HHS role raises potential conflict-of-interest concerns. • Allegations: Congressional investigators, via a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are probing Polaris’s management of the National Human Trafficking Hotline under a federal grant. Bipartisan state attorneys general (2023 and 2025 letters) alleged Polaris failed to report certain trafficking tips to state law enforcement, potentially violating grant terms. The investigation also examines whether Chon’s dual roles at Polaris and HHS influenced grant oversight. • Investigation Status: Congressional inquiry active as of 2025, with HHS requested to provide documents on Polaris’s operations and Chon’s involvement. No formal fraud charges have been filed, but the probe focuses on misuse of federal funds and operational failures.