Press Releases
WEINER CALLS FOR GAO INVESTIGATION INTO STATUE OF LIBERTY FOUNDATION
LEADING CRITIC OF LADY LIBERTY REOPENING FOOTDRAGGING QUESTIONS BUDGET, ACTIONS, AND OVERSIGHT OF CHARITY
MILLIONS RAISED WITH NO FULL REOPENING
New York City – Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn), a Member of the House Judiciary Committee, called on the Government Accounting Office (GAO)—the non-partisan, chief investigative arm of Congress—to initiate a federal investigation into the fund raising practices of the Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation. The Foundation has long had the funding to re-open the Statue, but has not yet done so.
The National Park Service (NPS) has kept the Statue of Liberty closed since 9/11, citing security concerns. According to the NPS, the Statue needs $7 million worth of renovations.
The Statute of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, a non-profit organization, says that it is working in partnership with the National Park Service to raise the funds to reopen the Statue. But while the Foundation has raised tens of millions in private donations, Lady Liberty has remained cloased.
Today, Rep. Weiner called the Comptroller General David M. Walker to initiate a GAO investigation into the Foundation’s fundraising practices.
“Thousands of generous private donors have sent tens of millions of dollars to the Foundation, and they have every right to ask ‘what happened to my money’?”, said Rep. Weiner. “The Statue remains closed, but the Foundation, a non-profit, and its CEO, are both apparently flush with cash. There is at least the appearance that the Foundation has departed from its important mission, and it is time for some answers.”
