Preacher Benny Hinn Confirm Govt ‘Reviewing Certain Operations’ Following Raid
Representatives for prosperity preacher Benny Hinn have confirmed that the federal government is “reviewing certain operations” following a raid on Hinn’s Texas office.
“As has been widely reported, Benny Hinn Ministries is cooperating fully with the governmental entities that are reviewing certain operations of the Church,” a social media post released on Thursday read.
“The ministry has undergone intense scrutiny over the years, and we remain confident that there will again be a positive and speedy outcome in the days ahead,” it said.
The post generated over 12k likes as of press time.
federal investigators raided Hinn’s Grapevine office after obtaining a warrant on Wednesday. Benny Hinn Ministries and World Healing Center Church are both located approximately half an hour outside of Dallas.
U.S. Postal Service inspectors and IRS criminal investigators were seen carrying out boxes throughout the day.
“It looked like a big raid: people everywhere, police people everywhere out there, and just rushing in,” John Ebert, who works next door, also told local television station NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
Special Agent Michael Moseley with IRS Criminal Investigations told WFAA that a tax evasion/government fraud investigation was underway.
“Today, we are here on official business, we are conducting a search warrant on the premises, basically that’s all I can tell you today,” he said. “We are primarily investigating Title 26, which is tax evasion and general fraud against the government.”
Hinn, known for his “This Is Your Day” broadcast on TBN, as well as his popular healing crusades, was also investigated by the IRS in 2005. In 2007, a Senate Finance Committee examined the finances of several wealthy televangelists, including Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Eddie Long and Hinn.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, specifically cast doubt on their possession of personal planes and opulent homes, but there was no definitive declaration of wrongdoing when the investigation concluded in 2011.
