U.S. televangelists under finance scrutiny

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A U.S. Republican senator on the Finance Committee wants to see financial records of some of the United States' most popular televangelists.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, issued a statement saying he was investigating allegations the evangelists were using tax-exempt donations for such things as private jets and Rolls-Royces, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

He said he also wants to examine credit card records, clothing and jewelry expenses and any cosmetic surgery expenses.

Registered religious groups are exempt from financial reporting requirements required from other groups by the Internal Revenue Service.

Among the ministries Grassley targeted were faith healer Benny Hinn; Christian author Joyce Meyer; Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church in Tampa, Fla.; Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, in Newark, Texas; and from Georgia, Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International, the newspaper said.