VIDEO: MEEKS, THE MONEY AND THE MINISTER

Gregory Meeks, the Democratic U.S. Congressman representing parts of south Queens, told PIX INVESTIGATES today his staff should have done more research on a Brooklyn minister and his non-profit group, which was seeking five million dollars in tax money to work with ex-prisoners. "I know nothing about the group or organization," Meeks acknowledged. "My staff made the mistake...and, as a result, we submitted the request, unbeknownst to me. But the buck stops with me, so therefore, I take that responsibility." The minister, Reverend Allen Hand, Senior, later told PIX INVESTIGATES the five million dollars was supposed to be used in four, congressional districts to teach "disaster-preparedness".

Meeks withdrew the funding request, after fellow Congressman, Ed Towns, contacted him.
Ed Towns represents the 10th District in Brooklyn. That's where the Trinity Community Development and Empowerment Group filed its tax-exempt papers as a non-profit several years ago. The group listed its address at an apartment with "boarded up" windows on Sheffield Avenue in East New York. The group's founder, Rev. Allen Hand, Sr. spoke exclusively to PIX INVESTIGATES about the funding being withdrawn. "Whether we have Meeks or Towns or anyone elses money, our program still continues. The group received $500,000 last November, so we asked why it needed five million dollars now. "We're also interested in Homeland Security." the minister told me.

A congressional aide for Congressman Towns is listed as 1st Vice President on Trinity's letterhead, and Towns made the decision to withdraw the multi-million dollar funding request, after reporters started asking questions about the employee, Christopher Lundy.

Meeks has been facing questions about non-profit groups he's supported in Queens. He told me today, "Let me be clear. Gregory Meeks has no relatives and no friends on any board or non-profit that Gregory Meeks has ever funded."