Group That 'Won' DNR Grant Misrepresented Its Status, Documents Show

Things are about to get very dicey for everyone involved:

Madison — A group that claimed federal nonprofit status in winning a controversial $500,000 grant to promote hunting and fishing hasn't actually received that status yet, state records show. 

The state Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday released documents from the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc., showing it had misrepresented its tax status during the process of receiving a grant to promote hunting and fishing in the state. The DNR requested the letters from United Sportsmen, apparently following a Friday report by the Journal Sentinel that the group wasn't listed in federal and state registries of 501(c)(3) nonprofits. 

United Sportsmen, a group with close ties to Republican politicians and other conservative organizations but a scant track record, applied for federal nonprofit designation on March 1 but has not yet received it.

Sham grants. Sham hearings. Sham law enforcement in the rotunda. Quite the pattern.