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On December 31, 2010, Block stepped down from AFP to become the Chief of Staff for Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain.<ref>Adele M. Stan [http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/152826/not_an_employee_herman_cain_had_mailing_and_email_addresses_at_koch's_americans_for_prosperity_hq Not an Employee? Herman Cain Had Mailing and Email Addresses at Koch's Americans For Prosperity HQ], ''Alternet'', October 21, 2011</ref>
On November 7, 2011, the [[Center for Media and Democracy]] filed a request asking that the Internal Revenue Service investigate [[Prosperity 101USA]], a tax exempt group founded and led by Block, for possibly violating the IRS prohibition against charities participating in political campaigns. <refname="CMD complaint"> [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/11/11111/cmd-requests-irs-investigate-charity-accused-fronting-private-jets-presidential-c CMD Requests IRS Investigate Charity Accused of Fronting Private Jets for Presidential Campaign] (press release), PRwatch.org, Nov. 7, 2011. </ref> The Center also asked the IRS to look into other groups associated with Block for potential tax code violations.
==Scandals==
Block settled a lawsuit in 2001 accusing him of illegally coordinating a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice's re-election with an outside group. Block agreed to pay $15,000 and stay out of politics for three years.<ref>Associated Press [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-10-16/cain-koch-brothers/50792350/1 Long ties to Koch brothers key to Cain's campaign], published article, ''USAToday'', October 16, 2011</ref><ref>Anne Landman [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/03/10347/consider-source-maciver-news-service Consider the Source: MacIver News Service], ''PRWatch.org'', March 15, 2011</ref>
Block, while working for Americans for Prosperity, was involved in a vote-caging scheme in neighborhoods with large black and college student populations. Americans for Prosperity sent out mail with a "do not forward" order on it that could not be sent on to a new mailing address. If it bounced back, a letter would be used to block its recipient from voting so that they could only cast a provisional ballot.<ref> [http://www.alternet.org/rss/1/685582/6_things_to_know_about_%22smoking_man%22_in_herman_cain%27s_weird_new_ad_%28dude_was_banned_from_electoral_politics%29?akid=7775.252420.jt3G1O&rd=1&t=21, 6 things to know about Herman Cain] Adele Stan, '''Alternet'''. Accessed October 26, 2011. </ref> Block played down the sincerity of the effort after admitting that it was he and Americans for Prosperity who had undertaken it. <ref> [http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/103398539.html, Liberal group alleges tape reveals plan to challenge voters]. ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', September 20, 2010. </ref>
On October 30 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel broke a story revealing potential wrongdoing by [[Prosperity USA]], a charity founded by Block. Financial documents showed that Prosperity USA paid more than $40,000 for campaign-related expenditures for Cain, including jets, travel, and computers. <ref> Dan Bice, [http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/state-firms-cash-to-herman-cain-may-breach-federal-campaign-tax-laws-132898423.html State firm's cash to Herman Cain may breach federal campaign, tax laws], Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Oct. 30, 2011 (accessed Nov. 11, 2011). </ref> Based on those documents, the Center for Media and Democracy filed a request with the IRS asking that they investigate Prosperity USA for violating the bar against charities participating in political campaigns, and also look into other charities associated with Block.<ref name="CMD complaint"> </ref>
==Activities with Americans for Prosperity==
