U.S. senator to investigate televangelists, including ORU regents

For more: View the letters from Sen. Chuck Grassley and other documents, read the latest ORU stories and watch slide shows and video.

WASHINGTON -- A veteran U.S. senator announced Tuesday that he is looking into generous salaries, luxury cars and private jets provided to six televangelists, including three who serve as regents for Oral Roberts University.

"I'm following up on complaints from the public and news coverage regarding certain practices at six ministries," said Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.

"The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls Royces."

In his announcement, Grassley revealed he has sent detailed letters to six major media ministries:

Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa, Fla.

Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas.

David and Joyce Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo.

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark, Texas.

Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga.

Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga.

Hinn, Copeland and Dollar serve on ORU's board of regents.

Grassley's letters asked the ministers and their organizations to respond to numerous questions and submit certain information for his review.

His requests covered the minister's compensation, housing allowances and other expenses, jets and cars used by them, credit card statements, employment agreements between the ministers and their churches, love offerings, audited financial statements, names and addresses of boards of directors, dates and locations of board meetings.