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Frank VanderSloot
Born	(1948-08-14) August 14, 1948 (age 76)
Nationality	American
Education	Bachelor of Business Administration
Alma mater	Ricks College and Brigham Young University
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, investor, and CEO
Known for	CEO of Melaleuca, Inc.
Board member of	United States Chamber of Commerce
Spouse(s)	Belinda VanderSloot (married 1995–present) Vivian VanderSloot (divorced) Kathleen VanderSloot (divorced)
Parent(s)	Peter Francis (Frank) VanderSloot Margaret May Christensen Sindberg-Woodley VanderSloot

Frank L. VanderSloot (born August 14, 1948) is an American entrepreneur, radio network owner, rancher, and political campaign financier. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Melaleuca, Inc. His other business interests include the Riverbend Ranch and Riverbend Communications. VanderSloot also serves on the board of directors and executive board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2011, the Land Report listed him as the nation’s 92nd largest landowner. In 2013, VanderSloot was listed by Business Insider as the wealthiest individual in the state of Idaho, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.

VanderSloot served as a national finance co-chair for Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).</nowiki><ref name="TanSheet">{{Cite journal|title=Melaleuca Replenex halt cartilage degeneration claim draws FDA warning letter|journal=The Tan Sheet|date=July 28, 1997|volume=5|series=Article # 05050300012|issue=30|url=http://www.elsevierbi.com/publications/the-tan-sheet/05/030/melaleuca-replenex-halt-cartilage-degeneration-claim-draws-fda-warning-letter|accessdate=September 22, 2012}}</ref>

Other businesses

Ranching

In 1993, VanderSloot founded Riverbend Ranch, which is one of the largest purebred ranches and largest commercial cattle operations in the United States.<ref name="Ranch1">{{Cite web|title=Ranch maintains family's link to tradition|url=http://www.capitalpress.com/lvstk/JO-VanderSlootRanch-022712|publisher=Capital Press|accessdate=March 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name="LandReport" /><ref name="cascade">{{cite news|last=Malson|first=Maggie|title=Dedicated to the Beef Industry - Riverbend Ranch|url=http://www.cascadehorseman.com/articles/2006/02/07/cattleman/news01.txt|accessdate=November 6, 2012|newspaper=Cascade Horseman|date=February 7, 2006}}</ref> The ranch received 21 awards at the Utah State Fair between 1995 and 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=UTAH STATE FAIR SALUTES WINNERS|newspaper=Deseret News|date=October 8, 1995|page=A18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=From Horses to Horticulture - 1997 Fair Winners|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|page=B4}}</ref><ref name="Cream">{{cite news|title=Cream of the Crop: This Year's Roundup of Utah State Fair Winners; More State Fair Winners|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=September 28, 1996|page=B5}}</ref> The Ranch runs a genetics and breeding program<ref name="cascade" /> and hosts the world's second-largest Angus bull sale.<ref name="Ranch2">{{Cite web|title=Riverbend Ranch to Host World's 2nd Largest Angus Bull Sale|url=http://www.kpvi.com/content/news/local/story/Riverbend-Ranch-to-Host-Worlds-2nd-Largest-Angus/1DLyp7SSYE2CF7CphGBTng.cspx|publisher=KPVI News|accessdate=March 9, 2012}}</ref> According to ranch general manager David Brown, VanderSloot established its mission as "providing ranchers in the Intermountain West with the best genetics at an affordable price."<ref>{{cite news|last=O'CONNELL|first=JOHN|title=Ranch maintains family's link to tradition|url=http://www.capitalpress.com/print/JO-VanderSlootRanch-022712 |accessdate=November 3, 2012|newspaper=Capital Press|date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> Riverbend Ranch has operations in three other states,<ref>{{cite news|last=Iverson-Long|first=Brad|title=Investment fund launches for ranches|newspaper=Idaho Business Review|date=November 15, 2012|quote=...VanderSloot family, which owns Riverbend Ranch, which lists ranch property in Idaho Falls and three other states. Frank VanderSloot is also the CEO of Melaleuca, a mail order company with $1 billion in annual sales.}}</ref> including Fort Ranch Quarter Horses, a horse ranch in Promontory, Utah.<ref name="ranch3">{{cite web|title=FORT RANCH, PROMONTORY, UTAH|url=http://www.fortranch.com/|publisher=Fort Ranch|accessdate=November 6, 2012}}</ref>

Natural Guardian Land Holdings

In 1994, VanderSloot created Natural Guardian Limited Partnership (doing business as Natural Guardian, LLC, as of 2011),<ref name="NGLP1">{{cite news|title=Statement of Conversion - Natural Guardian Limited Partnership|url=http://www.sos.idaho.gov/corpimage/%5C20110811%5C02447X0311223094307.tif|accessdate=November 3, 2012|newspaper=Idaho Secretary of State|date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> a holding company that owns or leases approximately 1,500 acres of land in Wolverine Canyon, Bingham County, Idaho.<ref name="NGLP2">{{cite news|last=Hagadone|first=Zach|title=Bingham County Judge Stalls Wind Project Idaho Business Review|url=http://idahobusinessreview.com/2009/08/31/bingham-county-judge-stalls-wind-project-2/|accessdate=November 3, 2012|newspaper=Idaho Business Review|date=August 21, 2009}}</ref>

Broadcasting

VanderSloot owns Riverbend Communications, a group of radio stations in Eastern Idaho.<ref>{{cite news|title=Don Jarrett named program director for KTHK-FM|newspaper=Idaho State Journal|date=March 12, 2013|location=Pocatello, ID}}</ref><ref name="StaffStaff2004">{{cite book|author1=Bowker Staff|author2=CSA Journal Staff|title=Bowker's News Media Directory|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=fW_gAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=22 April 2013|year=2004|publisher=R.R. Bowker|pages=D–27}}</ref> He purchased the company from Bonneville Communications in 2006.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Industry Briefs|journal=Enterprise|date=Jan 2–8, 2006|accessdate=3 July 2013|quote=Bonneville International, Salt Lake City, has negotiated an agreement with Frank L. VanderSloot of Idaho Fails wherein Bonneville agrees to negotiate exclusively with VanderSloot for the potential sale of its Eastern Idaho Radio Group. The group now consists of six radio stations with a mix of AM and FM frequencies.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Deals|journal=Broadcasting and Cable|date=February 20, 2006|page=26|accessdate=3 July 2013}}</ref> Riverbend Communications operates KLCE Classy 97, KCVI Kbear 101, KTHK 105.5 The Hawk, KFTZ Z103, KEII News-Talk AM 690 - 1260, and KEIR AM 1260.

Snake River Cheese factory

In 1994, VanderSloot was approached by two dairy farmers with a plea to invest in the Snake River Cheese factory in Blackfoot, Idaho, after Kraft Foods had announced a decision to close it.<ref name="FriendToDairy">{{cite news|last=O'CONNELL|first=John|title=Obama campaign 'enemy' a friend to dairy, farmer says|newspaper=Capital Press|date=August 28, 2012|location=FIRTH, Idaho}}</ref> Kraft had operated the plant since the early 1920s.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Jersey company buys Snake River Cheese|newspaper=Associated Press Newswires|date=November 30, 2000|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In response, VanderSloot bought a $1 million interest in the plant, and an investment company assumed control, but the operation closed anyway within six months. VanderSloot then paid off a $2 million debt the company owed to the dairymen, staffed the plant with his own personnel and supplemented the milking herd with two thousand head of cattle.<ref name="Manning">{{cite news|last=Manning|first=Josh|title=New Jersey Firm Buys Blackfoot, Idaho, Cheese Factory|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67577036.html?key=01-42160D517E1E136C140D021C002252212B5C2256292F2F5B354D4760641A607F137118731B7B1D6B755B|accessdate=September 26, 2012|newspaper=]|date=December 4, 2000}}</ref><ref name="OConnell">O'Connell, John. Capital Press. August 30, 2012</ref> He promised that all five hundred people whose jobs depended on the plant would remain employed and leased the plant to Beatrice Cheese, a subsidiary of ConAgra.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wisconsin company and Snake River Cheese complete negotiations|newspaper=Associated Press Newswires|date=August 29, 1999}}</ref> In 1999, the facility netted $278 million in sales. The next year, VanderSloot sold his interest in the company to Suprema Specialties<ref name="Manning" /><ref name="Suprema10Q">{{cite news|title=Form 10-Q: Suprema Specialties Inc|url=http://google.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHTML1?ID=121849&SessionID=21bnWFiwbThGKl7|accessdate=November 11, 2012|newspaper=]|year=2000}}</ref> after Beatrice broke its lease.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beatrice will remain at cheese plant until year's end|newspaper=Associated Press Newswires|date=August 8, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Blackfoot, Idaho, Cheese Plant to Stop Production of Health Choice Line|newspaper=Knight Ridder Tribune Business News|date=September 16, 2000|agency=World Reporter}}</ref> VanderSloot again promised that employees would keep their jobs.<ref>{{cite news|last=Manning|first=Josh|title=New Jerseys Suprema Specialties Buys Idahos Snake River Cheese|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67511537.html|accessdate=November 22, 2012|newspaper=Idaho|date=November 30, 2000|agency=McClatchy-Tribune Business News}}</ref> In 2006, the factory, which by then had been renamed as the Blackfoot Cheese Company, was sold to Sartori Foods.<ref name="Draper">{{cite news|last=Draper|first=Nick|title=Cheese changing hands Sartori Foods completes deal to purchase Blackfoot firm|url=http://www.postregister.com/story.php?accnum=1026-07152006&today=2006-07-15|accessdate=September 26, 2012|newspaper=]|date=July 15, 2006}}</ref>

Paving and construction

VanderSloot was the owner of HighStone (formerly Eagle Rock Construction; RBH Gravel; VIP Construction), an Idaho Falls-based asphalt construction and maintenance company.<ref name="Edlefsen">{{Cite news|last=Edlefsen|first=Joyce|title=VanderSloot-owned company merges with DePatco|url=http://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/news/vandersloot-owned-company-merges-with-depatco/article_385100a8-db1f-11e0-a0a7-001cc4c03286.html#axzz27xx0LFHv|accessdate=September 30, 2011|newspaper=Rexburg Standard Journal|date=September 9, 2011}}</ref> HighStone’s projects included being the prime contractor on a $421,000 state government contract to repair a stretch of Idaho State Highway 33 in Idaho Falls,<ref name="IDOT">{{cite press release |last=King |first=Bruce |title=Crack sealing is under way on Idaho 33 east of Newdale|date=2011-10-14 |publisher=Idaho Transportation Department |location= |url=http://apps.itd.idaho.gov/Apps/MediaManagerMVC/PressRelease.aspx/Preview/3680 |format= |accessdate=2013-08-22|quote=Highstone Inc., of Idaho Falls, is the prime contractor on this $421,000 contract.}}</ref> as well as work on road repairs in Rexburg.<ref name="Edlefsen" /> In September 2011, HighStone merged with DePatco, a family-owned heavy construction company in St. Anthony, Idaho. The merger created eastern Idaho's largest locally owned construction company.<ref name="Edlefsen" />

Net worth

VanderSloot does not publicly disclose his personal worth;' however, in 2004, Forbes magazine estimated that Melaleuca was worth $1.4 billion and that VanderSloot's share of the company (55 percent of the voting stock and 44 percent of the nonvoting stock), was worth $700 million. According to Dan Popkey of the Idaho Statesman, the company's value had grown to between $3.2 billion and $3.9 billion by 2011, and VanderSloot's net worth was estimated at more than $1 billion. In

2012, the Land Report listed VanderSloot as the 92nd largest landowner in the United States.<ref name="LandReport2012">{{Cite web|title=2012 Land Report 100|url=http://www.landreport.com/americas-100-largest-landowners|work=The Land Report|accessdate=October 8, 2012}}</ref> In 2013, VanderSloot was listed by Business Insider as the wealthiest individual in the state of Idaho, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.<ref name="Wealth">{{cite web|last1=Willett|first1=Megan|title=Meet The Wealthiest Person In Every US State|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-wealthiest-person-in-every-us-state-2013-10?op=1|website=Business Insider|accessdate=August 1, 2014|date=Oct 30, 2013}}</ref>

Public activity

Ethics

VanderSloot has made several public comments supporting strong corporate ethics.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chicken soup for the parent's soul|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=0qXSwN1BKXkC&pg=PR16|accessdate=3 July 2013|date=1 September 2000|publisher=HCI Books|isbn=978-1-55874-747-0|page=16}}</ref><ref name="Gostick2003">{{cite book|author=Adrian Robert Gostick|title=The Integrity Advantage: How Taking the High Road Creates a Competitive Advantage in Business|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=BqlDAK79H2IC&pg=PA39|accessdate=22 April 2013|year=2003|publisher=Gibbs Smith|isbn=978-1-58685-246-7|page=39}}</ref><ref name="Kroth">{{cite book|author=Michael S. Kroth|title=The Manager As Motivator|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YyZn9LQmvYYC&pg=PA164|accessdate=22 April 2013|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-99018-3|page=164}}</ref><ref name="TelfordGostick2005">{{cite book|author1=Dana Telford|author2=Adrian Robert Gostick|title=Integrity Works: Strategies for Becoming a Trusted, Respected and Admired Leader|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=zJTTuVb-jUkC&pg=PA35|accessdate=22 April 2013|year=2005|publisher=Gibbs Smith|isbn=978-1-58685-054-8|page=35}}</ref><ref name="The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything">{{cite book|title=The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=31Qe_e61Y10C&pg=PA47|accessdate=22 April 2013|date=5 February 2008|publisher=Free Press|isbn=978-1-4165-4900-0|page=47}}</ref>

United States Chamber of Commerce

VanderSloot is on the board of directors and executive board of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Taxation Task Force

In 1993, VanderSloot served on the Taxation Task Force of the White House Conference on Small Business.<ref>{{cite news|title=Idaho Falls business leader selected for White House Conference on Small Business Taxation Task Force|newspaper=Business Wire|date=December 6, 1993}}</ref><ref name="Office2000">{{cite book|author=U.S. Small Business Administration|title=Building the Foundation for a New Century: Final Report on Implementation of the Recommendations of the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business|accessdate=14 June 2013|date=1 August 2000|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|isbn=0-16-050463-5}}</ref>

Campaign financing

Mitt Romney for President

VanderSloot was one of 47 finance co-chairs for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign and served under eight finance chairs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Madden|first=Kevin|title=GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES NATIONAL FINANCE CHAIRS AND CO-CHAIRS|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/romney/romney073107prnf.html|accessdate=23 April 2013|location=Boston}}</ref> He also served as a finance co-chair for Romney's 2012.<ref name="Murphy" /><ref name="NYT1" /><ref name="USFedNews" /><ref name="Mason1">{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Melanie|title=Money is on the unofficial agenda at the Republican National Convention|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-0830-money-20120830,0,1301460.story|accessdate=November 11, 2012|newspaper=]|date=August 29, 2012}}</ref> In 2012, VanderSloot’s companies contributed $1.1 million to the Restore Our Future political action committee, which was supporting Romney for President.<ref name="motherjones">{{Cite web|last=Mencimer|first=Stephanie|url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/02/mitt-romney-melaleuca-frank-vandersloot|title=Pyramid-Like Company Ponies Up $1 Million for Mitt Romney|work=Mother Jones|accessdate=2012|date=February 6, 2012}}</ref> According to VanderSloot, he raised between $2 million and $5 million for the Romney campaign.<ref name="Vogel1" /> On April 20, 2012, a website operated by Barack Obama’s presidential campaign included VanderSloot on a list of eight major donors to Romney’s campaign whom it described as having "questionable and troubling records on various issues." The site said VanderSloot was "litigious, combative, and a bitter foe of the gay rights movement."<ref name="ObamaForAmerica">{{Cite news|title=Behind the curtain: A brief history of Romney’s donors|url=http://www.barackobama.com/truth-team/entry/behind-the-curtain-a-brief-history-of-romneys-donors/|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=]|date=April 20, 2012}}</ref><ref name="IPTaudit"></ref><ref name="Weber1">{{Cite news|last=Weber|first=Joseph|title=Romney donor bashed by Obama campaign now target of two federal audits|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/24/romney-donor-bashed-by-obama-campaign-now-target-two-federal-audits/|accessdate=September 17, 2012|publisher=]|date=July 25, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Seabrook">{{Cite news|last=Seabrook|first=Andrea|title=Big Political Donors Shy Away From Public Scrutiny|url=http://m.npr.org/story/155306187?url=/2012/06/20/155306187/big-political-donors-shy-away-from-public-scrutiny|accessdate=September 17, 2012|publisher=]|date=June 20, 2012}}</ref> VanderSloot made a series of television appearances, in some of which he called for donations to Romney in protest of the list.<ref name="Vogel1">{{Cite news|last=Vogel|first=Kenneth P|title=Mega-donors: Quit picking on us|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76899.html|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 31, 2012}}</ref> Around the same time, an individual associated with Democratic Party interests attempted to gain access to personal information about VanderSloot.<ref name="StrasselTop" /> VanderSloot accused the Obama campaign of targeting him unfairly and said that he went through "living hell" as a result. He told Fox News host Bill O’Reilly that Melaleuca had lost about two hundred customers in the first two weeks after the Obama website's reference to him;<ref name="IPTaudit" /><ref name="Schouten1">{{Cite news|last=Schouten|first=Fredreka|title=Democrats, GOP debate political non-profits' donors|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-06-19/nonprofits-campaign-donors-disclosure/55698330/1|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=]|date=June 20, 2012}}</ref> Two days later he told the Idaho Statesman that "unbelievable" and "unexpected" national support in the intervening period was turning out to be good for business. In July 2012, VanderSloot said he was the subject of two new federal audits, one by the Internal Revenue Service and the other by the U.S. Department of Labor.<ref name="IPTaudit" /><ref name="Strassel2">{{cite news|last=Strassel|first=Kimberly|title=Obama's Enemies List -- Part II|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 20, 2012|page=A9}}</ref> VanderSloot had not been audited in the thirty-year period before the Obama campaign listing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Noonan|first=Peggy|title=Declarations: This Is No Ordinary Scandal|accessdate=25 June 2013|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=18 May 2013|page=A15}}</ref> VanderSloot said that the timing of the audits was curious and questionable, claiming that he received notice of the IRS audit two months after he was "singled out by the Obama campaign." He noted that he did not think that the President was directly behind the audits.<ref name="IPTaudit" /><ref name="Prentice1">{{Cite news|last=Prentice|first=George|title=Vandersloot Says Being on 'Enemies List' Triggered Audits|url=http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2012/07/26/ap-vandersloot-says-being-on-enemies-list-triggered-audits|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=]|date=July 26, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Smith1">{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Lenny|title=VanderSloot to be audited by two federal agencies|url=http://www.localnews8.com/news/VanderSloot-to-be-audited-by-two-federal-agencies/-/308662/15682276/-/jppwd5/-/index.html|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=]|date=July 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Mrque"></ref> Ultimately, the audits found no wrongdoing but VanderSloot paid $80,000 to defend himself during the audit process.<ref name="StrasselTop">{{cite news|last=Strassel|first=Kimberly|title=The IRS Scandal Started at the Top|accessdate=17 June 2013|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=20 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="Reilly">{{Cite episode |title=Special Edition: Scandals |episodelink= |url=http://www.billoreilly.com/show?action=viewTVShow&showID=3399 |accessdate=25 June 2013 |series=The O'Reilly Factor |serieslink=http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/index.html |credits=], Frank L. VanderSloot |network=Fox News |station= |city= |date=24 May 2013 |began= |ended= |season= |seriesno= |number= |minutes= |time= |transcript= |transcripturl= |quote= |language=English}}</ref> A number of commentators expressed disapproval of the campaign's depiction of VanderSloot.<ref>{{cite news|last=Newby|first=Joe|title=Romney donor alleges Team Obama targeting his children, hurting business|newspaper=Spokane Examiner|date=May 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=OTHER NEWSPAPERS’ VIEWS VanderSloot audit timing is suspicious - It could be coincidence, but it could also be Obama engaging in Chicago-style bullying|newspaper=Idaho Press-Tribune|date=July 31, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Curtis|first=Steve|title=Wealthy Idaho Romney donor says he's being smeared by Obama campaign|newspaper=Standard-Examiner|date=May 17, 2012|location=IDAHO FALLS, Idaho}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Businesses, employees must stand up to Big Government to save country|newspaper=Idaho Press-Tribune|date=July 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Editorial|title=Is Vandersloot being targeted?|newspaper=Idaho State Journal|date=July 26, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=THE PRESIDENT'S ENEMY PAYS A PRICE|newspaper=U-T San Diego|date=July 26, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Shapiro2013">{{cite book|author=Ben Shapiro|title=Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9EJc_ngBO8EC&pg=PT154|accessdate=23 April 2013|date=8 January 2013|publisher=Threshold Editions|isbn=978-1-4767-1001-3|page=154}}</ref><ref name="ALLEN-MILLS">{{cite news|last=ALLEN-MILLS|first=TONY|title=Obama left floundering as scandals knock wind out of his second-term sails|accessdate=25 June 2013|newspaper=THE SUNDAY TIMES|date=20 May 2013|location=Washington}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Spalding|first=Matthew|title=Patriotic Americans should redouble their efforts|accessdate=25 June 2013|newspaper=Deseret News|date=19 May 2013|agency=Deseret News Publishing Co.|page=G04}}</ref> Three op-eds published by the Wall Street Journal criticized the campaign's treatment of VanderSloot and other top Romney donors. The critiques, two of which were authored by Wall Street Journal contributor Kimberley Strassel, were disputed by television host Rachel Maddow, Lewiston Morning Tribune editor Marty Trillhaase,<ref name="Trillhaase2">{{cite news|last=Trillhaase|first=Marty|title=Picking On Idaho's defenseless millionaire|url=http://media.spokesman.com/documents/2012/08/1955_001.pdf|accessdate=November 13, 2012|newspaper=]|date=August 1, 2012}}</ref> and David Shere of Media Matters for America<ref name="Shere1">{{cite news|last=Shere|first=David|title=Fox, WSJ Pass Off Top Romney Campaign Official As A "Private Citizen"|newspaper=]|date=May 14, 2012}}</ref> but were supported by the editorial page of National Review,<ref>{{cite news|last=Editors|title=The Week|newspaper=National Review|date=June 11, 2012}}</ref> Joe Newby of the Spokane Examiner,<ref>{{cite news|last=Newby|first=Joe|title=Barack Obama 's enemies list: Anyone who contributes to Mitt Romney|newspaper=Spokane Examiner|date=April 27, 2012}}</ref> and Henry Reske of Newsmax.<ref>{{cite news|last=Reske|first=Henry|title=Obama Campaign Tries to Intimidate Romney Donors|newspaper=Newsmax|date=April 27, 2012}}</ref> After the election, Mitt Romney described the Obama campaign's treatment of VanderSloot as "a very dangerous and troubling development".<ref>{{Cite web |title=CAVUTO for June 7, 2013 |url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/cavuto/index.html |accessdate= |series= |serieslink= |date=June 7, 2013 |quote=CAVUTO: I mean, we talked to Frank VanderSloot, of course, a major donor to your campaign. He was subjected to no fewer than three agency audits. He was vindicated on each and all, but he had to pay $80,000, $85,000, I think he was telling me when he was here, in various attorney and accountant fees just to protect his good name. ROMNEY: Well, this is a very dangerous and troubling development }}</ref> Tom McClintock complained about VanderSloot's treatment in a speech on the floor of the United States House of Representatives in May 2013<ref>{{cite journal|last=McClintock|first=Tom|title=House Proceedings|journal=Congressional Record|date=16 May 2013|volume=159|issue=69|accessdate=25 June 2013}}</ref> and Marco Rubio separately made a similar statement on the floor of the Senate.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rubio|first=Marco|title=Senate Proceedings|journal=Congressional Record|date=15 May 2013|volume=159|issue=68|accessdate=25 June 2013}}</ref>

Idaho ballot measures

Vandersloot was the primary financial supporter of United Families Idaho Action Fund, a PAC that supported a successful anti-same-sex marriage constitutional amendment (House Joint Resolution 2) in Idaho 2006.<ref name="UFI1">{{cite news|last=Russell|first=Betsy Z.|title=Bill challenges Idaho tribal casinos|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/mar/19/bill-challenges-idaho-tribal-casinos/|accessdate=2013-03-23|newspaper=]|date=March 19, 2013}}</ref> Melaleuca was the top contributor to the PAC fund, giving $6,827 while VanderSloot and his wife contributed an additional $2,000.<ref name="UFI2">{{cite news|title=The Money Behind the 2006 Marriage Amendments|url=http://www.followthemoney.org/press/ReportView.phtml?r=329&ext=5&PHPSESSID=c96509fcb415851b3df81f151604c29b|accessdate=2013-03-23|newspaper=National Institute on Money in State Politics}}</ref> The amendment was struck down as unconstitutional in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pearce|first1=Matt|last2=La Ganga|first2=Maria L.|title=Idaho same-sex marriage ban struck down by federal judge|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-idaho-gay-marriage-20140513-story.html|accessdate=June 21, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 13, 2014}}</ref> VanderSloot spent $1.3 million in 2012 to sponsor television commercials and other advertising in favor of Propositions 1, 2, and 3, ballot referenda supporting education changes introduced and championed by Idaho public school supervisor Tom Luna in 2011. The three-part educational package, consisting of an eight-year $180 million program limiting teachers’ collective bargaining rights, requiring online classes and mandating laptops for ninth-graders, was approved by the Idaho Legislature and was backed by Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter. An initiative campaign placed the approval of the laws on the ballot, and they were defeated in a statewide vote.<ref name="Luna3">{{cite news|title=VanderSloot, unions up ante in ed overhaul fight The Associated Press |url=http://www.theolympian.com/2012/10/31/2303672/vandersloot-unions-up-ante-in.html#storylink=mirelated|accessdate=November 1, 2012|newspaper=]|date=October 31, 2012|agency=]}}</ref><ref name="Sirota">{{cite news|last=Sirota|first=David|title=Phony school "reform" agenda takes a beating|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/11/13/phony_school_reform_agenda_takes_a_beating/|accessdate=November 13, 2012|date=November 13, 2012}}</ref><ref> "StateImpact," a reporting project of local public media and National Public Radio</ref><ref name="Luna1">{{cite news|last=Popkey|first=Dan|title=Backing Luna's Idaho education reforms, VanderSloot counters union money|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/10/31/2329336/backing-lunas-idaho-education.html|accessdate=November 1, 2012|newspaper=]|date=October 31, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Luna2">{{cite news|last=Davlin|first=Melissa|title=Donors Give Big Money to Props 1, 2, 3|url=http://magicvalley.com/news/local/donors-give-big-money-to-props/article_185a9d1d-f46d-5761-9279-a645da4e26ac.html|accessdate=November 1, 2012|newspaper=]|date=November 1, 2012}}</ref><ref></ref><ref name="Miller1">{{cite news|last=Miller|first=John|title=Idaho voters rebuke Luna, Otter in dumping ed laws|url=http://www.kboi2.com/news/Idaho-Election-Education-Proposition-Luna-177667281.html?m=y&smobile=y|accessdate=November 10, 2012|newspaper=]|date=November 7, 2012|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Idaho political and judicial campaigns

According to Dan Popkey of the Idaho Statesman and Roger Plothow and Marty Trillhaase of the Idaho Falls Post Register, VanderSloot supported Idaho Democrat Larry EchoHawk’s 1994 gubernatorial campaign and endorsed Democrat Jackie Groves Twilegar for Idaho state controller in 2006.<ref name="Stallings1">{{Cite news|title=Stallings goes too far|url=http://www.postregister.com/story.php?accnum=1018-10062006&today=2006-10-06|accessdate=September 25, 2012|newspaper=]|date=October 6, 2006|author=Roger Plothow|author2=Marty Trillhaase}}</ref><ref name="Popkey2">{{Cite news|last=Popkey|first=Dan|title=Twilegar is the best, but that may not be enough|url=http://idahoptv.org/idreports/showEditorial.cfm?StoryId=24122|accessdate=September 25, 2012|newspaper=]|date=October 6, 2006}}</ref> VanderSloot has been a major donor to Idaho Republicans,<ref name="Stallings1" /><ref name="Popkey2" /> according to Popkey, who described him as the state's "most boisterous conservative financier"<ref name="Popkey" /> and by America Online’s Eamon Murphy, who called him "perhaps the single most influential campaign donor" in the state of Idaho. VanderSloot spent more than $100,000 on independent advertising on three winning judicial campaigns, two for Idaho Supreme Court and one for district judge in Bonneville County.<ref name="Popkey" /> VanderSloot and Melaleuca were financial supporters of the PAC Concerned Citizens for Family Values.<ref name="Greenwald" /><ref name="CCFVIRS">{{cite news|title=IRS Form 8872: Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures|url=https://bulk.resource.org/irs.gov/section_527/part01/820524837-8872-0001.pdf|accessdate=November 10, 2012|newspaper=]|date=August 24, 2000}}</ref><ref name="Trillhaase">{{Cite news|last=Trillhaase|first=Marty|title=VanderSloot won Supreme Court race|url=http://idahoptv.org/idreports/showEditorial.cfm?StoryID=46584|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 27, 2010}}</ref><ref name="FisherLMT1">{{Cite news|last=Fisher|first=Jim|title=If you buy radio stations, who needs attack ads?|url=http://idahoptv.org/idreports/showEditorial.cfm?StoryID=19167|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=]|date=January 3, 2006}}</ref> The PAC ran ads targeting incumbent Idaho Supreme Court Justice Cathy Silak during her 2000 re-election campaign against challenger Daniel T. Eismann.<ref name="Trillhaase" /><ref name="FisherLMT1" /> The ads alleged that if Silak were re-elected, same-sex marriage and "partial-birth abortion" could have become legal in Idaho.<ref name="Cheek">{{Cite book|last=Cheek|first=Kyle|title=Judicial Politics in Texas: Partisanship, Money, and Politics in State Courts|year=2005|publisher=Peter Lang Publishing|location=New York, NY|author2=Champagne, Anthony|accessdate=September 23, 2012|url=http://books.google.com/?id=TW9R7YoVrc8C&dq=Judicial+Politics+in+Texas|page=143|isbn=9780820467672}}</ref><ref name="Mayer">{{Cite book|last=Mayer|first=Martin|title=The Judges: A Penetrating Exploration of American Courts and of the New Decisions--Hard Decisions--They Must Make for a New Millennium|year=2006|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York, NY|pages=229|url=http://books.google.com/?id=xWQSiv34Dc4C&dq=%22Concerned+Citizens+for+Family+Values%22|isbn=9780312289751}}</ref> In 2002, VanderSloot and Melaleuca contributed more than $50,000 opposing the election bid of Democrat Keith Roark, a former Blaine County prosecutor, for Idaho Attorney General. The contributions included a $35,000 donation to Roark’s Republican opponent, Lawrence Wasden, and a $16,500 donation to Concerned Citizens for Family Values, an organization run by VanderSloot, to pay for attack ads against Roark in Eastern Idaho.<ref name="LMT1"></ref> That year, VanderSloot and Melaleuca also donated $7,000 towards Republican Dirk Kempthorne’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign .<ref name="SR1"></ref> In 2006 VanderSloot and his wife Belinda donated nearly $16,000 through the PAC Citizens for Truth and Justice, and via direct payments for ads opposing the reelection of Idaho 7th District Court Judge James Herndon, a Democrat, in a three-way race against challengers Darren Simpson and DaLon Esplin.<ref name="Davidson">{{Cite news|last=Davidson|first=Phil|title=Herndon, Simpson in lead for runoff Unofficial results show Esplin trailing in three-way race for 7th District judge.|url=http://www.postregister.com/story.php?accnum=1002-05242006&today=2006-05-24%2000:00:00|accessdate=September 27, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 24, 2006|quote=The race to fill 7th District Judge James Herndon’s seat appeared to be headed into a runoff...challenger Darren Simpson and…DaLon Esplin… Though the campaigning among the candidates was cordial, Herndon was attacked on May 7, when a newly formed political action committee, Citizens for Truth and Justice, ran an 'Anybody but Herndon' ad in the Post Register...Melaleuca Inc. Chief Executive Officer Frank VanderSloot, Watkins’ boss, contributed $5,000 to the group...Ads criticizing Herndon have also aired on radio stations run by Riverbend Communications, a company VanderSloot owns with his wife, Belinda}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="Taule">{{Cite news|last=Taule|first=Corey|title=Simpson asked to step down from case - A former Melaleuca employee believes he won't get a fair trial in front of the judge|url=http://www.postregister.com/story.php?accnum=1001-03312007&today=2007-03-31|accessdate=September 27, 2012|newspaper=]|date=March 31, 2007|quote=Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot publicly and financially supported Simpson's successful effort to knock off sitting Judge James Herndon last year...VanderSloot and his wife, Belinda, through donations to an anti-Herndon group called Citizens for Justice and through direct payments for advertising, spent nearly $16,000 to help Simpson win office}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Ads criticizing Herndon also aired on radio stations run by Riverbend Communications, owned by VanderSloot and his wife Belinda.<ref name="Davidson" /> In 2010 VanderSloot funded two PACs that launched last-minute ads against Idaho 2nd District Judge John Bradbury, a Democrat, during his electoral run for state Supreme Court against Republican incumbent Justice Roger Burdick.<ref name="Clark">{{Cite news|last=Clark|first=Corbin|title=Attack ads have local link|url=http://www.postregister.com/story.php?accnum=1004-05252010&today=2010-05-25|accessdate=September 26, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 25, 2010}}</ref><ref name="KTVB">{{Cite news|title=Groups must pay $1,900 fines for illegal campaigns|url=http://www.ktvb.com/news/Groups-must-pay-1900-fines-for-illegal-campaigns-95564854.html|accessdate=September 26, 2012|newspaper=]|date=June 3, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Russel2">{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Betsy Z|title=Groups fined over ads against judge|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jun/04/groups-fined-over-ads-against-judge/|accessdate=September 26, 2012|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|date=June 4, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Statesman2010">{{Cite news|title=Ads attacking judicial candidate violated state disclosure law, official says|url=http://www.allvoices.com/news/5904565-ads-attacking-judicial-candidate-violated-state-disclosure-law-official-says|accessdate=September 26, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 24, 2010}}</ref> VanderSloot donated $19,000 to the PAC Idaho Citizens for Justice<ref name="ICFJ">{{Cite news|title=Idaho Citizens for Justice: Campaign Financial Disclosure Report|url=http://media.spokesman.com/documents/2010/05/IdahoCitizensforJustice.pdf|accessdate=September 26, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 24, 2012}}</ref> and financed the PAC Citizens for Commonsense Solutions.<ref name="CCS">{{Cite news|title=Citizens for Commonsense Solutions: Campaign Financial Disclosure Report|url=http://media.spokesman.com/documents/2010/05/Commonsense.pdf|accessdate=September 26, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 24, 2012}}</ref> Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa announced that the PACs were fined $1,900 collectively for failing to appoint a certified treasurer prior to accepting contributions from VanderSloot and for failing to disclose large expenditures for its ads before the election, as required by law.

LGBT issues

In 1999 VanderSloot sponsored billboards around Idaho asking "Should public television promote the homosexual lifestyle to your children? Think about it!" in reference to It's Elementary, a 1999 PBS documentary exploring how four schools dealt with homosexuality.<ref name="Berman" /> VanderSloot's wife Belinda donated $100,000 to the Proposition 8 initiative to rescind gay marriage in California,<ref name="Murphy" /><ref name="Greenwald" /><ref name="hrc">{{Cite web|last=Ring|first=Trudy|url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/2012/03/10/hrc-romney-ditch-antilgbt-finance-chair|title=HRC to Romney: Ditch Anti-LGBT Finance Chair|publisher=Advocate.com|accessdate=May 2012|date=March 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name="LATProp8">{{cite news|title=Proposition 8: Who gave in the gay marriage battle?|url=http://projects.latimes.com/prop8/donation/6903/|accessdate=2012-12-19|newspaper=]}}</ref><ref name="VSresponds1" /> and volunteers used Melaleuca's call center after hours to persuade California voters to support the measure.<ref name="Ring1">{{Cite news|last=Ring|first=Ray|title=Prophets and Politics|url=http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/prophets-and-politics/Content?oid=1012875|accessdate=September 27, 2012|newspaper=]|date=October 22, 2008}}</ref> In 2006, VanderSloot took out two full-page advertisements in the Idaho Falls Post Register<ref name="TCP">{{Cite news|last=VanderSloot|first=Frank|title=Responsible Journalism or Misleading Propaganda?|url=http://media.salon.com/media/pdf/2005_0605_ResponsibleJournalism.pdf|accessdate=September 9, 2012|newspaper=The Community Page}}</ref><ref name="TCP2">{{Cite news|last=Melaleuca, Inc.|title=Post Register Attacks the Scouts Again|url=http://www.communitypagenews.com/pdfs/2006_0507_AttacksTheScoutsAgain.pdf|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=The Community Page}}</ref> criticizing a series of investigative articles<ref name="PostRegister1">{{Cite news|last=Zuckerman|first=Peter|title=Scout's Honor|url=http://www.postregister.com/scouts_honor/|accessdate=September 9, 2012|newspaper=]}}</ref><ref name="PBSexpose">{{Cite news|title=Exposé: America's Investigative Reports – In a Small Town|url=http://www.pbs.org/wnet/expose/expose_2007/episode215/index.html|accessdate=September 17, 2012|newspaper=PBS}}</ref> by journalist Peter Zuckerman in the Post Register concerning incidents of child molestation by a Boy Scout director in the Grand Teton Council.<ref name="Empey">{{Cite news|last=Zuckerman|first=Peter|title=More Pedophile Cases Emerge With Scout Camp Connections|url=http://www.postregister.com/scouts_honor/part11.php|accessdate=October 5, 2012|newspaper=]|date=July 3, 2005}}</ref> The advertisements caused media controversy for allegedly outing Zuckerman,<ref name="Popkey" /><ref name="Cockerham">{{Cite news|last=Cockerham|first=Sean|title=Idaho businessman VanderSloot says Obama is smearing him|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/05/18/2121759/idaho-businessman-says-obama-is.html|accessdate=September 12, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Maddow1">{{Cite news|title=Wealthy Romney fundraiser apologizes for gay reporter's 'personal pain'|url=http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-rachel-maddow-show/47302840#47302840|accessdate=September 12, 2012|newspaper=]|date=May 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Miller">{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Dean|url=http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reportsitem.aspx?id=100382|title=A Local Newspaper Endures a Stormy Backlash|publisher=Nieman Reports|accessdate=May 17, 2012}}</ref> drawing criticism from television political commentator Rachel Maddow,<ref name="LGBTW">{{cite news|title=Rachel Maddow slams Romney campaign chairman for outing gay reporter|url=http://lgbtweekly.com/2012/05/07/rachel-maddow-slams-romney-campaign-chairman-for-outing-gay-reporter/|accessdate=October 6, 2012|newspaper=LGBT weekly|date=May 7, 2012}}</ref> Glenn Greenwald in Salon magazine, the editorial page of the Boise Weekly,<ref name="BWouting">{{cite news|title=Best Multiple Personalities 2012: Frank VanderSloot|url=http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/best-multiple-personalities-2012/BestOf?oid=2735331|accessdate=October 6, 2012|newspaper=]}}</ref> Post Register editor Dean Miller,<ref name="Miller" /> and Zuckerman himself.<ref name="ZBlog">{{Cite news|last=Zuckerman|first=Peter|title=VanderSloot Saga continues|url=http://www.authorpeterzuckerman.com/blog.htm?post=854939|accessdate=October 6, 2012|newspaper=Peter Zuckerman's Blog|date=May 14, 2012}}</ref> The first advertisement stated that Zuckerman had "declared to the public that he is a homosexual" in an article for Point South, and that the local community and radio station had been "speculating" that Zuckerman's sexual orientation may have motivated him "to attack the scouts and the LDS Church" because of the Scouts' ban on gay scout leaders and the Church's opposition to gay marriage.<ref name="TCP" /><ref name="HRC2">{{Cite news|title=HRC Calls on Romney Campaign to Fire Virulently Anti-Gay National Finance Chair|url=http://www.hrc.org/press-releases/entry/hrc-calls-on-romney-campaign-to-fire-virulently-anti-gay-national-finance-c|accessdate=October 4, 2012|newspaper=]|date=March 8, 2012}}</ref> The advertisement stated that "it would be very unfair for anyone to conclude that is what is behind Zuckerman’s motives"; an analysis by Glenn Greenwald in Salon asserted that "the ad absurdly sought to repudiate the very 'speculation' about Zuckerman which it had just amplified."<ref name="Greenwald" /> A second advertisement suggested that Zuckerman, as a "gay rights advocate" and "homosexual reporter," had "a personal ax to grind" because of the Scouts' ban on gay scout leaders.<ref name="TCP2" /> VanderSloot denied that he had outed Zuckerman, saying that he had attempted to defend Zuckerman's motives, and repeating that Zuckerman had previously publicly disclosed his sexual orientation, which was already being discussed in the local community.<ref name="VSresponds1"></ref> Post Register editor Dean Miller stated that Zuckerman's sexual orientation had been known only by Zuckerman's family and a few of his close friends and colleagues,<ref name="Miller" /> and Zuckerman himself also disputed VanderSloot’s contention that the advertisements did not constitute an outing.<ref name="Maddow1" /> VanderSloot has stated that "gay people should have the same freedoms and rights as any other individual,"<ref name="VSresponds2"></ref> and that he supports equal rights for gay people, but believes that the definition of marriage is a union between a man and a woman.<ref name="Kyle1">{{cite news|last=Kyle|first=Zach|title=Magazine says it stands by its coverage of Idaho's VanderSloot, who is suing for defamation |url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/01/31/2432843/vandersloot-sues-to-restore-his.html#disqus_thread#storylink=cpy|accessdate=2013-02-14|newspaper=]|date=January 31, 2013}}</ref>

Legal action

On February 17, 2012, columnist Glenn Greenwald of Salon wrote that, over time, VanderSloot had threatened to bring what Greenwald termed "'patently frivolous' lawsuits against his political critics" and had made threats of "expensive defamation actions" against sources (including Forbes, Mother Jones magazine, and Salon) who had published critical views of his public statements regarding gay rights and Melaleuca's business practices; he had previously made similar demands of local political blogs in Idaho.<ref name="Greenwald" /><ref name="Frates">{{cite news|last=Frates|first=Chris|title=Will Romney's Finance Co-Chair Become a Liability|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/influencealley/2012/02/will-romney-s-finance-co-chair-become-a-liability--27|accessdate=2013-01-21|newspaper=]|date=February 27, 2012}}</ref> On her September 28, 2012 show, Rachel Maddow stated that VanderSloot and his attorneys requested that she remove from Web archives a show in which she reported and commented on his alleged outing of Zuckerman; she said that he also objected when she publicized that request on her show.<ref name="Maddow050512">{{Cite episode |title=Wealthy Romney fundraiser apologizes for gay reporter's 'personal pain' |series=] |url=http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-rachel-maddow-show/47302840#4730284 |accessdate=September 28, 2012|network=]|date=September 28, 2012 |began= |ended= |season= |seriesno= |number= |minutes= |time= |transcript=Transcript |transcripturl=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/vp/47302840#47302840 |quote= |language=English}}</ref> In January 2013, VanderSloot filed a defamation lawsuit against Mother Jones magazine and two of its employees, seeking nearly $75,000 in damages, alleging that the magazine depicted him as a "gay-basher" in a February 2012 article titled "Pyramid-like Company Ponies Up $1 Million for Mitt Romney" and in two tweets promoting the article.<ref name="VorheesSlate">{{cite news|last=Voorhees|first=Josh|title=Former Romney Co-Chair Is Suing Mother Jones, but Not For The Reason You Might Guess|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/01/31/frank_vandersloot_mother_jones_lawsuit_former_mitt_romney_co_chair_sues.html|accessdate=March 5, 2013|newspaper=]|date=January 31, 2013}}</ref><ref name="HuffPoMJ">{{cite news|title=Frank VanderSloot: Mother Jones Wrongly Depicted Me As Romney's 'Gay-Bashing Buddy'|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/frank-vandersloot-mother-jones_n_2592906.html|accessdate=March 5, 2013|newspaper=]|date=January 31, 2013}}</ref><ref name="FoxMJ">{{cite news|title=Frank VanderSloot sues Mother Jones magazine, says story wrongly depicted him as a 'gay-basher'|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/31/frank-vandersloot-sues-mother-jones-magazine-says-story-wrongly-depicted-him-as/|accessdate=March 5, 2013|newspaper=]|date=January 31, 2013}}</ref> In October 2015, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, finding that "all of the statements at issue are non-actionable truth or substantial truth."<ref>{{cite news| last = Hagadone| first = Zach | title = ''Mother Jones'' Prevails in Defamation Suit Filed by Idaho Billionaire Frank VanderSloot| newspaper = ]| location = ]| date = October 7, 2015 | url = http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/mother-jones-prevails-in-defamation-suit-filed-by-idaho-billionaire-frank-vandersloot/Content?oid=3619193| accessdate = 2015-10-08}}</ref> In May 2014, VanderSloot filed a defamation lawsuit against former Idaho Falls Post-Register reporter Peter Zuckerman, alleging that he had "knowingly and maliciously publishing false statements depicting VanderSloot in national media as a gay-basher."<ref name="Sunderland2">{{cite news|last1=Sunderland|first1=Nate|title=VanderSloot sues former reporter for defamation|url=http://www.postregister.com/articles/news-todays-headlines/2014/05/13/vandersloot-sues-former-reporter-defamation|accessdate=August 11, 2014|publisher=]|date=May 13, 2014}}</ref>

Philanthropy

Each year since 1992, Melaleuca has organized the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration, in Idaho Falls.<ref name="BigBang">{{Cite news|last=Menser|first=Paul|title=Bigger bang - Melaleuca chief plans even bigger fireworks show|newspaper=Idaho Falls Post Register|location=Idaho Falls|date=May 25, 2000|page=A1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Evensen|first1=Kendra|title=Melaleuca Freedom Celebration set July 4 in Idaho Falls|url=http://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/melaleuca-freedom-celebration-set-july-in-idaho-falls/article_3fd4aa12-1fce-11e5-8269-170151ccffa6.html|accessdate=21 September 2015|work=Idaho State Journal|date=1 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Susan|title=Fourth of July: Firework displays in America's cities|url=http://experience.usatoday.com/america/story/best-of-lists/2015/07/01/fourth-of-july-fireworks-usa-cities/29524219/|accessdate=21 September 2015|work=USA Today|date=1 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=USA Today Names Melaleuca Freedom Celebration One Of The Best Fireworks Displays In America|url=http://www.eastidahonews.com/2015/07/usa-today-names-melaleuca-freedom-celebration-one-of-the-best-fireworks-display-in-america/|accessdate=21 September 2015|work=East Idaho News|date=2 July 2015}}</ref> The event is the largest Independence Day fireworks display west of the Mississippi.<ref name="Blowout">{{Cite news|last=Corbin|first=Clark|title=100,000 expected for July 4 blowout|newspaper=Idaho Falls Post Register|date=July 3, 2012|page=A1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wood|first=Daniel|title=After years of muted July 4ths, more pyrotechnics in the works ; In a surge of patriotism, towns throw costs to the wind|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0702/p02s02-ussc.html|accessdate=November 22, 2012|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|date=July 2, 2004|page=02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=VanderSloot throws down gauntlet over show|newspaper=Associated Press Newswires|date=July 4, 2003}}</ref> VanderSloot also put on the two largest fireworks shows in Minnesota history in 2002<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Mary Lynn|title=In St. Paul, Memorial Day fireworks to remember|newspaper=Star-Tribune Newspaper of the Twin Cities|date=May 1, 2002|page=7B}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Harlow|first=Tim|title=Lighting up the Sky ; A Memorial Day event paying tribute to America's veterans and their families includes the largest fireworks show ever in Minnesota|newspaper=Star-Tribune Newspaper of the Twin Cities|date=May 24, 2002|page=7E}}</ref> and 2003.<ref>{{cite news|last=Boyd|first=Melissa D.|title=DIVERSIONS - MELALEUCA FREEDOM FEST|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=May 25, 2003}}</ref> In 2003, VanderSloot founded the Melaleuca Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Articles of Incorporation (Non-profit)|url=http://www.sos.idaho.gov/corpimage/%5C12312003%5CCORPARTI03365075714.tif|publisher=State of Idaho|accessdate=November 1, 2012|pages=1|date=December 26, 2003}}</ref> The Melaleuca Foundation has been a financial contributor to the Santa Lucia Children's Home (Hogar Santa Lucia), an orphanage in Quito, Ecuador.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Special Cause: The Santa Lucia Children's Home |url=http://www.melaleucafoundation.org/Orphanage.aspx|publisher=Melaleuca|accessdate=May 28, 2012}}</ref> In 2005, VanderSloot flew to Baton Rouge to deliver supplies to shelters after Hurricane Katrina and helped three displaced families with transportation issues.<ref name="Evans">Evans, Matthew. ''The Post Register''. Idaho Falls. Sep 7, 2005. Retrieved Nov 1, 2012 via Lexis Nexis.</ref> In 2007, VanderSloot's company Melaleuca received the Salvation Army Others Award for helping with relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Salvation Army 'The Others Award' Recipients, Melaleuca|url=http://www.melaleucaawards.com/2007-others-award-salvation-army.php|publisher=Melaleuca}}</ref> In February 2012, VanderSloot purchased a property from the Idaho Falls School District 91 for $121,000. He renovated the building on the site, the New Sweden School, which had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is donating the use of the entire parcel to the American Heritage Charter School, whose "most distinctive aspect" is a "patriotic and entrepreneurial curriculum," according to administrators.<ref name="VanDerSlootFarms"></ref><ref name="VanderSloot-Funded"></ref><ref name="CeremonyCaps" /> The school is modeled after the North Valley Academy in Gooding Idaho, and bases its curriculum on the Core Knowledge Program established by E.D. Hirsch.<ref name=Charter3></ref> VanderSloot is supporting the school,<ref name="VanderSloot-Funded" /><ref name="IdahoFallsCharter"></ref> which was inaugurated August 2013.<ref name="CeremonyCaps"></ref>

Awards

In 1998, VanderSloot received the Idaho Business Leader of the Year award from Idaho State University.<ref>{{cite web|last=Newbold|first=Cassey|title=Premier Technology’s Sayer named Idaho Business Leader of the Year|url=http://www2.isu.edu/headlines/?p=1615|work=ISU Headlines|publisher=Idaho State University|accessdate=November 22, 2012|date=January 21, 2009}}</ref><ref> ISU Headlines. November 1, 2011</ref><ref name="IBD2003">{{Cite news|last=Grugal|first=Robin|title=BE HONEST AND DEPENDABLE Resist Integrity Erosion|newspaper=Investor's Business Daily|date=November 7, 2003|page=A03}}</ref> In 2001, he was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the U.S. Northwestern region.<ref name="SandpointPlasterInterview">Plaster, Billie Jean. Sandpoint Magazine. Winter 2004.</ref><ref name="Puget">{{Cite journal|last=Ferrendelli|first=Betta|title=ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR: Melaleuca thrives on well-oiled direct-marketing plan|journal=Puget Sound Business Journal|date=June 15, 2001|volume=22|issue=6|pages=30|quote=Under VanderSloot's direction, the company has thrived with its Consumer Direct Marketing plan, which eliminates the middleman - no retailer, no distributor, no wholesale - reducing marketing and distribution costs. Products are shipped from Melaleuca directly to the end consumer.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=VanderSloot named entrepreneur of the year|newspaper=Idaho Falls Post Register|date=June 16, 2001}}</ref> He was inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame in 2007<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Southeast Idahoans Inducted into Idaho’s Hall of Fame ; Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot and Idaho National Labs Director John Grossenbacher Receive Recognition|newspaper=Business Wire|date=October 12, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Melaleuca; Two Southeast Idahoans Inducted into Idaho's Hall of Fame|journal=Pharma Investments, Ventures & Law Weekly|date=November 4, 2007|issue=2125}}</ref> and received the Idaho Hometown Hero medal in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frank VanderSloot Idaho Hometown Hero Medalist 2011|url=http://www.idahohometownhero.org/index.php/medalists/medalist-profiles/77-vandersloot-frank|publisher=Idaho Hometown Heroes|accessdate=October 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Nothern|first=Lindsay|title=Crapo to Receive 'Hometown Hero' Medal; Note Teen Dating Violence Efforts|newspaper=FDCH Press Releases|date=August 23, 2011}}</ref> VanderSloot received the Horatio Alger Award and became a lifetime member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans in 2015.<ref> Idaho Statesman. Dec. 7, 2014</ref><ref> Business Journal from the Idaho State Journal. Dec. 7, 2014</ref> He was named fifth on the list of "100 Influential Idahoans of 2015" by the Ridenbaugh Press.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Moseley|first1=Kate|title=Nampa mayor, Superintendent Ybarra named among most influential|url=http://www.idahopress.com/members/nampa-mayor-superintendent-ybarra-named-among-most-influential/article_eba166c2-97ad-11e4-b8cf-63f21fb6d3b7.html|accessdate=25 September 2015|work=Idaho Press-Tribune|date=9 January 2015}}</ref> VanderSloot was presented the Patriot Award in 2015 by the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for his support of soldiers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frank VanderSloot and Paul Conley Honored by Department of Defense for Patriotic Support|url=http://www.esgr.mil/News-Events/ESGR-In-The-News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4569/Frank-VanderSloot-and-Paul-Conley-Honored-by-Department-of-Defense-for-Patriotic-Support.aspx|website=ESGR|accessdate=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=LOCAL SOLDIER HONORS MELALEUCA CEO DURING EMOTIONAL CEREMONY|url=http://www.eastidahonews.com/2015/06/iona-army-reservist-honors-melaleuca-ceo/|accessdate=25 September 2015|work=East Idaho News|date=2 June 2015}}</ref>

Personal life

VanderSloot resides in Idaho Falls, Idaho with his wife Belinda VanderSloot (née Boyack),<ref name="Boyock">{{cite news|title=Brian VanderSloot Obituary|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postregister/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=154499340#fbLoggedOut|accessdate=2013-02-19|newspaper=]|date=November 6, 2011}}</ref> whom he married in 1995.<ref name="SandpointPlasterInterview" /> Together they have fourteen children:<ref name="SandpointPlasterInterview" /> six from Frank VanderSloot’s two prior marriages, and eight from Belinda VanderSloot’s first marriage.<ref name="Popkey" /> VanderSloot was previously married to Kathleen VanderSloot (née Zundel) and to Vivian VanderSloot, his second wife.<ref name="ISJ1">O'Donnell, Michael H. "Tragedy draws family together". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved September 23, 2012.</ref> He contributed $1.1 million and helped to raise between $2 million and $5 million for Romney’s 2012 campaign. He is a significant financial contributor to Republican presidential candidates and Idaho political campaigns. He has also paid for advertising in opposition to several Idaho Democratic political candidates. VanderSloot has gained attention for his stances opposing gay-rights issues.

VanderSloot is the primary financier of the American Heritage Charter School in Idaho Falls.

Early life and education

VanderSloot was born on August 14, 1948 to Peter Francis (Frank) VanderSloot (1913–1982) and Margaret May Christensen Sindberg-Woodley VanderSloot (1915–2004). The family lived in Sheridan, Wyoming and Hardin, Montana before moving in 1949 to Cocolalla, Idaho, where they lived on a ranch. The elder VanderSloot worked as a painter for the Northern Pacific Railway. Frank VanderSloot graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1966. At the age of 16, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and later served on a two-year LDS mission in the Netherlands.

VanderSloot paid for his college education by selling cream from a cow his father had given him, working at a laundromat, selling beef jerky in bars, and teaching Dutch to future missionaries. He earned an associate’s degree in business at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, and in 1972, graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Career

ADP and Cox

After graduating from college, VanderSloot worked for 91⁄2 years at Automatic Data Processing in three cities. He first worked in sales and marketing before moving to general management and operations. He left ADP to work as regional vice president at Cox Communications in Vancouver, Washington.

Oil of Melaleuca, Inc.

In September 1985, VanderSloot's brother-in-law Roger Ball and Roger's brother Allen Ball offered VanderSloot the helm of Oil of Melaleuca, Inc., a startup multi-level marketing business based in Idaho Falls. VanderSloot said "the company was a mess" when he arrived. According to Dan Popkey, "A supposed 80 percent corner on the tea tree market turned out to be 5 percent. The FDA came knocking, because salespeople were exaggerating medical claims. A multilevel model that lured people to buy $5,000 in inventory offended VanderSloot's sense of fairness." Oil of Melaleuca failed to achieve significant market share, and the partners shut down the company later in 1985. Half the legacy distributors from Oil of Melaleuca left after Melaleuca, Inc., was formed (below).

Melaleuca, Inc.

In 1985, VanderSloot founded Melaleuca, Inc., a multi-level marketing company that sells environmentally friendly nutritional supplements, cleaning supplies, and personal-care products, and he has been president and chief executive officer ever since. Melaleuca operates internationally, with U.S. operations centered in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Knoxville, Tennessee. Customers buy directly from Melaleuca's website or retail locations and "independent marketing executives" receive commissions from Melaleuca for each purchase made by people they refer and by people their customers refer, through seven "referral generations". The company refers to this arrangement as "Consumer Direct Marketing," a term it has trademarked.

Inc. magazine included Melaleuca on its Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States every year from 1990 to 1994 before inducting the company into its Hall of Fame in 1994. According to a 2004 article by Phyllis Berman, Melaleuca’s sales flattened in 1998, and VanderSloot "discovered that some senior directors were living off their residuals and doing little in the way of recruitment." This resulted in "a new policy that reduced payments to those who didn't either bring in new converts or help others do so." As of 2004, the company's revenue had grown at a compound annual rate of 12 percent. The company has large internataaional operations, and 25 percent of its revenue comes from Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The company reported in 2005 that one in 60 Taiwanese households purchased Melaleuca products monthly, and a 2014 article reported that one in every 300 American households is a customer. Melaleuca reported gross sales in excess of one billion dollars in 2011 and $1.13 billion in 2012. In Idaho Falls, Melaleuca has a local workforce of about 2,000 employees.

VanderSloot established a research and development department that evolved into a 20-person staff, including three PhD chemists. The company's current portfolio consists of more than 400 products. According to Melaleuca, 62.2 percent of the company's monthly sales come from customers who are not and have never been distributors and another 23 percent who were once distributors continue to buy the product for personal use.

VanderSloot says that the company has a "business model for those people who want to supplement their income." According to Dan Popkey of the Idaho Statesman, Melaleuca had 800,000 customers for its household and nutritional products as of 2011. Roughly 37 percent were also part of the company's sales force of independent contractors, referred to as "marketing executives," and about 90 percent of the sales force averaged less than $2,100 in annual income from Melaleuca. According to Laura Onstot of the Seattle Weekly News, a 2006 company report stated that the average annual income for 72 percent of Melaleuca's marketing executives was $90. VanderSloot estimates that roughly 190,000 marketing executives "earn a check from Melaleuca each month," 20,000 of whom "make their primary living through the company." As executives recruit, their titles change and they make more money. A June 2014 source states that Melaleuca has paid about $3.7 billion to its marketing executives since its founding.

Melaleuca is a member of the United States Direct Selling Association (DSA), a trade association. In 2008, VanderSloot began a three-year term as one of the eight members of the DSA's board of directors. In December 2009 VanderSloot and his wife contributed $10,000 to the DSA’s political action committee (PAC).

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• Idaho Republicans
• Living people
• 1948 births
• Brigham Young University alumni
• People associated with direct selling
• American landowners
• People from Bonner County, Idaho
• Businesspeople from Idaho
• Ranchers from Idaho