The Rev. Cary Gordon garnered his fair share of headlines in the run up to the November election for his open defiance of federal law prohibiting tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from intervening in elections in support of or opposition to any candidate. And the Sioux City pastor says he's confident he will prevail.

In September, Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a formal request with the IRS demanding an investigation of Cornerstone World Outreach, a Sioux City church that urged Iowa religious leaders to encourage their congregations to vote against retaining three Iowa Supreme Court justices up for a retention vote. In a letter sent to pastors around the state, Gordon conceded that the campaign raised legal dangers for churches, but to soothe any fears, noted that the conservative Liberty Institute would provide free legal defense if necessary.