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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Al Sharpton Owes $500 K To Uncle Sam, And Then Some! |
| 2008-11-15 |
| WASHINGTON -- Federal auditors have concluded the Rev. Al Sharpton's 2004 campaign owes the government nearly $500,000 for illegal donations and other financial improprieties. Sharpton has been feuding with the Federal Election Commission for years over his accounting in his failed run for president, for which he received $100,000 in so-called government matching funds that authorities later concluded he did not deserve because he hadn't followed campaign laws. As the article will demonstrate, that's putting things mildly... The auditors have now determined that Sharpton owes $486,803 to the U.S. Treasury because of his campaign's taking improper donations, largely from the National Action Network, a not-for-profit corporation that Sharpton leads but is separate from his campaign committee. Separate checking accounts, and that's about it. Sharpton will appeal the finding, aides said Friday, which would extend an already years-long fight with the government over how he raised and spent money to run for president. The audit report is "a gross violation of Reverend Al Sharpton's right to perform his paid duties as president of the National Action Network, a traveling minister, lecturer, and an author who was promoting a book during the time period being audited," said his spokeswoman, Rachel Noerdlinger. Did you lose the race card or something? Sharpton's campaign finances came under scrutiny as he campaigned, speaking at churches where he collected "love offerings" that are common to traveling preachers. Kinda like the wedding scene in Goodfellas with the big, puffy envelopes! At the same time, he was campaigning for president, and paying for much of it with his personal American Express card. Don't leave home without it! Some of the costs were paid by the National Action Network, some by a different company called Rev-Als Production Inc. Classic shell game. "Virtually no effort appears to have been made by Sharpton 2004, the candidate, NAN, or Rev-Als. Production Inc. to keep any sort of detailed records demonstrating what payments paid for which travel," the report found, noting what it called the campaign's "nearly complete failure to produce any information on this subject in the course of the audit." "We don't need no steenkin' records!" The FEC audit is just the latest in a long list of money problems for Sharpton. But wait, there's more! Last summer, federal prosecutors decided not to seek criminal charges against him over unpaid taxes after a lengthy grand jury investigation. The IRS obtained a $931,397 lien against Sharpton. City and state officials said he owned them another $933,577. Separately, the National Action Network said in its most recent tax filing that it owed at least $1.9 million in payroll taxes and related interest. If my math's right, Sharpton and entities under his control owe a combined total of $4,252,317 in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties. One question - why isn't this guy sharing a cell with Wesley Snipes? |
| Posted by:Raj |
| #9 Wolfdog, I doubt it. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2008-11-15 20:13 |
| #8 I think I can guess where the first pardon is going to be... |
| Posted by: Muggsy Glink 2008-11-15 19:15 |
| #7 CSBlondie: Ima thinkin you are right. BAILOUT! |
| Posted by: Bill Angains8020 2008-11-15 18:20 |
| #6 Has he ever paid, even part of, the court ordered settlement from the Tawana Brawley fiasco?? Just curious, ya' know?? |
| Posted by: WolfDog 2008-11-15 17:39 |
| #5 I think he should apply for a bailout. |
| Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie 2008-11-15 15:17 |
| #4 Lemme give yawl a clue.... so-called government matching funds Afrikanish reportage. |
| Posted by: .5mt 2008-11-15 13:55 |
| #3 You gonna have to start hustlin' a little faster, there, Al. They gettin' wise to ya. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2008-11-15 11:12 |
| #2 He has a couple of rolexes too and probably some gold teeth. |
| Posted by: newc 2008-11-15 09:48 |
| #1 Better also check and see if he's got a Mercedes-Benz in long-term storage in the Congressional parking garage. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-11-15 08:33 |