May 2, 2008
Al Franken: The cover-up begins

We've covered the tax and legal compliance problems of Minnesota Democratic Senatorial candidate Al Franken over the past few weeks. First came the revelation of his failure to pay workers' compensation insurance in New York. Then came the revelation of his failure to file corporate tax returns in California. This week it was revealed that Franken owes $70,000 in back taxes in 17 states.

The numbers involved in the last incident are striking. Observers naturally want to know how if Franken's tax problems result from an oversight or something more serious, and whether they are confined to the period acknowledged so far (2003-2006). Franken has refused to release his tax returns and filed for an extension on his 2007 return.

Franken has blamed the problems on Allen Chanzis, his New York accountant. In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Franken said Chanzis told him he needed to pay taxes only in states where he lived.

Yesterday the Star Tribune contacted Chanzis to get his side of the story, but the Star Tribune found that Franken seems to have been one step ahead of them. Someone had already instructed Chanzis not to talk with reporters:

Allen Chanzis, the longtime accountant for U.S. Senate hopeful Al Franken, refused to comment Wednesday evening when asked about the tax and business irregularities that have troubled Franken's candidacy in recent weeks.

Contacted at his Long Island apartment, Chanzis declined to discuss Franken's statements that the accountant's mistakes caused Franken's taxes to go unpaid in 17 states.

"I've been told to say, 'No comment,'" Chanzis said, without saying who had instructed him to do so. Refusing to discuss any mistakes, he added: "I've been told you have the information you need."

Observers also wonder whether Franken's tax problems predate 2003. On Wednesday the Star Tribune reported that Franken could not address questions regarding the period prior to 2003 because the necessary records are missing:

Asked about the taxes before 2003, campaign manager Andy Barr said Franken was unable to reconstruct his tax situation prior to 2003 because those years' financial records weren't complete. Chanzis, Barr said, "had some stuff, but you have to have everything together and it just happens that [the accountants] were able to go back to 2003."

Franken or his representatives have obviously instructed Chanzis not to talk to the press. Perhaps there is an innocent explanation for this instruction, but it is untenable for Franken to blame the problems on a professional and then order him to stay mum. To outward appearances, this is a cover-up. It is perhaps the most damning development yet in the continuing saga of the comedian who hasn't been deliberately funny since the expiration of the Al Franken Decade in 1990.
Posted by Scott at 5:33 AM | E-mail this post to a friend |

Gotta love the Liberal hypocrisy.

The subject is Al Franken being a hypocrite. Obfuscation won't erase it.

Don't use big words like "obfuscation" to Crowley. he won't understand it.

Why do Liberals think those income taxes are only for Conservatives?
Only small people pay income taxes?

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The United States of Indentured Servants

Al Franken (D)--the socialist that he is--of course abides by the universal liberal motto of...Do as I say...not as I do

He loves to increase your taxes....even though he doesnt pay his own

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AWE Super Referee 1) Similar to Democrat Super Delegates, my powers and my opinions are ten times more important than those of standard commoner referees... peasants 2) So powerful....the Refereed Debate category cannot contain me 3) I make my own rules...which you will follow 4) Get out of line and I will toss you in with the Duck

I found this Commentary of Al. No wonder Air America went Bankrupt...



Al Franken pays back taxes, economy rebounds

Former comedian and Air America Radio host and current Senate candidate Al Franken has paid $70,000 in back taxes that he owed to seventeen - count 'em, 17 - states across the U.S. It was all his accountant's doing! Of course, that accountant had been doing his taxes for 18 years and he couldn't be reached for comment... because he was under a bus, or something. Per Stuart, he paid more in NY and MN and less in other states due to "his accountant"

"Franni and I have paid state and federal taxes on every cent of our income... Franni and I believe in paying state and federal taxes on all our income."

And, I'm sure he does and this was just an "accounting error".

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A Liberal is a Man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel (Robert Frost 1874-1963).

Unfortunately for AF even if this is a honest mistake it just reads poorly. This is one of those things where people just latch on to it and never let it go.

-TS