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MDE EXCLUSIVE: ALAN FRANKEN INC. DESIGNATED “FORFEITED” BY STATE OF CALIFORNIA
By Michael B. Brodkorb | April 16, 2008
During a debate last Sepetmber at Augsburg, Al Franken said: “I love corporations that play by the rules, and we have to make them play by the rules.” After paying fines of almost $26,000 in the last few weeks for failure to provide workers’ compensation insurance and disability insurance for his corporation’s employees, it appears Franken’s own corporation still isn’t playing “by the rules.”
According to public information from the state of California obtained by Minnesota Democrats Exposed, Alan Franken Inc, has been “forfeited” since August 1, 2007. The “Certificate of Status”, which certifies that Franken’s corporation was “forfeited”, was filed by California Secretary of State Debra Brown six months after Franken announced he was running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.
Franken’s corporation was incorporated in California on June 8, 1998. Public records from the state of California, list Al Franken as “CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER” (CEO) and “CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER” (CFO) of Alan Franken Inc.
Unfortunately for Franken, he is listed in the documents in California as the CFO for Al Franken, Inc, which clearly takes away his claim of ignorance of his California problems.
The California Secretary of State’s website defines a “forfeited” as a corporation that has:
“…lost all corporate rights and powers for failure to meet statutory filing requirements in either the Secretary of State’s office or the Franchise Tax Board. Information regarding the type of forfeiture can be obtained by requesting a status report.” Source: California Secretary of State’s website
According to the California Franchise Tax Board’s website, the “forfeited” designation strips Franken and his corporation of the ability to function, operate and do business of any kind in California.
Public documents from the state of California show that Franken’s corporation has been “forfeited” due to “provisions of the California Revenue and Taxation Code” with California’s Franchise Tax Board. Based on this document, it is possible that Franken’s corporation failed to file the legally required corporate tax returns.
Personal financial disclosure forms filed with the U.S. Senate on May 15, 2007, show that Franken was paid over $1 million by Alan Franken Inc.
A staffer at California’s Franchise Tax Board informed me late yesterday afternoon that information regarding the exact reason why a corporation has been “forfeited” can only be disclosed to a representative/officer of the corporation. Since Franken is the CEO and CFO of his California corporation, it is up to Franken to disclose why his corporation has been “forfeited” in California.
On the heels of Franken’s attempted cover-up of failure to pay disability insurance coverage in New York, along with his expressions of ignorance about owing a court-ordered judgement of $25,000 for his three-year failure to pay workers compensation premiums in New York, this news really challenges Franken’s defense of a “know-nothing” CEO.
Furthermore, will Franken — who has blamed bloggers, the Republican Party of Minnesota , the State of New York, and apparently his own accountants, for his New York screw-up — attempt to blame them for his failure to abide by his legal obligations in California?
For the man who continues to call people liars, one begins to wonder if he doth protest too much!
Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.
UPDATE: The Star Tribune and Associated Press are reporting that Franken’s corporation didn’t file corporate tax returns from 2003-2007.
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This post also appears on Blogs for Norm!, an online community and blog covering the 2008 U.S. Senate campaign in Minnesota. The primary goal of Blogs for Norm! is to organize bloggers who support U.S. Senator Norm Coleman.
Topics: Uncategorized |
April 16th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Wow. Great work Michael. The little credibility Franken ever had continues to erode away.
This appears to be a serious tax problem and the State of California isn’t going to take such dramatic steps unless the tax problem is very significant.
He can’t pretend that he doesn’t know anything about this since he’s both the CEO and CFO. He also can’t pretend like it’s no big deal. HE’S BEEN BANNED FROM DOING BUSINESS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA — THAT’S A BIG DEAL!!!!!!
I hope he’s learned a lesson from the way he was exposed for lying about the New York issue and comes clean right away.
Again, great work!
April 16th, 2008 at 8:41 am
So a day after many Minnesotans waited in line at the Post Office, writing checks to the state and federal governments, we learn that the wealthy Al Franken’s business is under forfeit; very likely because he failed to do his own taxes!
How rich.
Isn’t he trotting around the state today on some sort of “Middle Class Values Tour” or some other manufactured garbage PR stunt to make himself look Minnesotan?
Seems to me that paying taxes, and taking care of ones employees fits into the whole “values” paradigm.
I have no doubt that Minnesotans will see through Franken and his “coastal values” fraud that he is trying to peddle around the state. This guy is already an embarrassment and a nightmare. The quicker this campaign at the people of Minnesota is over, and the quicker Franken can go back home, the better.
Now we should all wait to see how Franken justifies his California tax issues. . .
April 16th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Um…so yeah, the document doesn’t say that he didn’t pay taxes. Let’s wait and see what actually happened before leaping to judgment, mkay?
April 16th, 2008 at 9:54 am
[...] MDE EXCLUSIVE: ALAN FRANKEN INC. DESIGNATED “FORFEITED” BY STATE OF CALIFORNIA | [...]
April 16th, 2008 at 10:00 am
“So a day after many Minnesotans waited in line at the Post Office, writing checks to the state and federal governments,…
Why didn’t ya just pay on-line, like rational people do?
Or do just happen to like to hang around in public places, tappin’ yer foot…..
April 16th, 2008 at 10:05 am
TPT: Is this all you have? No defense of Franken?
April 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Perhaps these revelations explain why Franken has gone into hiding during his St. Cloud visit.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:36 am
It appears that for a while, Franken saw need to be incorporated in California, and now he doesn’t.
While it is nice to speculate, if any of you had ever owned a business, you would know that you need to file paperwork annually to keep the company active. And if he saw no need to remain incorporated in California, he probably let his registration in that state lapse.
I love the smell of Michael’s desperation in the morning.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
This isn’t a case of Franken deciding he didn’t need to be incorporated in California any more. This is a case of not paying his taxes according to: http://books.google.com/books?id=2BU4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA674&lpg=PA674&dq=california+corporation+forfeit&source=web&ots=Li8vCebdQR&sig=rM1_7-7RhnuRF47tLtLRqVUliKc&hl=en
April 16th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Frank: Why didn’t Franken dissolve the corporation?
April 16th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
What do they call this is D.C., The something of Corruption. Michael, seems you are doing the Democrates a service by bringing this out. Maybe Mike C. should reconsider. Maybe the Democrates should consider closely who their canidate should be.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
“It appears that for a while, Franken saw need to be incorporated in California, and now he doesn’t.”
Next, well be told it all depends on what your deninition of “need” is.
Lyin’, connivin’, lowlife, child charity stealin’, scumbags…just how low *are* Democrats willing to stoop?
Never mind, it’s a rhetorical question…like how deep is the ocean or how long is infinity.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
or how dumb is twoputt…
April 16th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Hey Swiftee, I notice the children over at Franken central, er I mean MN Pooplius have nothing about this at their site.
Who would have thunk?
April 16th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Maybe that is because this isn’t news.
Just because Michael farts doesn’t mean smelly air is the way things should be.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Please note my top story. This is big news.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Well, mnguppie, that’s what the AP is reporting.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I’m surprised this story is getting reported, Michael - it didn’t seem like the reporters were biting…..my comments on this will be on a newer thread.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Oh please puddles, share your great wisdom.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
P.S. the state tax lien was filed on 10/1999 and I don’t see a notation that it was satisfied.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
BTW - Frank Alan is playing the fool - in California you just can’t let the corporation lapse, by law you must file a tax return for every year until the corporation is dissolved (with the $1,000 minimum tax accuring). The Secretary of State will not dissolve the corporation until ALL of the taxes are paid.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Poor puddles, el pres, yoni, frank allen and such are going to have a tough day trying to hide this one.
Oh that is right, they think all they have to do is tell us it is nothing and it shall be.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Wow, great investigative reporting!
I KNOW that this will hit ALL the MSM, they would want to tell the truth about both political parties. They would never dream of covering this up.
or
People will give up on the MSM and we will get our news from people with integrity, like bloggers like MDE.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
[...] As I predicted on Minnesota Democrats Exposed this morning, Team Franken is blaming “an accountant” for Franken’s business problems in California: [...]
April 17th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
[...] My post set off a flurry of activity from Team Franken yesterday as they desperately searched for answers as to why Al Franken’s corporation has been “forfeited” since August 1, 2007 in California. Over 24 hours later, there are still more questions than answers. [...]
April 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
[...] As I predicted on Minnesota Democrats Exposed this morning, Team Franken is blaming “an accountant” for Franken’s business problems in California: [...]
April 18th, 2008 at 9:58 am
[...] My post set off a flurry of activity from Team Franken yesterday as they desperately searched for answers as to why Al Franken’s corporation has been “forfeited” since August 1, 2007 in California. Over 24 hours later, there are still more questions than answers. [...]
April 21st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
[...] to my post last Wednesday exposing that Al Franken’s corporation has been “forfeited” in California [...]
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
[...] UPDATE: I had a great time tonight and I want to thank the SD 41 GOP for the invite. The crowd liked when I said that thanks to Minnesota Democrats Exposed, the state of New York has an additional $25,832.67 in the state treasury. I added that depending on how Franken’s business troubles in California turn out, he could end up paying close to $6,000 in back taxes, interest and fines. [...]
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
[...] If the Franken’s account had sent a letter in 2003 to California stating that Franken’s corporation “will no longer be doing business in California” why did another accountant file paperwork with the California’s Secretary of State in 2004 and 2006? [...]
April 24th, 2008 at 10:05 am
[...] to my post last Wednesday exposing that Al Franken’s corporation has been “forfeited” in [...]
April 27th, 2008 at 10:42 am
[...] After paying fines of almost 26,000 in the last few weeks for failure to provide workers?? comphttp://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/04/16/mde-exclusive-alan-franken-inc-designated-forfei…Franchise Tax Board extends hours for help hotline The Sacramento BeeIf you’re looking for [...]
April 30th, 2008 at 12:22 am
[...] all comes back to California and to this post that started this whole mess for Team [...]
April 30th, 2008 at 12:48 am
[...] all comes back to California and to this post that started this whole mess for Team [...]
July 7th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
[...] it became known that Franken’s corparation in California was in forfeit, Team Franken denied they even did business in the state. Then, after stalling, they finally [...]
September 19th, 2008 at 1:37 am
[...] insurance for his corporation employees and his failure to pay taxes in 18 states (specifically, his business problems in California). I am truly humbled and honored to accept this [...]