Back in the end of March, I asked about J. Gauthier. Gauthier’s name on a registered mail receipt from a letter sent to Al Franken in New York regarding Franken’s failure to provide workers’ compensation insurance for his employees.

Several sources of Minnesota Democrats Exposed have indicated to me that the last name signature on the a Boys and Girls Club contract that contained Al Franken’s signature and the signature on the certified letter sent to Al Franken’s apartment regarding the workers’ compensation scandal had some striking similarities.

I have put both signatures side-by-side for your review. The one on the left is the Boys and Girls Club contract that has Franken’s signature and the one on the left is the signature underneath the printed name of J.Gauthier.

Please click on the picture for a larger version.

Team Franken continues to remain silent on the status of the more than dozen letters sent to his apartment by the state of New York, including the whereabouts of the certified letter that was received by J. Gauthier.

The graphic on the top of this post is an overlay of the two documents. The signatures look very similar. Please leave your thoughts about the signatures in the comment section of this post.

Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.

‘I haven’t seen any evidence that national Democrats are taking the race seriously — or on the local side,’ said Republican activist and blogger Michael Brodkorb.

Fundraising has been admittedly difficult so far, Sarvi said. Melendez predicted Sarvi will close the fundraising gap as a full-time candidate.” Source: Red Wing Republican Eagle, May 9, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

“Franken recently revealed that his accountant made an error causing Franken to overpay his income taxes in Minnesota and New York. However, taxes had no been paid in 17 other states where Franken gave speeches.

He has since paid the back taxes, with penalties and interest.

‘I’m sorry, but this isn’t a scandal,’ he said.

While declining to comment on the employment status of that accountant, Franken did say he now has new accountants.” Source: West Central Tribune, May 9, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

It’s a simple question.

I’m on the radio today from 3-5 p.m. with King Banaian from SCSU Scholars, but the show airing today was broadcast on April 26, 2008.

Before you listen to King and me, make sure you listen to the first four hours of the Northern Alliance Radio Network. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can hear Power Line’s John Hinderaker and Chad and Brian from Fraters Libertas. Mitch Berg and Captain Ed are on the air from 1-3 p.m.

“The Final Word” will be live next Saturday.

Team Franken’s argument was that the Frankens had moved out of their New York apartment to Minnesota in 2005 and that must have been why Franken hadn’t gotten any of his mail from the State of New York and that he just had never seen the letters. Franken has repeated this story on a number of occasions, as have members of his campaign staff.

A fair amount of traffic is going around that there may be some more explanation about where Franken’s mail ended up and in particular, some fairly interesting theories about the mysterious certified letter that Al Franken and his campaign insist he never received.

Central to the Franken workers’ compensation scandal is what happened to the more than a dozen letters sent to Franken’s personal residence in New York and who actually signed for the certified letter that was received at his apartment. It would seem that if these letters are found, or at the least, determining who has these letters, this story may reemerge in this campaign.

The identity of J. Gauthier – the mysterious figure who printed his name on a certified mail piece and then signed it with an odd handwritten script, has been a key unanswered question in this saga. Franken’s folks have consistently remained silent on this angle, leading one to contemplate all sorts of possibilities.

The chatter is suggesting that particular interest might involve some telltale signs on the certified letter itself. Some other documents might provide more answers or provoke more questions about where the letters ended up, who had them, who saw them, and who has them now.

Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.

There seems to be a conspiracy by the U.S. Postal Service against DFL politicians, as Al Franken claimed he never received notices from the state of New York regarding his failure to provide workers’ compensation insurance for his corporation’s employees.

Rybak was asked by the reporter if he has driven since his was suspended. His answer was:

“I don’t know, let me think about that for a second…I’ve had someone driving with me…I don’t believe so.” Source: FOX 9, May 8, 2008

But a photo in a story published by the Minnesota Daily on April 10, 2008, shows Rybak driving.

The MN Daily story doesn’t specify when the picture above of Rybak driving was taken. I have contacted the MN Daily for comment. But according to public records, his license has been suspended since late February 12, 2008.

Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.

Click here to watch FOX 9’s story last evening about Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak suspended driver’s license. Rybak was asked by the reporter if he has driven since his was suspended. His answer was:

“I don’t know, let me think about that for a second…I’ve had someone driving with me…I don’t believe so.” Source: FOX 9, May 8, 2008

Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.

Click here to watch WCCO’s story last evening about Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak suspended driver’s license.

“‘What happened is our accountant made a mistake, and all of these are repercussions of that same mistake,’ said Franken. ‘His mistake was not understanding the law, the obligation to pay these state taxes.’” Source: Associated Press, April 30, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

Because Franken has blamed his accountant for “not understanding the law”, at what point does someone file a complaint with the New York State Public Accountancy?

WCCO’s online story lists the year of Rybak’s ticket and the county where Rybak was cited - Olmsted County.

According to my sources, Rybak received a speeding ticket on June 10, 2006 in Olmsted County.  June 10, 2006 was the second day of the DFL convention in Rochester.

Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.

Click here for the complete story.

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“The record shows his license was suspended in February 2008. The mayor said he just learned of the suspension late Thursday afternoon.

Tonight on WCCO 4 News at 10 hear what Rybak said when WCCO-TV reporter Caroline Lowe confronted him at his car at Minneapolis City Hall Thursday evening, and what he told her about his driving plans.” Source: Source: WCCO, May 8, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

I did a iChat interview this afternoon with FOX News about Minnesota Democrats Exposed and my posts about Al Franken’s tax troubles. The story will be airing later early next week on FOX News.

Senate Minority Leader David Senjem, R-Rochester, complained Wednesday that Murphy had challenged McClung during a TV interview Tuesday to ‘meet him on the Capitol steps.’

Senjem, who said that he didn’t think the incident merited an ethics complaint, asked for Murphy to issue a public apology. Murphy, who seemed surprised by the request, said Wednesday night that he and McClung had resolved their differences.

Asked if he will apologize, Murphy said: ‘I don’t know if it rises to that level. I don’t think it does. I’ll sleep on it.’” Source: Star Tribune, May 7, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

Senate Minority Leader David Senjem of Rochester put the request in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller Wednesday evening, calling Murphy’s behavior ‘beneath the respected standards of the Minnesota Senate.’

During an interview with KARE 11 Tuesday, Murphy took great exception to a statement the governor’s spokesman Brian McClung issued to the media, which implied Murphy wasn’t being truthful with reporters.

‘Mister McClung, if you want to meet me out on the Capitol steps and we’ll talk about your comments,’ Murphy told KARE, ‘I’m more than willing to be there.’” Source: KARE 11, May 7, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

From the letter:

“Unfortunately, Senator Steve Murphy yesterday, in on-camera comments to a reporter, challenged a member of the Governor’s staff to ‘meet him on the Capitol steps’. This behavior is beneath the respected standards of the Minnesota Senate. It prompts this letter and deserves your immediate attention.

Senate Rule 56 states that: ‘members should adhere to the highest standard of ethical conduct . . . [and] improper conduct includes conduct that, among other things, violates accepted norms of Senate behavior that betrays the public trust or that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor or disrepute.’ In that light, I feel it is proper that as Minority Leader, I call on you to take action.

While I do not believe that Senator Murphy’s actions have yet risen to a level that merits an ethics complaint, I believe you have a duty as Majority Leader to address this matter. My recommendation is that Senator Murphy publicly apologize to the staff person in question, the Senate and the people of Minnesota.

All of us as elected representatives have a duty to do all that we can do to bring honor to the offices we hold and the people we represent. The sooner you take action on this matter the sooner Minnesotans will know that ‘over the line’ rhetoric is not acceptable in the Minnesota Senate.” Source: Senator Senjem letter to Senator Pogemiller, May 7, 2008

Click here to read Senator Senjem’s letter to Senator Pogemiller regarding Senator Murphy’s conduct.

Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.

Just so we are clear, “non-partisan” Secretary of State Mark Ritchie used an appearance of an original printing of the Declaration of Independence to fundraise for his campaign.

This guy has no shame.

Right now, Barkley is a common worker in a common job. The former U.S. Senator is now a Transit Team bus driver, assisting the elderly, disabled and the blind.

‘I enjoy it,’ he said. ‘You meet a lot of nice people, doing a public service. And I really enjoy driving.’” Source WCCO, May 7, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

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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.

Governor Pawlenty’s spokesman Brian McClung was asked about Murphy’s comments and told reporters the following:

“Sen. Murphy’s comments are untrue. This is just the latest example of erratic behavior by Sen. Murphy. Our office did not tell him the bill would be vetoed unless one of the three provisions was removed. We have explained to legislators that the Governor has taken public positions on two of the three provisions, primary seat belts and additional teen driving restrictions. It is possible that Sen. Murphy misinterpreted or intentionally misrepresented the information we shared with him and others.”

When KARE-11’s John Croman interviewed Murphy and told him about McClung’s comments, Murphy said: “This is just for Mr. McClung. Mr. McClung, if you want to meet me out on the Capitol steps and we’ll talk about your comments, I’m more than willing to be there.”

This comment by Sen. Murphy was included in Croman’s story that ran Tuesday night during the 5:00 p.m. news. Frankly, it’s pretty shocking that the DFL Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee is clearly implying that he wants to meet the Governor’s spokesman on the Capitol steps for a fight. He has the maturity of an eighth-grader.

And as far as McClung’s comment about Murphy’s “erractic behavior” goes, it looks like Murphy just proved his point for him.

Doesn’t sound like someone on board with the silence plan does it? Also who is telling him not to talk? Franken?

At what point does Chanzis speak to either reaffirm he has provided 18 years of incompetent service to Al Franken, and any other celebrity clients he and his firm specialize in servicing, or to contradict Franken’s transparent efforts to pass the buck and have the account play the patsy?” Source: Townhall, May 6, 2008

Click here for the complete post.

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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.

Click here for the complete post.

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“It takes a willing suspension of disbelief for us to take Franken’s excuses at face value any longer, she said. DFLers better hurry up and decide what to do about Franken.” Source: Herald Journal Blog, May 6, 2008

Click here for the complete post.

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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.

“I’m so excited to have this opportunity - thank you for hosting me. I want the toughest questions that you have, because I really want to earn your support today, so fire away.” Source: Ashwin Madia, Daily Kos, May 5, 2008

In 2006, Daily Kos published a poll asking, “Who do you despise more George Bush or Osama Bin Laden?” It’s sad to see that Madia is “so excited” to live-blog on website that represents the fringe of the Democratic party.

The Franken tax flap, a bruising Democratic primary in Oregon and signs of trouble for the Democratic incumbent in New Jersey have Senate Republicans thinking they might salvage a bad election year from a potentially terrible one.” Source: Washington Times, May 5, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

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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.

The 500-person survey showed 59 percent of people say Franken’s tax issues make them less likely to vote for him. Franken failed to pay for workers’ compensation insurance for his personal corporation and to pay income tax in 17 states since 2003.

Just 31 percent said the problems made no difference.

More than half, 51 percent, said Franken should withdraw from the race, while 38 percent said he should stay in.

Another SurveyUSA poll of 700 adults showed Sen. Norm Coleman (R) reopening his lead over Franken, 52-42. Franken had narrowed the gap in recent months to near-even.

Franken had the support of 67 percent of Democrats, while Coleman received 99 percent of Republicans. Franken maintained a sizable edge among independents, though, 57-33.” Source: The Hill, May 5, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

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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.

This was posted on YouTube by Lake Minnetonka Liberty.

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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.

A poll conducted last week by SurveyUSA for television station KSTP found that 59 percent of adults in the state said they would be less likely to vote for Franken in light of his failure to pay more than $50,000 in income taxes to 17 states. Thirty-nine percent said it would make no difference or would make them more likely to vote for him.

In a follow-up question, 51 percent said the former comedian and satirist should withdraw from the race, while 38 percent said he should remain in it.” Source: Star Tribune, May 5, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

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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.

Franken and his handlers have tried mightily to assure delegates that these problems were not going to have an impact. They have said that Minnesotans really wouldn’t care about the issue.

I think it’s time to rethink that perspective if I were a member of Team Franken.

Minnesotans clearly understand the issue and they have been paying attention.

They know he didn’t pay workers compensation. They know he was fined $25,000. And, they know he didn’t pay taxes in at least 17 states for nearly five years.

The poll from KSTP/Survey USA is devastating for Team Franken.

Franken’s support from Democrats, already anemic, dropped 9 points — to just 67%. This number will be sending shockwaves throughout the state’s DFLers, particularly those contemplating a primary campaign against Franken.

The fact that 51% of Minnesotans think he should drop his campaign for the United States Senate is just simply astonishing. Even more profound, is that nearly 60% of Minnesotans are less likely to vote for him on this issue.

Minnesotans have spoken. They don’t trust Franken. They don’t believe Franken. And, it is even less likely they are going to vote for Franken.

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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.

45% of Democrats, 58% of Independents, and 79% of Republicans answered they would be less likely to support Franken because of his business problems.

Once again, this poll is devastating news for Team Franken.

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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.

34% of Democrats, 58% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans answered that Franken should withdraw from the U.S. Senate race.

This poll is devastating news for Team Franken.

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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.

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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.

Contrary to the statements made by a representatives of the Uptake who claimed this week that “[the] DFL makes it a policy to allow press, including videobloggers to attend all of its conventions and debates”, it’s clear there is no uniform policy for DFLers.

I should add that I haven’t had any trouble blogging from DFL conventions and both DFL staff and volunteers have treated me with respect.

But from the incidents described on both Republican and Democratic blogs, both political parties need to work on establishing policies and procedures for allowing visitors from the opposite political party to attend their conventions.

UPDATE: According to another source I spoke with this evening, a Republican tracker at the 8th CD DFL convention was verbally and physically harassed. The staffer was pushed, his camera was grabbed and disgusting comments were made to him about President Bush and Senator Coleman. Thankfully, most of the incidents were caught on film. If you’re keeping score at home, this is the third black eye for the Minnesota DFL.

I’ll be on the radio today for a two-hour program from 3-5 p.m. on AM 1280 The Patriot. Filling in for King Banaian of SCSU Scholars will be Sean Broom of MN Publius.

Before you listen to Sean and me, make sure you listen to the first four hours of the Northern Alliance Radio Network. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can hear Power Line’s John Hinderaker and Chad and Brian from Fraters Libertas. Mitch Berg and Captain Ed are on the air from 1-3 pm.

I encourage you to all to listen. Broadcasts can be heard on AM 1280 The Patriot, which has an Internet stream for those outside the Twin Cities. Brave Democrats can join the conversation at 651-289-4488.

As reported in Thursday’s paper, I found Chanzis at his Long Island apartment Wednesday evening. But he declined to say anything. To be honest, the modest apartment was not what one might expect for a bookkeeper to the stars.

‘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.’

I made another attempt to get comment on Thursday morning, this time at Chanzis’ office in New York, where platinum records covered the walls.

An office assistant confirmed Chanzis’s employment there but refused to comment.

‘There’s no one here to talk to you,’ she said.

‘We do his accounting,’ she said of the firm’s relationship with Franken.” Source: Star Tribune, May 2, 2008

Click here for the complete post.

UPDATE: I was really surprised at Franken’s performance on “Almanac” tonight. I believe Democrats across Minnesota are looking for Franken to reassure them that his problems are over. I don’t think Franken convinced anyone tonight that he has control over the situation or that he even has a complete understanding of his tax problems.

This is a really smart move.

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St. Paul- Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey today renewed his call for the gag to be lifted from Al Franken’s New York CPA, Allen Chanzis of the firm Wlodinguer, Erk & Chanzis, and allow him to fully and completely answer questions on Franken’s growing tax scandal.

“Someone, either Al Franken or Al Franken’s campaign or perhaps Allen Chanzis’ own attorney, has ordered his CPA to keep his mouth shut.  It’s time to lift the gag from his CPA, and allow him to come forward and speak fully and candidly about this matter.  Franken is blaming his accountant for his 17 state failure to pay taxes, and it is possible that authorities in each of those states may want to talk to Mr. Chanzis.  If there is nothing for Mr. Franken to hide about this matter, he must allow Mr. Chanzis to speak and clear the air. If each of these failures are Mr. Chanzis’ and his alone, as Mr. Franken alleges, then he should be given a fair opportunity to explain his mistake.”

Chairman Carey also announced that he was sending letters to each of the 17 states Franken has admitted owing back taxes. Chairman Carey wants to make certain the states are fully aware of Franken’s public comments regarding his tax liabilities and believes it critical that the states are in receipt of information that may be pertinent to any potential investigation. Furthermore, Chairman Carey made a point of highlighting Mr. Chanzis’ statements in the Star Tribune that he had been ordered to remain silent on the matter: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/18436689.html.

“This is the CPA who allegedly provided a letter from a tax accountant that had no signature on a blank piece of paper to Franken’s campaign to release to the press.  No one has ever answered questions as to where this letter came from, who authorized it, and why it contradicts later documents that clearly showed Franken doing business in California.  Franken himself never bothered to come forward after the letter was released to admit he had been conducting business in the state.  If Al Franken has established that Mr. Chanzis is to blame for his tax problems, then Franken, if it was he, his campaign or his representatives that ordered Chanzis’ silence,  should  allow him to come forward and respond to a full and complete inquiry on this matter,” Carey stated.

A copy of one of Chairman Carey’s 17 letters is below:

May 2, 2008

Revenue Commissioner Tim Russell

Alabama State Dept of Revenue

50 N. Ripley

Montgomery, AL 36132

Dear Commissioner Russell:

Enclosed please find several articles from Minnesota news sources which detail the admission by the CEO of Alan Franken Inc., Al Franken, that he has failed to pay taxes in your state at least once since 2003.

Mr. Franken claims that the check or checks that he has now sent to your state rectify his tax obligations to your state and he no longer has a tax liability in your state.

This may or may not be true, but that decision it would seem cannot be concluded until your office is able to potentially conduct a full and complete audit of Mr. Franken’s corporate activities in your state. It may be that your state does not have such provisions for audits of these matters, but at a minimum, I believe it is important for you to have this information.

There are a number of items I wish to bring to your attention:

·         Mr. Franken claims his payment to your state satisfies his obligations to you for only 2003 through 2007.  How can it be determined if he has fully satisfied those obligations to you during those years

·         Mr. Franken does not address the issue of whether he had income or activities in the state that would be subject to taxation since his company was incorporated in New York in 1991

·         Mr. Franken also does not address whether or not his company actually filed corporate tax returns or any other documents in your state that he may have been required to file

A more disturbing issue has arisen which I want to draw particular attention to.

Mr. Franken’s CPA, Mr. Allen Chanzis of Wlodinguer, Erk & Chanzis has been, up until now, Mr. Franken’s corporate tax accountant and advisor.  A recent news article, which is enclosed, suggests that Mr. Chanzis may have been directed by someone in Mr. Franken’s campaign organization, or in his corporate organization or perhaps others, to not comment about allegations that he failed to file and/or pay Franken’s taxes in 16 other states, including yours. It is not clear if the order to his CPA was to avoid talking to the media, or to anyone who may have an interest or inquiry about Franken’s at least five year history of not paying taxes in 17 states, including yours.

As your department reviews the full scope of Mr. Franken’s business activities and failure to pay taxes in your state, it would seem apparent that being able to communicate with Mr. Chanzis would be a priority.  In the event that you are not aware of how to reach Mr. Chanzis, his corporate contact information is as follows:

Wlodinguer, Erk & Chanzis

22 West 21st St, 9th Floor

New York, NY 10010

Phone: 1-212-683-4200;  Fax: 1-212-683-4329

Website: http://wecnyc.com/home.htm

While your potential audit may include the years that Mr. Franken has publicly stated he failed to pay taxes, it is important to determine if he also had unreported income that might have been subject to taxation in your state from 1991 through 2007.

Thank you for you attention to this serious matter.

Sincerely,

Ron Carey

Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman

Cc: Secretary of State Beth Chapman

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrat Senate candidate Al Franken tried this week to tell voters that he was “releasing [tax] information to be transparent about his mistakes,” but the only openness he achieved was opening himself up to more questions. Rather than answer the questions that keep piling up, Franken apparently would rather hide from the truth.

Franken’s latest attempt at dodging the questions? Yesterday afternoon, Franken’s accountant told the Star Tribune he’s “been told to say, ‘No comment,’” when asked about Franken’s tax woes. “Refusing to discuss any mistakes, he added: ‘I’ve been told you have the information you need.’” (Star Tribune, 4/30/08)

Apparently, Franken would rather ignore the fact that no one seems to have the ‘information we need.’ What about the fact that we still don’t know for sure if Al Franken filed correct returns prior to 2003? Who told Al Franken’s accountant not to talk, and why, precisely, was he told not to talk?

Further complicating Al Franken’s accounting troubles, it seems Franken’s accountant was the individual that provided the Franken campaign with the unsigned, undocumented and unproven letter the campaign claimed Franken’s company had sent in 2003, indicating the company’s intent to cease doing business in California. Is the suspicious letter the reason Franken and his accountants aren’t talking?

According to Politico this morning, the campaign is making a concerted effort to hide from the truth. Franken’s campaign “has restricted media access to him. And until he actually paid the back taxes, Franken did not directly respond to reporters’ questions about the mounting controversy, instead relying on surrogates.” (Politico, 5/1/08)

Why all the secrets?

The Politico article goes on to note, “He’s being kept under wraps because he isn’t terribly disciplined in the way he deals with reporters. He gets in their face, gets angry with them, gets aggressive with them, so he’s trying to keep a distance from reporters so he doesn’t mess with them,” said [political science professor at Minnesota’s Carleton College Steve] Schier.”

“First he didn’t know about the workers’ comp fines in New York and wouldn’t talk about it. Then he provides an undocumented letter to explain his California problems and won’t talk about that,” NRSC Communications Director Rebecca Fisher said. “Now, Al Franken expects us to believe his 18 year old business only started avoiding state taxes five years ago. And yes, you guessed it — he won’t talk about that either.

“Al Franken’s got two accountants who aren’t talking and one very suspicious letter — if Franken himself won’t answer the remaining questions, then he should allow the people who know to answer,” Fisher added.

They pointed out multi-state tax filings can be intensely complicated, and accountants do mess up from time to time. But most of them also echoed Woodbury tax accountant Michael Shaffer.

‘It really seemed like it was a rookie mistake,’ he says.

The mistake was that instead of paying taxes in the many states where he earned money from 2003 through 2006, Franken paid state income taxes only in the states where he lived — New York and Minnesota. That meant he overpaid taxes in those two states, but shorted the other 17 states by more than $50,000.

Franken says he will pay those states now, plus interest and penalties for a total of about $70,000. Then he’ll file for a refund in Minnesota and New York.

The divvying up of tax payments based on where you’ve worked is called apportionment, and while accountant Michael Shaffer says it can be complex to calculate, it’s not exactly an obscure accounting principle.

‘I learned it in my first tax class in college’ he says.” Source: MPR, May 2, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

Guess what everyone is talking about?

From the kitchen table in his tranquil suburban neighborhood, Brodkorb for the last year has used his blog ‘Minnesota Democrats Exposed’ to launch a furious political assault on Franken. He’s labeled the former comedian and liberal commentator a “mean-spirited and un-Minnesotan” candidate who’s running a ‘desperate and ridiculous’ campaign.

That’s routine stuff in the world of political blogging, but in the last two months Brodkorb has scored two direct hits that have the Franken campaign reeling. Brodkorb scooped the traditional media by detailing extensive bookkeeping problems in New York and California that ultimately prompted Franken, this week, to pay about $70,000 in back taxes to 17 states.

The stories have knocked Franken off balance as he prepares to take on Sen. Norm Coleman, in what’s expected to be one of the most expensive and toughest-fought U.S. Senate races this year.” Source: Associated Press, May 2, 2008

Click here for the complete story.

King’s a very popular guy at St. Cloud Hospital as his room had numerous flower arrangements, he had two additional visitors stop by when I was there to visit and a former student stopped to say hello when we were out for a short walk.

Gary at Let Freedom Ring Blog and Janet at SCSU Scholars have more updates on King’s progress. Your thoughts and prayers for King are greatly appreciated.

“Who ordered the CPA’s silence and why was it ordered? Was it the Al Franken Campaign?  Was it Al Franken?  Was it Al Franken’s attorneys? And, more importantly, who have they ordered him not to talk to?  Is it the press?  Or, has he also been instructed not to talk to state officials of  the 17 states Franken admits he owes money to?” Carey asked.

“It may be that state officials in each of those states will demand access to the CPA whom Franken is blaming for his problems and to ask a series of questions to determine why tax returns were not filed, or taxes not paid and who made the decision not to file those returns or pay the taxes,” Carey stated.

From The Star Tribune:

“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.’” (Patricia Lopez, Kevin Duchschere & Conrad Wilson, “Tax guy mum; DFLers backing Franken,” Star Tribune, May 1, 2008)