Bankrollers of Swiftboat Vets and McCain Smear in Trouble With the Feds

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2006/08/27/swift-boat-bankrollers-in-trouble-with-the-feds/

The Wyly brothers (as in Wiley Coyote) are finally being investigated for their byzantine finances. The guys who funded the smear campaign on John McCain that led to Bush’s primary victory in 2000, and more recently, the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, are in trouble for evading taxes.

<snip>

A report released this month by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations alleged that the Wylys established the offshore trusts in the Irish Sea’s Isle of Man, a commonly used tax haven, to get around their U.S. tax obligations…

Senate investigators allege that the Wylys used the offshore trusts to buy $30 million worth of artwork, jewelry, furniture and other items for their personal use. Among the purchases: a $937,500 portrait of Ben Franklin; a $13,000 French bronze chandelier; $721,000 in official documents from Abraham Lincoln’s presidency; and a $759,000 emerald necklace.

Sen. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who launched the investigation, said the Wylys “participated in a 13-year scam and scheme to circumvent U.S. tax, securities and anti-money laundering requirements.”

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Patriotic crooks!

Except for the chandelier!

[Erika]

2. Finally

I have deplored McCain when he bowed down to them and refused to prosecute them.

[bananarepublican]

5. Did he have a chance to prosecute? Wow! What a 'cut and runner'! n/t

[EST]

7. McCain, contrary to his public, manufactured persona,

is tricky slime. He learned, from his experiences with the Keating five, not to avoid all evil and the semblance of evil, but to avoid getting caught and to cultivate a clean image through subterfuge.

I do not have direct evidence of this, but I have begun to suspect, given the number and complexity to commissions he sits on and the hearings he handles, that there is some quid pro quo going on because of the paucity of serious legal proceeding from the information that he has gained.

Could this mean he is accumulating a boatload of "did not prosecute" favors for later cashing in?

I don't know but I don't like him and don't trust him.

[rubberducky]

3. Thank you, Senator Levin!!!!!!!!

I will send him an e-mail!

[napi21]

4. Ohhhhh man, I hope these crooks get strangled!

Back when they were slamming NcCain I really like him! He's disappointed me since, and I wouldn't ever vote for him now, but for everything they've done to McCain, Kerry and who knows who else, fry their a**es!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MidwestTransplant]

6. If these guys have to steal during the Bush admin., they are

some seriously greedy mofos.

[Bozita]

8. Carl Levin is a cautious man. These are strong words for him.

I believe him.

[xchrom]

9. the wylys are scum.

right up there with scaife -- tapeworms of the first order.

they have VERY powerful friends -- so this could be interesting.

[chaplainM]

10. Did they buy the portrait of Franklin

...just to moon it?

[Supersedeas]

11. tax evasion is another Pubby form of family values