Tax Fraud, Lied Under Oath, But NOT resigning from Congress

What is amazing is that he doesn’t actually have to resign from congress as a felon.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rep-michael-grimm-pleads-guilty-to-tax-evasion/

Rep. Michael Grimm pleads guilty to tax evasion
http://cbsnews2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2014/12/23/8dcbc599-f0a5-4a9c-9485-ddba541de62f/thumbnail/620x350/3038d32977ea9db5b4eef30e149837a4/ctm1223grimmtaxfelony324077640x360.jpg

Last Updated Dec 23, 2014 4:04 PM EST

U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm has pleaded guilty in a federal tax-evasion case that he fought as he won re-election this fall. His attorney, Stuart Kaplan, told CBS news that Grimm intends to hold onto his seat, saying in an e-mail, "Mr. Grimm will NOT be stepping down. He is committed to serving his constituents who recently reaffirmed their support for him in the November election."

At the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, Grimm pleaded guilty to causing the filing of a false and fraudulent tax return, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Grimm admitted he concealed over $900,000 in gross income and that he lied under oath while he was serving in Congress.

Loretta Lynch, the president’s nominee to be U.S. attorney general and the current U.S. attorney for New York, announced the guilty plea. She said that Grimm admitted that in the course of running his business, that “he chose lies and deception over honest dealings with federal and state authorities as well as his own employees.” She said he Grimm “has now publicly admitted that he hired unauthorized workers whom he paid ‘off the books’ in cash, took deliberate steps to obstruct the federal and state governments from collecting taxes he properly owed, cheated New York State out of workers’ compensation insurance premiums, caused numerous false business and personal tax returns to be filed for several years, and lied under oath.”

Grimm faces a prison term of up to three years. He has also agreed to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as well as to the state of New York. Sentencing is set for June 8. Prosecutors said between 24 and 30 months in prison would be appropriate; the defense estimated the appropriate sentence as 12 to 18 months.

It’s not immediately clear how the plea will affect the Staten Island Republican’s congressional career. In October, he said he’d step aside if he was “not able to serve.”

The case stemmed from an investigation of Grimm’s campaign financing. He was never charged with any campaign offense.

Wasn’t he an FBI agent before he was a lying and cheating politician?

Wasn’t he an FBI agent before he was a lying and cheating politician?

That’s the weird thing. If he was an FBI agent, you’d think he understand the investigative process, and do a better job of lying/stealing/fraud…have at least some sort of plausible deniability.

Total rookie.

Wasn’t he an FBI agent before he was a lying and cheating politician?

Yes, he is quite the contradiction.

Formerly an FBI agent – now a felon.

An attorney – lied under oath.

A Marine too.

Was simply a Congressman – now a convicted Congressional Felon.

When Bill Clinton resigns… Really, all his offenses (except lying) would be those of anyone who hired and paid an illegal worker. I think Boehner should put the pressure on for a couple days, then if Grimm does not act, should move to have the house kick him out.

No, he probably just thought the rules didn’t apply to him because of who he thought he was.

I’ll go so far as to say in his life as an FBI agent, he probably saw so many people get away with crap like this that he didn’t think twice. He pissed somebody off or shook down the wrong person as a politician.

Math is really hard for some people. It’s not like it’s a million dollars or anything.

Give the guy a break. It’s like he’s Charlie Rangel of something;)

I am so glad to be out of NY, the politician’s there are just disgusting:

Grimm, Charlie Rangel, Joe King, Frank Bruno, Anthony Wiener, Chuck Schumer, Cuomo…

It honestly made me sick to live in a state where people like this could get elected on a routine
basis. I secretly hope it is because of rigged elections, not because the people in NY are really that stupid.

Give the guy a break. It’s like he’s Charlie Rangel of something;)

Nice work tri_yoda. We might still become friends in 2014.

What are you drinking today?

I’m going to assume that this fella is a Republican. My assumption is based on the fact that:
a) Fox news would have led with the words “DEMOCRAT Congressman…” but will bury any mention of 'pubs in the body of the text
b) Tax fraud is more of a Republican thing. Along with trying to pick up men in airport bathrooms, and screwing underage black hookers. Dems seem to go more for bribes, drugs and chubby white hookers (or interns). But both sides enjoy lying under oath - they’re bipartisan that way.

Hmmm…

a.) Fox news link has Republican mentioned in the first sentence. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/12/22/michael-grimm-to-plead-guilty-to-federal-tax-evasion/

b.) Tax fraud? I think I’m being kind in saying it’s a wash. You don’t remember Obama’s whole crew needing tax pardons?

Lying under oath? Sure. Both sides have an “it’s not really lying if it’s advantageous to say it.” philosophy.

I just assume that pretty much most members of Congress are guilty of similar stuff. This guy got caught. Why should he have to resign with the rest of the criminals are allow to continue their seats?

Congress should expel him. It should be a unanimous vote. Then I woke up from my dream.

I was listening to a reporter round table on potus, and they were comparing this to Charlie Rangel and how Pelosi wanted him gone during his tax scandal. His claim of ignorance was an insult since he was chair of the House Ways and Means Committee who writes tax policy. He survived. But the reporters said, republicans are generally better about handling scandal. While there wasn’t a political will to oust Rangel, there certainly will be for this guy. They said they would likely take him aside and say do you really want to be the next Trafficant?