Al Sharpton has come under fire for having over $4.5 million in tax liens filed against him and his businesses, particularly from Fox’s Dana Perino who flatly stated, “I don’t care who he is” before ripping him for living a life of luxury off the backs of the American taxpayer.
The New York Times reported that Sharpton’s tax obligations have only grown over the last few years and stated he “has regularly sidestepped the sorts of obligations most people see as inevitable, like taxes …”
From the report:
And though he said in recent interviews that he was paying both down, his balance with the state, at least, has actually grown in recent years. His National Action Network appears to have been sustained for years by not paying federal payroll taxes on its employees.
With the tax liability outstanding, Mr. Sharpton traveled first class and collected a sizable salary, the kind of practice by nonprofit groups that the United States Treasury’s inspector general for tax administration recently characterized as “abusive,” or “potentially criminal” if the failure to turn over or collect taxes is willful.
Mr. Sharpton and the National Action Network have repeatedly failed to pay travel agencies, hotels and landlords. He has leaned on the generosity of friends and sometimes even the organization, intermingling its finances with his own to cover his daughters’ private school tuition.
Perino had this to say about Sharpton:
Perino points out that President Obama, who is often seen in public and private meetings with Sharpton, should not have him back over to the White House until his tax issues are resolved.
Sharpton’s influence on the White House is unmistakable, however. He recently bragged that he was helping the President select Eric Holder’s replacement as Attorney General.
Should Al Sharpton be banned from the White House until he pays his taxes like every other law-abiding American?