Marathon Pundit: Alexi nexus with taxes

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Alexi nexus with taxes

Okay, it's not quite "Stix nix hick pix," but after over 10,000 posts, I can have a bit of fun, right?

Fact: Illinois' Democratic US Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias wants to raise federal income taxes. Yet he paid no income taxes to the feds for 2009. He says he worked for his failed family-owned bank in 2006--even though he told voters he left a year prior--which allowed him a $2.7 million tax credit he would not have been able to claim had he really left in '05.

This National Republican Senatorial Committee ad hits the failed Mob Banker hard on his "Do as I say, not as I do" mentality.

Although it has nothing to do with the US Senate, Giannoulias also favors an increase in the state income tax too. What a cad.

And now the nexus:

Cue the music from the film Jaws and enjoy this press release from the Mark Kirk campaign:

***FACT CHECK***

Giannoulias Claims He Didn't Know About Mobsters Criminal Records Despite Previous Admissions to the Contrary

"But he also said the bank should never have been involved with those people and would not have done business with them if their criminal records had been known." – Associated Press, 10/18/10

"Giannoulias did not explain why the bank lent them more money even after learning the two men were linked to gambling and prostitution." – Associated Press, 10/18/10

During an interview yesterday with the Associated Press, Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias acted as if he and his family never knew mobsters who received loans from the family bank had criminal records – even though he admitted that he knew, to some extent, about their criminal activity less than two weeks ago on national television.

Yesterday: "But [Giannoulias] also said the bank should never have been involved with those people and would not have done business with them if their criminal records had been known." (Associated Press)

Caught in an apparent mistruth, the AP pushed Giannoulias to explain why the bank lent mobsters more money even after learning the two men were linked to gambling and position. "Giannoulias did not explain."

Is Alexi Giannoulias trying to change his story without anyone noticing? Take a look at these past reports that contradict Giannoulias’ latest claim:

October 10, 2010: "I didn't know the extent of their activity." (Alexi Giannoulias, Meet the Press)

April 1, 2010: "Demetris Giannoulias said the bank learned of Giorango's bookmaking and prostitution promotion convictions from a spring 2004 Tribune report detailing those cases." (Chicago Tribune)

April 27, 2006: "[Alexi] Giannoulias said he traveled to Miami 'about a year or two ago' to inspect property the bank had financed for Giorango and met with him there. Giannoulias declined to provide details of that meeting." (Chicago Tribune)

April 9, 2006: "Stavropoulos was in federal prison in June 2005 when the $3.6 million Myrtle Beach loan was made. The inmate's wife signed the loan papers as his 'attorney in fact,' land records show. Stavropoulos remains in federal custody and could not be reached for comment." (Chicago Tribune)