Posted on 03/25/2005 5:31:21 AM PST by Liz
Radio's irascible Don Imus went on the warpath yesterday over questions being raised about the charity he runs for sick children at his New Mexico ranch.
Investigators from the NY Attorney General's Office have been reviewing allegations that the cranky talk-show host has been using the 4,000-acre ranch for personal getaways.
Although he took issue with the inquiry, Imus aimed his angriest venom at The Wall Street Journal for a story he described as "a hatchet job" and its author, whom he called "a dishonest punk."
Expenses at the ranch totaled nearly $2.6 million, according to tax papers, but the ranch hosted only about 100 children, the Journal said.
Imus and his family, meanwhile, stay at the ranch for weeks at a time — he was broadcasting from there yesterday — without reimbursing the charity for the visits.
Imus maintained that he runs the ranch while he is there and saves money by not paying a director. As for using the ranch as a vacation spot, Imus says he has a $24 million waterfront estate in Westport, Conn., that suits his vacation needs just fine.
Imus' charity drew the attention of New York investigators when the organization failed to file its income-tax exemption forms on time........
Sources said such delays, while routine, are often red flags, as was the anonymous letter Spitzer's office received about Imus' ranch visits and the charity's high dollar-to-child ratio.
Dopp said that the review was not an investigation and that Imus and his associates had been cooperative and answered every question. Dopp said there had been no finding of any wrongdoing.
Critics, including rival radio jock Howard Stern, accuse Imus of exploiting his listeners who donate to his ranch, which features sweeping vistas, a rodeo arena and a "Bonanza"- inspired hacienda with crystal chandeliers.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Is Imus also using that phony tax exemption whereby assets are donated to a so-called charity and out of the eyes of the taxman---but are kept by the charity in perpetuity, rather than being redistributed to the poor.
Imus says, that he put in $1 million of his own money. So he paid $1 million for a $20 million dollar house. Check out Arcitectural Digest. Has alot of pictures in it.
He hangs with all the liberal weenies and he's probably exchanging emails with Maureen Dowd on how to cope with cramps and hot flashes.
Do you think the charity is paying for Imus's house? My guess it is at least in part and paying for maintenance and other improvements on a property that will prolly revert back to Imus or his son at some point.
What a boner to agree to let Architectural Digest in for photos.
I think attacking Imus's ranch for kids is really crappy.
I'm not a fan of his, but it's obvious he's devoted to helping and providing for those kids.
It's about time they're looking at this phoney scam artist.
I agree. He's got a $30 million home in CT plus a penthouse in Manhatten. He's not scaming anyone. He's simple a man that likes to control his surroundings. He's done nothing improper.
The NYP didn't get it right. Imus referred to Robert Frank (WSJ) as an SOB and called him a "g.d. punk." I heard it.
Critics, including rival radio jock Howard Stern
Now there's a reputable source.
Guess you missed that little detail.
I bet that it is paying for the maintenance. I am sure his trophy wife is changing curtains and rugs on a consistant basis. The kids are not allowed to watch TV, play video games or have Walkmans. The get up at 6 AM and head out to muck stalls, pull weeds, etc... The wife is a Vegan so the kids only eat vegan meals. Lucky kids, they have cancer and they are allowed to eat all the tofu they can!!
I agree. I also recall they have medical facilities on hand, and if a child needed it, an agreement with a helicopter company to transport to any one of 3 or 4 hospitals.
Imas is a phony and the IRS needs to shut him down.
So?
Imus IS a cow.
Liz, it costes $27,000 a week per kid. Why not just stroke each kid a check for that amount. Don't you think that it would be better to send that money to The Jimmy Fund or Genisis Fund where they are actually doing teh research to help these kids? Only about 100 kids go there in a year and the rest of the time its Imus's vacation house. Its a scam.
Check out the article in Arcitectural Digest and look at his master bedroom. It will make you puke. It makes the Pres. suite at the 4 Seasons look like a pile of crap!
I turned off Imus mostly during the election..He used to be the best background noise early in the morning..meaning he is occasionally funny and doesn't tax my brain before my coffee kicks in..
I must defend him on the ranch..No matter how much I may disagree with him on politics ..I know he cares about the kids with cancer and his wealth is enough to not need this ranch as a cover.
This is for a good cause. Is the I-Man taking some liberties from this? Probably, but not enough to justify this hit on him.
Leave the old liberal weenie alone. At least he is doing something good rather than saying it, hgetting back in his limo and heading back to CT.
So they are working for free. They are feeding his cows, pulling weeds in the summer sun in New Mexico. Boy that sounds like a great time. It costs $27,000 per kid per week. Read the NYT article. It costs a fraction of that amount to send kids to Paul Newman's place and he takes 10 times the number of kids.
Imus is a scam artist.
I'm afraid I disagree. He talks too much about it.
He is sincere in what he is doing for sick children.
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