U.S. Said to Investigate Ex-D.C. Mayor

AP ^ | 10/5/5 | DERRILL HOLLY

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON -- Former Mayor Marion Barry, who once served prison time on a drug charge, may have a new legal problem. There are reports the government is investigating whether he has filed any federal income tax returns since 1998.

Barry is not talking.

Citing unnamed sources, several local news outlets reported that Barry, 69, has been the target of an Internal Revenue Service investigation. Barry, a four-term mayor, was elected last November as the councilman representing the city's working class Ward 8.

"He will talk when his lawyer says it's OK," said Linda Greene, Barry's chief of staff.

Barry is represented by Frederick D. Cooke, Jr., who has handled other sensitive matters for him in the past, including drug possession allegations in 2002 that did not result in any charges.

[SmithL]

Even if they throw him in jail, he's still electable in the District.

[fatnotlazy]

Barry could be DEAD and he'd still be elected (and re-elected).

[Moral Hazard]

"Former Mayor Marion Barry, who once served prison time on a drug charge, may have a new legal problem. There are reports the government is investigating whether he has filed any federal income tax returns since 1998."

It's a testament to how screwed up the IRS is that this "investigation" takes more than 10 seconds.

[frankjr]

"councilman representing the city's working class Ward 8"

I think they mean "welfare class".

[libs_kma]

I read that there's no jail time for this? Former Cincy mayor Thomas Brush didn't pay for taxes for only 3 years and when the IRS finally figured it out he had to cool his heels for a few years in the fed lockup at La Grange. Why not Barry?

Maybe Celine Dion came to his defense and said "just once, let him feel dese teengs"....

[lilylangtree]

The voters in DC are out of their minds--throw Berry in jail and they'll still elect him.

[elc]

The way I heard it, not filing is only a misdemeanor, so no jail time. But I don't know for sure. Perhaps Brush was actually done for filing a false return, which is a felony.

[sgtbono2002]

While Barry was serving time in prison he had a lady friend visit him and give him head in the prisoners visiting room while being watched by anyone who cared to look.

We called him Mayor Blow because of his Cocaine habit, Not because of the incident at prison.

I remember in the riots of 68 when he wore a Dashiki and stirred racist anger. When the feds were going to investigate PRIDE INc. it was et fire and burned down the night before the investigation. Somehow he managed to pay his ex-wife enough to live at Watergate while he married Effie, who, it is rumored, also liked girls.

Marion is a slick article I am sure he will slither out of this one.Like he has slitherd out of most of them. His most famous Quote is" The -itch set me up." Marion ran one of the most corrupt governments DC ever had and he was still a better Mayor than Sharon Pratt Kelly or Tony Williams. Best Mayor Washinton ever had was Walter Washington, and most blacks called him Uncle Tom.

I remember when Marion got in trouble for Cocaine I said you will know Marion is done when Effie dumps him. Thats statement came true.
Now I will say if they get close to Marion watch for the race card.Marion is an expert at dropping it at the right time.

[advance_copy]

I'm shocked.

[quark]

IRS: "Mr. Barry, why haven't you filed your federal tax returns for the past seven years?"
BARRY: "B!tch set me up!"

[jmaroneps37]

"There are reports the government is investigating whether he has filed any federal income tax returns since 1998."
The White Man made him do, just like he made him snort coke. This bum blames everybody but himself all the time.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I'll bet they mean slum, but won't say it.

[Moral Hazard]

"I read that there's no jail time for this? Former Cincy mayor Thomas Brush didn't pay for taxes for only 3 years and when the IRS finally figured it out he had to cool his heels for a few years in the fed lockup at La Grange. Why not Barry?"

The part we don't know is how much, if anything, he owes the Feds. If he failed to file his returns, but was even or owed a refund if he had filed then not filing is a relatively small offense. If he owed huge quantities of money and avoided filing to get out of paying then that would be a much bigger deal.

[AlaskaErik]

"He will talk when his lawyer says it's OK," said Linda Greene, Barry's chief of staff.

I can understand the President having a Chief of Staff, but a city councilman?! WTF. Let me guess who's picking up the tab for this largess.

[joebuck]

"U.S. Said to Investigate Ex-D.C. Mayor"

I'm surprised. I mean, I wasn't aware there had come a point when they had ever stopped investigating him.

[fatnotlazy]

I can understand the President having a Chief of Staff, but a city councilman?! WTF. Let me guess who's picking up the tab for this largess.

***

I don't know about DC, but where I live, every minor politco has a major entourrage. And yes, the taxpayers foot the bill. But I live in a heavily Dem, tax and spend area, so this is the norm.

[sure_fine]

just heard a blurp on FNC this morning 11/01/2006 they are bringing drug charges up on him

[sure_fine]

found it


Barry Tested Positive for Cocaine Use In the Fall
Drug Check Ordered After Tax Case Plea

By Yolanda Woodlee and Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 11, 2006; Page A01

D.C. Council member Marion Barry tested positive for cocaine use in the fall in a drug test ordered by a court after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor tax charges, according to two sources familiar with Barry's case.

Barry, who served four terms as mayor and was elected to the Ward 8 council seat in 2004, has since begun treatment for drug use, the sources said, but Barry's failure to pass the mandatory drug test puts him in legal jeopardy.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/10/AR2006011002018.html

[SmithL]

He is consistent.