The indictment said that American Rights Litigators claimed to be an organisation which used aggressive accountants to protect Americans’ rights. Its successor “held itself out as a Christian ministry . . . established to assist men and women in their pursuit of truth and freedom as Americans”.
The indictment added: “In reality, ARL and GLGM were for-profit, commercial enterprises that promoted and sold fraudulent tax schemes.”
Prosecutors said that the tax advisors claimed refunds on the basis of the discredited “861 argument”, asserting that US citizens could be taxed only on income from activities overseas. The indictment said that American Rights Litigators would get 20 per cent of tax refunds obtained by its clients.
Mr Perez said: “Those who intentionally and unlawfully harass the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) through deceit, trickery and fraud undermine the collection of revenue that is vital to every aspect of our Government.”
A September 24 DCCC press release listed “artists who are supporting the event,” most likely by sending a check, but which I did not see mentioned in any news story about the event: “Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Ben Affleck, Maya Angelou, Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Michael Douglas, James Gandolfini, Wesley Snipes, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Goldie Hawn, Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, Christopher Reeve, Anjelica Huston, John Travolta, Kevin Spacey, and Annette Bening.” That press release is online at:
http://www.dccc.org/press/newsreleases//2002-09-24.915.phtml