Posted on 05/23/2013 4:16:11 PM PDT by raptor22
IRS Scandal: The inexplicable raid nearly two years ago on a guitar maker for using allegedly illegal wood that its competitors also used was another targeting by this administration of its political enemies.
On Aug. 24, 2011, federal agents executed four search warrants on Gibson Guitar Corp. facilities in Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., and seized several pallets of wood, electronic files and guitars. One of the top makers of acoustic and electric guitars, including the iconic Les Paul introduced in 1952, Gibson was accused of using wood illegally obtained in violation of the century-old Lacey Act, which outlaws trafficking in flora and fauna the harvesting of which had broken foreign laws.
In one raid, the feds hauled away ebony fingerboards, alleging they violated Madagascar law. Gibson responded by obtaining the sworn word of the African island's government that no law had been broken.
In another raid, the feds found materials imported from India, claiming they too moved across the globe in violation of Indian law. Gibson's response was that the feds had simply misinterpreted Indian law.
Interestingly, one of Gibson's leading competitors is C.F. Martin & Co. According to C.F. Martin's catalog, several of their guitars contain "East Indian Rosewood," which is the exact same wood in at least 10 of Gibson's guitars. So why were they not also raided and their inventory of foreign wood seized?
Grossly underreported at the time was the fact that Gibson's chief executive, Henry Juszkiewicz, contributed to Republican politicians. Recent donations have included $2,000 to Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and $1,500 to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.
By contrast, Chris Martin IV, the Martin & Co. CEO, is a long-time Democratic supporter, with $35,400 in contributions to Democratic candidates and the Democratic National Committee over the past couple of election cycles.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
When playing by the Chicago rules, it’s who you know.
The wicked are like the chaff that the wind drives away.
This current administration is becoming more fascist every day
“...On Aug. 24, 2011, federal agents executed four search warrants on Gibson Guitar Corp...”
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I remember this, but I don’t think the agents were from the IRS.
Let’s drag yet another federal agency into the corruption probe.
Its not just the IRS, it is every agency of government
To me, it was always abundantly clear that the 0bama regime was punishing Gibson for supporting the opposition and conservative causes. I’m just waiting for Hussein and company to find out first hand that paybacks are hell!
Your gummint is outta control!
It made sense for us FReepers at the time, and they called us conspiracy nutz.
IBD EDITORIAL PING
Don’t fret!
Correct. You name an agency and I’ll show you ways they’ve been politicized by Obastard. He’s corrupted everything he’s touched.
This sounds like the sort of thing that goes on in banana republics.
HTF do we justify the Feds enforcing laws of a foreign country on our soil? So can we demand that they enforce laws against homosexuality in Russia?
This sh-- HAS to stop. HAS TO.
Like the Republican GM dealers that were shut down.
Sounds like they were Eric Holder's DOJ storm troopers.
http://www.gibson.com/absolutenm/templates/FeatureTemplatePressRelease.aspx?articleid=1340&zoneid=6
Also don’t forget all the SWAT raids on (yes) AMISH and others selling (tiny) volumes of raw milk.
Guns drawn, etc, etc.
Ditto for LEMONADE STANDS.
Bob Dylan should write a song about this...I hear he is more conservative now that he is old.
When O’Bamba finds out about this He’s gonna be Pissed!
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