James Capel, a former aide to Congressman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., has pleaded guilty to failing to file tax returns for three years.
Capel pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of one count of failure to file a tax return and two counts of tax fraud.
Rangel was censured in the House last December for various ethics violations, including failure to pay taxes on rental income from a villa in the Dominican Islands (see House Censures Rangel). Capel’s failure to file tax returns from 2007 to 2009 was unconnected to Rangel’s ethical lapses. However, he worked as a top advisor to Rangel for more than 10 years, according to The New York Times. He ran Rangel’s New York office, according to the New York Post. Rangel was the former chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee until he stepped down in the midst of the ethics investigation.
Capel did have some income taxes automatically withheld from his paycheck, but his failure to file the tax returns led to about $25,000 in unpaid taxes. As part of his plea deal, he will pay over $42,000 in unpaid taxes, penalties and interest. Capel retired in February from his job, where he earned nearly $160,000 a year.
5 Comments
I believe that a new law should be passed requiring all Federal elected officials (and their staff members)to prepare their income tax returns live on C-Span TV without professional assistance and without a computer. Additionally, I believe that these same federal officials should be required to issue audited personal financial statements documenting their compliance with our tax laws and campaign contribution (and illegal gift) laws. Governmental corruption is one of our countries greatest threats.
Posted by: efhcpa | May 5, 2011 2:49 PM
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Taxes are for the little people. And certainly not Democrats. And particularly not for Democrats who head the Department of Treasury, or the House Ways and Means Committee, or the Department of Health and Human Services, or......
Shameless hypocrites all.
Posted by: Pitbullll | May 5, 2011 11:40 AM
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The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree!
Posted by: bob from elgin | May 5, 2011 10:15 AM
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Birds of a feather
Posted by: benusmc | May 5, 2011 8:04 AM
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He learned from his boss.
Posted by: Tedego | May 4, 2011 10:36 PM
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