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Riches To Rags For Abramoff Clan?
Jack Abramoff's wife and five children are living "just above the poverty line" in a house with a leaky roof which they can't afford to live in but, given its depressed price, also can't afford to sell.
That's according to lawyers for the disgraced former lobbyist, who are arguing in court that Abramoff should be allowed to keep spending a tax refund of more than $520,000 to pay legal and other bills. Last month, the Justice Department moved to stop Abramoff from using the refund to pay the bills, arguing that he first must pay $23 million in restitution to the Indian tribes he swindled.
The Washington Post reports:
Some of the tax refund was used to repay loans owed for food, clothing and housing costs while Abramoff was in federal prison in Cumberland, Md. Among the checks written was $87,500 to repay loans from Abramoff's father, who lent the family from his retirement savings and is still owed another $75,000.
Defense lawyers said Pam Abramoff has held off on paying for their daughter's private school tuition, among other sacrifices.
Josh
Zachary
Yeah, having to hold off on the private school tuition puts them below the poverty level for sure.
How many other families who did not live high while Daddy was running his criminal enterprise are in similar or worse circumstances?
Stuff happens - when my husband lost our house and left me a bankrupt with 2 little kids and no child support the IRS didn't give me any breaks; my mother lent me $1,000 and I moved on. I'm sorry they are financially hurting, I don't think they deserve any special treatment.
June 3, 2009 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Montgomery County Maryland has some of the finest public schools in the nation too. Likely better than the school serving the tribes he swindled.
June 3, 2009 9:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please, C'mon TPM, get real.
Over $500,000 in a tax refund and living just above the poverty line?
How much would Abramoff have had to have earned in order to pay enough in taxes to warrant a $500,000 tax refund. Even in a 25% tax bracket, he would have to have earned over $2,000,000 in order to have even paid $500,000 in taxes.
We should all be so poverty stricken.
This article doesn't pass the smell test, or any other test.
June 4, 2009 8:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I feel sorry for his family. They did nothing wrong, other than live under the same roof as this hypocritical crook. But, justice is justice, and justice is harsh, baby: Jail for his sorry ass, and they must give the money back to the Indians. When his daughter is settled in public school, she can learn about the tragic history of Native Americans, and maybe the criminal activities of her dad, as well.
June 3, 2009 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Justice is not nearly as harsh as the treatment Abramoff gave to his many, many anonymous victims.
June 3, 2009 8:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dick Cheney has more money than he AND his extended family can ever spend. Let him take care of the Abramoff family. It's the least he can do for keeping him (Cheney) out of prison.
June 3, 2009 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
ps. ...for keeping him out of prison -- so far!
June 3, 2009 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope the elder Abramoff has better luck retrieving his cash from Jack than the Indians did.
June 3, 2009 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we should strip all assets from guilty financial swindler's children, their wives, and even their mistresses...
The family can Pass Go, not collect $200, and start at $0.00 just like me. Boot straps; start pulling.
June 4, 2009 2:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great response!
June 5, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Umm, how big was the tax refund anyway, I mean 87,500 went to his father, but what the hell kind of tax refund is this?
June 4, 2009 8:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
The article states that it was "over $520,000".
.
June 5, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Buying food, paying the mortage and fixing the roof are one thing. But private school! Are you kidding me? And paying off the father--let them borrow another $75k for all I care.
If not for the economy, I'd say the government should make them (and other criminals) sell the house and move into a more affordable (but nice) house and use the proceeds to pay the restitution.
So when Libby lied and was convicted the rightwing came to his aid. Why are they abandoning Abramoff? Where are Grover, Reed, Delay, etc. Greenberg Traurig, let them support the family.
June 4, 2009 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh..Boo-Hoo...a real travesty..having to live like 90% of the citizen/taxpayers who have to work for a living...how sad...
June 4, 2009 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
"That's according to lawyers for the disgraced former lobbyist..."
And if you cannot trust the honesty of today's attorneys.... who CAN you trust?
June 4, 2009 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mrs. jackoff should count her blessings. If the father of her children were a drug dealer, he'd be free as a bird and she'd be doing life for the kilo he'd stashed in the baby stroller.
June 4, 2009 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mrs. Abramoff lives at 812 Edelblut Dr. in Silver Springs Md. The property is owned by the DL/JA LLC corporation. The registered agent of DL/JA LLC is Pamela Abramoff.
The property is valued at $1.9 million. It consists of 3.3 acres of land and a 10k sq ft enclosure, according to Maryland state records.
If the property is not encumbered by a mortgage greater than the market price, Mrs. Abramoff should sell it before pleading poverty.
Jack Abramoff reduced his family's circumstances, not the taxpayer.
Interesting, though, is the fact that most of the tax refund was spent before the government interceded. $104k alone went to accountants which is hardly the stuff of food and shelter.
June 4, 2009 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
So. He got a tax refund for illegally earned $$$. How'd that happen? Better yet, how do we get it back?
June 5, 2009 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mr. Abramoff's father seems to have purchased himself a lesson in the consequences of raising a son with the moral values of a garden slug, and then loaning him 75 large. Now that's some good old fashioned home schoolin' right there, folks!
June 5, 2009 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink