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Davis Turner / Reuters, file
Former U.S. senator and presidential candidate John Edwards makes a statement outside the U.S. District Court after pleading not guilty to six federal criminal felony charges in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in June 2011.
John Edwards’ defunct presidential campaign must repay the U.S. Treasury $2.1 million within 30 days, the Federal Election Commission said in a report released Friday.
The report says that in his pursuit of the 2008 campaign Democratic nomination, Edwards received a total of $ 12,882,878 in matching funds from the United States Treasury -- $2,136,507 more than his entitlement.
The commission rejected arguments made by Edwards’ lawyers who said that problems with the commission led to an incorrect finding on the amount of the entitlement.
"After careful consideration, the commission determines that none of these arguments has merit," the commissioners wrote in the document.
Lawyers for Edwards' campaign committee said they won't contest the commission's decision, according to a report on Philly.com.
"While the committee disagrees with the commission's determination, it will not pursue this matter further," said Patricia Fiori, one of the lawyers representing Edwards, according to the news site.
Edwards political career took a nosedive after 2008 revelations of an extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter, a campaign videographer who later gave birth to his child.
The FEC case is separate from a pending criminal trial, in which Edwards pleaded not guilty to charges of violating campaign-finance laws in a bid to cover up that affair.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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If he has no money, file Chapter 11. But before his doing it, invest money to his long term health care account and his retirement account and his children's college fund and paying off every single debt; then it is good time to file Chapter 11. Or if he does not has any resource, then go ahead.
Edwards has money. He'll return the money.
There's certainly nobody that's going to miss this guy. Progressives just want him to go away.
Just one of the many politicians from both sides that fell off the rails.
.
Oooooh K....
Now let's go after the 41 Obama White House Staffers, some of their aides, and the HUNDREDS of Congressional Representatives and government employees who have FAILED TO PAY THEIR dad gum BACK IRS TAXES:
Note: a heck of a lot of IRS EMPLOYEES owes back taxes. I wonder if they got instructions on how to avoid paying the taxes from Mr. Geithner.
wonder if it was the banks / wallstreet guys in the position....hey we gave you too much money ...give it back ? the reason he has to return it....because he is of no use to them...ahhhh so is life.....
Anything you owe the US Government is never charged off in a bankruptcy. The duration of your bankruptcy protects you from government's ability to collect but once bankruptcy is over, they will start collecting from you. Then you have to file for another bankruptcy, then the government will wait another 10 years to collect. Who do you think will last longer, you or the government?
Not entirely true...personal br for myself in 1991 I was allowed to discharge IRS debt that was more than 7 years old.
This - on top of his crooked hair condition?
Any such payments by Edwards would be considered fraudulent transfers and would subject the recipients to "clawback" lawsuits.
In the end if it is Social Security, Medicare, the Post Office, Fema or Matching contributions, the governement when running programs does not know what it did wrong until after athe fact. Corporations that dont have a tresury department printing money would go bankrupt if their departments ran like the Government programs do. But yeah let's keep letting the government get bigger.
I bet smiling boy will claim that the$2.1 million went to legal fees....... like his lawfirm.
Last I heard he had the largest house in his state, so if he's broke I'm guessing it's gone now. I don't really feel bad for him- he was one of the trial lawyers that destroyed the healthcare of millions of Americans by suing doctors for birth defects and pretending to be a baby in utero while in court. His legal antics helped create the massive increase in medical insurance premiums to doctors- many of whom couldn't afford to practice any more and got out of the business(family friend's premiums went up 2.5x in three years- then went up more), others now have to see a patient every 10 minutes for the insurance money (another friend). He is the lowest kind of ambulance chaser.
On the IRS point:
1. Totally agree with the White House staffers not paying their taxes (read that one too). Pay up or become unemployed if you are a government worker.
2. How about Mr. "I need to pay more taxes" Buffet- He has Birkshire Hathaway still contesting $2billion in back taxes from over 7 years ago and not paying taxes now! How long will it take until that company pays what it owes Mr. Buffet? How about your Netjet company- also not paying it's taxes? Your other companies??? How's that "fair share' thing working out for you? You are happy to be the President's poster child for taxation, but you don't play by the rules, you manipulate what is being taxed by saying "income" when you really make "capital gains" on investments and not a "salary". Maybe he's "investing" his clout to the President for a cool settlement??
3. Other "friendly" companies (donor owned) and "friends" (donors) getting all of those waivers from Obamacare and getting cushy cabinet level positions, stimulus (tax dollars) money for their companies, and benefits of over 1000x the amount they gave to President Obama. Sure they are happy to be advertisements for the President when he rolls out a new program- they are taking the money!
I wondered why Buffet and Gates would say they need to pay more. Threatened with the IRS maybe?
Can't the Obama campaign just give Edwards the $2.1 million out of its enormous war chest?
It would be like taking money from all those filthy rich people and redistributing it to the poor.
Well,
If he presents a check for payment, don't hold your breath. Remember, he thrived on "Slip and Fall" cases. Funny, it seems he slipped and fell! What a true looser of a human. Well, one thing for certain, if his infidelity was about sex, he will soon be experiencing more than he imagined possible. Jail is a great place for the Bum!!!
Ha! C'mon liberals, I thought only Republicans were crooks... Right?
Signed, an independent.
WMG, the main difference between Republican and Democratic transgressors is that Democrats usually resign in shame: Weiner, Spitzer, Jefferson, that VP nominee way back when, etc. Of course, Ted Kennedy is the exception that proves the normal.
Republicans don't let a little thing like brtrayal of the public trust interrupt their careers: the SC governor, the Idaho Sen., Newt Gingrich, etc. Of course, Nixon is the exception that proves the rule.
Signed, partisan
When you want to claim democrats usually "resign in shame" at least try to get the names that you claim that did so right. William J. Jefferson didn't resign...he lost his 2008 election to a Republican. So he didn't resign!
I guess being an extremely biased person doesn't exactly go well with critical thinking skills and common sense.
You also are cherry picking. Here are other democrats that didn't "resign in shame":
Barney Frank
Kwame Kilpatrick
Marion Barry
Gary Condit
Rod Blagojevich
and countless others.
Here are some Republicans that did resign:
Chris Lee
Mark Foley
Tom Delay
John Ensign
Mark Souder
WMG-21 was clearly joking over the fact that the media tends to cover crooked Republicans while glaring over the crooked behavior of democrats. I mean, greentimer has already forgot about Rod Blagojevich who was just put into jail this week for his corruption.
Facts and GreenTimer apparently do not get along well.
All politicians have their 'dirty little secrets' and neither party can claim that they are holier or more moral than the other. Republicans lie, Democrats lie, they both steal and cheat. The only thing that any politician holds close to their heart is the re-election.
The sooner that people wake up and realize that ALL political parties are only concerned about one thing - Getting their candidate into office - the better ALL Americans will be. The only difference between a Republican candidate, a Democrat candidate, a Tea Party candidate, a Libertarian candidate, a Green Party candidate, a Socialist candidate, or any of the dozen other candidates out there, is who they get donations from and who they hold allegiance to after the election.
The only way to correct this is to stop voting 'the party line', start voting for the individual's, and hold them all accountable when they violate the public trust.
First question to ASK ANYONE running for public office (incumbent especially);
Ido: No and I don't give a s**t. That's why I'm here and you're shoveling dirt.
But but republicans, some republicans are more more more conservative than others. God likes some of them more than he likes others.
Gil, I would rather shovel dirt than shovel @sh%# for 40 hours a week.
I notice that your Lib leader Feisty is never on here commenting about is as this she only picks certain topics to post about. This is just how Lib's are taking money that doesn't belong to them than trying to get out of paying it back, what BS.
....and you conveniently leave out uber Demoncrat Charlie Wrangel.......that POS never resigned......
I met him once at a campaign stop in Seattle when I actually supported him. Just meeting him changed my mind. I knew just based on his tone with me that he was biggest phony in politics-- NOW THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING.
Edwards will be able to pay that out of his petty cash account. As for only repubs being crooks, only challenged ron paul supports think that: the thing is, the repubs cling to a holier than thou attitude which makes their transgressions so much more delicious.
If he has no money??
He's worth over $25,000,000.
Write the check.
No complaints about taxpayer funds being used for political campaining?
If John Edwards was a Republican he could just claim that this is just a "politically motivated" attack.
"Sigh"...business as usual! But somebody had to pay off Rachelle Hunter (and the kid he fathered). I'm sure as a lawyer he'll have no problem paying off his bill!
Just another Politition ripping off the Tax Payers in the US.
Get a grip folks, it is Edward's CAMPAIGN organization that was overpaid by the government. His personal obligation to pay the money is probably zilch, after all, he is a pretty smart lawyer...
Oh no you didnt! You are actually trying to think like a politician!? Do you not know how self destructive such a mentality is!?:P
This is not only another case of a politician robbing tax payers, but it is another case of politicians currently in power refusing to hold one of their own accountable. If someone such as you or i steal from taxpayers we are guaranteed to spend at least a decade in federal prison, all this guy gets is a toothless warning concerning something he did FOUR years ago! Yes this is definite proof of how our political and legal system has double standards.
It seems as though there are an increasing number of politicians "choosing not to run" this election. Is the FEC and IRS actually looking into some of these campaigns?
The report says that in his pursuit of the 2008 campaign Democratic nomination, Edwards received a total of $ 12,882,878 in matching funds from the United States Treasury -- $2,136,507 more than his entitlement ....
Looks like John Edwards and the treasury screwed up ....
"Edwards received a total of $ 12,882,878 in matching funds from the United States Treasury -- $2,136,507 more than his entitlement."
And why is he entitled to any matching funds for a campaign?
He's a 1%er and should be able to use his own funds and not be entitled, nor anyone be entitled, to receive this gaudy amount of money from the US Treasury when the country is in such bad financial shape... This money could be better use to help the laid off workers around the country...
Not that he would or anyone else would make good use of these funds if they got elected... they wouldn't because 'city hall won't let them' - 'city hall' referring to the Federal Reserve officials...
Seems he pissed off someone high up in the Fed to get caught... because the Fed usually does not go after 1%ers unless you do something that irks them...
What did the treasury give the other candidates?
I've said it before and I'll say it again:
"Go professional, you don't work on your own teeth do you"???
Move along nothing to see here ! Just another Solyndra moment. Another day of tax payer fleecing ! LOL
And when he was interviewed by the IRS, the agent just shook his head and said, "I'm sorry John, but you can't claim depreciation on your wife."
This is precisely what I said a very long time ago, karma is a bitch and will come back and bite you in the ass with no warning. My Mama once told me that cheaters never prosper.....Enjoy the hell out of this Elizabeth! John is gettin' his.
So...should he write a check, or just hit up an ATM for the 2 mil?
Put him in a cell with Boygeorgeovich and teach them both how to pull a train with their spincters.
He's just the prototype greedy satanic cult thug Presidential candidate. Like mass-murderer John Wayne Gacy, Edwards will marry and father four children during his stay in prison. Like Charles Manson, he has plenty of followers who say he wouldn't hurt a fly. Edwards could sell his own brand of perfume.
is he wearing a wig?
A Senator pay back money? Don't make me laugh. If you actually think ANY senator would pay money I guess you don't have a glimpse of the total pic. Does Hilary still owe for the same campaign? I heard YES, and I think I read that OBAMA was going to take care of that. Just sayin judgeepstein.com/how-much-campaign-debt-is-hillary-clinton-left-to-settle-by-herself-and-her-supporters/
Why, John Edwards!! You've been a NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY, boy. I'm sure your parents told you brain is in your skull, not in your groin. NASTY BOY! On my next visit, I'm gonna wash your mouth with Lava soap.Your Uncle Fred is spinning in his grave.
Sincerely
Aunt Lucille
Textbook Democrat Politician! A lot of democrats are good people. It's their leaders that are corrupt! Check out the character of these people that hold your ideals. Vote the whole lot out. Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, all of them harping about helping the poor when they've only been padding their own pocketbooks. These people have gotten filthy rich pretending to fend for the poor. Nonsense! They're flushing the whole country down the toilet! Yes it's true, doesn't just apply to Democrats.
All of you party defenders are absolute morons. Your argument my party isn't as corrupt as your party is just laughable and sad. People from both parties have been screwing over the working class of this country for over 100 years and there is nothing on the horizon that makes me think it will change. If the Republicans aren't bending over backwards for the rich and the Democrats aren't throwing money at the poor and lazy, then their lining their owns pockets. The only thing that these parties have accomplished is to get morons like all of you people who defend one party over the other is divided.
And divided we shall fall.