Al Franken’s Senate race is facing its first major controversy: the revelation that Franken could owe up to $70,000 in back taxes. The problem is not exactly tax evasion, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune, but confusion as to which states can claim income from Franken’s books and speaking engagements—a distinction, Franken’s team points out, that was his accountant’s responsibility to make.
However, as Star metro columnist Katherine Kersten observes, “Franken’s failure to pay income taxes in 17 states, failure to pay workers compensation premiums, failure to pay disability premiums and failure to file corporate tax returns pretty much takes the wind out of the 'gosh, I forgot' argument.”
Whether voters will buy Franken’s apology remains to be seen. Josh Kraushaar of The Politico, says that "The luster may be beginning to come off Al Franken's Senate campaign."
Commenters on the Star Tribune’s website responded with everything from calls for Franken to give up the race to cheers to keep going—as well as ironic nuggets that would make Franken the comedian proud: “He really is one of us - just an ordinary Minnesotan who cheats on his taxes and then writes a $70k check.”
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