OOOOPS! Faisal Abdullah gets smoked by false promise of "tax-deductible" donations to Grampy McBush

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Yesterday, the New York Times published an article on questionable McCain donations bundled by Florida businessman Harry Sargeant III. At the bottom of the article, one of the unusually generous donors explains his feelings on the candidate:

Faisal Abdullah, a Palestinian immigrant who works as a director of operations of a window treatment company, identified himself in an interview as the driver behind the McCain donations from his relatives and friends. He sent them to Mr. Abu Naba'a, whom Mr. Abdullah described as an acquaintance. ...

He told his friends and relatives that the contributions were tax-deductible, something he later seemed surprised to learn from a reporter was not true. Many in his circle appear to have little affection for Mr. McCain but said they gave mostly as a favor to Mr. Abdullah.

Abdullah Makhlouf, the owner of a discount stereo store who is one of Mr. Abdullah's closest friends, and his wife contributed $9,200.

"He's like a worse copy than Bush," Mr. Makhlouf said of Mr. McCain.

When a reporter initially contacted Mr. Makhlouf, he denied giving to the McCain campaign.

After eventually admitting to the donation, Mr. Makhlouf added, "I'm still not going to vote for him."

TPM adds that Sargeant and Naba'a are being sued for allegedly defrauding a Jordanian business partner out of profits from a U.S. military contract -- a deal that's being investigated by Rep. Henry Waxman.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/07/mccain-donor-mccain-worse_n_117469.html

[rinsd]

1. Is false representation of donation solicitations a crime?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. It's a matter of whether this story grows legs

Yes, it's a crime. Yes, the story I posted yesterday (referenced in today's post) outlines a crime too.

The problem is that "someone" has to want to do "something" about it.

Until "someone" in a position of authority steps up and says "a law has been broken," it's just a post on a blog that got copied and pasted to DU.

:patriot:

[yardwork]

2. I wonder how many of chimpy's donators claimed tax deductions?

And got away with it, protected by the IRS?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. I'm willing to bet that...

...99% of what Bush "got away with" won't be known until he leaves office (if it's ever made public at all).