Barry: "I Don't Know What They're Talking About"
Former mayor says he hasn't seen motion claiming he didn't pay taxes.
Updated 1:01 PM EST, Tue, Feb 10, 2009
WASHINGTON -- Federal prosecutors want a judge to send D.C. Councilmember Marion Barry to jail for failing to file his tax returns for the eighth time in nine years. In a motion filed Monday in federal court, prosecutors said the former mayor didn't file his taxes in 2007, violating his probation for previous tax offenses.
Barry spoke to News 4 Monday night; he says he has not seen the complaint against him.
"I haven't seen any papers, I haven't seen where they've been filed," Barry said. "My lawyers and I talk; they have not received anything, so I don't know what they're talking about."
Barry was given three years of probation in 2006 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges for failing to file his tax returns from 1999 to 2004.
Two years ago, however, prosecutors sought to have that probation revoked after Barry failed to file his 2005 taxes on time. A judge refused, saying prosecutors didn't prove Barry willfully or intentionally failed to file on time.
Prosecutors now say Barry has failed to file his taxes on time for the eighth time in nine years, and are calling his conduct "indefensible."
In his interview with News 4, Barry refused to talk specifics, even after reporter Miguel Almaguer offered to show him the complaint.
"I don't want to see them," Barry said. "If they serve them to me like they're supposed to, that's fine, but I have nothing to say about what they said."
Barry's probation expires next month.
"It is not acceptable for any citizen to shirk a basic civil duty, let alone a former Mayor and current City Councilman who [is] responsible for spending public funds collected from District of Columbia taxpayers," U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Taylor said.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Washington
First Published: Feb 9, 2009 5:20 PM EST
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