Joe Manchin Spokesman Misled W.Va. Newspaper About Ties to Company Sued for Unpaid Taxes
The State Journal reported late last week that Mountain Blue Hotel Group, which is partly owned by AA Property, LLC, is facing a lawsuit for defaulting on a loan and accruing nearly $600,000 in unpaid taxes. The article originally stated, accurately, that Manchin and one of his longtime associates Larry Puccio were identified in the Aug. 8 complaint, a copy of which can be viewed here, due to their ownership stakes in AA Property.
A spokesman for Manchin contacted the article's author, Linda Harris, to contend that Manchin and Puccio had no connection to AA Property or Mountain Blue Hotel Group.
"Manchin and Puccio have no affiliation or stake in AA Property Group and no ownership interest or stock in Mountain Blue Hotel Group or the Hilton Garden Inn," said a statement from Manchin's spokesman that was added to the article.
The statement from Manchin's spokesman, who was left unnamed by Harris, contradicts Manchin's most recent financial disclosure, which states that he owns between $50,001 and $100,000 in AA Property. The disclosure was amended by Manchin on Aug. 8, the day the lawsuit was filed, to increase his 2016 income from AA Property from $11,000 to $11,200.18.
Surely the Good Senator from WV would ensure any business venture he was a party to, would be paid up on their taxes :shrug:
RIGHT ?