The South Dakota Democratic Party called on Rep. Kristi Noem to immediately transfer $4,000 in contributions from Edward and Sandra Picardi to the U.S. Treasury after Edward Picardi was convicted Friday of 13 felony charges related to income tax evasion.
Noem accepted contributions from Picardi long after he was indicted, notes Ben Nesselhuf, Chairman of the South Dakota Democratic Party. “Congresswoman Noem accepted thousands from a convicted tax dodger,” says Nesselhuf. “It’s time Congresswoman Noem issue an apology for accepting Picardi’s contribution and transfer his contributions immediately.”
Picardi was convicted of five counts of tax evasion and five counts of making false statements on his tax returns; the convictions cover every year from 1999 to 2007. Picardi also failed to report holdings in foreign bank accounts from 2007 through 2009. He faces up to 55 years in prison. The IRS alleged when Picardi was first charged that he cheated taxpayers out of up to $811,000 over those thirteen years.
In 2011, the Picardi household gave Rep. Noem’s campaign two contributions amounting to $4000. The Picardi household also donated to Noem and to the South Dakota Republican Party in 2010 and donated a total of $13,200 to Senator John Thune’s campaign and PAC.
“South Dakotans play by the rules,” says Nesselhuf. “Congresswoman Noem’s donor did not. Now Congresswoman Noem needs to do the right thing and transfer the money from a convicted felon out of her campaign account.”
BACKGROUND
Jury finds doctor guilty of income tax evasion. [Rapid City Journal, 10/9/12]
Edward and Sandra Picardi contribute $4000 to Congresswoman Noem. [OpenSecrets.org, Accessed 10/9/12]
###