Judge here(Pittsburgh) to decide on opening Heinz will

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04268/384545.stm

A media lawyer told a judge yesterday that the will of the late Sen. H. John Heinz III should be made public because the details may hold new relevance in light of his widow's marriage to the Democratic presidential candidate.

Common Pleas Court Judge Frank J. Lucchino of Allegheny County yesterday heard arguments from Kelli Sager, an attorney representing the Los Angeles Times and The Morning Call of Allentown, and estate attorney Gregory B. Jordan on the estate executor's preliminary objections to the newspapers' request.

The newspapers filed suit July 9 to have the will unsealed. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tribune Review Publishing Co. have joined in the suit.

After yesterday's hearing, Lucchino said he would rule expeditiously, though the issue may or may not be settled before the November election.

[DemBones DemBones]

1. This seems to be an invasion of the family's privacy.

Everyone knows Teresa inherited a huge fortune when her first husband was killed in a plane crash. So what?

I can't see why anyone thinks John Heinz's will has anything to do with John Kerry.

[Renew Deal]

2. That's just nasty.

[TaleWgnDg]

3. two things. I am surprised that rightwing sources are not . . .

asking the court to open the Heinz Estate for their inspection; and two, I would be very surprised if the estate will be unsealed as to these challenges . . . it seems that the estate attorney kept the argument to procedural issues which is a good tactic.

edited to add: and I wouldn't mind reading the actual court filings regarding this challenge instead of "third-partying" it through non-legal newspaper sources.

[PittLib]

4. I might feel differently if Teresa and JFK had been together

for a long time ... but at this point, it seems irrelevant. They are companions,but they had whole lives before their relationship. I don't doubt that they maintain their own identities - meaning what was Teresa's still is Teresa's. I don't know. The whole thing stinks. I think it is an attempt to air laundry.

[Princess Turandot]

16. I guess they are looking for something to embarass her?..

perhaps whether there were any references to what she could or could not do with the $$ that became hers, as opposed to what went to their foundations or kids? JK didn't take $$ from her for the campaign right? Didn't he borrow against a home they lived in?

And even though she 'merely' inherited her husband's wealth, that was his case as well; I don't think he ever even worked at the Heinz Corporation.

Other than pure nosiest, I don't know what they'll find.

Although I'm glad Ryan in Illinois got kicked off the ballot, I really didn't think them opening up his divorce records was a great thing, because it ultimately became a thing abt sex. Too much like how Clinton was hounded. Plus, given the costume Jeri Ryan agreed to wear on Voyager, I was even surprised she categorized his activities as 'abuse' of her.

[leQ]

5. wanna start suing to open records eh?

fine. that's jus fine by us. let the games begin.

[Carla in Ca]

6. The LA Times!!

I'm calling them tomorrow. If true, I'm cancelling my subscription.

[CityDem]

10. LA Time sued Jack Ryan

They wanted to see his divorce papers and when they were released, his campaign went tits up. Not saying that the Times should have access to this estate information, but they will do anything to sell a newpaper.

[Carla in Ca]

11. OK, I like the Ryan suit but

why Heinz-Kerry?

[Democat]

15. The LA Times bashes Kerry, they bashed Davis, they bash Dems

The LA Times might give us a little something every once is a while, but they are no friend of Democrats!

[Sivafae]

7. I don't get it

Is there something I am missing? Why would they want to look at that? I read the article and it just seems as if it is unnecessary. That has nothing to do with the pres election.

[LizW]

21. It's harrassment

Using the courts to harrass the wife and children of one's political rival. It's slimey and low, but nothing I wouldn't expect of this bunch. Remember, they don't care if the records are ever opened or not. Either way, the press will obligingly make it look as if there is something damaging to Kerry there.

As someone put it in another thread, these people never sleep.

[Dr Fate]

8. This will not play well for Bush. People do respect a family's privacy.

I have a feeling that if the Kerry folks are smart enough, they could turn this against Bush in a big way- if Bush/media decides to run w/ this...

Kerry should say: "Once again, Bush attacks my private life in order to avoid facing up to his mistakes in Iraq."

I think most people would be totally turned off by a focus on Kerry's marriage.

[stevedeshazer]

9. It will be a great day when

Judge <insert your favorite here> rules the following:

1) Dick Cheney must release his energy task force records immediately or face a lengthy prison term for obstruction of justice regarding his fake driver's license from Wyoming.

2) George W. Bush must resume his post at the Alabama National Guard to finish his commitment, just prior to his War Crimes trial at the Hague.

3) All records of the Reagan and Poppy Bush administrations are publicly released.

4) Henry Kissinger and Donald Rumsfeld must wrestle for world supremacy in a pool of blood and guts in the Capitol Rotunda before a live audience during halftime of the Super Bowl.

Feel free to add.

[Kimber Scott]

12. He died before Kerry came into the picture. Nothing to do with Kerry.

nt

[Kool Kitty]

13. Why would they want to do this?

What's the point?

[Scooter24]

14. Huh?

What new relevance? I highly doubt the Heinz will contains information that could be linked to Kerry.

And Theresa isn't running for public office, her husband is. I can't see how her previous marriage could somehow hold influence in her current relationship. If the judge ruled in favor of this suit, then what grounds would Theresa have to prevent all of her personal tax records from becoming public?

[Princess Turandot]

17. I thought she made her current income tax records available..

although obviously not her total assets. I recall noticing that she seemed to invest primarily US treasury instruments, which are all federally taxed, and are very conservative investments. It also looked like she paid a fairly high rate of taxes on them.

[Princess Turandot]

18. hmmm..I just found an article via Google form something called..

Foundation Watch,
published by Capital Research
Center, a non-partisan education and
research organization, classified by
the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity.

It's catchily titled:
"The Heinz Foundations and
the Kerry Campaign
One Has Money, the Other Needs Money"


I just skimmed it, but I think they are implying that she may be using foundation money improperly, or pretending that some of her $$ is in a foundation (and protected from taxation) improperly.

Here's one quote:

"IRS Form 990 for 2001. About twenty pages
into the document you’ll find a list of
“Contributions, Gifts and Grants Received.”
You’ll see that the Heinz Family
Foundation received $6.4 million from The
Teresa & H. John Heinz III Charitable Trust
(Ms. Gibson explained that it’s a nonexempt
charitable lead trust controlled personally
by Teresa Heinz Kerry). There is
no explanation of the contribution’s purpose,
only that it was placed in an informal
fund within the Heinz Family Foundation.
In other words, the Teresa and H. John
Heinz III Foundation is not an exempt
foundation; it’s a private purse given a
name on the Heinz website."

nonpartison, indeed!

http://www.cdfe.org/04_04_FW.pdf

[DemBones DemBones]

19. The RWers are sure to have something nasty in mind.

That's how their minds work.

No doubt they think she should have married another Republican, but it is a free country, more or less.

[papau]

20. Form 990 is a disclosure of taxable activities - and a tax calculation

Appears they paid a tax - and this means?

[Princess Turandot]

24. Form 990 is the federal financial report for non for profits..

having income over $25,000 (I think.) It is an informational filing, and in addtion to the financial statements, provides information on the organizations activities, contributions, highest paid employees, highest paid vendors, highest paid officers (usually the CEO/COO/CFO)
of the organization and who its Board of Trustees is, plus other minutia.

They don't pay taxes by filing a 990. If a tax exempt organization engages in taxable activities which are defined roughly as things which are not in keeping with the reason why you have a tax exemption, they file a 990T, where tax would be calculated. I think there is a question on the 990 which asks whether you need to file a 990T. For example, you could decide to put up an apartment building and rent to the public, while you have an exemption because you are a museum. Monies earned by your real estate activities would be reported and taxed via a 990T, since museums are not in the real estate biz.

[papau]

27. True - 990T is the correct form number for the tax - but the non-exempt

status of a contribution is, as I recall, on the tax calculation form (990T) - so I assumed the reporter was refering to that form (990T) when he noted non-exempt monies and form 990, so I retained the "990". My reporting skills do not exist! :-)

Indeed - I have never filled out the 990 - and defer to you as to what is on it.

Thanks for the heads up!

[truthisfreedom]

22. it will stay closed until the election.

i can feel it! 8^)

[thecrow]

23. Okay, then let's sue to open W's sealed records

Turnabout's fair play.

[mountainvue]

25. Ridiculous. n/t

[Eurobabe]

26. this is disgusting, it's nobody's business.