Edwards says tax liens paid

Denounces 'Desperate 11th Hour Attempt'

Edwards and her son

Congressional candidate Donna Edwards responded to the release of federal tax liens filed against her, which showed the fourth district Democrat developed a debt of more than $11,000 in unpaid taxes.

The papers, filed against Edwards by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), identified three instances when federal taxes had not been paid. According to the papers, the tax periods ended at the end 1994 in one instance, and on New Year’s Eve in 1995 and 1999 in the remaining two.

Those papers showed Edwards with a debt of $9,786.21.

Edwards told PolitickerMD.com that she had fully repaid the debt and subsequent interest.

“They're mine,” Edwards said. “I paid them.”

A state form filed against Edwards by the Comptroller’s office for the year 1999 also showed her with a balance of $645.56.

Edwards claimed the release of the documents was orchestrated by the campaign of her rival, incumbent Rep. Al Wynn. She called this “a desperate attempt” at the “11th hour” by Wynn.

PolitickerMD.com received the documents last night through an anonymous tip and, despite attempts, did not gain comment from Edwards or her campaign until this evening.

In addition, Edwards claimed the Wynn campaign released the documents because they were afraid of losing the Democratic primary on Tuesday.

Lori Sherwood, Wynn’s campaign manager, responded to the release earlier today, prior to our interview with Edwards.

“Ms. Edwards had 3 liens placed on her property for failure to file state and federal taxes over a period of many years,” Sherwood said. “Instead of working out a payment plan with the IRS and the State of Maryland, Ms. Edwards, who was working as an executive director of a non-profit foundation making a 6 figure salary, let the state and federal government incur more costs by forcing them to take her to court in order to collect money rightfully owed to the government.”

For her part, Edwards said she was a “single mother” during the period in which her debt amounted.

“I went nearly ten years without child support,” she added.

A new automated telephone call from the Wynn campaign attacks his opponent for the liens. When asked if the congressman was justified in making the matter a political issue, Edwards said the “voters” would “have to decide that.”

In addition, Edwards also responded to the charges that she had been suspended from the Washington, D.C. Bar Association because she had not paid her dues.

The candidate said the reason she stopped paying her dues was because she stopped practicing law.