2-29-04 

The January 2004 Federal Tax Trial of Dick Simkanin
Transcript Excerpts & Analysis:

Please Note:
 
The excerpts herein are not presented in strict chronological order. Some of the first excerpts are actually from nearer the end of the trial and are presented first to provide a better framework for understanding how the DOJ and the Court conspired throughout the trial to deny Dick Simkanin due process, hide the truth and insure his conviction. 

Although these are just excerpts from the trial, readers should be able to discern the problems with the prosecution's case and the unlawful and immoral tactics employed to control the trial, deny due process and manipulate the jury. 

The pervasive patterns of restricted testimony, biased rulings, inability to present a substantive defense and the deliberate misrepresentation of the law to the jury should be apparent to the most casual reader.  

Comments have been embedded throughout this document to provide the reader with a better understanding of the specific trial context and the issue of law and/or due process in question.   

Although as of this date portions of the trial transcript remain sealed by the Judge for unknown reasons (including possibly to prevent the public from determining the identities of the jurors) the Volumes
of the
full transcript are available through the links at the bottom of this page.


The Transcript Excerpts & Analysis:
 

The following links will you advance/jump to the desired section of this document:

 ·       The elements of law required to convict (from the Judges Instructions to the Jury)
 ·      
The language of the Indictment:  Q: WHO is required?
 ·      
The manipulation of the Jury – Part 1, knowingly faulty jury instructions
 ·      
The manipulation of the Jury – Part 2, the Jury ask questions, the judge lies
 ·      
DOJ & IRS Agent Deceptions: Simkanin had “income” -- but is it taxable?
 ·      
Judge McBryde: The Law will not be discussed!
 ·      
What law was used to deny Simkanin his refunds?
 ·      
Simkanin takes the stand, but NO defense is allowed
 ·      
Schulz Cut Off on the Stand



The Elements of the Law Required to Convict

 

Below is a portion of the jury instructions from the judge given at the conclusion of the trial.  In addition, we have provided a short summary of the failings in the prosecution's case to prove each element as required by law. 

This excerpt was the judge's explanation to the jury of what the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict on “Willful Failure to Withhold.”  The jury instructions concerning “Willful Failure to File” were very similar in structure and content.
 

Volume 2, Beginning page 253
(Judge McBryde, post-testimony charge to the jury)
 

2 Now, let me explain there that each count, 1 through 12,

3 pertains to a different tax quarter. You'll have the text of

4 the indictment with you in the jury room so you can see which

5 tax quarter is at issue in each count. And this proof has to

6 be made as to each of those counts. And I'm going to list one,

7 two, three, four -- first, second, third, and fourth -- the

8 things the government has to prove as to each of those counts.

9 First, that Arrow Custom Plastics was an employer that

10 paid wages to its employees.


Comment: At trial Simkanin was not allowed to present any documentary evidence as to the legal definition of “employer”,”employee”, or “wages” or his legal obligations to file or withhold.  In fact, the only witnesses that testified that Simkanin had a legal obligations to withhold and file were non-government witnesses, i.e., Simkanin's own accountants and workers in Simkanin's business, Arrow Plastics. 

These witnesses were of course, not expert witnesses in the law and could not be cross-examined as to the content of the law.  Furthermore, these non-government witnesses were not, and could not speak in an official capacity for the US Government. 

At no point in the trial did any U.S. Government witness, in his/her official capacity for the government assert as a legal fact, under oath, that Simkanin had a legal obligation to file or withhold taxes. Details are below. 

In regard to the refund claim related allegations, no U.S. Government witness, in his/her official capacity for the government ever cited a specific law, or averred under oath, that such requests for refunds constituted crimes or that the law even required Simkanin, personally and specifically, to withhold payroll taxes.  

 
11 Second, that defendant was an official of Arrow Custom

12 Plastics who had responsibility for decisions of Arrow Custom

13 Plastics regarding the withholding from its employees' wages of

14 Medicare taxes, social security taxes, and federal income

15 taxes, the accounting for such taxes, and the payment of such

16 taxes over to the Internal Revenue Service.


Comment: At trial Simknain was not allowed to present evidence that he was not, and could not be a “withholding agent” as the term is legally defined in the Internal Revenue Code.
 

17 Third, that defendant caused Arrow Custom Plastics not to

18 withhold and not to truthfully account for and pay over such

19 taxes.
 

Comment: If Simkanin had no statutory obligation to withhold or “pay over”, he obviously would not have withheld.  Failure to perform an act NOT explicitly required by law, cannot be a crime.
 

20 And, fourth, that the defendant's conduct in causing Arrow

21 Custom Plastics not to withhold and not to truthfully account

22 for and pay over such taxes was willful.
 

Comment: “Willfulness” requires rejection of a “known legal duty” – Simkanin was prevented from presenting ANY substantive defense concerning the element of “willfulness”.   

The tax crimes Dick Simkanin was charged with require clear CRIMINAL INTENT. 

Judge McBryde not only prevented Simkanin from showing the jury the words of the law and U.S. court decisions that Simkanin formed his beliefs upon, but deliberately mis-instructed the jury with regard to the Supreme Court's ruling regarding “willfulness.” (more details below)
 

23 Those are the four things that the government has to prove

24 as to each of the first 12 counts of the indictment.

(end excerpt) 



The Language of the Indictment:
Q: WHO is required?
 

 

 

Section 7202. Willful failure to collect or pay over tax

      Any person required under this title to collect, account for, and

    pay over any tax imposed by this title who willfully fails to

    collect or truthfully account for and pay over such tax shall, in

    addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony

    and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000,

    or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both, together with the

    costs of prosecution.

 

 

 

 

 

Section 7203. Willful failure to file return, supply information, or pay tax

      Any person required under this title to pay any estimated tax or

    tax, or required by this title or by regulations made under

    authority thereof to make a return, keep any records, or supply any

    information, who willfully fails to pay such estimated tax or tax,

    make such return, keep such records, or supply such information, at

    the time or times required by law or regulations, shall, in

    addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a

    misdemeanor...

 

 

Comment: Simkanin was charged with 12 felony counts of violating 26 USC 7202 (Willful Failure to Withhold) and four felony counts of violating 26 USC 7203 (Willful Failure to File).  Note: The remaining 15 felony counts were for requesting refunds of tax payments previously paid. 

Central to these criminal charges are the words “Any person required...”.  It should be obvious that these statutes do NOT, in and of themselves, specifically identify WHO is required!  It should also be obvious that these “laws” are in fact “penalty statutes” that arise only after violating a separate legal obligation beyond that specified in statutes the indictment. 

This question was the central legal issue at the trial:  Was Dick Simkanin one of these “required” people? 

Incredibly, even though the general “penalty” statutes above apply to hundreds of different types of taxes including excise taxes, imposts and duties found within the “Internal Revenue Code” -- the indictment itself NEVER averred what specific statute (or tax) Dick Simkanin was alleged to have not withheld or not paid. 

In short, Dick Simkanin was charged with 31 tax related felonies.  He was convicted of 29 of the 31 counts and now faces up to 129 years in prison – all without the government EVER formally identifying – or asserting – what specific laws Simkanin actually violated.  

Right-Click here to download read the indictment. (300KB, .pdf) 

Details in the transcript and below document that even though Simkanin repeatedly asked the government for the source of their legal authority to force him to withhold or file, those requests were never answered. 

Even more incredibly, at trial the witnesses for the government technically never asserted any specific legal basis for claiming that Simkanin broke any law.


The Manipulation of the Jury – Part 1
Knowingly Defective Jury Instructions

 

This following excerpt was a side bar where Simkanin's attorney, McColl is putting the court on notice that he is objecting to the lack of a “Cheek” type of clarification in the jury instructions.   

The Supreme Court case of Cheek v. U.S. decisively settled that a criminal defendant can successfully defend against a tax crime involving “willfulness” simply by demonstrating a “good faith” belief in his actions – regardless of what those beliefs are or how outlandish they may appear.  
 

13 MR. McCOLL: Your Honor, for the record, we would

14 respectfully object that the theory of the defense is not to be

15 found anywhere in this Court's Charge and therefore denies us

16 due process.

17 THE COURT: What's not to be found in it?

18 MR. McCOLL: The theory of the defense, mainly there

19 was no --

20 THE COURT: Good faith?

21 MR. McCOLL: Good faith, yes, sir. There's no

22 definition of it, and we would respectfully request a

23 definition based on Cheek v. U.S. We would also request a

24 definition that willfulness does not mean someone acted out of

25 mistake or ignorance or negligence, gross negligence, as is in

1 the Fifth Circuit Pattern Jury Charge and in the prior charge

2 in this Court, so it will clarify for the jury.

3 THE COURT: Okay. You don't need to make an

4 argument.

5 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir.

6 THE COURT: Just tell me what it is you -- your

7 comments is really what -- I'm going to give you an opportunity

8 to make your formal objections after I read the charge.

 

Note: The “Cheek” type instruction regarding the Supreme Court's explicit ruling regarding “willfulness” was never given to the jury.  Instead, Judge McBryde substituted his own definition which essentially gutted Simkanin's totally proper and legal defense against the element of “willfulness.”   

Below are the final words below from the Assistant US Attorney David Jarvis's closing remarks to the jury following the testimony. The US Attorney deliberately mis-characterizes Simkanin's sworn testimony.  In fact, Simkanin never testified that he challenged the “constitutionality” of the law per se – he only challenged its applicability to him and the improper enforcement of the law against him by IRS without proper legal authority (jurisdiction).  

The words of the prosecutor are in defiance of the US Supreme Court's decision in Cheek.
Read The U.S. Supreme Court Cheek decision
 
(referring to Simkanin)
 

7 His real motivation, folks, as we talked about before

8 here, is not a misunderstanding of the law. It's a rejection

9 of jurisdiction and a constitutional challenge to the law. And

10 the Court tells you in the charge that his views, the

11 defendant's views, about the validity of the law and the

12 constitutionality of the law shall have no bearing on your

13 deliberations on the issue of willfulness. Thank you. 
 

 

The Manipulation of the Jury – Part 2
The Jury Asks Questions, The Judge Lies
 

Comment: Following the testimony, the judge gave his instructions to the jury and they began deliberations. During the deliberation process the jury passed out several notes asking for clarifications of the law and matters key to Simkanin's innocence. 

Most disturbing was that most of the notes dealt directly with the key legal issues before the court.
Below are excerpts from the trial transcript detailing the content of the juror notes and the selected discussions that occurred between the attorneys regarding the Court's answers to the notes. 

As the transcript clearly shows, the jury was deliberately lied to and mislead to the extent that the Judge effectively assumed the role of trier of law and fact, and effectively directed the jury to convict Simkanin in violation of his constitutionally protected Right to trial by an impartial jury. 

The most illustrative and egregious of Judge McBryde's efforts to manipulate the jury were in response to Juror note #4.  In that note, the jurors identified that the government had produced NO evidence that Simkanin fell under one of the categories in the law that require withholding.

Pay particular attention to the following quote from the transcript as the judge is reading aloud the content of juror note #4 and the Court's response to the jury:
 

Vol IV, pg.13 

20 (On record, jury and defendant present, 11:26 a.m.:)

21 THE COURT: Okay. I have the number four note from

22 the jury, and I have a response that I'm going to read to you

23 at this time.

24 Members of the jury, I have your note which is worded as

25 follows: Four. Since no proof was given that the defendant

1 and his employees were in an occupation listed in those 7,000,

2 are we to conclude that they are in fact not in that 7,000, or

3 do we need to read all 7,000 to see what the defendant was

4 referring to and, in fact, wasn't listed in that 7,000. Signed

5 by the foreperson and dated today.
 

(The judge's response:)

6 Now, in answer to your note: You are instructed that you

7 do not need to concern yourself with whether defendant's

8 employees are in an occupation "listed in those 7,000." The

9 Court has made the legal determination that within the meaning

10 of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7202, during the years

11 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, Arrow Custom Plastics,

12 through its responsible officials, had a legal duty to collect,

13 by withholding from the wages of its employees, the employees'

14 share of the social security taxes, Medicare taxes, and federal

15 income taxes, and to account for those taxes and pay the

16 withheld amounts to the United States of America. You are to

17 follow that legal instruction without being concerned whether

18 there are certain employers who are not required to collect and

19 withhold taxes from the wages of their employees. 

Comment: Despite the fact that the jury had correctly concluded that the government had produced NO factual evidence that Simkanin, as an employer, was required to withhold, the judge openly directed the jury to ignore the establishment of this essential fact, that is required, by law, to convict Simkanin

The first Note from the jury dealt with the issue of “Willfulness”.  Again, even the average Americans in jury were able to spot the obvious problem with the prosecution's case.  If “willfulness” were defined according to the recent Supreme Court ruling in the income tax case of Cheek v. U.S. (1991), a probable basis “reasonable doubt” would predictably exist.  

Following his inability to force Judge McBryde to include the Cheek-type instruction in the early stage of the trial, the following excerpt shows how defense attorney Arch McColl fought, and failed again, to have the proper definition included – even after the jury provided Notice to the Court of its problem with this key legal definition that was a statutory element of virtually all the criminal charges.   

The actual content of Note #1 regarding “willfulness” and the judges written response were never read into the court record.  The Court's actual response to the jury's note was hand-delivered to the jury and remains under seal, away from public examination.  

Volume III, page 270 

12 (Court in recess, 4:36 p.m.)

13 (Jury note, 5:55 p.m.)

14 (On record, no jury, no defendant present, 6:01 p.m.:)

15 THE COURT: Okay. At 6:00 o'clock we received a note

16 from the jury asking what is the definition of "willful," and

17 I've given you my proposed response.

18 Does the government have any objection to the proposed

19 response?

20 MR. JARVIS: No, Your Honor.

21 THE COURT: Does the defendant have any objection to

22 the proposed response?

23 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir, two objections. The first is

24 that the instruction on page 1 says you're instructed that

25 willfully means to act voluntarily and deliberately and

1 intending to violate a known legal duty. So it's got three

2 elements: voluntarily, deliberately, and intending to violate

3 a known legal duty.

4 But then down below on the same page it says "and that he

5 voluntarily and intentionally caused Arrow Custom Plastics to

6 fail to comply," et cetera. So, therefore, it needs the third

7 element, that he voluntarily and intentionally violated a known

8 duty and caused. Otherwise, you have two different mental

9 states. One has three elements and the other has two.

10 THE COURT: Okay. I'll overrule that objection. Any

11 others?

12 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir. And that I think in the full

13 definition of willfulness, just as you gave in the instruction

14 as a whole when you read them, should include the explanation

15 that it's not by mistake.

16 THE COURT: I overrule that objection. Do you have

17 any others?

18 MR. McCOLL: And then I would make the same

19 objection, Your Honor, on page 2 with regard to the paragraph

20 defining willfulness, that you have three elements at the

21 beginning of it and the instruction only has two when you apply

22 it. Namely, it's missing "the violation of a known legal

23 duty."

24 THE COURT: Okay. Do you have any other?

25 MR. McCOLL: No, Your Honor. 

 

Volume IV, Page 7

Below is Judge McBryde's response to Juror Note # 2, which requested the "full wording" of the statute
Simkanin violated for counts 1-12 (26 USC 7202).

2 Members of the jury, I have your second and third notes,

3 which are worded as follows: The second note, please give us

4 the full wording of the law, and then it has a parentheses

5 after it with an "S" in it, that the defendant allegedly broke

6 for the first 12 indictments. Signed by the foreperson.

(...Judge McBryde continuing)

20 The exact wording of the part of Title 26, United States

21 Code, Section 7202, that is pertinent to your decision is as

22 follows: "Any person required under this title to collect,

23 account for, and pay over any tax imposed by Title 26, United

24 States Code, who willfully fails to collect or truthfully

25 account for and pay over such tax shall be guilty of a crime."

Below is the exact wording of 26 USC 7202 (as found at Findlaw.com)
Compare this citation with that found in the excerpt above.
Without a doubt, Judge McBryde deliberately misquoted the statute
when he responded to Jury Note # 2 in an attempt to manipulate the jury.

 

Section 7202. Willful failure to collect or pay over tax
      Any person required under this title to collect, account for, and
    pay over any tax imposed by this title who willfully fails to
    collect or truthfully account for and pay over such tax shall, in
    addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony
    and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000,
    or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both, together with the
    costs of prosecution.

 

IRS Agents Deceive:
Simkanin Had “Income” -- But Is It Taxable?

 

To further the conclusion that NO government witness actually avers under oath that Simknain  broke any law, please consider the testimony of IRS Agent McGowan.  He was testifying in regard to Simkanin's violation of 26 USC 7203, Willful Failure to File:
 

VOLUME III, Beginning on page 14 

19 THE COURT: Okay. You may proceed.

20 ALLAN McGOWAN,

21 having been duly sworn, testified as follows:

22 DIRECT EXAMINATION

23 BY MR. JARVIS:

24 Q. Agent McGowan, I would like to direct your attention to

25 Government's Exhibit 176. Let me know when you're there. 

1 A. I'm ready.

2 Q. All right. Did you prepare that chart indicating the

3 approximate gross income Mr. Simkanin received?

4 A. Yes, I did.

5 MR. JARVIS: Your Honor, we would move Exhibit 176

6 into evidence.

7 THE COURT: It's received.

8 BY MR. JARVIS:

9 Q. At my request did you total up the amounts of payments to

10 Mr. Simkanin, as well as his 50 percent share relating to

11 Counts 28, 29, 30, and 31 of the indictment?

12 A. Yes.

13 Q. And the total payments to Mr. Simkanin, did they equal

14 $820,715? Is that correct?

15 A. That's correct.

16 Q. And his 50 percent community property share would be

17 $410,357.

18 A. That's right.

19 Q. And attached to Exhibit 176, does that list the minimum

20 filing requirements for the tax years in question, 1998, '99,

21 2000, and 2001?

22 A. That's correct.

23 Q. And based upon the amounts listed in the chart, was

24 Mr. Simkanin above the minimum filing requirement?

25 A. Yes, he was. 

Notice that the US Attorney's carefully constructed question is “conditional” in that it is based upon “income” amounts listed in the exhibit “chart”.   

In other words, Agent McGowan is NOT specifically asked if he (Simkanin) actually had a legal obligation to file, he is only asked if Simkanin's income was above the theoretical “minimum filing requirement”, leaving the jury to infer (by linguistic sophistry)  that the law was, in fact, applicable to Simkanin and that, therefore, he had a legal obligation to file.  

In short, this IRS agent's brief testimony FAILS to establish the legal fact that Simkanin was specifically required to file income tax returns per US statute.  Despite this failing of establishing a statutorily required element of the alleged crime and regardless that the judge was even Noticed by the jury of such, Simkanin was nonetheless, held convicted of four felony counts of Willful Failure to File.   

In the full transcript, you can see how defense attorney McColl questions the inclusion of this exhibit in the record, given the fact that the defense had earlier stipulated (agreed not to question) the government's calculation of Simkanin's “income”.  In retrospect, it becomes very plausible that the exhibit “chart” may have been offered solely as a vehicle to significantly limit the exposure of the agent on the stand and thereby circumvent any cross-examination. In short, Simkanin was again, denied the Right to confront his accusers at the IRS.   
 

 

Judge McBryde:
The Law Will Not Be Discussed!
 

Volume II, page 49
(Cross-examination of Simkanin employee Clemonds)
 

11 BY MR. McCOLL:

12 Q. Good afternoon, ma'am.

13 A. Good afternoon.

14 Q. So part of the decision was to withhold social security

15 and Medicare -- to not withhold social security and Medicare;

16 is that correct?

17 A. That's correct.

18 Q. And did you have a discussion with Mr. Simkanin wherein he

19 explained that social security was, according to the Social

20 Security Administration, a matter of voluntary participation?

21 A. Not that I recall.

22 Q. Do you know that as a matter of fact that it --

23 THE COURT: Pardon me, Mr. McColl. As a matter of

24 fact, it's not. So let's don't get into things that --

25 MR. McCOLL: We would object to the Court's -- 

1 THE COURT: -- are incorrect such as that.

2 MR. McCOLL: We would object to the Court --

3 THE COURT: And limit your cross-examination to the

4 scope of the direct.

5 MR. McCOLL: We would object to the Court's remark as

6 being an inaccurate statement of the law.

7 THE COURT: You may proceed. It is not an inaccurate

8 statement of law, Mr. McColl. You may proceed with your

9 questioning. If you want to take up something with the Court,

10 you can do so at the appropriate time.

11 MR. McCOLL: So my objection is overruled, Your

12 Honor?

13 THE COURT: You may proceed.
 

Volume II, beginning at page 73
(Defense on cross-examination of Simkanin accountant Kelly) 

Conveniently, Kelly, as a public accountant is not an IRS employee, and therefore is not testifying for the government about Dick Simkanin's actual legal obligation under the law. His testimony and personal conclusions are based upon what HE believes the law says. 

Note the judge's reaction when Arch McColl attempts to enter the legal definition of the word “employee” in the record via the definition found in the Internal Revenue Code itself.
 

14 BY MR. McCOLL:

15 Q. Sir, you sent 3402 to Mr. Simkanin; is that correct?

16 A. Yes, sir.

17 Q. And your doing that was an attempt to persuade him that he

18 needed to withhold taxes from his employees?

19 A. Yes, sir.

20 Q. You're familiar with the Internal Revenue Code, are you

21 not, sir?

22 A. Yes, sir.

23 Q. And the collection of income tax at the source is what you

24 sent him, Section 3402 on page 523 of that volume in front of

25 you; is that correct?

1 THE COURT: Do you have it as an exhibit, what you

2 sent him? Is one of the earlier exhibits what you sent him?

3 MR. KEMINS: It's Government Exhibit 13, Your Honor.

4 THE COURT: It's in evidence. He has as an exhibit

5 what he sent him. It's Government's Exhibit 13.

6 MR. McCOLL: This is the Code. It's a different

7 exhibit.

8 THE COURT: Okay. But I'm telling you in evidence is

9 Exhibit 13, which is what you sent him. Your question is what

10 did he send him.

11 MR. McCOLL: Right.

12 THE COURT: And I'm reminding you that in evidence is

13 what he sent him. We don't need the book to see what he sent

14 him.

15 BY MR. McCOLL:

16 Q. May I ask you if when you sent him that you understood the

17 definition of "employee" in the document that you sent him?

18 A. I understood what I thought I had been taught for years,

19 yes.

20 Q. Isn't the definition of "employee" --

21 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor. Beyond the

22 scope.

23 THE COURT: I'm going to sustain that objection.

24 That is beyond the scope of the direct.

25 You can come get your book back. He's not going to be

1 testifying in reference to the book and the other documents you

2 handed up there.

3 MR. McCOLL: Your Honor --

4 THE COURT: You can come get those back, if you would

5 like, Mr. McColl.

6 MR. McCOLL: May I leave it there for other purposes?

7 THE COURT: No. Come get them back, and if there's a

8 need for them later, you can bring them back up.

 

(The questioning continues on page 76) 

4 Q. When you sent it to him back then, did you know what the

5 definition of "employee" was?

6 A. I knew what I thought it was.

7 Q. What did you think it was?

8 A. An employee is somebody who works for an organization --

9 an entity and is employed by, under the direction of, that

10 entity.

11 Q. And that was your understanding?

12 A. Yes, sir.

13 MR. McCOLL: May I approach the witness, Your Honor?

14 THE COURT: Let me see what you're going to approach

15 him with.

16 (Bench conference with Mr. Kemins and Mr. McColl:)

17 MR. McCOLL: I want him to read the definition of

18 "employee" for purposes of 3402.

19 THE COURT: We're not going to play this game.

20 MR. McCOLL: That's not a game. That's the

21 definition.

22 THE COURT: Pardon me. Listen to what I'm saying

23 first.

24 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir.

25 THE COURT: This says for purposes of this chapter

1 the term "employee" includes. It goes on to say the things it

2 includes. It does not say it's an inclusive definition

3 applicable to the issue of the section under consideration. So

4 we're not going to play that game. That obviously is not an

5 inclusive definition. So we're just not going to go through

6 that.

7 MR. McCOLL: But, Judge, it doesn't incorporate

8 anything else. It doesn't say this incorporates --

9 THE COURT: We're not going to go through that. I

10 sustain the objection. 

 

From volume II, page 164
Cross-examination of IRS Agent Eastman by Arch McColl
 

Again, note the protection afforded the government by the judge as McColl zeros in on the IRS's application of the critical legal definition of “employee.”  

3 BY MR. McCOLL:

4 Q. I think you testified that these letters --

5 THE COURT: You don't need to go over what he's

6 already testified to. We've heard that. Go on with some

7 questions.

8 BY MR. McCOLL:

9 Q. Were you able to determine whether or not these workers

10 for Mr. Simkanin were employees?

11 A. Yes, sir. Our opinion was that they are employees.

12 Q. And there's more than one definition of employee in the

13 Internal Revenue Code?

14 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor, beyond the scope.

15 THE COURT: I sustain the objection.

16 BY MR. McCOLL:

17 Q. Which definition of employee did you --

18 THE COURT: I'm sustaining the objection as to the

19 definitions of employees in the Internal Revenue Code. There

20 will be no further questions about that from this witness.

21 MR. McCOLL: May I ask him which one he applied?

22 THE COURT: I'm telling you there will be no further

23 questions on that subject, Mr. McColl.

24 BY MR. McCOLL:

25 Q. Is there a difference of opinion, from time to time,

1 whether or not someone is an employee or not?

2 A. Yes, sir.

3 Q. Now, I know that these letters are somewhat sarcastic, but

4 does a worker have a right of privacy as to the information

5 about him when you contact a business person?

6 MR. KEMINS: Object, Your Honor, beyond the scope.

7 THE COURT: Yes. That's beyond the scope of the

8 direct and, plus, don't have a preamble into your question

9 that's a statement. Ask only questions. I sustain the

10 objection to that question.

11 BY MR. McCOLL:

12 Q. Are you hampered in your work at all in trying to get

13 information by the Privacy Act?

14 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor. That's --

15 THE COURT: I sustain the objection.

16 BY MR. McCOLL:

17 Q. To your knowledge, can an employer get in trouble or

18 violate any law with regard to the privacy of an employee by --

19 THE COURT: I sustain that objection as well, and I'm

20 going to ask that you be seated unless you have a question

21 that's within the scope of the direct that you would like to

22 ask.

23 MR. McCOLL: Thank you, Your Honor. 

Comment:  The definition of “employee” was specifically testified about in Simkanin's first trial in November, 2003 which ended with a hung jury.  In that trial The IRS agent recanted his own testimony about which legal definition of “employee” applied to Simkanin when it was pointed out to the court that it included ONLY government officials and employees.  

The agent later testified that a subsequent definition of the word “employee” from the law actually applied, although this too, was problematic for the government because the section of code that the second definition came from was, by statute, only applicable in Washington DC and the US Territories and was not from the section of the code that Simkanin was accused of violating. 
 

 

What Law Was Used to Deny Simkanin His Refunds?

 Vol II, page 123

Below is the direct examination by the US prosecutor of IRS Agent Joe Cooper who personally denied Simkanin's refund claims for his employee's tax payments.

Note not only how the judge conveniently shields the IRS witness from any questioning that gets close to the substance of the law, but also how the witness never avers under oath any specific law that he personally relied upon in his professional, and OFFICAL capacity as an IRS agent in denying Simkanin's claim. In short, Simkanin was denied his Right to confront his accuser.  15 of Simkanin's felony charges stem directly from these refund requests.  

13 Q. After you reviewed all of this, did you reach a conclusion

14 as to whether this refund should be granted or not?

15 A. I did.

16 Q. And what was your conclusion?

17 A. Concluded that the refund had no merit and the claim would

18 be denied in full.

19 Q. And did you inform Mr. Simkanin of this decision?

20 A. Yes, I did.

21 Q. And did you actually have any conversations with

22 Mr. Simkanin about this decision?

23 A. Yes, I did.

24 Q. Were these in person?

25 A. They were over the telephone.

 

From page 123

 

5 BY MR. KEMINS:

6 Q. Now, it looks like in here that Mr. Simkanin cited some

7 court cases and some sections of the Internal Revenue Code; is

8 that correct?

9 A. Yes, sir.

10 Q. Now, when you reviewed this claim, did you review what he

11 put in this letter?

12 A. Yes, sir, I did.

13 Q. After you reviewed all of this, did you reach a conclusion

14 as to whether this refund should be granted or not?

15 A. I did.

16 Q. And what was your conclusion?

17 A. Concluded that the refund had no merit and the claim would

18 be denied in full.

19 Q. And did you inform Mr. Simkanin of this decision?

20 A. Yes, I did.

21 Q. And did you actually have any conversations with

22 Mr. Simkanin about this decision?

23 A. Yes, I did.

24 Q. Were these in person?

25 A. They were over the telephone.

1 Q. And what, if you recall, did you tell Mr. Simkanin?

2 A. I informed Mr. Simkanin that after reviewing the

3 information that he provided I denied his claim in full. I

4 also told him that the courts have consistently ruled against

5 this type of position that he was taking in regards to seeking

6 refunds of payroll taxes.

7 Q. And did you tell him anything -- Did you express any

8 opinion about some of the court cases or other legal areas he

9 put in that letter?

10 A. Not that I recall.

 

Note how the IRS witness simply states he denied the claim and then (carefully) makes a non-committal statement about the how courts have ruled against “this type of position”.  The witness is never asked to cite any specific law that made refund requests from Simkanin a crime nor does he cite any legal authority that required such tax withholding from Simkanin.

Shortly after this point Arch McColl questions agent Cooper on cross:
 

5 BY MR. McCOLL:

6 Q. You determined this was an invalid request for a refund.

7 A. Yes, sir.

8 Q. If it had been exempted income, it would have been a valid

9 request.

10 MR. KEMINS: Same objection, Your Honor.

11 THE COURT: I'll let him answer that. If it had been

12 exempted income, I'll let him answer that.

13 A. Would you repeat. I don't understand.

14 THE COURT: If it was exempted income, would it have

15 been a valid request?

16 THE WITNESS: If it was exempted income?

17 THE COURT: You mean, if he didn't have -- I'm not

18 sure --

19 THE WITNESS: I don't understand the question. I'm

20 sorry.

21 THE COURT: -- doesn't have any income, Mr. McColl?

22 Restate your question.

23 BY MR. McCOLL:

24 Q. Well, don't the CFRs provide that some income is exempted

25 by statute and also under the Constitution as to corporate

1 returns?

2 MR. KEMINS: We're going to object to that question,

3 Your Honor. That's beyond the scope.

4 THE COURT: Well, that is beyond the scope of the

5 direct. I think you've dealt with that enough. It really ends

6 up just being an argument, Mr. McColl. Go on to something

7 else.

8 MR. McCOLL: Well, Your Honor, if the Court please --

9 THE COURT: Go to something else at this time.

10 BY MR. McCOLL:

11 Q. When you made your evaluation, did you base it on the Code

12 of Federal Regulations under Chapter 26?

13 A. Yes, sir.

14 Q. And was part of that to analyze his letter, which is

15 Government's Exhibit 91?

16 A. Yes, sir.

17 Q. Okay. And did you look at the citations that he provided?

18 Let me see if we're on the same page here. This is a six-page

19 letter --

20 THE COURT: Mr. McColl, let me have you and

21 Mr. Kemins come up here.

22 (Bench conference with Mr. Kemins and Mr. McColl:)

23 THE COURT: Mr. McColl, what you're, in effect, doing

24 is cross-examining to the end of proving that he was wrong in

25 his conclusion, which means you're trying to prove that the law

1 is not what the law is. And I'm not going to permit that kind

2 of cross-examination. The law is what the law is.

3 MR. McCOLL: Fine, Judge, but how about a valid, you

4 know, point that he could say, look, I'm wrong but it was not

5 totally unreasonable.

6 THE COURT: If your client wants to make that point

7 when he's on the stand, he can.

8 MR. McCOLL: Well, why can't I get him to say --

9 THE COURT: But we're not to that point yet.

10 MR. McCOLL: Can't I get him to go there, too?

11 THE COURT: No, we're not going to go through that

12 with this witness.

13 MR. McCOLL: Judge, you're cutting off my right to

14 cross-examine the most critical witness in the case.

15 THE COURT: Well, your cross-examination is directed

16 to lead the jury to believe that there might be something about

17 the Code that caused him not to be required to make those

18 payments.

19 MR. McCOLL: All right. I won't --

20 THE COURT: And I'm not going to permit that.

21 MR. McCOLL: I won't do that.

22 THE COURT: Okay. Well, you can go back. Don't

23 proceed in that direction whatsoever.

24 (End of bench conference.)

 

1 Q. Is it your practice or the policy of the IRS when you're

2 rejecting a claim from a citizen to cite cases, legal cases, if

3 they have cited cases?

4 A. Not necessarily.

5 Q. Did you have any Supreme Court cases that you could have

6 cited if you wanted to?

7 THE COURT: That's beyond the scope of the direct.

8 We're not going into that area.

9 BY MR. McCOLL:

10 Q. Well, I know you said that you --

11 THE COURT: Pardon me. Go on to something else.

12 BY MR. McCOLL:

13 Q. When you said that the cases were against him, were you

14 referring to any Supreme Court case?

15 A. I don't recall referring to a Supreme Court case.

16 Q. You would agree the Supreme Court is the law of the land.

17 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor.

18 THE COURT: I'll sustain that objection.

19 BY MR. McCOLL:

20 Q. Assuming that Mr. Simkanin is incorrect in his claim for

21 this refund, is it correct that CFRs do provide, both by

22 statute and Constitution, that some corporate income is exempt?

23 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor. That's beyond

24 the scope of the direct.

25 THE COURT: That's beyond the scope of the direct.

1 I'll sustain that objection.

 

(continuing...) 

9 Q. Okay. Now, in order to reject this claim, you've got to

10 do somewhat of a calculation on your own, do you not?

11 A. Yes, sir.

12 Q. And did you do a calculation with regard to his returns?

13 A. Calculation of what?

14 Q. For example, the gross income that was involved in the

15 taxable income.

16 A. He wasn't -- there was no calculation involved in gross

17 income. He was seeking a refund of taxes already paid.

18 Q. Right. But wouldn't it be appropriate to see if in

19 calculating the gross income there had been classes of

20 excludable income that weren't excluded?

21 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor.

22 THE COURT: The claims were for withholding that had

23 already been paid; is that correct?

24 THE WITNESS: Yes, sir.

25 THE COURT: Gross income doesn't have anything to do

1 with that, though.

2 THE WITNESS: Gross income has absolutely nothing to

3 do with it.

4 THE COURT: Okay. Let's get on to something that's

5 relevant to his testimony, Mr. McColl. Gross income doesn't

6 have anything to do with that.

7 MR. McCOLL: Well, maybe I'm confused, Your Honor,

8 but --

9 THE COURT: Well, just go on and ask a question even

10 if you are, and we'll see how to deal with it.

11 BY MR. McCOLL:

12 Q. If his accountant or his bookkeeper had made a

13 determination of gross income that was incorrect and included

14 excludable income --

15 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor. That's beyond

16 the scope.

17 MR. McCOLL: It's in the heart of the scope, Your

18 Honor.

19 THE COURT: Well, it's nonsensical, so I'm going to

20 sustain the objection on that ground, since gross income

21 doesn't have anything to do with what he was dealing with.

22 BY MR. McCOLL:

23 Q. Is it true that there are certain items within the class

24 of gross income that may be excluded income?

25 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor. That's beyond

 

Continuing on page 134 

15 Q. What was the nature of the conversation?

16 A. I asked him why he hadn't filed any employment tax

17 returns, forms 941/940.

18 Q. And did he go over some of the items in this multi-page

19 letter with you to try to explain what his position was?

20 A. To the best of my recollection, the only thing we

21 discussed was the fact that he believed he didn't have to

22 withhold payroll taxes from his employees' wages.

23 Q. Okay. In the process, did he explain to you that his

24 understanding of the definition of income was that it was

25 profit separated from capital --

1 THE COURT: I think that's beyond the scope of the

2 direct.

3 MR. McCOLL: I was asking what their conversation

4 was.

5 THE COURT: I'm telling you that's beyond the scope

6 of the direct.

7 BY MR. McCOLL:

8 Q. Did you tell him what income was?

9 THE COURT: That's beyond the scope of the direct.

10 Do you have anything else you want to ask the witness?

11 BY MR. McCOLL:

12 Q. How was it that you knew that courts -- or lower courts --

13 you said you didn't have any Supreme Court opinions -- that

14 lower courts, not the law of the land, had ruled --

15 MR. KEMINS: Objection to the form of the question.

16 Argumentative.

17 THE COURT: And I sustain the objection. Rephrase

18 the question.

19 BY MR. McCOLL:

20 Q. How was it that you knew that some lower courts had ruled

21 against his position?

22 A. Because I've dealt with cases of this type in the past,

23 and I've done research.

24 Q. You've dealt with many or few cases in the past?

25 A. Few.

1 Q. Just a few? And did you read any Fifth Circuit cases

2 about this?

3 A. I don't recall.

4 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor. It's way beyond

5 the scope.

6 THE COURT: I sustain the objection.

7 BY MR. McCOLL:

8 Q. Do you understand --

9 THE COURT: I sustain that objection. Let's don't

10 delve further into the issue of what courts have decided.

11 That's been dealt with enough.

12 MR. McCOLL: May I ask if he knows what

13 jurisdiction --

14 THE COURT: No. I think it's been dealt with enough.

15 Go on to another subject.

16 BY MR. McCOLL:

17 Q. Did he explain to you that he understood that social

18 security was not a mandatory system that you had to participate

19 in?

20 A. We did not talk about social security.

21 Q. But is that your understanding, that it's voluntary?

22 MR. KEMINS: Objection, Your Honor.

23 THE COURT: I sustain the objection.

24 BY MR. McCOLL:

25 Q. Within the scope of your expertise as an employment

1 specialist, do you --

2 MR. KEMINS: Same objection, Your Honor.

3 THE COURT: Well, I haven't heard this question.

4 Go ahead and ask the question.

5 MR. McCOLL: Go ahead and sustain us, Judge.

6 THE COURT: Pardon?

7 BY MR. McCOLL:

8 Q. Within the scope of your expertise --

9 THE COURT: Is this the same question you just asked

10 rephrased?

11 MR. McCOLL: No, Your Honor.

12 THE COURT: Doesn't have anything to do with social

13 security?

14 MR. McCOLL: Different question.

15 THE COURT: Okay. Go ahead.

16 BY MR. McCOLL:

17 Q. Within the scope of your expertise as an employment

18 specialist, do you deal with Medicare and social security

19 issues?

20 A. Yes, sir.

21 Q. And in that process, have you come to find out whether

22 social security is mandatory for an employer to participate in?

23 MR. KEMINS: Your Honor, objection. This is beyond

24 the scope of anything we asked him.

25 THE COURT: It's beyond the scope of the direct. I

1 sustain the objection.

2 BY MR. McCOLL:

3 Q. From the employee's perspective, do you know of your own

4 personal knowledge and your expertise, whether an employee can

5 go to an employer and say, "I don't wish to participate in the

6 social security program and please do not deduct for me for

7 that purpose"?

8 MR. KEMINS: Objection again, Your Honor. It's

9 beyond the scope.

10 THE COURT: That's beyond the scope of the direct. I

11 sustain the objection.

12 Please, Mr. McColl, try to keep your questioning within

13 the scope of the direct. Do you have any other questions?

14 MR. McCOLL: I'm just having difficulty

15 understanding --

16 THE COURT: Do you have any other questions,

17 Mr. McColl?

18 MR. McCOLL: Yes, Your Honor, I do.

19 BY MR. McCOLL:

20 Q. In August of 2000 you started this review; is that

21 correct?

22 A. Yes, sir.

23 Q. And when did you conclude it?

24 A. Late August 2000.

25 Q. So it took about a month?

1 A. Yes, sir.

2 Q. Okay. And did you say that you researched some law?

3 A. Yes, sir.

4 Q. And what law did you research?

5 A. I don't recall the specific cases.

6 Q. Did you send him an opinion letter?

7 A. No, sir.

8 Q. And I think you told us you didn't give him a court case?

9 THE COURT: If he's already said that, we don't need

10 to go over it again.

11 BY MR. McCOLL:

12 Q. Did you say that?

13 THE COURT: Mr. McColl --

14 MR. McCOLL: I don't remember.

15 THE COURT: -- let's move forward. He's already

16 answered that question once. Let's move forward.

17 BY MR. McCOLL:

18 Q. Did you look at any regulations?

19 A. Yes, sir.

20 Q. Which ones?

21 MR. KEMINS: Asked and answered and beyond the scope,

22 Your Honor. We'd object.

23 THE COURT: Oh, go ahead and answer. Do you remember

24 which regulations you looked at?

25 THE WITNESS: I don't recall the specifics, but it

1 would have covered the regulations for 3401. 

Note that this IRS witness never establishes as a legal fact that Dick Simkanin was specifically a person required under law to make Social Security payments for his employees, nor that the refund claims were in fact criminal acts.  The jury is left to infer these critical facts to which the law is applied.  With the judge tightly controlling any discussion of the law, and instructing the jury that the law was solely his domain, the outcome of the trial was virtually assured.

(Please see the entire transcript for the full volley of defense questions and objections to this key prosecution witness.
)
 

  

Simkanin Takes The Stand
But No Defense Is Allowed


Comment:  the following excerpts illustrate in general how the judge improperly prevented Dick Simkanin from making a proper defense by explaining the basis for his beliefs about the law and the basis for the actions he took based on his reasonable, and good faith, understanding of those beliefs.


From Vol XXX Page 20:
(Simkanin testifying under Direct by his attorney, Arch McColl)
 

20 BY MR. McCOLL:

21 Q. Did you pay taxes in the normal manner for several years?

22 A. Yes. When I started the business back in --

23 THE COURT: He just asked you if you paid taxes in

24 the normal manner for several years, and you've answered yes.

25 Listen close to his questions and just answer his questions.
 


From Vol XXX Page 21: 

7 Q. And did there come a time when you began to have doubts

8 about the accuracy of the taxes that you were paying?

9 A. I initially paid all my taxes under the assumption that

10 there was a law that required me to do that.

11 THE COURT: He said did there come a point in time

12 when you developed doubts about the payment of your taxes.

13 Just answer that question.

 

From Vol XXX Page 23: 

1 THE WITNESS: Well, sir, the --

2 THE COURT: Listen to his questions and answer his

3 questions.

4 Ask the question again.

5 THE WITNESS: The question is complicated.

6 THE COURT: Pardon me, Mr. Simkanin. Listen to his

7 questions and answer his questions, and don't volunteer

8 information.
 

From Vol XXX Page 27: 

(McColl questioning Simkanin about his beliefs about the tax laws – which IS the defense to the element of “Willfulness” for the crimes of failure to file or withhold) 

7 Q. So has there been a direct tax levied by the Congress in

8 our history as a country?

9 A. In the history of the country, there has only been three

10 direct taxes that have been levied, and the last one was during

11 the Civil War.

12 Q. And so the bill was given to the states; is that correct?

13 A. That's correct.

14 Q. And then it's given --

15 THE COURT: Mr. McColl, let's get this down to the

16 issues that are relevant in this case. I'm going to instruct

17 the jury on the law.

18 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir.

19 THE COURT: And we're not going to allow a witness to

20 state what the law is contrary to what I'm going to instruct

21 the jury the law is.

22 MR. McCOLL: Absolutely.

23 THE COURT: So if you have some testimony -- you know

24 what the issue is in this case. If you have some testimony

25 relevant to that, let's develop that testimony.

 

From Page 28/29 

Note how the judge refuses to allow any discussion of the law, even though Simkanin's obligations under the law, and his specific factual situation as they relate to those laws are the central, and ONLY questions before the court. 

10 THE COURT: Let me have the attorneys come up here

11 just a minute.

12 (Bench conference with lead attorneys:)

13 THE COURT: You know, maybe the best way to approach

14 this, because I think you are getting into an area where you're

15 trying to tell the jury what the law is.

16 MR. McCOLL: No, Judge, I don't --

17 THE COURT: Listen to me, Mr. McColl, and don't

18 interrupt.

19 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir.

20 THE COURT: We're going to -- I'll tell you that the

21 first thing you're going to have to do is establish why he

22 didn't pay. Just ask him why he didn't pay.

23 MR. McCOLL: Okay. I will.

24 THE COURT: And then we can go from there and see how

25 much elaboration we'll allow. 

1 MR. McCOLL: Okay.

2 THE COURT: Why he refused to withhold, or whatever

3 you want to call it.

4 MR. McCOLL: Okay.

5 THE COURT: And why he didn't file his tax returns

6 and why he asked for the refunds. Those are the three

7 bottom-line issues, why he did those things. Not what the tax

8 law means but why he did those things.

9 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir.

10 THE COURT: Then we'll go from there, but let's do

11 that first.

12 MR. McCOLL: Well, I will, but if you'll let me have

13 five predicate questions prior --

14 THE COURT: No. We're going to ask those things

15 first, and not get into what the law is.

 

From Page 41/42 

Simkanin is being questioned about the Brushaber Supreme Court decision that decided that direct taxes on income are unconstitutional. 

7 BY MR. McCOLL:

8 Q. Did you read -- could you turn -- You've read this

9 opinion.

10 A. Yes, I have.

11 Q. And it was part of your determination to reach the

12 conclusion that you reached, correct?

13 A. Yes.

14 Q. And it states that --

15 MR. JARVIS: Your Honor, I object to quoting from the

16 law.

17 THE COURT: I sustain the objection.

18 BY MR. McCOLL:

19 Q. Did you rely on this opinion in making up your mind about

20 the -- whether or not this was an appropriate thing for your

21 wage earners to have a deduction taken out of their paycheck?

22 A. Yes, I did rely. It's directly from the Supreme Court.

23 Why wouldn't I rely on it?

24 Q. And in reading this, did you come to the conclusion that

25 the website of the IRS was absolutely incorrect? 

1 A. Absolutely incorrect.

2 THE COURT: Mr. McColl, I think we're going over the

3 same thing again and again. Let's go to some new material.

4 BY MR. McCOLL:

5 Q. And is that because the Supreme Court said that was an

6 erroneous assumption to state that it was -- the income tax was

7 a direct tax?

8 A. That's part of the Brushaber case. The Brushaber case

9 says that --

10 MR. JARVIS: Objection, nonresponsive.

11 THE COURT: Mr. McColl, I think we've had him --

12 you've had him testify, I don't know how many times, but more

13 than once that he read the Brushaber case as saying that income

14 tax is an indirect tax. I don't think we need to keep going

15 over that.

16 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir.

 

From Page 47/48 

This excerpt is but one of Simkanin's attorney's failed attempts to have relevant, exculpatory  evidence admitted.
 

21 Q. Is this the GAO report that you're referring to dated

22 February 1999?

23 A. Yes.

24 Q. And is this part of the process you did to educate

25 yourself with regard to your decision that social security was 

1 not a mandatory program?

2 A. Yes.

3 MR. McCOLL: Your Honor, we would offer into evidence

4 Defendant's Exhibit 12.

5 THE COURT: It's denied.

6 MR. JARVIS: Your Honor, we object.

7 MR. McCOLL: Beg your pardon?

8 THE COURT: It's denied.

9 MR. McCOLL: May we approach the bench, Your Honor?

10 THE COURT: Yes.

11 (Bench conference with lead attorneys:)

12 MR. McCOLL: I'm a little confused, because in the

13 last trial you admitted this, and I don't want -- somebody is

14 going to grade my paper, and if I didn't lay a predicate that I

15 laid last time, I'd like an opportunity --

16 THE COURT: I think we made some mistakes in the last

17 trial, and we're going to try not to make them again.



Note: Simkanin's previous trial in 11/03 ended with a hung jury that voted 11-1 for acquittal.

 

18 MR. McCOLL: Okay. May I know the reason, please,

19 for the Court's ruling to deny this piece of evidence?

20 THE COURT: One of the reasons is you violated my

21 motion in limine.

22 MR. McCOLL: No, Your Honor, the letter is what the

23 motion in limine was on.

24 THE COURT: You violated my motion in limine by

25 offering it. That's one of the reasons.

 

The motion referred to was submitted by the Department of Justice to exclude ALL Simkanin defense exhibits.  The court approved the motion.
NO defense documentary exhibits were allowed during the trial. 

1 MR. McCOLL: Begging your pardon, Your Honor.

2 Is that your understanding?

3 THE COURT: My motion in limine was to your entire

4 exhibit list.

5 MR. McCOLL: Oh.

6 THE COURT: Okay. So you can proceed. 

 

From page 52 

The discussion is about whether the law requires withholding and whether withholding agreements are voluntary in nature under the law, again a primary issue in the case.
Note again, that Simkanin is NOT allowed to simply present the law itself so the jury can see the actual words of the law.
 

9 A. Yes, I did. This was under regulation 31.3402(p), yes.

10 Q. Does that regulation talk about if the employee "desires"

11 to have withholding?

12 A. Yes, it does.

13 Q. And does it talk about that you as the employer may accept

14 or reject the request from the employee?

15 A. That is exactly true, the way I understand it.

16 Q. And that at some time you may cancel it even if you've

17 agreed to it.

18 A. The agreement may be cancelled by either --

19 THE COURT: Let's don't keep going back over the same

20 thing, Mr. McColl.

21 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir.

22 THE COURT: I think you've already developed that.

 

From pages 53/54 

Note: Another attempt by McColl to get the law that Simkanin relied upon to be entered as evidence. 

12 MR. JARVIS: Your Honor, we object unless --

13 THE COURT: I sustain the objection. I think he's

14 made his point. Let's move on.

15 BY MR. McCOLL:

16 Q. Could you turn --

17 MR. McCOLL: May I approach the bench, Your Honor?

18 THE COURT: Yes.

19 (Bench conference with lead attorneys:)

20 MR. McCOLL: This regulation that he's been talking

21 about is Exhibit 44 in the defense exhibits. You have it and I

22 would like, with the Court's permission, to have him -- to

23 introduce it.

24 THE COURT: Oh, I don't think that's necessary. He's

25 already said that that is what he relied on, and I think it

1 will just be piling on to have a regulation itself in evidence.

2 And even if it had some slight relevance, I think the confusion

3 it would cause, having that kind of legal document introduced

4 into evidence, would far outweigh any possible relevance it

5 has. And I think it would be just a waste of time to put in a

6 lot of these things. The jury is not going to decide what the

7 law in this case is. He can say, and he has said and

8 apparently is continuing to say, what caused him to do what he

9 did or to decline to do whatever he should have done. And I'll

10 allow that. We're not going to put all this stuff in evidence.

11 MR. McCOLL: I'm not arguing with the Court at all,

12 but somebody is going to grade my paper on this case, and just

13 for the record I would respectfully object based on the Sixth

14 Amendment.

15 THE COURT: I think the fact that I've declined is

16 sufficient.

 

Page 58/59 

Note the following exchange about the definition of “employee” from the Internal Revenue Code which was central to Simkanin's defense and his obligation to withhold.  Importantly, as Simkanin's attorney points out, the word “employee” is central to the wording of the criminal indictment.  Again – the judge refuses any discussion of this key legal issue.
 

25 Q. So under 3402 of the Code, was it your understanding that

1 the definition of "employee" was a person who worked for a

2 governmental entity --

3 A. Absolutely.

4 Q. -- including the state and including a political

5 subdivision thereof?

6 A. That is correct. The Internal Revenue Code has many

7 definitions of the term "employee."

8 Q. All right, sir. Could you turn to 3402, which was in the

9 indictment as the document that was sent to you.

10 A. (Witness complies.)

11 THE COURT: Mr. McColl, if this is going into using

12 or making reference to the text of the Internal Revenue Code,

13 we're not going into that at this time.

14 MR. McCOLL: It's just a real short paragraph.

15 THE COURT: We're not going to do that, Mr. McColl.

16 MR. McCOLL: Yes, sir.

 

Page 71 

Another Defense exhibit refused.  This exhibit was a government study on the limits of federal jurisdiction inside the fifty states. 

3 THE COURT: I think you've developed enough testimony

4 on that subject. He said there's some report he had.

5 MR. McCOLL: Right.

6 THE COURT: You want him to tell you what the name of

7 it is?

8 MR. McCOLL: The name and the author. That's all I

9 want.

10 THE COURT: Okay.

11 MR. McCOLL: Thank you.

12 THE COURT: You can ask that.

13 MR. McCOLL: Could we approach -- I'm approaching

14 here because of the motion in limine about my exhibits.

15 THE COURT: We're not going to have the report in

16 evidence.

17 MR. McCOLL: All right. 

 

Beginning on Page 87 

Shortly thereafter, the DOJ begins its cross-examination of Simkanin.
Assistant US Attorney Jarvis questioning Simkanin about news stories
regarding tax “schemes and scams”.  

13 Q. My question is: Did you see the news release as part of

14 your extensive research?

15 A. Yes, I have seen those news releases.

16 MR. JARVIS: We would offer 149 through 152.

17 MR. McCOLL: Object under 403.

18 THE COURT: They're received. 

17 THE COURT: Why don't we go on to another phase.

18 MR. JARVIS: All right. Your Honor, I would offer

19 172 and 173.

20 THE COURT: They're received.

21 BY MR. JARVIS:

22 Q. Directing your attention to Exhibit 108, Mr. Simkanin.

23 Let me know when you're there. Are you there, sir?

24 A. Yes.

25 Q. This is the Notice of Expatriation that you mentioned

1 before?

2 A. Yes, it is.

3 MR. JARVIS: Your Honor, we would offer 108.

4 THE COURT: It's received.

 The next 60 or so pages in the transcript have the government grilling Simkanin extensively about an “expatriation” notice he sent to the government, the full-page WTP ads that were run in USA TODAY and Dick's possession of an international drivers permit.
 

 

Schulz Is Cut-Off On the Stand 

Vol. III, Page 189 

Bob Schulz is testifying, Arch McColl is questioning.
(Referring to specific issues Schulz discussed with Simkanin)  

3 A. Yes. We advised him to review Senator Inouye's letter on

4 the subject, which related directly to the questions he was

5 asking us.

6 Q. All right, sir.

7 A. And it was a letter that Senator Inouye had sent -- he was

8 a senator, U.S. Senator from Hawaii. He had sent it to one of

9 his constituents, a tax consultant, and the letter said --

10 THE COURT: I don't believe he asked you for the

11 contents of the letter.

12 MR. McCOLL: May we know the contents?

13 THE COURT: No, I don't think we're going into the

14 contents of the letter.
 

The letter, on U.S. Senate letterhead, plainly states that there is
NO U.S. law that requires filing an income tax return
.
The letter was NOT allowed into evidence.

Read the Senator's letter. 

Full Volumes of the Transcripts:

We suggest you read the excerpts and analysis above first, then
PLEASE Right-Click to download transcript segments
to your computer BEFORE attempting to open
:

(They all are in Adobe .pdf format)

Vol 1 – ** REMAINS SEALED** (Contains: Arraignment, Jury selection and Pre-trial motions)
Vol 1A – Opening charge to the Jury
Vol 2
  – DOJ case, Part 1
Vol 3
  – DOJ case, Part 2, Defense case (All), Jury deliberation begins
Vol 4
   -- Jury notes & the Court's responses
Vol 5
   – Judges non-public comments to the Jury

Link to ALL the Simkanin Trial Docket Documents (Motions, Court Orders, etc.)