TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! KANSAS CITY REVOKES CLEARANCE FOR 3RD DISTRICT CANDIDATE MICHAEL FLETCHER TO RUN FOR COUNCIL!!! FLETCHER RESPONDS WITH $500K LAWSUIT AND PROMISE TO DONATE PROCEEDS TO OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH!!!

Yesterday, TKC wrote a GROUNDBREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE story about the current drama at City Hall involving desperate attempts to get 3rd District Michael Fletcher off the ballot along with the quizzical behavior of Sharon Sanders Brooks.
But the story doesn't stop there . . . There's so much to report that I had to get help bring out all the details from a KICK-ASS TKC READER AND COMMENTER in order to follow-up coverage and stay ahead of the mainstream media.
First what's important to this post is the documents that I've shared with TKC TIPSTERS in the know.
Take a look at more . . .
Check the letter from the revenue dept. that rescinds previous Tax Clearance Approval of Mr. Fletcher's candidacy.
To begin the letter, Mr. Fletcher puts City Hall on notice that they're going to have to deal with his lawyers.
Now here's the old school letter that might be a point of contention. But then the financial receipt shows everything paid in full.
What do we know at this point?
A TAX BEEF IS HOLDING UP 3RD DISTRICT CANDIDATE MICHAEL FLETCHER FROM MAKING IT TO THE OFFICIAL BALLOT.
MR. FLETCHER DENIES ANY UNPAID PERSONAL TAXES.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS MOVE AND RECENT DRAMA BETWEEN MR. FLETCHER AND COUNCIL LADY SHARON SANDERS BROOKS (SSB) IS RAISING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
THERE'S AN ALLEGATION THAT THE KANSAS CITY STAR WORKED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT PRIVATE TAX RECORDS THE CITY MIGHT HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SHARING!!!
FINALLY, THIS ELECTION FLAP COULD COST KANSAS CITY QUITE A BIT OF MONEY THAT JUST MIGHT (DESERVEDLY) END UP AT OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH WHERE IT COULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE!!!
Now let's get on to the collaborative TKC GUEST POST by an author who has been following this drama for quite awhile and explains all of this in greater detail.
Check it:
The significance of these documents is difficult to overstate.
First, it is critical to understand that the U.S. Constitution expressly prohibits the government from searching not only the homes of American citizens but of their property including their writings.
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that:
“ The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and Warrants shall not be issued, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Therefore at the writing of our Constitution the Founding Fathers sought to deny the government access to the private "papers" of Americans without a search warrant based on probable cause.
Here, Mari Ruck who isn't some clerk or secretary or assistant but is the highest ranking management employee in Kansas City, Missouri's Finance Department's Rrevenue Division conducted an illegal search of Michael Fletcher tax records going back to at least 2007, and did so without a search warrant or any concern for the Constitutional rights of Michael Fletcher which should scare the hell--not out of Michael Fletcher--but out of every person who believes the government can be trusted.
Think about it, the KCMO Finance Department in conjunction with the "Office of the City Attorney" illegally searched the confidential and private records of a candidate who the city officials do not like or who these officials fear his election.
We as Kansas Citians NOW KNOW that the City Attorney, Galen Beaufort, and the Director of Finance and the Commissioner of Revenue believe they can do whatever they want including initiating a legal proceeding against anybody they believe is a threat to them or who they do not like. So if a small business owner contests a tax lien or a homeowner thinks she was given a property tax appraisal that is inaccurate, the City of KCMO has made clear that they are willing to punish that tax payer to make them shut their mouths or to send a message to anybody else who challenges the city.
This is not what America is based on. The Constitution's protections against illegal searches is to protect us from the government, it is to ensure that the Government not steal our property or throw us into jail when we exercise our right to free speech.
This document shows that before the City chose seek to withdraw Michael Fletcher's certification that allowed him to run for City Council, that the City KNEW that Mr. Fletcher did not owe a single penny to the City but the City and Galen Baeufort went ahead and sued Fletcher without a legal basis--This is corruption and if WE ALL do not stand against the City's attack, we will be inviting the City to attack our neighbor, brother or even our children.
The City had no legal basis to sue Fletcher because the City Charter mandates that a candidate for city council not owe any personal taxes. The City's own letter, written by Mari Ruck admits that when Fletcher filed the "Revenue Division found no taxes in arrears listed under the tax account for your social security number..."
Therefore they issued a tax clearance letter because he owed no personal taxes.
Therefore, when the City then filed the law suit against Fletcher--which he learned about when the KC STAR Reporter Lynn Horsely told him about it and admitted that the City had also discussed his taxes with her--the City of Kansas City KNEW that Michael Fletcher did not owe taxes and was qualified in every way to seek election BUT the City STILL sued him and continues to try and deny the voters of the 3rd District an amazingly qualified city councilman who WILL stand up and fight, not for purposes of fighting BUT because he believes African Americans and Latinos are entitled to the same rights as Caucasians.
What may be more shocking is that there is no question that THE KANSAS CITY STAR is now openly actively working with the City Attorney, the Finance Department and the Commissioner of Revenue to attack Michael Fletcher in hopes of defeating his candidacy. To date the Kansas City Star has NEVER reported the truth about Fletcher's "suspension" which Supreme Court Justice Ronnie White admitted was based on an "arbitrary and unwritten rule" that Gary Fenner and Ortrie Smith (two white federal judges who never had to worry about paying $10,000 in earnings tax) came up with to "fuck" Fletcher.
The Star instead of exposing Judges Fenner and Smith for the racist judges who started this attack against Fletcher 8 years ago based on their false allegations that Fletcher "misquoted" testimony in a motion filed by two white associates--not Fletcher--refuses to print the court dockets that show Fletcher NEVER filed the very documents that they claim support his unprecedented "suspension." The Star's Lynn Horsely is happy to announce the City's lawsuit against Fletcher, weeks before this election, but refuses to report that, Fletcher's entire suspension started only after Gary Fenner questioned Michael Fletcher's "integrity" at a function at the Lake of the Ozarks during a dinner conversation, which caused Fletcher to laugh at Fenner and point out that "your date's husband or your wife probably wouldn't consider you to be an authority on integrity" referencing Gary Fenner and Judge Peggy McGraw's adulterous affair which was carried on in the open and amongst hundreds of lawyers who attended the the Bench Bar function..and like most lawyers to cowardly to question two judges carrying on an adulterous affair in public.
Based on this admission by the City which proves Michael Fletcher was falsely sued, TKC has learned that on Friday Fletcher will hold a press conference where he will present even more evidence to show that this law suit which Galen Beaufort is praying will save his job because Fletcher will not allow him to stay on as City Attorney if he wins. At this press conference Fletcher is going to put the City on notice that he will agree to settle his claim within the next seven days against the City and its employees individually for malicious prosecution, constitutional violations and invasion of privacy and his claim against Sharon Sanders Brooks in exchange for $500,000--all of which he will donate to Operation Breakthrough. If the City refuses to pay his claim, he will seek a million dollars against the City the proceeds of which he will also donate to charity.
According to Fletcher the only way "dumb and corrupt people learn is by forcing them or the people who control them to pay money" and that "if people like Beaufort, the Commissioner of Revenue, SSB and the City Manager stand by and let corruption continue, we as a City will be at risk for even more millions of dollars in damages and even more embarrassment."
##################
I'm so confused. I thought SSB was suing KCMO because she looks terrible in sessy underwear.
ReplyDeletelolz
ReplyDeleteFirst story I've read on here this year worthy of a nuke illustration, Tee! Not that it's a surprise... but it's news. (I think. Its all so confusing or just verbose writing made to sound important.)
ReplyDelete"Maniac" Mike back suing everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think your "guest blogger" is Fletcher; it bears his rambling, incoherent, illogical, and paranoid style -- as well as his questionable hyperbole.
ReplyDeleteIn re Disciplinary Matter of Michael Robert Fletcher:
ReplyDeleteHer investigation uncovered numerous other instances of Fletcher’s
demeaning and abusive behavior while participating in depositions and mediation.
For example, during the mediation with St. Joseph Health Center of a case involving
race discrimination and wrongful discharge, Fletcher threatened to publicize
confidential patient information that his client had illicitly photocopied. In another
instance of professional misconduct, Fletcher left threatening phone messages at the
home and office of Laura Lesniewski, an architect with Habitat for Humanity.
Fletcher promised to seek sanctions and bring a lawsuit for Lesniewski’s “improper
and unethical negotiations with [Billy Duncan, his] former client.” Such threats were
hollow and improper because Fletcher knew that Lesniewski was not an attorney
bound by the rules that regulate contact with represented parties.
......
These and numerous other allegations paint a disturbing picture of an overzealous
attorney who frequently resorts to unprofessional tactics in an attempt to
harass, humiliate and intimidate deponents and their counsel.
Dumb and corrupt says it all.
ReplyDeleteGood for Michael Fletcher.
ReplyDeleteLets hope the Justice Department get's involved time to clean up this town.
Brooks, Galen Beaufort, and anyone who supports this invasion and violation of rights should face penalty. Any one of us could be next. I disagreed with your first lawsuit Mike but I now understand why you took this action. These folks are corrupt. The Star is on its way out anyway. It's reputation in the Black & Latino community has been tarnished for years anyway. The Star doesn't care about us anyway.
ReplyDeleteCan't Fletcher just pay the owed back tax and be cleared to run??
ReplyDelete10:10 I know this sounds crazy BUT I think the guy is standing on principle!
ReplyDeleteThis is scary stuff, is the whole City Staff this CORRUPT. Anybody could be next and nobody seems capable of stopping them.
ReplyDeleteThis cannot help the ETAX pass.
ReplyDeleteAnother Lawsuit Another reason to Vote NO to the E-TAX.
ReplyDeleteThese fools are wasting our money.
Well, that's what I concluded. ANother reason to urge Kanza Sittians to vote against the eTAX.
ReplyDeleteStarve em out!
Wait. So Fletcher does or doesn't have unpaid personal taxes? You can't say he doesn't and then wildly accuse an official or officials of digging up his records because that would imply that he does in fact have unpaid personal taxes!!
ReplyDeleteCan we get a confirmation whether fletcher was in fact taken off of the ballot?
ReplyDeleteSounds like there are people in the City that believe they are above the law and will resort to desperate and illegal ways to prevent scrutiny or to carry out devious agendas. Makes one wonder if the Attorney General may have been thrown off track by information they gathered from the City on the so-called "Preliminary Investigation" of the Port Authority. You know the one where the Attorney General said the Port Authority came out smelling like a rose when you and I and any third grader would instantly declare that the odor of shit was unmistakable.
ReplyDeleteThis is so pathetic. The level of corruption is so widespread within the City. Where is the Civic Council on this issue? This secret organization is always quick to endorse studies and projects and give direction to the City. (But only if their members can benefit.) They have been suspiciously silent on all of this. Are they complicit? What say you, Terry Dunn?
ReplyDelete11:25: Your comment doesn't make any sense. How does someone accusing (wildly or otherwise) someone else of illegally digging up private records imply anything except that a person's privacy was violated?
ReplyDeleteI'm confused . . .
ReplyDeleteIf I send tax forms to the IRS, are you telling me the IRS can't look at them?
A candidate has to get a tax clearance letter from taxing authorities, confirming he or she has paid all taxes. Are you telling me the taxing authority cannot look at its tax records to determine whether the letter should be issued?
11:53 Is Richard Nixon still dead? Is anyone objecting to the IRS looking at tax forms? I think the issue is making private information public.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it appears Fletcher got his tax clearance documentation.
I haven't seen anything in public other than what Fletcher has produced.
ReplyDeleteThe justice department should get involved. After complaining about the KCMO City council
ReplyDeletethe next week I received a letter from the Director of finance stating they were in the process of auditing
My accounts.
Be interested to know, after such a long and techncal post-- even about the mayoral race-- how many DIFFERENT people actually READ it, and actually COMMENTED on it?
ReplyDeleteBet I could count them on one hand!
Since when is it "illegal" to look up someone's tax history when in fact they were asked to do so by submitting a request for a tax clearance letter??????????????
ReplyDeleteStick to the facts and take out the names and you will find that he is not only responsible for his personal taxes but the taxes from his business as well. Had he given both identifying numbers in the beginning, this would not be a story.
1:29 ooohhh I get it so Fletcher is required to give "both identifying numbers" even though the City Charter ONLY requires that personal taxes be paid? It looks like Fletcher paid his personal taxes and at minimum paid all of his corporate taxes but the city claims he owed interest. This City is corrupt, why is it that no other candidates were investigated? this was a witch hunt and it backfired on SSB and Galen.
ReplyDelete11:29 you are missing the point, Fletcher had already received a tax clearane letter, the City staff then ordered the Commisioner of Revenue to go back and search his file--without a search warrant. The government is not allowed to search our business or personal records without a warrant. As a business owner and a resident of KC, this pisses me off, I wasn't for him before but I am for him now because I am positive he will fire Beaufort and the other corrupt politicians.
ReplyDeleteSeems ironic that a disbarred ex-lawyer who has filed suits in Federal court in California in which he states he is a resident of California can get any traction for this. Perhaps he can clear things up by releasing a redacted copy of his last 3 years of Missouri income tax returns (which every resident of Missouri must file if they have any income)- I'll bet those don't exist. Fletcher is a complete phony.
ReplyDeleteThe more important question Tony should be asking is why Mike Fletcher didn't address this tax issue over 8 months ago? The city has every right to hold someone accountable if they are stiffing them on taxes for years.
ReplyDeleteWinning Fair and Square: Ethics in Advocacy Writing
ReplyDelete© 2007 J. Lyn Entrikin Goering
Associate Professor of Law
Washburn University School of Law
1700 SW College
Topeka, Kansas 66621
lyn.goering@washburn.edu
(b) Misrepresenting Facts by Taking Deposition Testimony Out of Context
(i) In re Fletcher, 424 F.3d 783 (8th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 1827
(2006).
Facts: In representing several clients in employment discrimination actions,
Respondent, a Kansas City attorney who “has a history of using ethically
questionable tactics in litigation,”56 filed separate complaints against a single
defendant employer. Each complaint made inaccurate and misleading written
allegations based on selective use of quotations from previous deposition
testimony in a manner that grossly mischaracterized the deponents’ statements.
Held: The Eighth Circuit concluded, “These and numerous other allegations
paint a disturbing picture of an overzealous attorney who frequently resorts to
unprofessional tactics in an attempt to harass, humiliate and intimidate
deponents and their counsel.” The court concluded that Respondent “went
beyond zealous representation into deceptive and misleading practices.”57
Consequences: The Eighth Circuit affirmed the order of the United States
District Court for the Western District of Missouri, sitting en banc, which
suspended Respondent from practicing law for three years.
She one mean Bitch. She hate everybody. SSB= Clinton Adams=Gwen Grant Same person different weird ass face.
ReplyDeleteImagine.. all those SHITTY HALL GUYS not working today, spending their workday BLOGGING ON TKC. AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's why when it snows, MY STREETS get plowed and yours DON'T!
2:23 so you think Fletcher should be the ONLY candidate to release his tax return and do so for the last three years. this is similar to his being the only candidate who the City conducted a complete and illegal search of his tax records AFTER he was certified...my guess is that the City is going to admit they targeted him and dismiss this suit, than what will people lilke you say?
ReplyDeleteBy Greg Reeves
ReplyDeleteKansas City lawyer Michael Fletcher (left) is mad as heck at the lawyers and judges who got him suspended last week from practicing in federal court.
He's so mad he sued them this week in Jackson County Circuit Court for libel, slander, mental distress, etc.
Fletcher was suspended for three years because of allegedly race-baiting witnesses and other offensive behavior in court.
The suspension puts him in a world of hurt, because he has a history of winning big judgements in race-related lawsuits, and most such cases are in federal court.
The story today by incredibly well-informed and careful Star reporter Dan Margolies gives these details:
Fletcher attracted scrutiny for abusive litigation tactics, including race-baiting witnesses and epithet-strewn tirades against opposing counsel.
Four judges found Fletcher’s allegations (in one case) to be inaccurate, misleading, impertinent, inflammatory or scandalous.
Fletcher allegedly tried to stiff a cabbie for a $40.58 fare in 2002 and ended up calling a Kansas City police officer "Jew boy" 21 times - on videotape. He later apologized.
Read more: http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2005/09/29/index.html#ixzz1CBQGgaRU
Looks like Chris Moreno running is Fletcher's Campaign.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Chris Moreno running is Fletcher's Campaign.
ReplyDeleteI find this story appalling, african americans in KC should be marching in the streets The mere fact that city hall was used to attack a candidate is a disgrace. The NAACP, Freedom, etc are passive and whites are in control in this city. Oh, I forgot blacks and hispanics in KCMO attack each other.
ReplyDeleteSanders Brooks, Curls, and some of these other long-time duds should take a read from the uprisings in Tunisia and elsewhere where people are sick and tired of the graft, corruption, incompetence, and nepotism that have characterized these grifters' tenure as "public servants" during which they have sat comfortably on the sidelines while the neighborhoods east of Troost have collapsed into depair, crime, violence, and murder.
ReplyDeleteThey'll do ANYTHING to hang on, but time is about to pass them by.
So then Mike Fletcher did or didn't pay his personal taxes? I think what 11:25 was saying is true. This is a "tkc exclusive" meaning that Fletcher called him about it.
ReplyDeleteIf Fletcher called him about it and cited his reasoning then Fletcher's sueing everyone and their cousin for looking at his tax records implies that in fact Fletcher is also admitting that he hasn't paid his taxes.
Otherwise there would be no lawsuit.
This Fletcher campaign has those republican morons at republican growth consulting written all over it.
ReplyDeletelooks like abuse of power to me. I am really not a fan of SSB and she and Galen should be slapped hard for this, but is this guy any improvement for the third dist.?
ReplyDeleteWait..we are talking about looking at a candidate's tax record right? Shouldn't the people of kansas city know if this guy pays taxes?
ReplyDeleteI assure all of you ding dongs that Fletcher pays his taxes. Why? When the Feds launch an prolonged investigation into every aspect of your life, you tend to cover little things like taxes. Also, I am sure that he uses a reputable accounting firm and pays people alot of money to insure that there are no fuck ups with the Govt. tax process.
ReplyDeleteI think he knows that by now. Besides look at how much he paid in Federal and state taxes...do you really think he is going to try to stiff the city for $2k???
Fletcher has run enough campaigns to know how to run his own. Why would he hire a republican based firm to run his campaign?
Believe it or not there are some black people that can run their own campaigns.
Oh, yeah....Chris Moreno couldn't hold the jock strap of the guy in charge of putting out yard signs on Fletcher's campaign.
This is the only chance these folks have to defeat Fletcher is to get him off of the ballot.
I was already to launch a write in campaign anyway.....;>
Yael is using Funkouser to save the
ReplyDeletedying Voices.kansascity.com and his
job
http://sitetrail.com/voices.kansascity.com
Readership of Midwest Voice has declined by 70% in last year.ONlY10,000 visitors in October. Apparently No one want to read his unprofessional and bias story.
Sounds like Abouhalkah’s long knives are out for Funkhouser. But take heart, mayor. Yael endorsed Surbaugh and Biggs and Quick and we all know what happened to them. To say this columnist is out of touch with the local populace would be an understatement.
http://pendergastsghost.blogspot.com/
ReplyDelete8:10PM (Mike) next time you blog under a fake name, be sure not to claim if removed you were going to run a write in campaign anyways. Idiot.
ReplyDeleteDamn this is awesome.
ReplyDeleteFletch is going to wipe the floor with those nincompoops at city hall.
Beaufort is honestly as dumb as the day is long. I've no doubt that people at city hall have broken many laws in this particular situation. Nobody ever holds them accountable.
Oh, it's so much fun to see the 'tards in their playground here.
ReplyDeleteTeee Heee