Federal Judge Extends Ban On Schiff's Anti-Tax Book

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

16 April 2003

A federal judge has ordered the extension of a temporary ban on Irwin Schiff's controversial book 'The Federal Mafia: How It Illegally Imposes and Unlawfully Collects Income Taxes' whilst the court decides whether to permanently outlaw it, according to reports.

Senior US District Judge Lloyd D. George has requested that attorneys gather more information on the case to be submitted by May 1, before a decision on the book's fate is made.

The case has sparked a debate in the United States regarding the freedom of speech issue, with Schiff's supporters arguing that the ban violates his First Amendment rights to freedom of expression. Speaking on behalf of Mr Schiff, lawyer Allen Lichtenstein argued that as the book contains autobiographical and political elements, an outright ban would be unconstitutional.

However, the US government's stance is that the First Amendment does not apply to speech that promotes illegal activities.

Evan Davis, a Department of Justice lawyer, said the case was one of the largest tax evasion scams in US history, and claimed that Schiff had over 3,000 clients trying to evade a total of $56 million.

Schiff's book was temporarily banned following a civil complaint by the government and a raid on his Las Vegas company 'Freedom Books', by the IRS.

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