Brewery stripped of alcohol permit after promising free beer when Trump dies
www.the-independent.com
‘They’ll have to pry me out of my taprooms before I stop selling beer to thirsty progressives who come to visit us,’ owner Kirk Bangstad said
  • TheTechnician27@lemmy.worldEnglish
    821·
    2 months ago

    Did you read this article or any other article?

    He was shut down by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for tax violations.

    Bangstad provided a chart explaining what violations were allegedly in the document from the DOR. Those include unauthorized running of a retail outlet, violation of shipping laws and untaxed beer possession in an unpermitted warehouse.

    And he admits to owing taxes. This is an entitled small business owner™ trying to claim political persecution as a scapegoat because he’s appalled small businesses like his aren’t above the law.

    He’s also been accused of fraud by former employees in relation to the expenditures of his super PAC, e.g. writing checks for “organizing” that never happened.

    The former employee provided documentation showing he received checks from the Minocqua Brewing Super PAC with “organizing” written in the memo line, despite saying he never performed organizing work or any duties for the Super PAC. Two other former employees confirmed the employee’s account.

    • meco03211@lemmy.world
      9·
      2 months ago

      I’m curious why the employees were receiving checks from the Super PAC. What work did they do? Or are they saying he paid their normal wages like this with “organizing” in the memo for a regular paycheck?

      • TheTechnician27@lemmy.worldEnglish
        131·
        2 months ago

        Sorry, I could’ve stood to include the prior paragraph:

        “I was hired as a manager to basically take care of the bar, take care of his tap room in Madison,” said [the same] former employee who requested anonymity. “At first, I was paid by a regular direct deposit, and then he said he’s going to pay me from the Super PAC and from the business. And I started to do some research. I spoke with a couple attorneys and an accountant, and they said, that’s kind of shady, not a good idea.”

      • statler_waldorf@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        4·
        2 months ago

        I haven’t done a ton of research on the guy, but he definitely seems like a grifter. I started getting emails from him out of the blue a while back. It was a brewery but also a PAC and the surface level messaging seemed like stuff I was aligned with until it started getting a little unhinged.

        He tried to get on the ballot for governor recently but failed. It all kind of seems like political theater.

      • BassTurd@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 months ago

        Except the owner himself said that he owes taxes. He just also thinks that it’s unfair because he’s a small business, and that it’s a brewery specifically in Wisconsin.

        I love his comments I’m free beer, but he’s reaping what he’s sowed.

      • TheTechnician27@lemmy.worldEnglish
        22·
        2 months ago

        “Worry not, owner class, for I will defend you from these mafioso slanderers who think it’s possible for entrepreneurs to violate tax (and various other) laws. I am very progressive btw.”