[UPDATE]:
Pilot Flying J has issued a completey useless BS statement, which they call FAQs. And they are hilarious. I’m not sure
Was it necessary to conduct a “raid”?
and,
Was this politically motivated?
… are really the most Frequently Asked Questions in this case, but whatever. Also, the question
Is it a “criminal” investigation?
… can now be answered in the affirmative, according to CEO Jimmy Haslam’s press conference, which is in progress. Apparently the issue is rebates to some customers.
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First: I’ve got nothing to say on the Boston bombings. I’m thinking plenty, but speculation is pointless and counterproductive. I am, once again, in awe at the good we see in people when tragedy strikes. Our first responders rushing in to harm’s way, not knowing what awaits them … ordinary folks helping the injured … we pull together, and we make it through. Boston, my prayers are with you.
On to other news. Yesterday, around the same time as the news out of Boston broke, we heard that the Knoxville offices of Pilot Flying J were raided by the FBI and IRS. Flying J is the national chain of truck stops and convenience stores owned by Gov. Bill Haslam’s family; his brother, Jimmy, is its CEO.
From the story:
In April 2009, Pilot settled a price-gouging suit brought by Tennessee attorney general. Pilot settled similiar suits in Georgia and Kentucky.
Good to know. We still don’t know what this raid is about, however. Also of interest:
The Haslams have carefully guarded details about the size of their fortune. Gov. Haslam has refused to release his tax returns or how much of Pilot he still owns, saying the information could violate the privacy of other owners.
Haslam did make his success in business a selling point of his 2010 campaign for governor.
See how that works? Haslam wants all the credit for being a successful businessman, without revealing any details of said business. It’s more of this “just trust me!” crap we get from Republicans. Trust has to be earned, governor.
I didn’t want this story to get lost amid all of the other news today. Definitely something to keep an eye on.
