Supreme Court Blog Publisher Indicted on Tax Charges

Prosecutors Allege Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Evade Federal Income Taxes and Cover Gambling Debts

Tom Goldstein, the publisher of the prominent Supreme Court blog SCOTUSblog, was indicted on Thursday on charges of evading federal income taxes and using money from his law firm to cover gambling debts from high-stakes poker games.

Indictment Details Multimillion-Dollar Scheme

According to the 22-count indictment filed in federal court in Maryland, Goldstein, 54, took part in poker games in Beverly Hills, Asia, and elsewhere involving millions of dollars. The indictment alleges that he hid his winnings, concealed his losses, and misrepresented his expenses.

False Applications and Concealed Debts

Prosecutors said that Goldstein submitted false applications to two lenders when seeking a mortgage for a $2.6 million house in Washington, omitting from one application more than $14 million he owed at the time. The indictment also alleges that he had his firm pay salaries and health insurance premiums for women with whom he had personal relationships, but who did little or no work for the firm.

Allegations Span Seven Years

The allegations in the indictment span seven years, from 2016 to 2022, a period in which Goldstein was regularly appearing in front of the nation’s highest court.

Notable Examples of Alleged Tax Evasion

In 2016, Goldstein allegedly understated his gambling winnings by $3.9 million. Two years later, he returned from Macau to a Washington-area airport with nearly $1 million in cash in a duffel bag. Although he acknowledged to a customs officer that the cash represented gambling winnings, he failed to report the money on his tax return for that year. In 2020 and 2021, he denied on his tax filings making any trades in cryptocurrency, despite more than $10 million in such transactions.

Response from Goldstein’s Lawyers

John Lauro and Christopher Kise, lawyers for Goldstein, released a statement Thursday night saying: “Mr. Goldstein is a prominent attorney with an impeccable reputation. We are deeply disappointed that the government brought these charges in a rush to judgment without understanding all of the important facts. Our client intends to vigorously contest these charges and we expect he will be exonerated at trial.”

Biography and Prior Experience

A biography on the blog’s website notes that Goldstein retired from appellate advocacy in 2023. He has taught Supreme Court advocacy at Harvard’s and Stanford’s law schools.

Conclusion

The indictment alleges a multimillion-dollar scheme to evade federal income taxes and cover gambling debts. Goldstein’s lawyers have pledged to vigorously contest the charges, and the case is expected to proceed to trial.

FAQs

Q: What is SCOTUSblog?
A: SCOTUSblog is a prominent blog that covers the Supreme Court.

Q: What are the charges against Tom Goldstein?
A: Goldstein has been indicted on 22 counts of evading federal income taxes and using money from his law firm to cover gambling debts.

Q: How long did the alleged scheme span?
A: The allegations span seven years, from 2016 to 2022.

Q: What is Goldstein’s response to the charges?
A: His lawyers have released a statement saying that he intends to vigorously contest the charges and expects to be exonerated at trial.