Merrill Hides Gold Hoard

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The IRS has charged millionaire Charles Merrill with tax evasion. His trial has been delayed until next year, 2009, at the U.S. Tax Court in San Diego. Merrill, who recently suffered a stroke, said from his wheelchair, "I have buried $2 million worth of gold coins in the desert as a hedge against the economy collapsing. My partner doesn't even know where it is at." He continued, "If the IRS allows me to file a joint federal income tax form like any other married couple, the money is there to pay. All they have to do is dig it up. I want to pay taxes, but not treated as a second-class citizen. Gay marriage is not a state issue, as the political candidates McCain and Obama claim, any more than heterosexual marriage is. They need to rescind DOMA and make us equal citizens under... [read full story]