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Kerry's Yacht Reports for Duty

Democratic Massachusetts Senator John Kerry’s yacht "Isabel" is currently docked in Newport, R.I., the site of Kerry’s past yacht-related tax troubles. According to the Boston Herald:

The Herald Truth Squad made a surprise inspection of the $7 million Isabel last week while it was docked in tony Newport, R.I. — a strange location considering it’s the place that landed Kerry in hot water two summers ago.

That’s when the Herald reported that the Massachusetts Democrat was avoiding a six-figure sales tax bill by keeping the luxury yacht in Rhode Island, rather than Massachusetts. The senior senator sustained major political damage, but Kerry eventually paid up and moved the Isabel to his home base of Nantucket.

Kerry’s office told the Truth Squad last week that the Isabel is still registered in Nantucket, and was apparently just making a stopover in Newport. …

It is unclear whether Sen. Kerry handled his tax problem, despite his office’s claims:

After the tax scandal broke two years ago, Kerry said he would immediately pay all sales and excise taxes to Massachusetts.

But when the Herald called the Nantucket tax collector’s office last week, there was no record of any bills or payments in Kerry’s name. A spokeswoman for Kerry said the senator’s accountant had tried repeatedly to get the tax bill from Nantucket, but couldn’t get a response. The taxes, amounting to roughly $100, were finally paid in full last December, according to Kerry’s office.