Stephen King tells Maine governor to apologize for tax evasion accusation

BANGOR, Maine, March 23 (UPI) -- Stephen King has requested an apology from Maine Gov. Paul LePage after he accused the author of moving to Florida to avoid paying income tax.

LePage said in a weekly address that King moved to Florida to avoid income taxes in his state. King, a resident of Maine and frequent critic of LePage, fired back at the governor in a statement on local radio.

"Governor LePage is full of the stuff that makes the grass grow green," he said. Wife "Tabby and I pay every cent of our Maine state income taxes, and are glad to do it."

He then demanded an apology on Twitter.

Governor Paul LePage implied that I don't pay my taxes. I do. Every cent. I think he needs to man up and apologize.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 20, 2015

The Bangor Daily News reports King votes in Maine and lists his political donations under Maine residency. He is often seen in Bangor with his wife where he keeps a home several cars with Maine license plates in the driveway.

To reinforce his case, King released his tax numbers to the Portland Press Herald in an emailed statement.

"In 2013, my wife and I paid approximately 1.4 million (dollars) in state taxes," he wrote. "As this is a matter of public record, I have no problem telling you that. I would imagine 2014 was about the same, but I do not have those figures. In addition, the King Foundation gives grants from three to five million dollars annually, mostly in Maine. We consider this a very fair price for living in the most beautiful state in America."