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“My decision to expatriate was based solely on my interest in working and living in Singapore, where I have been since 2009,” Saverin, 30, said in a statement released to ABC News. “I am obligated to and will pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes to the United States government. I have paid and will continue to pay any taxes due on everything I earned while a U.S. citizen.”

Saverin, who helped Mark Zuckerberg develop the social network as Harvard students, is expected to save millions of dollars by not paying capital gains taxes on his shares of Facebook, which is expected to have the largest technology IPO ever on Friday.

His stake in the company is estimated to be worth over $3 billion of Facebook once the company goes public on Friday.

Last week, reports revealed Saverin filed in September 2011 to give up his citizenship which became official in September, before Facebook announced its plans in February this year.

“It is unfortunate that my personal choice has led to a public debate, based not on the facts, but entirely on speculation and misinformation,” he said in the statement.

Saverin paid a standard “exit” tax, which included approximately 15 percent of the pre-IPO value of his shares. Saverin is likely saving millions of dollars because he will not pay capital gains taxes while he lives in Singapore.

“As a native of Brazil who immigrated to the United States, I am very grateful to the U.S. for everything it has given me,” Saverin said. “In 2004, I invested my life’s savings into a start-up company that initially was run out of a college dorm room. Since then the company has expanded dramatically, has created thousands of jobs in the United States and elsewhere, and spawned countless new companies across the United States and other countries.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., have called Saverin’s move an “outrage.” Their proposed legislation calls for re-imposing a 30-percent tax on capital gains on expatriates like Saverin who take up residence in a foreign country.

Last year 1,700 people renounced their U.S. citizenship.

“I will continue to invest in U.S. businesses and start-ups, and believe and hope that those investments will create many new jobs in the U.S. and globally,” Saverin said. “I also hope that these investments will create opportunities for many other individuals to start companies and benefit society.”

Ben Mezrich, author of The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, defended Saverin. Mezrich, who interviewed Saverin for his book which was adapted into the film The Social Network, said saving money was likely a factor for his repatriation, but not the entire reason.

“To be fair, Eduardo wasn’t born in the U.S. and has really lived internationally for most of his life,” Mezrich said. “He will save some money on taxes, and especially on estate taxes down the line, so I’m sure that’s a factor, but he probably made the decision because he sees himself as an international businessman.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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“My decision to expatriate was based solely on my interest in working and living in Singapore, where I have been since 2009,” Saverin, 30, said in a statement released to ABC News. “I am obligated to and will pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes to the United States government. I have paid and will continue to pay any taxes due on everything I earned while a U.S. citizen.”

Saverin, who helped Mark Zuckerberg develop the social network as Harvard students, is expected to save millions of dollars by not paying capital gains taxes on his shares of Facebook, which is expected to have the largest technology IPO ever on Friday.

His stake in the company is estimated to be worth over $3 billion of Facebook once the company goes public on Friday.

Last week, reports revealed Saverin filed in September 2011 to give up his citizenship which became official in September, before Facebook announced its plans in February this year.

“It is unfortunate that my personal choice has led to a public debate, based not on the facts, but entirely on speculation and misinformation,” he said in the statement.

Saverin paid a standard “exit” tax, which included approximately 15 percent of the pre-IPO value of his shares. Saverin is likely saving millions of dollars because he will not pay capital gains taxes while he lives in Singapore.

“As a native of Brazil who immigrated to the United States, I am very grateful to the U.S. for everything it has given me,” Saverin said. “In 2004, I invested my life’s savings into a start-up company that initially was run out of a college dorm room. Since then the company has expanded dramatically, has created thousands of jobs in the United States and elsewhere, and spawned countless new companies across the United States and other countries.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., have called Saverin’s move an “outrage.” Their proposed legislation calls for re-imposing a 30-percent tax on capital gains on expatriates like Saverin who take up residence in a foreign country.

Last year 1,700 people renounced their U.S. citizenship.

“I will continue to invest in U.S. businesses and start-ups, and believe and hope that those investments will create many new jobs in the U.S. and globally,” Saverin said. “I also hope that these investments will create opportunities for many other individuals to start companies and benefit society.”

Ben Mezrich, author of The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, defended Saverin. Mezrich, who interviewed Saverin for his book which was adapted into the film The Social Network, said saving money was likely a factor for his repatriation, but not the entire reason.

“To be fair, Eduardo wasn’t born in the U.S. and has really lived internationally for most of his life,” Mezrich said. “He will save some money on taxes, and especially on estate taxes down the line, so I’m sure that’s a factor, but he probably made the decision because he sees himself as an international businessman.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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McCain, the ranking member of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee and vocal critic of the $79 billion F-22 program, noted that a number of the planes had recently been deployed to Southwest Asia — reportedly to a United Arab Emirates base just 200 miles from Iran’s mainland — “to promote regional security.”

“Please describe what effect, if any, these measures will have on the ability of the F-22s deployed overseas to execute their intended missions,” McCain wrote in a letter to Panetta Wednesday.

The restrictions, which keep the planes in close proximity to potential landing strips in case of a mid-air emergency, were announced two weeks after an ABC News Nightline investigation found that the advanced $420 million-a-pop fighter jets have been plagued by a rare but potentially deadly oxygen problem for years. Despite multiple investigations, the Air Force has been unable to pinpoint the cause.

In another case, a malfunction that the Air Force has yet to identify caused one pilot’s oxygen system to shut off during a training mission in Alaska in November 2010 just a minute before he died in a fiery crash.

A senior defense official said the Pentagon will “certainly” respond to the letter and, without going into specifics, told ABC News the planes would “remain operational in areas where geographic proximity to landing strips permits it.”

“The full range of our capabilities will not result in any operational impact to Afghanistan or elsewhere,” the official said.

Despite being deployed abroad, no F-22 has ever taken part in a combat mission since the $79 billion fleet went combat-ready in late 2005. From Afghanistan and Iraq to the U.S.-led “no-fly zone” over Libya, the Air Force said the sophisticated jets simply haven’t been needed yet.

McCain’s question of combat-readiness also came a day before the American ambassador to Israel said the U.S. has done its military planning and is “ready” to strike Iran if diplomatic talks over the country’s controversial nuclear program fail.

In addition to the senior defense official’s comments, a spokesperson for the Air Force referred ABC News to comments made by Pentagon spokesperson Capt. John Kirby during a Pentagon briefing Tuesday.

“The majority of F-22 pilots are out there flying it every day,” he said, noting the planes’ deployment to Southwest Asia. “There have been no problems. It is flying.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

McCain, the ranking member of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee and vocal critic of the $79 billion F-22 program, noted that a number of the planes had recently been deployed to Southwest Asia — reportedly to a United Arab Emirates base just 200 miles from Iran’s mainland — “to promote regional security.”

“Please describe what effect, if any, these measures will have on the ability of the F-22s deployed overseas to execute their intended missions,” McCain wrote in a letter to Panetta Wednesday.

The restrictions, which keep the planes in close proximity to potential landing strips in case of a mid-air emergency, were announced two weeks after an ABC News Nightline investigation found that the advanced $420 million-a-pop fighter jets have been plagued by a rare but potentially deadly oxygen problem for years. Despite multiple investigations, the Air Force has been unable to pinpoint the cause.

In another case, a malfunction that the Air Force has yet to identify caused one pilot’s oxygen system to shut off during a training mission in Alaska in November 2010 just a minute before he died in a fiery crash.

A senior defense official said the Pentagon will “certainly” respond to the letter and, without going into specifics, told ABC News the planes would “remain operational in areas where geographic proximity to landing strips permits it.”

“The full range of our capabilities will not result in any operational impact to Afghanistan or elsewhere,” the official said.

Despite being deployed abroad, no F-22 has ever taken part in a combat mission since the $79 billion fleet went combat-ready in late 2005. From Afghanistan and Iraq to the U.S.-led “no-fly zone” over Libya, the Air Force said the sophisticated jets simply haven’t been needed yet.

McCain’s question of combat-readiness also came a day before the American ambassador to Israel said the U.S. has done its military planning and is “ready” to strike Iran if diplomatic talks over the country’s controversial nuclear program fail.

In addition to the senior defense official’s comments, a spokesperson for the Air Force referred ABC News to comments made by Pentagon spokesperson Capt. John Kirby during a Pentagon briefing Tuesday.

“The majority of F-22 pilots are out there flying it every day,” he said, noting the planes’ deployment to Southwest Asia. “There have been no problems. It is flying.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Richard Ellis/Getty Images

In an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Pawlenty, a former presidential candidate himself, said anyone who is asked to be Romney’s running mate would be “honored to serve if asked.”

“Well I’m going to do whatever I can to help Mitt Romney defeat Barack Obama, because I think the future of the country is at stake and I think Mitt Romney is going to be a fantastic president for our country. I’ll do whatever I can do to help him,” Pawlenty said. “He’s going to have a lot of great people to pick from.  Obviously, anyone would be honored to served if asked, I’ve just been telling people, look, I think I can help in other ways but obviously anybody would be honored to serve if asked.”

But just earlier this week, during an event at the University of Minnesota, Pawlenty had a direct message for all those speculating about whether his name will appear on the GOP ticket: “Remove my name from the list.”

Asked if the campaign has asked him to turn over documents to undergo vetting, Pawlenty, who serves as the national co-chair of Romney’s campaign, remained mum, refusing to talk about the “process.”

“Well, the Romney campaign has a policy — and I’m a national co-chair of the campaign — that we don’t talk about the vice presidential policy in terms of timing, whether it relates to me or anyone else or the aspects of that,” Pawlenty said. “That’s just the campaign’s policy.  We don’t discuss the details of that process.”

Pawlenty joins another VP contender — Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. — in adopting the tight-lipped approach.  After the Florida senator slipped up and referred to himself as a vice president instead of a senator, Rubio decided to stop commenting on the vice presidential selection process.

Pawlenty endorsed Romney shortly after giving up his own candidacy last year.  After a poor showing in the Ames, Iowa, Straw Poll in August, he became a lead surrogate for Romney, most prominently in his home state of Minnesota.  Romney lost Minnesota to former Sen. Rick Santorum, an embarrassment for Pawlenty.

Pawlenty underwent the vetting process four years ago when John McCain considered selecting him as a running mate before deciding to go with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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As of late Thursday, the man being held in Humphreys County, Miss., James Lucas, was merely “under investigation,” being questioned on two Wednesday-night incidents and not charged with a crime, a Humphreys County sheriff’s official said. Police could not say whether the two recent incidents were related to the earlier fatal shootings.

“We’re just going to say these are isolated incidents in our county and we’re going to deal with that first,” Sam Dobbins, an investigator with the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office, told ABC News.

However, Dobbins added, other police agencies in the state, including the Mississippi Department of Investigation, also were investigating, apparently giving the case a broader scope.

At least one detail may not match up to those reported in the fatal shootings from last week: Wednesday’s incidents involved a blue Mercury Grand Marquis, possibly the one Lucas was driving when he was pulled over around noon Thursday in Yazoo City, Miss., according to ABC News affiliate WAPT in Jackson, Miss. The fatal incidents, however, were believed to involve a gold Ford Crown Victoria.

The Humphreys County incidents occurred after Mississippi authorities urged drivers to question whether anyone pulling them over really was a police officer.

“We urge everyone to be cautious while driving, especially at night,” the Tate County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page. “If someone attempts to pull you over with flashing lights and you feel unsure of stopping, DON’T PULL OVER. Use your cell phone and dial 911 and if it’s a real officer then the dispatcher will confirm it for you and if it’s not a real officer they will send help to you.”

“Our deputies have been told not to overreact if someone does not immediately pull over,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “Your safety is our primary concern.”

Two drivers were killed on northern Mississippi highways within days of each other and investigators in multiple counties and federal officials were working to find out who may be behind the killings.

The recent cases occurred along U.S. 49 in Humphreys County, which is in central Mississippi, between 9 p.m. and midnight Wednesday night.

“We received some calls last night for a blue car similar to a police car, a Mercury Grand Marquis, that attempted to stop two vehicles,” Dobbins said.

Although Dobbins believed the person in the Grand Marquis approached the victims’ cars in plain clothes, the suspicious car’s occupant evidently made indications his was an official vehicle.

“He displayed flashing blue lights, yes he did,” Dobbins said. “That’s what we call impersonating a police officer.”

Both pulled-over drivers grew suspicious and sped off toward Yazoo City in neighboring Yazoo County, where Lucas and the car later were found being brought back to Humphreys County.

One of the two victims grew frightened and fired a gun when he saw the Grand Marquis following him, Dobbins said.

Later, one of the victims identified the seized car as the one involved in the highway stop, Dobbins added.

Dobbins would not comment on whether or not Lucas or the occupant of the Grand Marquis displayed a weapon.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Thinkstock/Getty Images

As of late Thursday, the man being held in Humphreys County, Miss., James Lucas, was merely “under investigation,” being questioned on two Wednesday-night incidents and not charged with a crime, a Humphreys County sheriff’s official said. Police could not say whether the two recent incidents were related to the earlier fatal shootings.

“We’re just going to say these are isolated incidents in our county and we’re going to deal with that first,” Sam Dobbins, an investigator with the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office, told ABC News.

However, Dobbins added, other police agencies in the state, including the Mississippi Department of Investigation, also were investigating, apparently giving the case a broader scope.

At least one detail may not match up to those reported in the fatal shootings from last week: Wednesday’s incidents involved a blue Mercury Grand Marquis, possibly the one Lucas was driving when he was pulled over around noon Thursday in Yazoo City, Miss., according to ABC News affiliate WAPT in Jackson, Miss. The fatal incidents, however, were believed to involve a gold Ford Crown Victoria.

The Humphreys County incidents occurred after Mississippi authorities urged drivers to question whether anyone pulling them over really was a police officer.

“We urge everyone to be cautious while driving, especially at night,” the Tate County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page. “If someone attempts to pull you over with flashing lights and you feel unsure of stopping, DON’T PULL OVER. Use your cell phone and dial 911 and if it’s a real officer then the dispatcher will confirm it for you and if it’s not a real officer they will send help to you.”

“Our deputies have been told not to overreact if someone does not immediately pull over,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “Your safety is our primary concern.”

Two drivers were killed on northern Mississippi highways within days of each other and investigators in multiple counties and federal officials were working to find out who may be behind the killings.

The recent cases occurred along U.S. 49 in Humphreys County, which is in central Mississippi, between 9 p.m. and midnight Wednesday night.

“We received some calls last night for a blue car similar to a police car, a Mercury Grand Marquis, that attempted to stop two vehicles,” Dobbins said.

Although Dobbins believed the person in the Grand Marquis approached the victims’ cars in plain clothes, the suspicious car’s occupant evidently made indications his was an official vehicle.

“He displayed flashing blue lights, yes he did,” Dobbins said. “That’s what we call impersonating a police officer.”

Both pulled-over drivers grew suspicious and sped off toward Yazoo City in neighboring Yazoo County, where Lucas and the car later were found being brought back to Humphreys County.

One of the two victims grew frightened and fired a gun when he saw the Grand Marquis following him, Dobbins said.

Later, one of the victims identified the seized car as the one involved in the highway stop, Dobbins added.

Dobbins would not comment on whether or not Lucas or the occupant of the Grand Marquis displayed a weapon.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic

RFK Jr. — Jack Kennedy’s nephew, Bobby Kennedy’s son — had four children with his wife. They filed for divorce two years ago.

“We deeply regret the death of our beloved sister Mary, whose radiant and creative spirit will be sorely missed by those who loved her,” Mary Richardson Kennedy’s family said in a statement. “Our heart goes out to her children who she loved without reservation. We have no further comment at this time.”

Along with political fame and power, tragedy has befallen the Kennedy clan for decades.

Ted Kennedy’s death from brain cancer, in August 2009, is still fresh in the American memory. He was the last of four brothers — Joe, Jack, Bobby and Teddy, all of whom served their country. His passing almost three years ago reminded a mourning country of Camelot’s crests and troughs — ascents to the pinnacle of American glory, assassinations, plane and car accidents, legislative accomplishments and obstacles, and family troubles.

They began well before the brothers’ ascent to political power. Joseph Kennedy Sr. famously approved a lobotomy, then a rarely used procedure, to be performed on his daughter, Rosemary, in 1941. The surgery was thought to help Rosemary’s violent moods. But the procedure didn’t go as planned, and Rosemary was left mentally damaged. She died in 2005.

Not long after Rosemary’s surgery, Joseph Kennedy Jr. was shot down in World War II, in 1944. Then, in 1948, Kennedy’s older sister Kathleen died in a plane crash on a trip to France.

A little over 10 years later, Jack Kennedy ran for president. His youthful, vigorous campaign and presidency filled a nation with hope and promise. His assassination in 1963 sent shockwaves through a country that would take years to heal.

Just a year later, in June 1964, Ted Kennedy was in a plane crash that killed one of his aides, Edward Moss, as Kennedy was running for reelection in the Senate.

In 1968 Robert Kennedy brought the Kennedy charm, youth and idealism to a campaign and captured voters’ hearts and minds as he sought the Democratic nomination for president. But in June he was assassinated in a Los Angeles hotel after a campaign event.

The following year, the family faced tragedy and public humiliation, when Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, drowning his 28-year-old female passenger, who had worked on RFK’s campaign. Kennedy didn’t report the accident for almost nine hours and was later charged with a misdemeanor for leaving the scene. He later called his decision “indefensible.”

Tragedy did not bypass the next generation. In 1984, David Kennedy, the fourth of Bobby Kennedy’s 11 children, died in a drug overdose. Fifteen years later, John Kennedy Jr., affectionately called John-John when he was a young boy and his father was president, died while piloting a small plane; with him was his wife, Carolyn, and his sister-in-law.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic

RFK Jr. — Jack Kennedy’s nephew, Bobby Kennedy’s son — had four children with his wife. They filed for divorce two years ago.

“We deeply regret the death of our beloved sister Mary, whose radiant and creative spirit will be sorely missed by those who loved her,” Mary Richardson Kennedy’s family said in a statement. “Our heart goes out to her children who she loved without reservation. We have no further comment at this time.”

Along with political fame and power, tragedy has befallen the Kennedy clan for decades.

Ted Kennedy’s death from brain cancer, in August 2009, is still fresh in the American memory. He was the last of four brothers — Joe, Jack, Bobby and Teddy, all of whom served their country. His passing almost three years ago reminded a mourning country of Camelot’s crests and troughs — ascents to the pinnacle of American glory, assassinations, plane and car accidents, legislative accomplishments and obstacles, and family troubles.

They began well before the brothers’ ascent to political power. Joseph Kennedy Sr. famously approved a lobotomy, then a rarely used procedure, to be performed on his daughter, Rosemary, in 1941. The surgery was thought to help Rosemary’s violent moods. But the procedure didn’t go as planned, and Rosemary was left mentally damaged. She died in 2005.

Not long after Rosemary’s surgery, Joseph Kennedy Jr. was shot down in World War II, in 1944. Then, in 1948, Kennedy’s older sister Kathleen died in a plane crash on a trip to France.

A little over 10 years later, Jack Kennedy ran for president. His youthful, vigorous campaign and presidency filled a nation with hope and promise. His assassination in 1963 sent shockwaves through a country that would take years to heal.

Just a year later, in June 1964, Ted Kennedy was in a plane crash that killed one of his aides, Edward Moss, as Kennedy was running for reelection in the Senate.

In 1968 Robert Kennedy brought the Kennedy charm, youth and idealism to a campaign and captured voters’ hearts and minds as he sought the Democratic nomination for president. But in June he was assassinated in a Los Angeles hotel after a campaign event.

The following year, the family faced tragedy and public humiliation, when Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, drowning his 28-year-old female passenger, who had worked on RFK’s campaign. Kennedy didn’t report the accident for almost nine hours and was later charged with a misdemeanor for leaving the scene. He later called his decision “indefensible.”

Tragedy did not bypass the next generation. In 1984, David Kennedy, the fourth of Bobby Kennedy’s 11 children, died in a drug overdose. Fifteen years later, John Kennedy Jr., affectionately called John-John when he was a young boy and his father was president, died while piloting a small plane; with him was his wife, Carolyn, and his sister-in-law.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio