http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.c ... ?ref=fpblg
ACORN Report Finds No Illegal Conduct
Zachary Roth | December 7, 2009,
ACORN employees caught in those undercover videos advising a couple posing as a pimp and a prostitute on how to break the law acted unprofessionally and inappropriately, but did nothing illegal, an independent report has found.
The report, by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, recommends nine steps for ACORN to take in order to regain public trust in the wake of the scandal, including that it return to its "core competency - community organizing and citizen engagement empowerment, with related services."
On the key question of potential illegal conduct, it finds:
While some of the advice and counsel given by ACORN employees and volunteers was clearly inappropriate and unprofessional, we did not find a pattern of intentional, illegal conduct by ACORN staff; in fact, there is no evidence that action, illegal or otherwise, was taken by any ACORN employee on behalf of the videographers.
Harshbarger also notes that the videos were sometimes less than perfect representations of the events they depict. He writes:
The videos that have been released appear to have been edited, in some cases substantially, including the insertion of a substitute voiceover for significant portions of Mr. O'Keefe's and Ms. Giles's comments, which makes it difficult to determine the questions to which ACORN employees are responding. A comparison of the publicly available transcripts to the released videos confirms that large portions of the original video have been omitted from the released versions.
In the wake of the scandal, Congress voted to cut off all federal funds from ACORN. In response, the group is suing the US government, arguing that the measure is a bill of attainder, and therefore unconstitutional.
Robert Borosage, of the progressive Campaign for America's Future, responded to the report's findings by declaring that "an organization that has done remarkable work organizing and empowering the poorest Americans was targeted and slurred by a right-wing hit team, then persecuted by legislators who should have known better."
You can read the full report here http://www.proskauer.com/files/uploads/report2.pdf
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In other words, typical Republican's Lying, Cheating and Filth.. if you can't find something really wrong LIE AND MAKE IT UP
Special place in hell for those that support the GOP Reich.
ACORN Report Finds No Illegal Conduct
Moderator: Super Moderators
ACORN Report Finds No Illegal Conduct
Republican - re·pub·li·can (r-pbl-kn) - political party, which will control part of Congress 2011-2012, undermining the strength of the country - on purpose, in public, without apology or shame - simply for a campaign advantage in 2012.
You mean Acorn cleared itself? Astounding.
ACORN clears self, critic cries foul
No laws were broken in the now-infamous video-encounters, inquiry says.
by Mark Silva
In the aftermath of the ACORN workers offering tax advice to self-appointed undercover video-cops posing as a prostitute and pimp, ACORN has investigated itself and found that its employees broke no laws.
That may come as little surprise to ACORN's critics.
The organization's director calls the results of the internal inquiry "part vindication, part constructive criticism and complete roadmap for the future.''
One of the organization's most vocal critics calls it no surprise.
"How surprising is it that a report paid for by ACORN exonerates them?'' Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said in a statement today. "There are numerous federal and state investigations currently underway that should ultimately produce a legitimate finding regarding ACORN's illegal activities... There is no mechanism in place to follow where the use of taxpayer and charitable dollars end and where funds used to pay for their political activities begin.''
The 47-page report by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger was commissioned by the organization, the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now. He reports that the group's leaders "appear committed to effect reform and are on their way to preserving ACORN and its mission in a reduced size and scope."
The report says ACORN's management had not moved fast enough to institute reforms after an alleged eight-year cover up by ACORN founder Wade Rathke of an embezzlement by his brother.
The videos of ACORN staffers offering advice to Hannah Giles and James O'Keefe, doing some freelance investigative reporting for a conservative group posing as a prostitute and her boyfriend triggered a congressional criticism and calls for a cutoff of federal funding this fall, with some ACORN employees appearing willing to support illegal schemes involving tax advice, misuse of public funds and illegal trafficking in children.
The videos "feed the impression that ACORN believes it is above the law," Harshbarger's report finds. But "we did not find a pattern of intentional, illegal conduct by ACORN staff involved; in fact, no action, illegal or otherwise, was ever taken by any ACORN employee on behalf of the videographers.''
There is a difference between behaving unprofessionally and behaving illegally, Harshbarger told reporters. His inquiry "did not find any illegal conduct by ACORN staff.''
ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis called the report "tough but fair in examining where ACORN has been and what we still need to accomplish in having the most effective possible organization to represent the interests of the communities we represent -- low- and moderate-income, African-American and Latino families."
Asked how much ACORN had paid Harshbarger's law firm to conduct the examination, Lewis said the ACORN board was the entity that would have to decide on whether to disclose that.
The Associated Press contributed.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/polit ... cries.html
ACORN clears self, critic cries foul
No laws were broken in the now-infamous video-encounters, inquiry says.
by Mark Silva
In the aftermath of the ACORN workers offering tax advice to self-appointed undercover video-cops posing as a prostitute and pimp, ACORN has investigated itself and found that its employees broke no laws.
That may come as little surprise to ACORN's critics.
The organization's director calls the results of the internal inquiry "part vindication, part constructive criticism and complete roadmap for the future.''
One of the organization's most vocal critics calls it no surprise.
"How surprising is it that a report paid for by ACORN exonerates them?'' Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said in a statement today. "There are numerous federal and state investigations currently underway that should ultimately produce a legitimate finding regarding ACORN's illegal activities... There is no mechanism in place to follow where the use of taxpayer and charitable dollars end and where funds used to pay for their political activities begin.''
The 47-page report by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger was commissioned by the organization, the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now. He reports that the group's leaders "appear committed to effect reform and are on their way to preserving ACORN and its mission in a reduced size and scope."
The report says ACORN's management had not moved fast enough to institute reforms after an alleged eight-year cover up by ACORN founder Wade Rathke of an embezzlement by his brother.
The videos of ACORN staffers offering advice to Hannah Giles and James O'Keefe, doing some freelance investigative reporting for a conservative group posing as a prostitute and her boyfriend triggered a congressional criticism and calls for a cutoff of federal funding this fall, with some ACORN employees appearing willing to support illegal schemes involving tax advice, misuse of public funds and illegal trafficking in children.
The videos "feed the impression that ACORN believes it is above the law," Harshbarger's report finds. But "we did not find a pattern of intentional, illegal conduct by ACORN staff involved; in fact, no action, illegal or otherwise, was ever taken by any ACORN employee on behalf of the videographers.''
There is a difference between behaving unprofessionally and behaving illegally, Harshbarger told reporters. His inquiry "did not find any illegal conduct by ACORN staff.''
ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis called the report "tough but fair in examining where ACORN has been and what we still need to accomplish in having the most effective possible organization to represent the interests of the communities we represent -- low- and moderate-income, African-American and Latino families."
Asked how much ACORN had paid Harshbarger's law firm to conduct the examination, Lewis said the ACORN board was the entity that would have to decide on whether to disclose that.
The Associated Press contributed.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/polit ... cries.html
Let me know when you find a reputable comment... Chicago Tribune, Richard Mellon Scaife, right wing moneybags and scum merchant.
You're know by the company you keep stalker.
You're know by the company you keep stalker.
Republican - re·pub·li·can (r-pbl-kn) - political party, which will control part of Congress 2011-2012, undermining the strength of the country - on purpose, in public, without apology or shame - simply for a campaign advantage in 2012.
Rombaldi wrote: Let me know when you find a reputable comment... Chicago Tribune, Richard Mellon Scaife, right wing moneybags and scum merchant.
Good job, HB3.
By the way, Rombaldi, the "Chicago Tribune" is not now nor has it ever been owned by Richard Mellon Scaife. Not that he is any more "scum" than a left wing publisher is.
Scaife owns the "Pittsburgh Tribune-Review".
racehorse
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Cherry Kelly
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So happy to see that our esteemed barrister SUPPORTS THE USE OF FABRICATED EVIDENCE! That's the point of the issue... standard tactics, distract, avoid and LIE.
You sicken me..
You sicken me..
Republican - re·pub·li·can (r-pbl-kn) - political party, which will control part of Congress 2011-2012, undermining the strength of the country - on purpose, in public, without apology or shame - simply for a campaign advantage in 2012.
Rombaldi wrote: So happy to see that our esteemed barrister SUPPORTS THE USE OF FABRICATED EVIDENCE! That's the point of the issue... standard tactics, distract, avoid and LIE.
You sicken me..
How do you know that the evidence was fabricated when that particular conclusion was drawn from a fabricated, biased investigation?
Biker
"Bring me my broadsword and clear understanding".
Ian Anderson
Ian Anderson
Federal Judge stops ACORN funding ban
A federal judge today issued an injunction preventing the implementation of a congressional ban on funding for ACORN.
Judge Nina Gershon concluded that the ban amounted to a "bill of attainder" that unfairly singled out ACORN.
"[The plaintiffs] have been singled out by Congress for punishment that directly and immediately affects their ability to continue to obtain federal funding, in the absence of any judicial, or even administrative, process of adjudicating guilt," Gershon wrote in her decision.
Gershon said ACORN had demonstrated "irreperable harm" from the ban, while "the potential harm to the government, in granting the injunction, is less."
The decision noted that the ban had already prevented ACORN from receiving payment from contracts awarded before the ban took effect.
"The public will not suffer harm by allowing the plaintiffs to continue work on contracts duly awarded by federal agencies, which was stopped solely by reason of [the ban]," Gershon wrote.
In defending the ban, the Obama administration argued it interpreted the bill narrowly enough to allow payment of existing contracts. But Gershon found the legislation too broad.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued a statement criticizing Gershon's decision and noting that she was appointed by Bill Clinton.
"This left-wing activist Judge is setting a dangerous precedent that left-wing political organizations plagued by criminal accusations have a constitutional entitlement to taxpayer dollars," Issa said. "The Obama Administration should immediately move to appeal this injunction.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing- ... unding-ban
Judge Nina Gershon concluded that the ban amounted to a "bill of attainder" that unfairly singled out ACORN.
"[The plaintiffs] have been singled out by Congress for punishment that directly and immediately affects their ability to continue to obtain federal funding, in the absence of any judicial, or even administrative, process of adjudicating guilt," Gershon wrote in her decision.
Gershon said ACORN had demonstrated "irreperable harm" from the ban, while "the potential harm to the government, in granting the injunction, is less."
The decision noted that the ban had already prevented ACORN from receiving payment from contracts awarded before the ban took effect.
"The public will not suffer harm by allowing the plaintiffs to continue work on contracts duly awarded by federal agencies, which was stopped solely by reason of [the ban]," Gershon wrote.
In defending the ban, the Obama administration argued it interpreted the bill narrowly enough to allow payment of existing contracts. But Gershon found the legislation too broad.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued a statement criticizing Gershon's decision and noting that she was appointed by Bill Clinton.
"This left-wing activist Judge is setting a dangerous precedent that left-wing political organizations plagued by criminal accusations have a constitutional entitlement to taxpayer dollars," Issa said. "The Obama Administration should immediately move to appeal this injunction.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing- ... unding-ban