Justice Department Inspector General to Look Into ACORN Funds
EmailGlenn Fine, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice today wrote to the Chairman and Ranking Republican of the House Judiciary Committee – Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Lamar Smith, R-Texas — informing them that his office is planning on opening a review into whether ACORN applied for or received any Justice Department grants or funds and whether or not the Justice Department ever carried out any audits or reviews of those funds.
You can read the letter HERE.
In a statement, Smith said that the IG’s report “will help Congress ensure that money allocated to support law enforcement efforts is not instead used to support criminal conduct. It is clear that ACORN has fostered a culture of corruption. With investigations of ACORN now occurring in 20 states, it is time for the FBI to open up a full scale investigation into possible criminal conduct by ACORN.”
Last March Conyers seemed to express a willingness to look into allegations made against ACORN, though in May he backed off, issuing a statement saying, “Based on my review of the information regarding the complaints against ACORN, I have concluded that a hearing on this matter appears unwarranted at this time."
In June Conyers explained to the Washington Times that "The powers that be decided against it.”
The Washington Post yesterday published a lengthy look at the embattled community organization, looking at minutes from ACORN meetings last year that indicated the organization owed “over $800k to IRS…Haven't paid medical bills of over $300k. We are essentially 'broke' nationally and lots of offices are struggling."
Embezzlement by Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke, had hurt the organization.
"Leadership has no faith in staff. Wade betrayed them," the minutes said.
Those minutes, obtained by ABC News, can be read HERE and HERE.
-jpt
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Good luck Glenn Fine.
I hope you don’t get confused and belligerent and end up having to be fired.
Posted by: MayBee | September 21, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Could this be Obamas WATERGATE??
You can bet the house that if this was a republican administration, the impeachment process would have been initiated by Jan 30th….WAKE UP AMERICA!!!
Posted by: mjishernameo | September 21, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Duck and Cover! Who is next to get tossed under the bus?
Posted by: Mudd | September 21, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Water-quiddick.
If there were any real journalists, Acorn would already be gone.
Posted by: AynRand | September 21, 2009, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Time to file a RICO suit against ACORN.
It is also time to file RICO suits against the MSM (ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, CBS, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Time and Newsweek Magazines, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times etc…) for perpetrating criminal fraud (via omissions, distortions and outright lies) and a deliberate censorship — with malice and aforethought and evil intent to control (MONOPOLIZE) what is released to the public with regards to Obama and his ACORN and leftist connections.
It is definitely RICO if it can be shown that any of the accused media executives have donated money to Democratic presidential candidates, directly or indirectly!
Posted by: CrazyTalk | September 21, 2009, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
This is a joke. I want the FBI to look into ACORN. I want the FBI to look into the connections of ACORN. SEIU, Apollo Alliance, and other groups are all connected in some way.
This administration is a joke. The media is a joke.
Kinda weird how Obama sat down with all networks except Fox News. Hey, he even wants to sit down and talk with our enemies. But he cant face tough questions from Fox News? Hmmm, I guess U.S. enemies really arent HIS enemies, but Fox News and those who “dare” wonder and ask tough questions ARE HIS real enemies.
Posted by: ChuckJ | September 21, 2009, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
let it begin its about time
Posted by: natale from mass. | September 21, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
joedoe,
People are going to get thrown to the wolves. Watch. This is too close to Barry so some sacrifices will be made. There’s already blood in the water.
Posted by: Chum | September 21, 2009, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
ACORN is too close to the whole Democratic Party. Eric Holder has already shown himself to be a completely political person, so it is pointless to look toward him for any measure of justice. Unless, of course, he is on a mission to punish a past administration and appease some angry left-wing financial contributors.
Some type of independent investigation needs to be done, but how can that happen in this political environment?
Posted by: joedoe | September 21, 2009, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
I guess one good thing is that Obama has set a new precedent on investigating past presidencies. Very similar to most banana republics. So, in 2012 the new president can spend his the czars investigated.
Probably help to destroy the country, but it will be entertaining to watch.
Posted by: joedoe | September 21, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
But he cant face tough questions from Fox News?
***
They should have asked him to come on a popular show on their cable channel if they were interested. Chris Wallace’s Fox News Sunday is dead last in ratings when it comes to Sunday Talk Shows, yes? And hasn’t Fox shown very little interest in what he has to say? What cracks me up is that in one breath Chris Wallace is whining about the lack of an interview and in the next he’s whining about the President’s overexposure. So is he overexposed, or did Chris Wallace want his fifteen minutes with the Prez?
Posted by: Alyson | September 21, 2009, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
-So is he overexposed, or did Chris Wallace want his fifteen minutes with the Prez?-
Stick with whining about Glenn Beck.
Posted by: Wailer | September 21, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
Obviously, ACORN is so tied together with the Democtatic Party, from the precinct level all the way to the White House, that this screams for an independent investigation.
Posted by: mesquito | September 21, 2009, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
Please don’t miss the NEA boondoggle with Buffy Wickes (White House) giving a sales pitch to engage hand pricked artists in using their talents to support the president’s agendas in health, climate, and etc. . The audio and transcripts are available at Breitbarts Big Hollywood.
There’s enough corruption surrounding this presidency to choke a pod of whales.
Posted by: SjB | September 21, 2009, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
Who is Buffy Wicks? Why is she violating the Hatch Act and numerous other federal laws? What did Valerie Garret know, and when did she know it? Tapper readers want to know!!!!
Posted by: mesquito | September 21, 2009, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
Jake: here’s a tip for you.
If you decide to check out the NEA/Wickes transcripts, pay attention to the way she uses “the Asks” – that is a common word used in donor and volunteer development programs in nonprofit organizations. It is a sales pitch to evoke a positive response from donor/volunteers to offer material support.
Another tip: check out how many of the artists/organizations are receiving grants from the NEA. It’s an important story.
Please keep their feet to the fire. The White House is trying to politicize the NEA and use it to support the President’s agenda. Thanks, Jake.
Posted by: SjB | September 21, 2009, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
Here’s a little more info to help in case you decide to accept this mission:
Understand what the “Ask” component of a pitch is. Wicks uses the term: Asks.
My capstone paper in college was on donor development for nonprofit organizations. “Ask” is the most important part of developing donors and volunteers to your join/support your organization:
The plan works like this:
Major Donor Development – The Seven Steps
1. Research and Identification
2. Evaluation
3. Cultivation
4, Involvement
5. Asking for the Investment
6. Acknowledgement
7. Recognition
Ask is the most important element. Entire books have been written on it, not to mention how many books have been written on developing volunteers/donors.
Posted by: SjB | September 21, 2009, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
Concerned writes: “I wonder how long this IG will last before he gets fired?”
Ditto. :(
Posted by: SjB | September 21, 2009, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
hmmmm…. maybe they should seek advice from AG ‘Gonzo’… from W’s years of malfeasance..
‘ I don’t remember’
‘I don’t recall’
‘ I don’t remember recalling if I remembered’
……… repeat ad nauseam ..
now there’s a role model for the justice dept.
amazing he didn’t say ‘what’s my name and what planet is this?’
Posted by: ? | September 21, 2009, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
-So is he overexposed, or did Chris Wallace want his fifteen minutes with the Prez?-
Stick with whining about Glenn Beck.
Posted by: Wailer | Sep 21, 2009 5:49:54 PM
Ah. Well, if you insist…Did you see his moronic tweet: Beck wrote, “Sept. 28. Lets make it a day of Fast and Prayer for the Republic. Spread the word.Let us walk in the founders steps.”
First, I didn’t realize the founders were into fasting and praying for the Republic the high holy days of Judaism. More on that in a few minutes. Second, after exploiting and co-opting for highly partisan, political and hypocritical reasons the unity of Americans on 9/12 eight years ago after terrifying and catastrohic events , now he’s using Yom Kippur an excuse fto push his nonsensical and paranoid political crusade. I think it’s grossly and narcissistically disrespectful.
Besides, all that, he’s bringing up Jefferson’s name and acting in direct contradiction to Jefferson! On his radio show he said something about getting the idea from Jefferson because “After they put together the Continental Congress, the first thing they did was put together a day — a national day of fast and prayer, and I thought the Day of Atonement would be a good day to do it.”
Um, huh? In a letter to Samuel Miller, Thomas Jefferson wrote that fasting and praying were religious practices. Wouldn’t Jefferson would be aghast at the notion of praying and fasting for the Republic? Not. his. thang.
Unless you want to hear about “the man who changed Glenn Beck’s life,” Cleon Skousken (google the Salon article, it’s fascinating and par for the course!), I’ll stop there for today :>)
Posted by: Alyson | September 21, 2009, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
Let us just see where these investigations take us….once this gets into some democratic committee I wonder who will just vote to squash the entire matter…after all, the Democrats have been the recipients of ACORNS generosity…voter fraud, political donations with government money, etc…the list goes on…let us keep an eye open for results!
Posted by: ross | September 21, 2009, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
ross…..
we certainly know where Bushs’ ‘investigators’ came out on the truth and accuracy levels……… LOL
Posted by: ? | September 21, 2009, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
Thomas Jefferson wrote that fasting and praying were religious practices. Wouldn’t Jefferson would be aghast at the notion of praying and fasting for the Republic? Not. his. thang.
==========
I was unaware that Thomas Jefferson had an opinion on whether individuals should fast and/or pray for the Republic.
Posted by: MayBee | September 21, 2009, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
Why should be not be surprised the Obama is trying to use the arts to push his agenda?
Hoisted by their own petard!
Rule 11: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. Don’t try to attack abstract corporations or bureaucracies. Identify a responsible individual. Ignore attempts to shift or spread the blame.
Posted by: Regulus de Leo | September 21, 2009, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
Don’t stop there Justice Department. Look into ACORN ties with HUD, Department of Human Services, Catholic Church, NEA, and CSRU. Focus on those organizations in Illinois and cities in other states proclaimed, “immigrant welcome centers”.
Posted by: Reflect09 | September 21, 2009, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
ACORN-FRAUDER-VOTERS should be invetigated by Justice Department at least December, 2008.It’s not important and rush for American to reopen the interrogation of CIA in 2002.
Posted by: Sharon | September 21, 2009, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
I was unaware that Thomas Jefferson had an opinion on whether individuals should fast and/or pray for the Republic.
Posted by: MayBee | Sep 21, 2009 7:30:20 PM
**
Various letters seem to indicate, to me anyway, that he certainly wouldn’t be into politicians doing it, or being used by Glenn Beck as an example of doing it… to Samuel Miller: “I am aware that the practice of my predecessors may be quoted. But I have ever believed that the example of state executives led to the assumption of that authority by the general government, without due examination…” and so on.
Posted by: Alyson | September 21, 2009, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
I foresee one big arsed whitewash cover up coming right up for ACORN.
There is only one way to investigate ACORN, appoint an independent prosecutor and let the chit fall where it may.
Posted by: Travis | September 21, 2009, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
ACORN received $2.5M in federal grants last year. How much will the investigation cost? More than that? Absolutely. Yet, Blackwater receives hundreds of millions and their staff has committed murder. Oh yeah – Blackwater are white and conservative and ACORN are poor and liberal. These are the facts, jack!
Posted by: Fact checker | September 21, 2009, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
Well, Alyson, the man in the White House used to spend all Sunday fasting, but I don’t know what he prayed for.
Posted by: MayBee | September 21, 2009, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
There are quite a few articles on the internet referencing the Continental Congress and fasting/prayer. Google for more info :).
Posted by: Lily | September 21, 2009, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
ACORN = A NutJob
Posted by: fromohio | September 21, 2009, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
since everyone seems to be cool with this religious stuff……. just hand the country over to the evangelicals… esp. the ‘C Street superior chosen few’ branch of the ‘faithful’…
Bush prayed for ‘guidance’ to start wars he already decided to wage….
imagine, praying to find out whether you should kill people
Posted by: 007 | September 22, 2009, 1:41 am 1:41 am
Bush was right once again, he fired federal prosecutors because of this very reason, they would not investigate ACORN…..
Typical Liberal Hypocrisy, they are corrupt & crocked as hell, they lie & deny and blame others for their original sins to divert the blame and the weak minded Sorosbots take the bait!
Amazing how fast these dropout morons lean who is promising them something free!
Posted by: Told you so! | September 22, 2009, 4:17 am 4:17 am
Fact checker,
Blackwater has been investigated by just about every single US agency that could possibly investigate it. It’s not a race issue. It’s about the government having too much power…on both ends of the spectrum. Taxpayer money should not just be handed out freely!
Posted by: m | September 22, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am
Well, Alyson, the man in the White House used to spend all Sunday fasting, but I don’t know what he prayed for.
Posted by: MayBee | Sep 21, 2009 10:29:13 PM
***
I have no problem with citing the Continental Congress, or fasting and praying. It’s the citing of Jefferson I find rather sleazy– the twisting of what Jefferson actually stood for and what Yom Kippur stands for, all for a rather absurd paranoid conspiracy-theory-based political agenda and, of course, entertainment. The show must go on, I suppose, and all hail Glenn Beck’s neverending irreverence while claiming to be such a reverent patriot. Eyeroll.
Posted by: Alyson | September 22, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
Meanwhile, Acorn announced this morning that it has brought on the former attorney general of Massachusetts, Scott Harshbarger, to oversee the internal review of its practices that it announced last week. Acorn hasn’t provided a specific time frame for the investigation but says it is refusing new clients in its tax, housing and benefits counseling programs until the review is complete.
Posted by: Alyson | September 22, 2009, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
Glenn Fine had best watch his back. Inspectors General who dare to take on financial irregularities at nonprofits associated with Obama and his cronies tend to end up with knives in theirs.
Posted by: Bridget | September 22, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Meanwhile, Acorn announced this morning that it has brought on the former attorney general of Massachusetts, Scott Harshbarger, to oversee the internal review of its practices that it announced last week. Acorn hasn’t provided a specific time frame for the investigation but says it is refusing new clients in its tax, housing and benefits counseling programs until the review is complete.
Posted by: Alyson | Sep 22, 2009 1:34:42 PM
So this means what? They have someone on their side in the review. Please explain.
Posted by: 'Un-Amercian' | September 22, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm