InfoAnda - ACORN Says Internal Review Found No Illegal Conduct In Videos

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Home U.S. World Entertainment Sports Business Health Science Technology Politics Offbeat Environment Travel News Articles ACORN Says Internal Review Found No Illegal Conduct In Videos December 8, 2009 10:24 a.m. EST Topics: United States, Politics Kris Alingod - AHN Contributor Washington, D.C. (AHN) - An independent internal review of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now has found that employees of the embattled organization did not engage in illegal activities when they gave housing and tax advice to two conservative activists taking secret footage of the interactions. Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger says in his review, "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 made nine recommendations, which he said are "neither an epitaph nor an absolution" for the group. The recommendations include hiring more managers to improve oversight and for the organization to simplify its structure and to focus on its core competency of community organizing instead of other social services. The two-month review also put substantial blame on Wade Rathke, the group's founder and chief organizer until last year, when he stepped down after a whistleblower revealed that his brother had embezzled funds from the organization. ACORN, the report said, is "now reaping what Rathke sowed." Conservatives, however, slammed the report, calling it a whitewash. Rep. Darrel Issa (R-CA), who led efforts in Congress to defund ACORN, said in a blog post on BigGoverment.com, "Is anyone surprised that a report paid for by ACORN exonerates them? The fact that this review didn't even include an audit of ACORN's financial statements speaks volumes. Luckily for taxpayers, there are numerous federal and state investigations currently underway that should ultimately produce a legitimate finding regarding ACORN's illegal activities." ACORN has been under fire since the release of video footage taken covertly by two conservatives, Hannah Giles and James O'Keefe. Disguised as a prostitute and a pimp, the two had sought assistance from the group and had apparently received advice on how to evade the law, such as for Giles to declare her profession as a "performance artist" instead of a prostitute. Harshbarger said in his review, "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." Calling the report a "vindication," ACORN Chief Executive Bertha Lewis also insisted the videos were misleading. "The transcripts published by the undercover videographers themselves (and referred to in Mr. Harshbarger's report) show that these ACORN employees consistently advised even the couple in the video tapes to pay taxes, not to evade them," Lewis said. "Those transcripts also show that Giles and O'Keefe, identifying himself not as a pimp but as Giles' boyfriend, pleaded with the ACORN staff to assist with housing to protect her and underage girls from a violent pimp." But Michael Volpe, a blogger at BigGovernment.com, argues, "It's not about whether or not the behavior on the videos is or is not technically legal. It's about what it says about an organization when a "pimp" and "prostitute" can so routinely walk into just about any office and be offered advice that the advisor knows is illegal if implemented. That reality is barely acknowledged and not really addressed." Liberal groups have welcomed the report. Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron said, "Heavily doctored video footage that has never been released in its entirety was used to stampede Congress into a politically driven panic.Congress should now turn its attention to its real responsibilities -- including supporting America's nonprofit organizations that speak for the voiceless." The largest advocacy group for low-income people in the nation, the group has received more than $53 million in federal funds since 1994 excluding those it has obtained indirectly through states and localities, according to House Republicans. Congress moved in September to keep the group from continuing to receive federal funds. The House voted a 345-75 to approve the Defund ACORN Act, which was introduced by Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH). In the Senate, an amendment from Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) that prohibits the group from receiving funding from the Interior Department was approved by a vote of 85-11, while another measure barring ACORN from getting any federal housing and transportation funds passed by 83-7. The IRS has also stopped the organization's participation in its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. ACORN has fought back with a lawsuit against the federal government for allegedly violating the Constitution when it passed legislation banning federal funding for the group. The suit, filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights in November, accuses lawmakers of approving a bill of attainder, or legislation that targets groups or individuals punitively without trial. Copyright © 2003 - 2009 AHN - All rights reserved.Redistribution, republication. syndication, rewriting or broadcast is prohibited without the prior written consent of AHN.License AHN news for your website, business, digital signage network or publication. Recent Posts Most Popular Comments Recent Comments Popular Threads Home | U.S. | World | Entertainment | Sports | Business | Health | Sci / Tech | Politics | Weird / Offbeat Follow AHN on Twitter AHN Social News connects you with friends and the news Client Login | Submit News | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact | Content Services © 2009 AHN All Rights Reserved

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