Could the ACORN raid have been compromised before it was executed? I think it would be a fair question to ask considering that ACORN has always maintained a close connection to local, state and federal officials -- including and up to President Barack Obama himself. And considering the depth and breadth of ACORN's legal representation, it is more than likely that a subpoena would be issued and executed for paper and electronic documents. This might have given key ACORN functionaries the time to securely purge files of wrongdoing liked to executives and prominent elected officials ... leaving in place signs of suspected low-level corruption which can easily be explained away as artifacts created by overzealous employees or volunteers.
The Times-Picayune is reporting ...
"State investigators taking dozens of computers from ACORN office on Canal Street"
"Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has served a search warrant at the ACORN office at 2609 Canal Street, according to Tammi Arender Herring, a spokeswoman with the office."
Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is a democrat and there is some controversy in his background.
"While District Attorney for multiple parishes, Caldwell repeatedly refused to investigate and indict family members. In repeated audit findings from the Louisiana Board of Ethics and Legislative Auditors, Carolyn and Ray Caldwell, as well as their children, other family members, and friends, were discovered to be inappropriately profiting from Madison's Office of Clerk of Court finances." <Source>
And considering that high-ranking officials in ACORN have always referred to the organization as "our family," maybe we should be concerned that this matter is being handled at the state level when the appropriate action should be taken at the federal level. Who knows what the United States Attorney General might have found if they had examined the documents and electronic records first?
There is no doubt that ACORN is a major political player and is in bed with the democrat party. ACORN's finances involve multi-million dollars transactions and potential access to a billion or more dollars of federal funding should they be found to be innocent of allegations involving voter fraud and/or misuse of federal or non-profit funds. A definite incentive to fudge any investigation that might cast aspersions on the symbiotic relationship with high-ranking democrats.
Preemptive strike?
"The large office building sits at the corner of Dorgenois and Canal. ACORN staffers were given no notice that a search would be conducted today, Herring said."
"Today's search is an outgrowth of those subpoenas, which stemmed from an investigation by Caldwell's office into the embezellement of ACORN funds by Dale Rathke, a brother of the organization's founder, Wade Rathke, Herring said."
Amazing that a relatively low-level case of embezzlement might preempt a much greater investigation into nationwide voter-registration fraud and the misuse of public funds and/or charitable donations.
Blame, finger-pointing and plausible deniability for missing data and documents?
"In a statement, ACORN's attorney Pamela Marple said the group was told the raid was ordered because of reports that workers loyal to Beth Butler, the recently fired head of ACORN's Louisiana branch, had been taking computer data and other items out of the office."
"'Over the last two months, ACORN has been cooperating with a variety of governmental entities across the country to provide requested information and documents,' Marple wrote. 'We were told that the AG's office has no criticisms of ACORN's cooperative efforts, but rather that the warrant was issued because of concern that former local ACORN staff members had, and may intend in the future to remove or alter electronic documents.'"
Something stinks ...
This investigation should have been initiated by the United States Attorney General and the raid executed by a joint task force comprised of FBI, IRS and other appropriate agency personnel. Concerning the fact that the organization's efforts primarily benefit the democrats, perhaps a bi-partisan oversight investigation should be initiated. That is, if Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the principal investigative committee of the House of Representatives, could overcome his highly partisan stance and investigate wrongdoing within his own party.
Bottom line ...
The investigation of ACORN is of national concern as it involves alleged tampering with our voting system -- the very underpinning of our representative democracy. Who knows what might happened should the upcoming Census effort be controlled from Rahm Emanuel's White House and ACORN allowed to gather Census data?
Considering the possible connection and interaction between ACORN's founder Rathke, the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and the Tides foundation -- this may be the tip of a very large radical/socialist conspiracy. And who better than those close to the scene to destroy any incriminating evidence?
-- steve
Reference Links:
COMPLIANCE AUDIT ISSUED OCTOBER 5, 2005| MADISON PARISH CLERK OF COURT
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