ACORN gotcha man among four arrested for attempting to bug Mary Landrieu's office

The Times-Picayune ^ | January 26, 2010 | David Hammer

[Cheap_Hessian]

The FBI, alleging a plot to wiretap Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu's office in downtown New Orleans, arrested four people Monday, including James O'Keefe, a conservative filmmaker whose undercover videos at ACORN field offices severely damaged the advocacy group's credibility.

FBI Special Agent Steven Rayes alleges that O'Keefe aided and abetted two others, Joseph Basel and Robert Flanagan, who dressed up as employees of a telephone company and attempted to interfere with the office's telephone system.

A fourth person, Stan Dai, was accused of aiding and abetting Basel and Flanagan. All four were charged with entering fedral property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony.

A witness from Landrieu's staff said O'Keefe was present in the office and claimed to be "waiting for someone to arrive."

[dead]

The only thing I can think of is that they were making a film about the Senator’s phone systems, with the fake phone repairmen there as props, in order to make a point about the Senator’s office never answering the phone when angry constituents call — ie the phones must be “broken”.

LOL! Get this idea to his lawyers, pronto!

[manc]

it does not take 4 people to tap a phone at all

[Cheap_Hessian]

Update: from http://twitter.com/daveweigel

"BigGovernment's editors tell me the site had no clue that O'Keefe was doing this."

Michell Malkin's Take: Not Good.

[Ronbo1948]

Something about this story is weird. The FBI guy says he ALLEDGEDLY aided and abetted. HOW??????

That’s where things like facts and details just get in the way of the seriousness of the charges.

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I noticed that as well. The only thing the agent had on O’Keefe was that he was present in the Senator’s office and was recording the incident. Since when was that a crime? This affair stinks to high heaven! It looks like a Leftard frame up to me,

[trumandogz]

Those FEMA cards were used a long time ago.

[cripplecreek]

I want to see the video that O’Keefe got.

If he filmed himself breaking the law that will be enough for me.

[Ditter]

I got a letter today from Hannah Giles, the young woman who exposed ACORN. She is asking for a donation for the National Journalism Center. I haven’t decided.

[cynwoody]

You can’t add words. It doesn’t include the word “they”. This is an affadavit for prosecuting someone.

The sentence fails to parse without the they. Can they get it tossed because it doesn't parse? Or will the feds just amend it?

[bIlluminati]

Obama has nominated a replacement U.S. Attorney, Stephanie Finley, on the recommendation of Sen. Landrieu. If confirmed by the Senate, Finley will replace former U.S. Attorney Donald Washington, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in September 2001.

Washington announced his resignation Jan. 7. His last day in office was Monday.First Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Flanagan is serving as interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.

Maybe they’re in a hurry to get his dad out. Back in the day (1963), the New Orleans office of the FBI was in the same building as the local headquarters of the New Orleans mob.

That said, it looks plausible (the news reports).

[Cowman]

it does not take 4 people to tap a phone at all

If you have the proper equipment and expertise you don't even need to be in the building.

Don't ask how I know

[manc]

agreed

if there is evidence and cameras the I will say he is guilty but some of these things do not add up

it doesn’t take 4 people to tap a phone.
the feds were quick on the scene
there was a supposed witness, well if he is on the office and then the only way the witness could see him do this is by being in the room wiht him or having the door open.

now even the biggest idiot doesn’t tap a phone or leave a door open while they do it

this is all certainly sounds like a set up to me

[BelegStrongbow]

Don't ask how I know

You watch a lot of 'Leverage' and are a deep Alec Hardison fan? lol

[Ronbo1948]

I agree with this poster at Malkin’s website:

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This sounds… hinky. I’ll be waiting for more info, but seeing as how all the ACRON video DA’s were gunning to charge O’Keefe and Giles on wiretapping charges for filming my gut tells me, and this is only a guess, that they weren’t bugging the phone lines but were filming some nefarious goings-on at the Landrieu office. Note the report neither mentions having tapped the phone lines, or any wiretapping equipment on their persons. The government does not like O’Keefe. Holder doesn’t like O’Keefe. Until I hear credible facts I’m giving O’Keefe benefit of the doubt. Besides, unless he’s sniffing glue why commit a felony in front of witnesses? Why not break in after hours a la Watergate? Why not hire nerds to hack the computers? Why not steal Soros’s hidden Nazi loot? If you’re going to go, go big. Kidding aside, it sounds really… hinky. I eagerly await more info.

[Petruchio]

New Orleans, huh?

I wonder if he was arrested by Steven Seagal . . .

[manc]

so reading this then how does he do a crime then.

if these men tried to get in with out o keefe and then held at the main entrance then how are they tied to him when he is in the office and another part of the building ?

why does it take 4 people to tap a phone?

this all sounds like a big set up

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

how about THIS?

“...federal agents that worked with FLANAGAN and BASEL in the planning, coordination, and preparation of the operation.”

[Cheap_Hessian]

2 Biggest Questions From http://twitter.com/nikofyodo

"@allahpundit @EdMorrissey read the O'Keefe affidavit 1. Why would O'Keefe record? 2. Why no mention of any actual wiretapping equipment?"

[UCANSEE2]

To show you how easy it is to dupe the public, they already have you convinced there were four men dressed as telephone repairmen.

[Taggart_D]

This kid had a promising future that he just threw away.....

I suspect he's not that stupid (I could be wrong) and this is NOT the end of the story.

[Ronbo1948]

“if there is evidence and cameras the I will say he is guilty but some of these things do not add up

it doesn’t take 4 people to tap a phone.
the feds were quick on the scene
there was a supposed witness, well if he is on the office and then the only way the witness could see him do this is by being in the room wiht him or having the door open.

now even the biggest idiot doesn’t tap a phone or leave a door open while they do it

this is all certainly sounds like a set up to me”

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Excellent points. my friend. This deal just doesn’t pass the smell test...New Orleans - most corrupt city in the USA...Democrat Senator - one of the most corrupt in the USA...corrupt FBI agents? We have seen plenty of them. A U.S. Attorney after a promotion to federal judge by sucking up to a corrupt and degenerate Attorney General? And on top of the stinking pile of manure - President Zero, the master of lies, deceptions and Marxism.