B'klyn ACORN cleared over giving illegal advice on how to hide money from prostitution

The New York Daily News ^ | 03/01/10 | Scott Shifrel

[agooga]

Brooklyn prosecutors on Monday cleared ACORN of criminal wrongdoing after a four-month probe that began when undercover conservative activists filmed workers giving what appeared to be illegal advice on how to hide money.

While the video by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles seemed to show three ACORN workers advising a prostitute how to hide ill-gotten gains, the unedited version was not as clear, according to a law enforcement source.

"They edited the tape to meet their agenda," said the source.

[agooga]

Story is short on details. I am an editor for television, and I looked at several of the tapes and saw a lot more honesty in the way they Giles and O'Keefe presented their evidence than what you generally see on television. I guess we all need to see the unedited footage?

[HiTech RedNeck]

The problem is the glory wasn’t theirs. Had the Brooklyn cops themselves done a kiddie porn bust, you can bet they would have had forensics go over every inch of the footage to clarify anything that wasn’t clear.

[mathluv]

I think you could yell ‘cover-up’ quiet loudly.

[a fool in paradise]

I’ve never heard a “law enforcement source” say something like “they edited the tape to meet their agenda” when talking about a scandal regarding some NON-POLICE, NON-GOVERNMENT entity.

[FrankR]

Gee. I know I should be surprised, but I’m not...go figure.

[Pharmboy]

If the dims will not prosecute people who were caught on videotape intimidating people going to vote (Philly), why would they bother with this?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Brooklyn ?
Crooklyn.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Well, I hope O’Keefe does put the whole thing up on You Tube along with fulsome notation, to show the world just what Keystone Kops these are in Brooklyn.

[JohnLongIsland]

Don't you know that the Brooklyn ACORN chapter has received criminal immunity way before Hopey/Changey was even in the big house?

[agooga]

my thoughts too— doesn’t smell right.

[dead]

People on this thread are complaining about the Brooklyn cops, but this decision came from former Legal Aid lawyer, Charles Hynes' office.

Friends say Brooklyn’s top prosecutor, Charles J. Hynes, has the mindset that only psychopaths belong in jail, and that other defendants oftentimes just need some extra help.

[Tanniker Smith]

I still regret that I ever voted for him for that position (or any position for that matter). I went to school with his son. He was also quick to respond when there was an incident in the school involving a chemical that had oxidize and a teacher (briefly) had passed out. (That was back when Hynes was with the Fire Dept. And, yes, the quick response was probably quickened by the fact that Hynes had to kids in the building.)

[yarddog]

There is always the possibility that the statement is accurate but I personally would love to see the entire tape.

[agooga]

So for those of us who don’t know Hynes— is he a fair DA or a nutjob?

[GeronL]

Did anyone expect that government prosecutors or government courts would convict a pro-government advocate?

[Tzimisce]

Who says crime doesn’t pay?

If you’re a liberal Democrat with powerful friends, it pays quite well. :)

[Lurking Libertarian]

So for those of us who don’t know Hynes— is he a fair DA or a nutjob?

Back when I used to practice law in New York, he had a very good reputation. His Wikipedia bio is here.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Yeah and on another note...

Liberals Dismiss Charlie Rangel Tax Cheating Scandal Pelosi promised the most ethical Congress in history, but now she's dismissing Rangel's corruption because it doesn't "jeopardize the country."

But wide stances are?

...from the most ethical corruptcraps in Washington!

[BamaDi]

un-ef’ing-believable.....

[magooey]

Guilty as h3ll, free as a boid. You gotta problem wit dat?