ACORN Dispersing Resources to SEIU, other Liberal Groups, House Probe Finds

ACORN, the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now, is in the process of changing its name and has already transferred many of its resources to several other left-wing advocacy and political groups, according to a report released Tuesday by Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

While the Justice Department has said that federal housing funds should continue to flow to ACORN, several congressmen, in a joint hearing of the House Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee, said they want a special prosecutor to investigate the use of taxpayer dollars to the group.

Several weeks back, Congress included in the Continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2010 a provision that bars federal funds to ACORN and its “affiliates, subsidiaries or allied organizations.”

President Obama signed the resolution. But the Justice Department’s opinion issued last week cleared the way for funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue going to the organization, a group that many House Republicans have called a “criminal enterprise.”

Former ACORN employee-turned-whistleblower, Anita Moncrief, told the House panel of eight Republicans and no Democrats that the organization continually got federal block grants but did not use the grants for helping the poor as promised. Rather, ACORN “used the money to fund the political machine,” Moncrief said.

“ACORN makes money off the poor,” Moncrief said. “Poverty is big business for ACORN.”

CNSNews.com could not reach an ACORN spokesman on Tuesday for comment after attempts by phone and e-mail. But ACORN spokesmen in the past have said that any illegal or unethical incidents were isolated and that the organization is dedicated to helping the poor.

However, the House Oversight report claimed otherwise, saying, “ACORN’s own training manual reflects a business model in which money is taken from poor people and then funneled into partisan political efforts.”

“ACORN is currently in the process of changing its name and has already transferred resources to several chapters of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and possibly Data and Field Services, the Working Families Party, Change to Win and the Council for Unity,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee.

The federal government has awarded at least $53 million to ACORN and its affiliates since 1994, according to an analysis by the House Republican staff. LINK: http://gopleader.gov/UploadedFiles/ACORN_chart.pdf

One of the group’s most recent scandals involved a hidden-camera video showing ACORN workers apparently giving tax advice to a purported pimp and prostitute who said they planned to open a business and smuggle in underage girls.

These incidents, repeated at several ACORN offices, drew rebuke from Republicans and from the White House.

Because of those hidden-camera reports, the U.S. Census Bureau terminated its partnership with ACORN for the 2010 census. Also, the Internal Revenue Service removed ACORN from its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

Earlier this year, the state of Nevada indicted ACORN after investigating the group’s alleged voter registration fraud. ACORN is also under investigation in California, Missouri, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Part of the probable cause for the probe in Louisiana came from the House Oversight staff report, said David Caldwell, deputy attorney general in Louisiana. He appealed to federal and other state law enforcement agencies for a coordinated effort.

“The purpose of our appearance today is to ask for assistance in coordinating any state and federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies who may be interested in benefiting from a shared investigative effort,” Caldwell told the House panel.

“The task of properly investigating almost 400 entities and over 600 bank accounts is massive to say the least,” said Caldwell. “Estimates we received from an outside computer forensic firm to do even a targeted forensic review of the hard drives and servers obtained indicate a cost of around $3.5 million. This cost does not include the necessary forensic accounting review of the 600-plus ACORN affiliated accounts.”

Still, the Justice Department is not doing a nationwide investigation as it should, said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. He also thinks the close ties between ACORN and President Obama, going back to Obama’s days as a community organizer in Chicago, create a conflict.

“The president’s close ties with ACORN, which date back over 15 years, are of additional concern,” Smith said. “President Obama previously served as ACORN’s lawyer, participated in ACORN training programs in Chicago, and sat on the boards of two organizations that provided funding to ACORN’s Chicago chapter.”

“The president’s ties to ACORN taint any conclusion that the Justice Department may reach with regard to whether or not to investigate and prosecute ACORN employees,” Smith said. “That’s why I request that the attorney general appoint a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into ACORN.”

“Breaking: Obama's White House ACORN Operative Fined $775,000 For Election Violations
- Used Rapists & Burglars in Door-to-Door Registration Drives”

“ACORN's Recent History With Prostitution (who'd have thought..)
Perhaps we shouldn't have been completely surprised by the videos we've seen of ACORN workers offering assistance to prostitution rings.

I mean, there was Cincinnati . . .
Shari Bell, 41, of Walnut Hills was arrested Wednesday night by Cincinnati police, reported WCPO, NewsChannel5's Cincinnati sister station.
Bell allegedly approached an undercover officer's car in Evanston and offered him sex for money. Police also said they found a crack pipe in Bell's coat pocket.
Bell told police she works for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now at the time of her arrest.

And then there was Cleveland:
An Ohio man who cast an illegal early ballot after being caught registering to vote several times with ACORN is a longtime scammer who was arrested last year — as a woman.
The bizarre tale of Darnell Nash — a k a Serina "Sexy Slay" Gibbs — came to light after Cuyahoga County election officials charged him with voter fraud and this week turned him in to prosecutors.
It turns out that Nash, 24, who has a criminal record as a man, is now a transsexual escort who claims to make $150 an hour turning tricks as the self-proclaimed "Queen of Cleveland Gender Benders."
Maybe this really is just another day at the office for the folks at ACORN . . .

UPDATE: Then there's Milwaukee:
At least seven felons convicted of crimes including cocaine possession and robbery were recruited by a liberal group to register voters in Milwaukee,
raising fears they may have committed voter fraud . . .
Along with the seven felons, court records show one special registration deputy has a pending felony charge for heroin possession and another is facing a misdemeanor prostitution charge. A third was convicted of misdemeanor prostitution. “

"ACORN Funded Prostitution Zone")."

ACORN Prostitution Scam Moves to Brooklyn

Now, I guess, we know what a community organizer does, because today we learned, an ACORN Brothel Grows in Brooklyn.
When we last saw our fake pimp and hooker, they were in our nation's capitol trying to
find out how ACORN would deal with people looking for a home mortgage so they can open open up a brothel using under-aged girls. "

"US ACORN SCANDAL: International Press Roundup (RUSSIA); Balt. Libs Recommend to Establish Brothel.

Liberal Benefactors in Baltimore gave recommendations to establish a brothel
В США опубликован видеоролик с участием сотрудников либеральной некоммерческой
организации, которые с энтузиазмом дают советы по организации противозаконного бизнеса -
детской проституции. In the United States published a video with the participation of staff of the liberal non-profit organization,
who enthusiastically give advice on the organization of an illegal business - child prostitution.
Как передает CNN, запись сделана двумя консервативными активистами,
один из которых изображал сутенера, а другая - проститутку.
According to CNN, entry was made by two conservative activist, one of which
depicted the pimp and the other - a prostitute.
Объектом успешной провокации стала влиятельная Ассоциация местных
организаций за немедленные реформы (ACORN)."

"ACORN SCANDAL: International Press Roundup (MEXICO) Girls
from Mexico/E.S. to U.S. for Prostitution
"Trabajo encubierto exhibe ilícitos de empleados de la ACORN;
Llevan a EU niñas de México y El Salvador para prostituirlas"
They have girls from Mexico to the United States and El Salvador for Prostitution
Antonio Heras Antonio Heras Corresponsal Correspondent Mexicali, BC, 17 de
septiembre. Mexicali, BC, Sept. 17. An undercover work done by Hannah Giles and
James O'Keefe, activists, human rights advocates, revealed illegal actions of
employees of the Association of Community Organizations for the New Reform
(ACORN, for its acronym in English), who advise the import United States of girls
from Mexico and El Salvador for prostitution in the neighboring country and profit
from it.

The ACORN, nongovernmental organization dedicated to the support of migrants and
highly marginalized people to acquire home ownership in the U.S., announced it will
initiate an independent investigation to determine responsibilities of its employees."

"ACORN SCANDAL: International Press Roundup (NORWAY): "Obama-Support Group Helps Fake Whore/Pimp" "Obama-Støttegruppe Felt Av Falsk Hore Og Hhallik"
a video camera has revealed how people in the U.S. umbrella organization Acorn has
been willing to provide support to illegal projects.
Obama-aid Lobby group, which supports low-and middle-income groups in the housing
wage and tax issues, was under the election campaign last year, accused of election
fraud after a sub-organization had a mission to register voters worth 800 000 dollars
for Obama. "

"Unearthed! Obama's twisted ACORN roots
"Obama's task was to help far South Side residents press for improvement," the Times article explained. "

"The E. F. Hutton of Prostitution: When ACORN Talks, Pimps and Hookers Listen.
The radical activist group ACORN is the E. F. Hutton of prostitution. It stands ready to provide discreet advice
on setting up a brothel and engaging in other, associated acts of criminality. When ACORN talks, pimps and hookers listen.
In Baltimore, ACORN staff assured O’Keefe and Giles that the group doesn’t “discriminate” — i.e., has no standards whatsoever.
Giles is told if she makes $96,000 a year selling sex, she should tell the government she only makes $9,600.
O’Keefe notes that they want a house for 13 underage girls who will be imported from El Salvador to work as prostitutes.
Only three — not all 13 — of the girls can be listed as dependents, ACORN prudently advises. "

"ACORN Prostitution Scandal:San Bernardino VIDEO This Time W/Politicians and Murder
When we last saw our fake pimp and hooker, they were in Brooklyn, with the usual scenario,
trying to find out how ACORN would deal with people looking for a home mortgage
so they can open open up a brothel using under-aged girls.

Today's stop is San Bernardino, California. In this Acorn office we find out the woman who runs the office is also a poll dancer
who may turn tricks on the side. ACORN's is supposedly non political but acording to Teresa,
the woman on the tape helping the pair, she speaks with Congressman and Senators every day because
she is lobbying for the Obamacare bill. She names Barbara "Call Me Senator "Boxer and Senator McCleod,
and 62nd district Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter as people with whom she deals.
Theresa says that “Eden’s” prostitution money would be an asset to James in his quest to become a Senator or Representative.
Also the person who was helping the alter egos of James O' Keefe and Hannah Giles with the prostitution scam
also talks about how she first planned the cover-up then shot and killed her husband."

James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles visited one of ACORN’s New York offices in August,
where they picked up handy tips on how to lie on housing forms to cover up a prostitution business
(”Honesty is not going to get you the house,” one ACORN official advises) and how to hide cash
from their illicit business (”When you buy the house with the backyard, you get a tin…
and you bury it down in there…cover it…and put the grass over it…”).

In 1994 the ACORN Housing Corporation (AHC) was awarded a $1.1 million grant
by AmeriCorps, a program of the Corporation for National Service (CNS). The money was intended
to fund the training of 42 AmeriCorps members in 13 cities. The workers were expected to identify
low-income families hoping to purchase a first home, to assist them in finding suitable housing, and to
advise them in securing the necessary financing.

AHC’s initial subterfuge pales in comparison to the illegal fundraising scheme it subsequently operated,
using its AmeriCorps grant to increase ACORN’s membership.
According to Jordan, one ACORN member in the Dallas regional office stated that “the only reason
for having the AmeriCorps program was to gain new ACORN members, and that if AmeriCorps loan
counseling clients did not start becoming ACORN members, she could and would halt the AmeriCorps project.”
Jordan found that this understanding was not limited to the Dallas office.
Using government funds to solicit membership in an organization that— like ACORN—participates in
direct political advocacy is a violation of federal guidelines."

"ACORN: Big Apple, Big Pimping (another shoe drops)
It was just a fluke, ACORN insisted the first time that James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles
published their undercover video showing their office in Baltimore helping a pimp evade taxes
and get a mortgage by deceit for a brothel. They fired a couple of “bad apples” in that office,
and a couple of more bad apples in Washington DC when that office got caught on hidden camera
doing the same thing. In fact. ACORN went so far as to brag that the pair had tried the same thing
and failed in “San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia to name a few places.”"

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