ACORN/prostitution sting, Part II: D.C. edition

By Michelle Malkin  •  September 11, 2009 11:20 AM


Photoshop credit: Leo Alberti

Andrew Breitbart’s investigative team at Big Government has penetrated another ACORN office.

Go watch now.

James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles are performing an invaluable public service.

As I note in Culture of Corruption and have reported previously, the Bush administration bears ample blame for fueling the ACORN housing/mortgage counseling racket. The GOP increased funding for left-wing-operated housing counseling programs by 150 percent since taking office in 2001.

Are there any Democrats who care about how all that money is being spent? John Conyers chickened out.

Bueller? Bueller?

***

Flashback June 2008:

Under the guise of “consumer advocacy,” ACORN has lined its pockets. The Department of Housing and Urban Development funds hundreds, if not thousands, of left-wing “anti-poverty” groups across the country led by ACORN. Last October, HUD announced more than $44 million in new housing counseling grants to over 400 state and local efforts. The White House has increased funding for housing counseling by 150 percent since taking office in 2001, despite the role most of these recipients play as activist satellites of the Democratic Party. The AARP scored nearly $400,000 for training; the National Council of La Raza (“The Race”) scooped up more than $1.3 million; the National Urban League raked in nearly $1 million; and the ACORN Housing Corporation received more than $1.6 million.

As the Consumer Rights League points out in its new expose, the ACORN Housing Corporation has worked to obtain mortgages for illegal aliens in partnership with Citibank. It relies on undocumented income, “under the table” money, which may not be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Moreover, the group’s “financial justice” operations attack lenders for “exotic” loans, while recommending 10-year interest-only loans (which deny equity to the buyer) and risky reverse mortgages. Whistleblower documents reveal internal discussions among the group that blur the lines between its tax-exempt housing work and its aggressive electioneering activities. The group appears to shake down corporate interests with relentless PR attacks, and then enters “no lobby” agreements with targeted corporations after receiving payment.

Republicans have largely looked the other way as ACORN has expanded its government-funded empire. But finally, a few conservative voices in Congress have called for investigation of the group’s apparent extortion schemes. This week, GOP Reps. Tom Feeney, Jeb Hensarling and Ed Royce called on Democrat Barney Frank, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, to convene a hearing to probe potential illegalities and abuse of taxpayer funds by ACORN’s management and minions alike.

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Posted in: ACORN Watch

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Comments


  1. #1
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:22 am, tarpon said:

    ACORN is a criminal enterprise.

    And ACORN are doing the 2010 census. How could that possibly be a problem.

  2. #2
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:23 am, flmom said:

    Meanwhile, the dead tree media yawns.

  3. #3
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:27 am, Salt said:

    Unbelievable.

    ACORN employees have so much information about how a pimp can avoid prosecution, but we’re supposed to believe that their voter registration was on the up and up?

  4. #4
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:29 am, jsmiddleton4 said:

    These events also underscore to me what real investigative journalism looks like. The MSM will not let real investigative journalism go by without attacking the journalist involved.

    Wait for it….

  5. #5
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:30 am, jsmiddleton4 said:

    “how a pimp can avoid prosecution, but we’re supposed to believe that their voter registration was on the up and up?”

    Well define “pimp”…..

  6. #6
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:37 am, MarcoPolo said:

    I wouldn’t be so sure Conyers chickened out. His wife was facing a myriad of corruption indictments and all that action came to a head at the exact same time Conyers had a visit from “the powers that be.” (His words.)

    I think he was bought out. Again.

  7. #7
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am, chapoutier said:

    I can’t get the videos to play. Anyone provide a quick and dirty rundown?

  8. #8
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:43 am, beenthere said:

    The GOP increased funding for left-wing-operated housing counseling programs by 150 percent since taking office in 2001.

    In many ways, Bush/GOP was the warm-up act for the Obama/Dems. Moreover, I have long thought Obama was what Bush wanted to be.

    I’m sure there are plenty of Bush (“He was a good man/he kept us safe“) types out there who would only be too happy to pound me for saying this — and they can stick to their story — but in MOHO he wasn’t that good of a man and he didn’t keep us that safe. Sorry.

  9. #9
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:50 am, babiesgrandma said:

    jsmiddleton4 said:
    Well define “pimp”…..

    I believe it was defined as “entrepreneur, in business for oneself” and “entertainment business” in the tax code, aoccording to some ACORN nut.

  10. #10
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:52 am, right_on said:

    I can’t get the videos to play. Anyone provide a quick and dirty rundown?

    ACORN employees offered to help obtain mortgage for prostitution, advice for hiding the employment of underage (13) illegal alien hookers, and explained how to commit tax fraud….for a “pimp and prostitute” business.

  11. #11
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:54 am, chapoutier said:

    Oh great! He passes himself of as a Georgetown Law student!!!

    After Stephen Glass, the “pump and dump” boys from 9 years ago and, obviously, me, this is the LAST thing G’Town needs sullying its reputation.

  12. #12
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:56 am, sambo said:

    Maybe if our Treasury Sec. got ACORN to do his taxes he wouldn’t have gotten caught!

    Dear Mr. Treasury Sec, I saw the video of ACORNs tax lady and she is the same one that did my taxes. Should I go out and buy Turbo Tax and refile?

  13. #13
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:59 am, sambo said:

    chapoutier said:
    After Stephen Glass, the “pump and dump” boys from 9 years ago and, obviously, me, this is the LAST thing G’Town needs sullying its reputation

    But it might help lawyers out on their rep’s!

  14. #14
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:59 am, Weary Citizen said:

    Would you take “tax advice” from the woman in the video? She doesn’t speak or carry herself in a manner that instills confidence in her. Much less that she actually attended a real university. I would take my chances elsewhere. My guess, she once filled out a 1040EZ form, so now she is an expert.

  15. #15
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:07 pm, battleaxe said:

    I’m pretty sure the “counseling” that was supposed to be available had nothing to do with setting up brothels for pedophiles. However, since that’s what’s being given, I suggest every employee and client of Acorn be arrested and put on the sex offender registry.

  16. #16
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:10 pm, tre said:

    Again, can this be used to impeach Duh One before he screws this country up even more?

  17. #17
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:11 pm, Salt said:

    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:54 am, chapoutier said:

    Oh great! He passes himself of as a Georgetown Law student!!!

    I assume this means you found a transcript or synopsis somewhere and no longer need one?

  18. #18
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:12 pm, chapoutier said:

    I assume this means you found a transcript or synopsis somewhere and no longer need one?

    I got the video to work, thanks.

  19. #19
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:14 pm, right_on said:

    Would you take “tax advice” from the woman in the video?

    Would you take health care advice from someone with no experience in the health care field?

    Or national security advice from someone with no securtiy experience, and whom fights against border securtiy?

    Or advice on contraception from someone who condones, and promotes abortion, while giving lip service to personal responsibility?

    Or advice about patriotism, from someone who blames America for all the world’s evils?

    Or advice about transparency, from someone who refuses to be transparent?

    It’s the nature of the beast, in question.

  20. #20
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:25 pm, palani said:

    This is just another example of leftwing racism. Place uneducated minorities in the front office to serve as the scapegoats should anything go wrong.

  21. #21
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:28 pm, Jet Jaguar said:

    Where there’s smoke, there is fire. These aren’t isolated incidents; They’re systemic! Where’s the condemnation and call for heads by the White House? Where are the calls for investigation, Republicans AND Democrats?!? Several ACORN workers have been indicted for voter registration fraud across the nation. We are funding this with our tax dollars – our hard earned money! Where is the oversight? Where is the outrage?

  22. #22
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:33 pm, Right By-The-Sea said:

    God bless these two young people for their exposure of the illegalities and corruption going on inside the ACORN offices. God bless and protect them. How long does anyone think it will be before these two are subjected to the “Sarah Palin” treatment?

  23. #23
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:45 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    There is virtually nothing that Georgetown could do to further sully its “reputation.” It is as disreputable as it will ever be unless they start performing abortions and sex-reassignment surgery in the chapel on campus…

  24. #24
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:47 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Where there’s smoke, there is fire. These aren’t isolated incidents; They’re systemic!

    Exactly! These pawns in the videos should be bargained with to become whistle blowers. The management and executives that allowed or condoned or specified this behavior must be indicted.

  25. #25
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:47 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    For you legal types, what ACORN is doing sounds a lot to me like facilitating money laundering doesn’t it?

    Ill-gotten gains funneled into real estate purchases.

  26. #26
    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:57 pm, chapoutier said:

    It is as disreputable as it will ever be

    Well, it does get more applications than any other law school in the country. So I suppose in some circles it still has some modicum of credibility.

    But, to be fair, it was never trying to suck up to the inbred Piedmont, SC crowd. It made the strategic decision to market itself to the highly intelligent and successful.

  27. #27
    On September 11th, 2009 at 1:02 pm, chapoutier said:

    For you legal types, what ACORN is doing sounds a lot to me like facilitating money laundering doesn’t it?

    what I think you would be talking about is being an accessory to a crime. I am no criminal law expert, but I don’t think it could apply here, since there is no actual crime being committed. Most of the time an accessory cannot be convicted unless the principal is. Which obviously there is not one here. Rags would probably know more.

  28. #28
    On September 11th, 2009 at 1:13 pm, Ron said:

    I think there is probable cause to cut every federal dollar to ACORN. We should demand it. Now.

  29. #29
    On September 11th, 2009 at 1:14 pm, graysonret said:

    Amazing, how stupid these people are. There isn’t anything in it for them, just for the organization and the left. They are a true example of the “useful idiot”. They would also be good citizens under a totalitarian government; always willing to be led if it sounds good.

  30. #30
    On September 11th, 2009 at 1:17 pm, RedDog said:

    Barney Frank, investigate ACORN? Please, he would be implicating himself if he did. He’s in it up to his ears.

  31. #31
    On September 11th, 2009 at 2:07 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    That lots of poorly educated, highly indoctrinated dupes apply to waste their daddy’s money on tuition at GU doesn’t prove much other than there are lots of poorly educated, highly indoctrinated dupes who can’t find a job in Obama’s recession. They could just go to work directly at ACORN and save a bundle…

    On September 11th, 2009 at 12:57 pm, chapoutier said:

    Well, it does get more applications than any other law school in the country. So I suppose in some circles it still has some modicum of credibility.

  32. #32
    On September 11th, 2009 at 2:31 pm, Random_Numbers (Brian Epps) said:

    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:59 am, Weary Citizen said:

    Would you take “tax advice” from the woman in the video? She doesn’t speak or carry herself in a manner that instills confidence in her.

    ACORN trains it’s “tax advisers” themselves. I am not surprised that both videos show them “advising” their “clients” on how to evade taxes illegally while remaining under the radar. ACORN isn’t looking for professionalism in their hirelings, they are looking for cheap, dumb, amoral, and expendable.

  33. #33
    On September 11th, 2009 at 2:47 pm, nbarry said:

    I’d love to be a fly on the wall at an IRS audit of these businesses. It would be like “Saturday Night Live” if the examiners were diligent. You make up the punchlines.

    And where are those feminists who scream about exploitation of women and girls?

  34. #34
    On September 11th, 2009 at 2:49 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    CNN was running captions about how the ACORN employees “allegedly” made certain statements.

    I suppose John Hinckley, Jr. “allegedly” shot President Reagan and Mark David Chapman “allegedly” shot John Lennon…

    Now ACORN is complaining about “gotcha journalism.”

    When is a Federal Prosecutor going to indict ACORN on a RICO charge?

  35. #35
    On September 11th, 2009 at 2:51 pm, iamsaved said:

    The first order of business is to cut the flow of tax dollars to ACORN and like groups. Then cut them out of voter registration drives and any involvement in the Census. Then let the prosecutors do what they may to them if they can.

  36. #36
    On September 11th, 2009 at 2:55 pm, rightwingmom said:

    Wow! There sure are a LOT of “rogue” employees in ACORN!!!

    Hannah and James,
    Prayers for your safety and compliments on a job well done! I LOVE the way you waited a day to release the D.C. vid!!!

    CNN finally posted the story. It wasn’t exactly their Headline!
    MSNBC ~ NOTHING!

  37. #37
    On September 11th, 2009 at 2:56 pm, tiredofit08 said:

    James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles are performing an invaluable public service.

    and should be given medals for their efforts! now this is exactly what the MSM should be doing…fox news should offer them positions working with John Stossel…two very brave and patriotic Americans!!

  38. #38
    On September 11th, 2009 at 3:04 pm, TigerLady said:

    Watch these two young people be vilified like Joe the Plumber or Sarah Palin. Pray for the safety of these two American heros.

  39. #39
    On September 11th, 2009 at 3:06 pm, Hannibal said:

    It is kinda muffled there in the very beginning, but I think the lady from ACORN says, “hell yeah I know what I’m doing, I been doing Charlie Rangel’s taxes for years”.

  40. #40
    On September 11th, 2009 at 4:15 pm, regularguy said:

    Time and again we see criminal activity on the part of ACORN employees, only to be sacrificed by management when they are caught. Tacitly or not, ACORN management has to be well aware of the illegal activity; I wouldn’t doubt if they actually train the criminal activity into their employees because I can’t imagine the types of employees ACORN recruits would come up with such ploys on their own. Public money supported by political cowards and brazen leftists continues to feed ACORN; we should not count on politicians to force an end to it–Republicans have funded ACORN as well, the dolts.

  41. #41
    On September 11th, 2009 at 4:16 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    I read on FOX that these two ACORN employees have also been fired. So they will move to Baltimore to be hired in THAT office and the two fired Baltimore employees have new jobs waiting for them in DC. LOL

  42. #42
    On September 11th, 2009 at 4:23 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    I am sure that you will not be surprised to hear that the very first thread I found at DU on this second story was typical. Not many comments as yet but it was all about hw since the two decided to be “pimp & ho” it clearly proves that they are racists. LOL.

  43. #43
    On September 11th, 2009 at 4:41 pm, TigerLady said:

    I realize that these four women in the video are sheep and ACORN has and will continue to throw them under the bus. But why aren’t they in jail?

    Start here and move up the ladder until we get to the top of this thug agency supported by our Thug in Chief.

  44. #44
    On September 11th, 2009 at 5:02 pm, deadlywit said:

    Where’s Betty Sutton when you need her to start a new federal subsidy like Cash for Clunkers? Let’s start Handouts for Hookers!

  45. #45
    On September 11th, 2009 at 5:02 pm, max said:

    Bueller? Bueller?

    … that never fails to crack me up!
    love when you do that MM. :)
    excellent piece as usual…

  46. #46
    On September 11th, 2009 at 5:04 pm, max said:

    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am, chapoutier said:
    I can’t get the videos to play. Anyone provide a quick and dirty rundown?

    sure…
    Acorn been doing some Diiirrttty riiiddin!

  47. #47
    On September 11th, 2009 at 5:12 pm, TigerLady said:

    max said:
    On September 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am, chapoutier said:
    I can’t get the videos to play. Anyone provide a quick and dirty rundown?
    sure…
    Acorn been doing some Diiirrttty riiiddin!

    Score!

  48. #48
    On September 11th, 2009 at 6:21 pm, DesertLover said:

    ALERT ! ! !

    Fox just reporting that after this second tape being made public that the Census Bureau has just cut all ties with ACORN … and has forwarded some files and information to various oversight committees for investigation …

    Was just reported on Special Report …

  49. #49
    On September 11th, 2009 at 7:03 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    ACORN has implemented a review of all policies after two more employees were fired for helping pimp out under-age, illegal immigrant sex slaves.

    The main finding of this “policy review” will be to NOT provide advice on falsifying mortgage loan applications, money laundering techniques and tax evasion methods to pimps until you have performed a full cavity search on them.

  50. #50
    On September 12th, 2009 at 9:02 am, spaceycakes said:

    heh.
    chap said ‘quick & dirty’.

  51. #51
    On September 12th, 2009 at 9:21 am, USMCgramma said:

    God bless and keep Hannah and James safe. They have such courage and resolve (….and they aren’t even Marines!!!) Also proud of the Tea Party gang from this area who will storm DC today. Our Blue Dog Dem carpetbagger is very nervous.

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