Filmmaker Who Targeted ACORN Arrested in Alleged Senate Phone Scheme

Fox News ^ | 01/25/10

[BuckeyeTexan]

Developing ... James O'Keefe, of ACORN sting video fame, and three other suspects have been arrested by the FBI for interfering with LA Senator Landrieu's phone system on federal property.

[OldDeckHand]

"Thanks for the correction. I could have sworn it was NBC, but I would rather have somebody tell me I am wrong than spread something that isn’t true!"

Here's the 4th Circuit decision, if you'd like to read it for yourself. In the area of "two-party" consent laws, it's somewhat of a landmark decision and very well known to 1st Amendment and media attorneys.

[Oceander]

This was a really, really stupid stunt to try; it's one thing to go after a corrupt private organization like ACORN in your mother's fur coat, it's another thing entirely to actively misrepresent yourself in order to gain admittance to a federal office in order to tap the phones therein. That is what used to be called "serious shit" and it is going to land this guy in a whole pile of it. He'll be lucky if he gets a plea bargain of 5 plus a whole lotta fines. Of course, his ACORN vids are now going to be treated as suspect, and Breitbart himself may have lost a significant chunk of political capital. What a stupid, stupid stunt to pull.

.

[Canedawg]

I heard he served in viet nam

;-)

[Salvation]

Are these cooked up charges?

[muawiyah]

I've visited my Senators' offices before. I was never asked why I was there. My Congressman's receptionist wanted to know how many tickets to the White House tour I wanted.

What would constitute false premises for a citizen visiting a Congresscritter's office?

[muawiyah]

At last we agree on something. There are people, and many of them are in the FBI, who are apolitical. They get their kicks out of being cops and investigators.

Leftwingtards should not assume these people are Conservatives though.

[Thunder90]

Breitbart had better be ready to face a massive libel lawsuit and federal charges over the ACORN sting, as they will use that for a conspiracy case against him. The undercover videotaping may be considered a “wiretap” or “spying device”.

[Thunder90]

Maryland has in fact filed felony charges against Okeefe and Giles. I believe that CA has also filed charges. That is what their legal defense fund is for.

Now, with the Federal charge, Okeefe is looking at the potential of RICO charges. Breitbart may also face conspiracy/RICO charges.

[Enchante]

exactly — sounds like this is the main federal bldg in NOLA and the FBI could not have been far away

if the affidavit from the FBI agent is roughly accurate, then these guys went way over the top and seemingly had no idea of what kind of laws they were messing with??? telecomm stuff, especially in a US Senator’s office, can hit someone like a sack of bricks if the local US prosecutor wants to make a big deal of it...... surely they have many more important federal crimes to pursue, BUT, the political pressures will be obvious..... and what US Atty’s office will not take seriously something that involves one of the state’s US Senator’s federal office? Well maybe if it were an eviilll conservative senator and a liberal US Atty. But in this case, I’ll guess that these guys are not going to get off too lightly.

These guys must watch too many movies -— I doubt that there are many offices which would just usher in “phone repairmen” who they had not called for and who had no credentials etc. I KNOW that would not work in my office, never. You don’t get near our locked phone room unless we know exactly who and why, and it would have been amazing if any US Senator’s office in a federal building just waved them in with no scrutiny....

now if only Holder’s dept. could prosecute ACORN scum and New Black Panther Party etc. violating people’s voting rights

but if the facts are close to what is described these guys are in some serious doo-doo

terrible shame, b/c they did great work on the ACORN stuff, why did they have to cross a bright legal line? I’m sure there is all sort of juicy stuff to find out about the Demagogues this way, but anyone with common sense should know that only Democraps can get away with a slap on the wrist or less..... ala John Kerry’s brother

[muawiyah]

Not really. This is very small potatoes ~ and there's more in the FBI agent's allegation than can be sustained by anything we've heard so far.

About all Agent Reyes has correct is that certain people with certain names were found on the premises of a federal office building, and one of them fiddled with a telephone handed to him by the receptionist.

Look, I correctly predicted the judgment the USSC would hand down in 08-205 Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm'n (01/21/10). I think I have a handle on this one. For the most part it's not much different from any case where a citizen is subject to search in a federal office building.

[Oceander]

That may be, it is still an incredibly stupid thing to do. Look, they could be found innocent as the new-fallen snow, on the substance, not technicalities, but that's irrelevant to the acolytes of Alinsky, as we know all too well by now. By pulling this juvenile stunt, they have essentially destroyed the value of the ACORN tapes, and have put a serious kink in Breitbart's credibility. All in all, that was not a smart thing to do - that was a liberal thing to do.

[Thunder90]

I found out that Okeefe could be charged with RICO and extortion, because of the incident in Maryland and the latest incident. ACORN may also be entitled to millions of dollars in a civil suit (you know how this works, as Holder will get ACORN to sue Okeefe and Giles).

[muawiyah]

Maryland filed felony charges against Ms. Tripp. Maryland lost. Maryland will lose again.

[Thunder90]

Now ACORN and the state of MD will have grounds to criminally and civilly go after Giles and Okeefe, and potentially Breitbart himself.

[muawiyah]

No, they have not destroyed the value of the ACORN tapes ~ unless you believe they were staged ~ you know how those colored folk do in the presence of white pimps and their main hos, eh(/S).

The tapes speak for themselves.

In any case, we only know of Agent Reyes allegations ~ nothing of the facts. I'm holding out for a $15 bond and "free to go".

[Thunder90]

No, Maryland will not lose. And they have this case to use to prove intent. Maryland will win. Also, the Feds now have a potential RICO case against Okeefe and Giles (Extortion of ACORN and the senator, as ludicrous as it sounds)...

[muawiyah]

They already did that.

This occurred in Lawziann, which ain't nowhurs near Maryland.

No one is convicted of anything yet either.

[fantom]

What grounds ?

[prairiebreeze]

Good grief...!

[Enchante]

hope you’re right and I certainly yield to your understanding of such cases — Maybe they’d really have to “do” something with the phones to make it a serious case, I don’t know... but if they did have any plan to “bug” and if the feds turn one against the others or there is relevant equipment in their possession for illegal acts, won’t that make it more serious?

agree that we don’t see the “evidence” that would support serious charges — but can’t yet be sure that it’s not there??