Computers, records seized at ACORN offices in La.

**Popeye** · 11-07-2009, 02:45 AM

http://townhall.com/news/us/2009/11/...n_la?page=full

Saturday, November 07, 2009
By CAIN BURDEAU

State investigators raided ACORN offices on Friday, taking away computer hard drives and documents as part of a probe into alleged embezzlement and tax fraud when the organization's national headquarters was based in New Orleans.

"This is an investigation of everything _ ACORN, the national organization, the local organization and all of its affiliated entities, specifically as it relates to any potential violations of Louisiana law," Assistant Attorney General David Caldwell said.

ACORN staff on the scene declined to comment, but an attorney for the group said in a statement the raid was prompted by allegations that former ACORN employees had removed or altered electronic documents and may do so in the future.

Attorney Pamela Marple said ACORN was cooperating and called the raid exhaustive, saying investigators wanted "virtually every document in the possession of ACORN and any related entity."

The raid was the latest development for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Videotapes released recently showed ACORN employees offering tax advice to two people in Baltimore posing as a prostitute and her pimp. The videos led Congress and state governments to cut funding for ACORN.

State prosecutors said their probe into the New Orleans offices stemmed from allegations made last year by board members involving embezzlement at ACORN nearly a decade ago.

ACORN last year settled an internal dispute and a lawsuit involving accusations that Dale Rathke, the brother of the group's founder, Wade Rathke, made around $948,000 in improper credit card charges in 1999 and 2000. The Rathke family and a donor repaid the money and no charges were ever brought.

Last month, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, the father of David Caldwell, said he would step up an investigation into allegations that the embezzlement may have been as high as $5 million.

ACORN said the $5 million figure was "a worst-case scenario" for what the embezzlement potentially could cost the group.

For 33 years, ACORN's national headquarters was based in New Orleans after Wade Rathke moved here in the 1970s from Little Rock, Ark., where he started the organization. The embezzlement scandal led the organization to move its headquarters to Washington, D.C., earlier this year, a move that allowed the national organization to distance itself from the Rathkes.

David Caldwell said he did not know which former ACORN employees removed the computers.

"We're going to grab the stuff, make copies," he said, "and get it all back to them so whatever entities are doing business with them are able to do so."

**george parsons** · 11-07-2009, 10:41 AM

great...now if they can be implicated with the great one that would be even better.

**Stevejet** · 11-07-2009, 05:46 PM

Please....the "empty suit" never soils his hands in actual activities. He just smiles approvingly like old Ayatollah and his minions forge ahead under different supervision or on their own!

**meggie** · 11-08-2009, 09:30 AM

Obama will never take responsibility for anything that falls corrupt under his watch. In his mind, He is the ONE, therefore, it can't be Bad, Evil, Corrupt, Wrong, or anything other than blessed.

**lookingforthewayback** · 11-08-2009, 09:36 AM

And if it looks like it might get on him; under the bus it goes.

11-07-2009, 02:45 AM	#1
Popeye Join Date: July 12 2003 Location: Sacramento area, CA Posts: 63,104	Computers, records seized at ACORN offices in La. http://townhall.com/news/us/2009/11/...n_la?page=full Saturday, November 07, 2009 By CAIN BURDEAU State investigators raided ACORN offices on Friday, taking away computer hard drives and documents as part of a probe into alleged embezzlement and tax fraud when the organization's national headquarters was based in New Orleans. "This is an investigation of everything _ ACORN, the national organization, the local organization and all of its affiliated entities, specifically as it relates to any potential violations of Louisiana law," Assistant Attorney General David Caldwell said. ACORN staff on the scene declined to comment, but an attorney for the group said in a statement the raid was prompted by allegations that former ACORN employees had removed or altered electronic documents and may do so in the future. Attorney Pamela Marple said ACORN was cooperating and called the raid exhaustive, saying investigators wanted "virtually every document in the possession of ACORN and any related entity." The raid was the latest development for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Videotapes released recently showed ACORN employees offering tax advice to two people in Baltimore posing as a prostitute and her pimp. The videos led Congress and state governments to cut funding for ACORN. State prosecutors said their probe into the New Orleans offices stemmed from allegations made last year by board members involving embezzlement at ACORN nearly a decade ago. ACORN last year settled an internal dispute and a lawsuit involving accusations that Dale Rathke, the brother of the group's founder, Wade Rathke, made around $948,000 in improper credit card charges in 1999 and 2000. The Rathke family and a donor repaid the money and no charges were ever brought. Last month, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, the father of David Caldwell, said he would step up an investigation into allegations that the embezzlement may have been as high as $5 million. ACORN said the $5 million figure was "a worst-case scenario" for what the embezzlement potentially could cost the group. For 33 years, ACORN's national headquarters was based in New Orleans after Wade Rathke moved here in the 1970s from Little Rock, Ark., where he started the organization. The embezzlement scandal led the organization to move its headquarters to Washington, D.C., earlier this year, a move that allowed the national organization to distance itself from the Rathkes. David Caldwell said he did not know which former ACORN employees removed the computers. "We're going to grab the stuff, make copies," he said, "and get it all back to them so whatever entities are doing business with them are able to do so." The difference between a Socialist and a Communist is that the Socialist doesn't have all the guns yet.

11-07-2009, 10:41 AM	#2
george parsons Join Date: August 21 2007 Location: miami,oklahoma Posts: 589	great...now if they can be implicated with the great one that would be even better. Barack Hussein Obama is still a side-stepping scum sucking hypocritical Raghead. direct quote from old soldier

11-08-2009, 09:30 AM	#4
meggie Join Date: September 19 2009 Location: Mid USA Posts: 129	Obama will never take responsibility for anything that falls corrupt under his watch. In his mind, He is the ONE, therefore, it can't be Bad, Evil, Corrupt, Wrong, or anything other than blessed. Meggie I dread the battle: because it will mean my life has changed. I fear the battle: because loved ones may not survive. But FIGHT I will, 'til the echo of my last cartridge is silent, my last blade has been thrown, last arrow split the wind, until I hear the cheers of victory. I will not stop the fight 'til MY Country and Its Constitution are once again alive.

11-08-2009, 09:36 AM	#5
lookingforthewayback Join Date: March 25 2009 Location: Panhandle of Florida Posts: 3,503	And if it looks like it might get on him; under the bus it goes. Tact: Making someone feel at home when you wish they were. "The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them." Patrick Henry Our enemies have trained our teachers and professors. Our teachers have trained our children. "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. " Thomas Jefferson “If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams Gary

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11-07-2009, 05:46 PM	#3
Stevejet Join Date: October 10 2007 Location: Fountain Valley, CA. Posts: 2,748	Please....the "empty suit" never soils his hands in actual activities. He just smiles approvingly like old Ayatollah and his minions forge ahead under different supervision or on their own!