ACORN office workers in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., have been caught on hidden video camera advising a couple posing as a prostitute and pimp on how to hide their crimes. On Friday, the video of the Washington, D.C., sting was released by the creator, an independent filmmaker. ACORN, a national non-profit that helps the poor get housing, fired the two Baltimore office employees on Thursday.
Get the new PD toolbar!In both videos, the ACORN staffers advise the supposed pimp and prostitute on how to evade taxes, cover up trafficking of child sex slaves from El Salvador and hide the prostitution from authorities.
At the Baltimore ACORN Housing office, filmmaker James O'Keefe, who posed as the pimp, and Hannah Giles, who posed as the prostitute, asked for help buying a house to use as a brothel. The ACORN employee told Giles on the video to list Giles' occupation on tax forms as "performance artist."
A videotape provided to FOXNews.com on Friday of the Washington office sting shows an ACORN staffer telling O'Keefe that Giles does not have to mention on the home-loan application "that she's doing prostitution . . . she doesn't have to."
After the video of the Washington ACORN office surfaced Friday, ACORN officials told FOX News that it would need to look at the full tape and transcript before commenting.
O'Keefe asks directly on the tape, "I can be the one who puts up the house for her, and she can perform tricks in the house?" "Yep," answers the ACORN employee.
Another ACORN staff member then jumps in to advise him: "You buy the home, you have no knowledge of what is going on inside the home -- you're just the landlord."
The ACORN staffer is heard suggesting that O'Keefe purchase the house, use it as a brothel, but hide his connection to it by only collecting the money from the prostitutes and underage sex workers. "When the police ask you, [tell them] you don't know where (the money is) coming from. We are looking out for you," says the ACORN employee on the video.
O'Keefe and Giles then take the most over-the-top position, claiming that she is a prostitute and running the child sex ring in order to make money for O'Keefe to run for political office. The ACORN worker gives them advice on how to protect O'Keefe's political career from association with his supposed prostitute girlfriend and the source of his political fundraising money.
The video was the brainchild of activist O'Keefe. He posted on the Web site Big Government that the purpose of the experiment was to take "advantage of ACORN's regard for thug criminality by posing the most ridiculous criminal scenario we could think of and seeing if they would comply – which they did without hesitation."
ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is a liberal activist group that advocates for the poor. Last year, the group came under fire when it conducted a massive voter registration effort and its employees were accused of submitting false registration forms with names such as "Mickey Mouse." ACORN has said only a handful of employees submitted false registration forms and did so in a bid to boost their pay.
It is about time someone exposes this fraudulent group for what it really is. This organization gets millions of our tax dollars for these types of scams. And to think, they want them to conduct the census.
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WADE....
3:42PM Sep 11th 2009
Sign The Petition against ACORN:
Obama Proudly says ACORN & FRIENDS WILL SHAPE HIS AGENDA: Andrew Breitbart on origin of ACORN undercover video and video # II:
BRAVO AOL for talking about the corruption of ACORN!! Thank You!!!
Until our congressmen and women "Republicans and Democrats" alike investigate the under belly of this corrupt organization NOTHING will happen .... we need to write/call our congressmen & tell them we want an investigation to how this group is spending OUR hard earned taxes
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DD8V92
10:18AM Sep 12th 2009
Who is Acorn and what do they do:
"[ACORN Is] A Housing Advocacy Group That Also Helps Lead Ambitious Voter-Registration Efforts Benefiting Democrats." (Elizabeth Williamson and Brody Mullins, "Democratic Ally Mobilizes In Housing Crunch," The Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08)
ACORN Was Founded By Wade Rathke, Who Also Was The Founder And Chief Organizer Of SEIU Local 100. (Wade Rathke Website, www.waderathke.com, Accessed 7/14/08)
ACORN Conducts Its Voter Registration Activities Through Project Vote, Which Uses "Local ACORN Offices To Collect Registrations." ("Officials Question Error-Filled Voter Registrations Collected By Paid Workers," The Associated Press, 6/2/04)
Public Disclosures Showed Large Sums Of Money That Were Misappropriated From ACORN. (Stephanie Strom, "Funds Misappropriated At 2 Nonprofit Groups," The New York Times, 7/9/08)
"Acorn Chose To Treat The Embezzlement Of Nearly $1 Million Eight Years Ago As An Internal Matter And Did Not Even Notify Its Board." (Stephanie Strom, "Funds Misappropriated At 2 Nonprofit Groups," The New York Times, 7/9/08)
ACORN Used "In Your Face" Tactics Like Disrupting Hearings, Bursting Into City Council Meetings, And Protesting Mayor’s Homes. (Stanley Kurtz, Op-Ed, "Inside Obama’s Acorn," National Review, 5/29/08)
"ACORN Has Been Accused Of Voter Fraud In 13 States Since 2004 And Was Convicted Of Falsifying Signatures In A Voter Registration Drive Last July, Drawing A Fine Of $25,000 In Washington State." (Editorial, "George Soros: The Man, The Mind And The Money Behind MoveOn," Investor's Business Daily, 9/21/07)
"ACORN Has Been Implicated In Similar Schemes In 14 Other States - Including Ohio, Where A Worker Traded Crack Cocaine For Fraudulent Registrations." (Editorial, "Another ACORN Scandal," New York Post, 7/13/08)
Chicago ACORN Leader Toni Foulkes Referred To Obama In The 2004 US Senate Primary As "The Candidate We Hold Dear." (Toni Foulkes, "Case Study: Chicago-The Barack Obama Campaign," Social Policy, 10/18/04)
"[W]e Have Invited Obama To Our Leadership Training Sessions To Run The Session On Power Every Year…" (Toni Foulkes, "Case Study: Chicago-The Barack Obama Campaign," Social Policy, 10/18/04)
"Acorn's Political Arm Has Endorsed Mr. Obama While Its ‘Voter Education’ Arm Has Pledged To Spend $35 Million To Register People This Fall…" (John Fund, Op-Ed, "Obama's Liberal Shock Troops," The Wall Street Journal, 7/12/08)
"Sen. Obama Is Especially Reliant On Registration Drives, Such As Acorn's With Project Vote, To Help Him Win The White House." (Elizabeth Williamson and Brody Mullins, "Democratic Ally Mobilizes In Housing Crunch," The Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08)
"In 1992, Acorn Hired Mr. Obama To Run A Voter Registration Effort. He Later Became A Trainer For The Group, As Well As Its Lawyer In Election Law Cases." (John Fund, Op-Ed, "Obama's Liberal Shock Troops," The Wall Street Journal, 7/12/08)
"When Obama Returned To Chicago From Harvard, He Put Off His Legal Career For Six Months To Take A Position Directing A Voter Registration And Education Campaign Targeting Chicago’s Low-Income Blacks." (David Mendell, Obama: From Promise To Power, 2007, p.103)
"Representing The Association Of Community Organizations For Reform Now (ACORN), Obama And Other Attorneys Sued The State Of Illinois, Forcing It To Implement Federal "Motor Voter" Legislation That Makes It Easier For The Poor And Minorities To Register To Vote." ("Some Cases Obama Worked On In His Career As An Attorney," The Associated Press, 2/20/07)
"[O]bama’s Side Won, Even Without Him Talking." (Abdon M. Pallasch, "Strong, Silent Type," Chicago Sun-Times, 12/17/07) The Chicago ACORN Received Grants Of $45,000 (2000), $30,000 (2001), $45,000 (2001), $30,000 (2002), And $40,000 (2002) From The Woods Fund. (Donors Forum Website, ifs.donorsforum.org, Accessed 6/10/08)
NOTE: From 1993 To 2002, Barack Obama Served On The Board Of Directors For The Woods Fund. (Tim Novak and Fran Spielman, "Obama Helped Ex-Boss Get $1 Mil. From Charity," Chicago Sun-Times, 11/29/07)
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Quantum Skip
3:08PM Sep 11th 2009
The "pimp/ho" camera crew says they wanted to take "advantage of ACORN's regard for thug criminality by posing the most ridiculous criminal scenario we could think of and seeing if they would comply – which they did without hesitation."
That's astonishing!
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cda17
3:17PM Sep 11th 2009
Stop healthcare reform immediately for a full investigation into ACORN. Why is ACORN receiving $ 8 billion in stimulus money? Why do they organize around the country to support everything Obama does? Why does the left want this organized crime syndicate to conduct the Census?
Did you know that unspecified “community organizations” will conduct certain healthcare services and have additional input on healthcare reform at the local level once the healthcare legislation is signed into law? The bill contains provisions to further enable organizations such as ACORN.
If you don’t believe me, READ THE BILL !! The truth shall set you free.
Thank you for posting the article Emily Miller.
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mayabelle1107
3:20PM Sep 11th 2009
It doesn't say much about our media that a rookie independent film maker uncovered what the press failed to. Our modern media has become a liability and even an enemy to freedom and honesty. American people have known for years that Acorn is corrupt from top to bottom and yet no one has the initiative to cover the story. With the recent passing of a true journalist, Walter Cronkite, you should all be ashamed of your bias and inability to provide real news. Months and months of slanderous stories of a sitting governor, and attacks on her children was fodder for you yellow journalists while true crimes are being committed all over the country. I can only suggest that sending a bunch of these corrupt community organizers to peoples homes for a census would be a very bad idea. The US citizens have an amazing ability to take up a cause and squash insurrection at the drop of a hat. The hat is falling fast and you better decide quickly who's side you are on, quickly...
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susieq6344
3:25PM Sep 11th 2009
Oh! My! God!!! That's all I got..................
RATE THIS COMMENT: (5)
bob21456
3:26PM Sep 11th 2009
FOX needs to send a copy of the tape to every news outlet and publish a list of the stations they send it to.... WANA BET that the Mainstream media will ignore the story???? All Government money being sent to ACRON should stop... ACRON loves the notion of REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH in this Country.... Tax the rich and we will find ways bend the rules for the people who come to us to evade paying their share... Tax deductions for underage prostitutes by claiming them as dependents???? OMG what's next???
Acorn hired to do census??? Do we want to trust them to give a fair count??? I don't... The census determines representation in Congress... Think they won't fiddle with the numbers to add where they need it to get more representation??? What's happening to this Country??? I'm getting scared!
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natezim
3:38PM Sep 11th 2009
Wasn't this the group that received training by Obama? and wasn't this the group that submitted thousands of fraudulent voter registrations?
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moderate
3:39PM Sep 11th 2009
No rookie independant film maker. An experienced conservative film maker. Emily tell all sides, you know fair and balanced. They tried at least 5 times before they find these pigs. Also, they were fired and arrested, which is a good thing. Hope they spend alot of time in jail. The comments about false registration, conveintly it was left out that the acorn orginization turned the miscreants in themselves. Acorn alerted the authorities to the idiots. 13000 people in acorn, and now the whole orginazation is corrupt because of a few. Because one repub senator was found o be using prostitutes by your thinking all repubs pay prostitutes.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-19)
gonzo1
4:07PM Sep 11th 2009
can you say michael moore ? what's the difference who filmed it ? they got caught , and THAT'S what counts . they're criminals everyone and NO amount of spin or sugar coating can or will EVER change that . once 2010 rolls around and the changing of the guard occurs acorn WILL be investigated . and a number of heads will roll . maybe even the head pimp .
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moderate
5:19PM Sep 11th 2009
I agree it was good they were caught. Try not to implicate all because a large organization had such pigs working for them. To insinuate that all people in acorn are the same is biased. They have done good things in the past and they will in the future. It seems to me they have some house cleaning to do.If anyone is caught saying or doing anything illegal, lock them up.
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Alwayspissedoff@something
5:25PM Sep 11th 2009
"The comments about false registration, conveintly it was left out that the acorn orginization turned the miscreants in themselves. Acorn alerted the authorities to the idiots." -- moderate
That was Acorn's fu@k up on Wednesday. This is todays fu@k up by these dishonest assholes. Try to keep their felonies in chronological order.
"13000 people in acorn, and now the whole orginazation is corrupt because of a few. Because one repub senator was found o be using prostitutes by your thinking all repubs pay prostitutes." -- moderate
Ms. Miller never states that. You do.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-2)
oxbow99
6:40PM Sep 11th 2009
I knew you were an ACORN! You are one racist pig.
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paulrwi
3:50PM Sep 11th 2009
Where is the outcry from the Women's organizations? We are talking about young girls being put into a child sex ring. The Women's organizations should be demanding a full investigation of ACORN. Where is the outrage?
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Gwen
4:14PM Sep 11th 2009
Gee, let's get off the topic of Joe Wilson and get to the ACORN report. ACORN wants to give you advice on how to avoid taxes, get a house to run your prostitute, I mean Performing Arts, business, and bring in underage foreign girls to sell their bodies. I am glad that ACORN yet again, has been exposed as to how they are a fraudulent and corrupt bunch of liars. THIS is where your tax dollars are going. Not to mention, Obama paid ACORN to harrass good people into voting for him. We need to continue investigating ACORN and also Obama. Something just isn't right about what is happening to America.
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big fat poopyhead
4:24PM Sep 11th 2009
Where is the outrage?
xxx
against people who continually try to vilify Acorn.
Acorn is plaintiff in these actions. The crimes are against acorn, not perpetrated by acorn.
and here's a little perspective for the republican servant class and their acornophobia:
Last year, around seven thousand multimillionaire investors known as the Bear Stearns Group were given 30 billion free taxpayer dollars because these hedge fund investors mismanaged their money and wanted yours. The bush administration unhesitatingly forked it over, no strings attached.
That same amount of money would have sustained acorn past the middle of the century - to 2051 with money left over!
where's the outrage?
So it's all the fault of Big Poverty? the poor man keepin the rich man down?
No, it's the fault of BIG STUPIDITY!
and you helped!
Grow a @!##$! brain, or you will be just like the turkeys on sarah palin's farm.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-13)
slowhanddean
5:23PM Sep 11th 2009
So this must be how Barney Frank Got his his low income apartments and his gay lover ran the gay prostitution ring out of one.He was just the landlord.Riiight!
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jrotced02
5:51PM Sep 11th 2009
If nothing else, this incident proves, how trusting, naive and anxious these people were, to help perfect strangers, when they had absolutely nothing to gain. You have to admit, that these "undercover rats" went to these places with an agenda...to run a script that would entrap any hapless moron who, probably being paid by the number of people they counsel, allowed themselves to be set up. Now they get fired, go on unemployment or some type of public assistance, self-indignant Republicans get to say I told you so, Fixed News gets props for destroying ACORN, and everyone lives happily ever after, right?