ACORN Halts New Admissions, Plans Independent Probe

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is launching an independent probe into some of its services that have come under attack after undercover activists discovered some ACORN employees were open to helping people break the law. The investigation was announced Wednesday after a series of denials from the organization and after the U.S. Senate moved to block ACORN from bidding for government grants. ACORN also said it would suspend new admissions into its service programs, presumably in light of the pending probe.

In a written statement, ACORN chief executive Bertha Lewis said that, in addition to halting admissions, the organization would immediately conduct staff training. She confirmed that it was the direct result of the behavior of ACORN staffers in the undercover videos, which Lewis called "indefensible." The videos show ACORN staffers advising a couple posing as a prostitute and pimp on how to skirt the law. At least four employees in Washington and Baltimore have been fired.

Several Republican lawmakers are asking the Justice Department to investigate the organization, as well as requesting that FEMA rescind a $1 million grant that it awarded to ACORN this month. FEMA has not responded to the request.

ACORN Plans Independent Investigation [Associated Press]