Jan 26, 2010

4 charged in phone scheme at Sen. Landrieu's office

03:10 PM

Haraz N. Ghanbari, APThe FBI says four people have been charged in a scheme to interfere with the phone system in the office of Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., the Associated Press reports.

(Posted by Doug Stanglin)

Update at 4:04 p.m. ET: Those arrested Monday include conservative activist James O'Keefe, who famously posed as a pimp in a hidden-video sting of ACORN, and Robert Flanagan, the son of acting U.S. Attorney William Flanagan, who covers western Louisiana.

The other two are Joseph Basel and Stan Dai, both 24.

Here's how AP is reporting the story:

Activist James O'Keefe, 25, was already in Landrieu's New Orleans office Monday when Robert Flanagan and Joseph Basel, both 24, showed up claiming to be telephone repairmen, according to U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office. Letten says O'Keefe recorded the two with his cell phone.

Once inside the reception area, Flanagan, the son of acting U.S. Attorney Bill Flanagan in Shreveport, and Basel asked for access to the main phone at the reception desk.

After handling the phone, "Flanagan and Basel next requested access to the telephone closet because they needed to perform work on the main telephone system," Letten's office said.

The men were directed to another office in the building, they're accused of again misrepresenting themselves as telephone repairmen.

They were arrested later by the U.S. Marshal's Service. Details of the arrest were not available.

Last week, President Obama nominated William Flanagan's replacement.

Update at 4:41 p.m. ET: Robert Flanagan's attorney told the New Orleans Times-Picayune he believes that his client works for the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, a libertarian think tank in New Orleans. O'Keefe addressed the group last week, the paper adds.

Update at 5:05 p.m. ET: Read the affidavit from FBI Special Agent Steven Rayes, which explain the attempt to bug Landrieu's office but does not offer a motive.

On Deadline is seeking comment from the Pelican Institute.

Update at 5:19 p.m. ET: Along with commentary/speculation, Pajamas Media offers a look at two statutes the men are accused of violating and notes that they could face up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.

Updated at 6:20 p.m. ET: The four have been released on bond, the AP says. Leaving the jail with Basel and Dai, O'Keefe said only, "Veritas," the Latin word for truth.

Flanagan was not with the three.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... e-system/1