Latest in the ACORN scandal: New report says group is operating illegally in Maryland
September 15, 3:50 PM
Darren Pope
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A new report on BigGovernment.com says the community activist group ACORN may be operating illegally in the state of Maryland. According to the exclusive report ACORN, Inc., which is the parent organization of all ACORN operations, lost its corporate charter in Maryland in 2006. The report also says ACORN Housing lost its charter in 2008.

The news that ACORN may be operating illegally in Maryland is the latest in a series of scandals and accusations of criminal activity.

Last week 11 ACORN employees in Florida were arrested on charges of voter fraud. The group is also being investigated on allegations of voter fraud in at least a dozen other states.

BigGovernment.com has released three videos over the last several days showing ACORN employees giving advice on how to avoid paying taxes and obtain a low income housing loan for the purpose of operating an underage prostitution ring to 25 year old filmmaker James O'Keefe, and 20 year old aspiring journalist Hannah Giles, who were posing as a pimp and prostitute.

The first video was filmed at ACORN's Baltimore office. Two subsequent videos were released showing ACORN employees in Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn giving similar advice.

The videos led to the firing of four employees, two each in Baltimore and Washington. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office announced on Monday that it would be investigating ACORN operations there. Another video is said to be set for release today.

The Senate also voted 83-7 on Monday to end HUD funding of the community activist group. That measure still has to pass in the House before the funding is halted.

Several prominent lawmakers are calling for a government investigation into ACORN's alleged criminal activites. Rep. John Boehner, R-OH, and other House Republicans sent a letter to President Obama today asking the President to order the Internal Revenue Service to sever all ties with ACORN in light of recent allegations of corruption by the group. The letter says in part, "Despite these abuses the IRS helpline continues to refer individuals to ACORN offices for tax preparation consultation and continues to offer an implicit endorsement of their work."

The BigGovernment.com report and documents showing the revocation of ACORN's corporate charter can be found by clicking any of the links in this article.

A statement posted on the ACORN website says the following:

"The relentless attacks on ACORN's members, its staff and the policies and positions we promote are unprecedented. An international entertainment conglomerate, disguising itself as a "news" agency (Fox), has expended millions, if not tens of millions of dollars, in their attempt to destroy the largest community organization of Black, Latino, poor and working families in the country. It is not coincidence that the most recent attacks have been launched just when health care reform is gaining traction. It is clear they've had these tapes for months. We are their Willy Horton for 2009."

This is the first portion of the statement. The full statement can be read at ACORN.org.



More About: ACORN · BigGovernment.com · Rep. John Boehner



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