# ACORN "pimp" arrested for illegally accessing Senate office; tampering with phone system **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 26, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586 "2010-01-26T23:13:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/141 "2010-05-27T16:29:00Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Misdemeanor plea to entering the offices under false pretenses. [Three years of probation, 100 hours of community service and a $1,500 fine.](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/us/politics/27landrieu.html?ref=politics) Oh dear: > [@](#): > > Magistrate Daniel Knowles III, who cited the defendants’ potential as investigative journalists though he was critical of this incident… > [@](#): > > Mr. O’Keefe, whom the judge described as “extremely talented,”… Why the fuck are his “potential as an investigative journalist” and “talent” relevant? Is Lawrence Taylor’s judge going to praise his ability to recognize play-action? Did Michael Jackson’s judge tell him how he listens to Side B of \*Dangerous \*every morning? ETA: Damn you, **Snowboarder Bo**! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/142 "2010-05-27T16:33:53Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Obama’s siccing the SDMB Mods on him? Dang, that’s _harsh_. Sayyyy… was’t that about the time of **Dex** ’s “leave of absence”? Now we know where he went – he was on a secret mission for Obama! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/143 "2010-05-27T17:35:11Z")
WOOT! Scooped **RNATB**! Srsly, tho, right, like it’s at all relevant. If he was a shitty investigative journalist _in that judges opinion_ would he have gotten a lesser sentence? Judge: What you did, sir, was reprehensible and against the laws of this country and common decency. Standard mandatory sentence for this crime is 3-5 years, plus restitution, plus probation after eventual prison release… but, I’ve always been a big fan of yours ever since you were on _American Idol_ (you really should have won over that weirdo), so you’re free to go. \ Next case! Ah well, at least if I ever have trouble in that state, I’ll know that if I see his name on the docket to ask for a change of venue or something. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/144 "2010-05-27T18:20:35Z")
Or you could just talk about your plans to expose the evils of the Democratic Party. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/145 "2010-05-27T18:39:56Z")
The whole ordeal has been so much for the kid that Breitbart and his friend George Rekers are taking him to Europe to recuperate. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/146 "2010-05-28T01:57:11Z")
Maybe somebody should tap the judge’s phones. You know, in the interest of investigative journalism… ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/147 "2010-05-28T18:12:04Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I saw that yesterday. The little bitch was allowed to plead to a misdemeanor. That’s too bad. I bet his sugar daddy, Breitbart, will pay his fine for him. As I read a bit more detail, I’m not so sure ‘allowed’ is a fair word, since it implies that the government had evidence to sustain a more serious conviction. But the evidence summary the government had included this paragraph: > [@](#): > > In this case, further investigation did not uncover evidence that the defendants intended to commit any felony after the entry by false pretenses despite their initial statements to the staff of Senatorial office and GSA requesting access to the central phone system. Instead, the Government’s evidence would show that the defendants misrepresented themselves and their purpose for gaining access to the central phone system to orchestrate a conversation about phone calls to the Senator’s staff and capture the conversation on video, not to actually tamper with the phone system, or to commit any other felony. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/148 "2010-05-28T18:13:28Z")
Why isn’t lying your way into a federal building a felony? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/149 "2010-05-28T18:15:31Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why isn’t lying your way into a federal building a felony? Because then we’d have to arrest all of congress, the senate, and most other elected officials. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/150 "2010-05-28T18:17:00Z")
Probably because the buildings where the legislators maintain their offices count as “federal buildings.” Can you see the scene when the lawmakers are sworn in? They move on to their offices, and find a U.S. Marshal waiting with a warrant… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/151 "2010-05-28T18:41:06Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Because then we’d have to arrest all of congress, the senate, and most other elected officials. :smack: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/152 "2010-05-28T18:58:49Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Because then we’d have to arrest all of congress, the senate, and most other elected officials. You forgot the lobbyists. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/153 "2010-06-01T13:44:39Z")
Because this thread isn’'t long enough yet, I figgered I’d post this here to continue the discussion/rant. [ > [@James O'Keefe](#): > > I’d do it again, I might do it differently…I don’t regret what I did. Senators are corrupt, politicians are corrupt. These people have to be investigated. ]([http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2010/06/acorn-whistleblower-who-was-arrested-for-entering-senators-offices-id-do-it-again.html](http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2010/06/acorn-whistleblower-who-was-arrested-for-entering-senators-offices-id-do-it-again.html)) There’s video as well. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/154 "2010-06-01T13:56:33Z")
Funny how it’s only Democratic ones he bothers to “investigate”, if they’re ALL corrupt. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/155 "2010-06-02T03:50:49Z")
> **[The Washington Post - Breaking news and latest headlines, U.S. news, world...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/)** > > Breaking news, live coverage, investigations, analysis, video, photos and opinions from The Washington Post. Subscribe for the latest on U.S. and international news, politics, business, technology, climate change, health and wellness, sports,... He did it again. He went to work for the census, filmed himself, posted a cut-up video with gaps between him asking a question and getting an answer. Also, he may have lied about how much work he did on a timesheet. Knowingly. While working for the feds. He’s on probation, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/156 "2010-06-02T04:00:31Z")
I’m not sure he can get in trouble for that, since he did report that he was paid for hours he didn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/157 "2010-06-02T10:19:21Z")
Not sure, to be honest. But I bet we’re gonna find out. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/158 "2010-06-02T11:11:58Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/06/james\_okeefe\_hired\_by\_the\_cens.html](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/06/james_okeefe_hired_by_the_cens.html) > > He did it again. He went to work for the census, filmed himself, posted a cut-up video with gaps between him asking a question and getting an answer. Also, he may have lied about how much work he did on a timesheet. Knowingly. While working for the feds. > > He’s on probation, isn’t he? Yep. Another federal crime a week or so after getting probation – he might as well have flipped the judge the finger. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/159 "2010-06-02T12:46:34Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/06/james\_okeefe\_hired\_by\_the\_cens.html](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/06/james_okeefe_hired_by_the_cens.html) > > He did it again. He went to work for the census, filmed himself, posted a cut-up video with gaps between him asking a question and getting an answer. Also, he may have lied about how much work he did on a timesheet. Knowingly. While working for the feds. > > He’s on probation, isn’t he? > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Yep. Another federal crime a week or so after getting probation – he might as well have flipped the judge the finger. Wow. Way to miss the point. If you two watched the Lincoln assassination, I bet you’d be outraged that his wife failed to report a gunshot injury within 24 hours as required by DC law. I cannot imagine how he could be convicted of any crime for the timesheet hours, since he has proof he was directed to fill out the timesheet the way he did, and brought his concerns to at least three different people, all in the supervisory chain, with at least one in writing. So with that canard out of the way … no concerns at all about the apparent systemic practice of overpaying workers? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/160 "2010-06-02T13:21:51Z")
I don’t see that it’s systemic. _He_ quit halfway through the training program, and was apparently paid for extra training that he did not attend. That could simply mean his supervisor was unaware that he quit prior to the end of his working day. I’m not buying _anything_ this little dipshit sells, considering his practice of deceptively editing footage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586.md?page=9)