News & Columns > G.T. Houts > ACORN Tape Scandal Gets Feds Involved

ACORN Tape Scandal Gets Feds Involved

Controversial Hidden-Camera Video Shot in San Bernardino

By G.T. Houts
Wednesday, September 16, 2009

San Bernardino, CA - The controversial hidden-camera video, shot in the San Bernardino offices of ACORN, has been aired on several Internet sites and shown on Fox News. The tape has also caught the attention of the federal government.

The tape, similar to ones filmed in ACORN offices in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, shows local employee — Tresa Kaelke — explaining how she allegedly killed her husband and offered assistance in setting up a prostitution ring.

NOTE: The following video tape contains graphic language and parental guidance is suggested.

ACORN, acronym for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has launched an independent investigation of the tapes made by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles. The two pose as a pimp and a prostitute in the video and seek advice for starting their business.

San Bernardino Police investigated the allegations that Kaelke killed her former husband in self-defense.

"From the initial investigation conducted," a media advisory stated, "the claims do not appear to be factual. San Bernardino Police investigators have been in contact with the involved party's former husbands, who are alive and well."

Last week, Census 2010 severed its ties with ACORN for the national head-count and the Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from awarding grants to the embattled organization.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs (Photo by The White House.)

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called the contents of the tape unacceptable.

"Obviously, the conduct you see on those tapes," Gibbs told reporters, "is completely unacceptable. I think everyone would agree with that.

"The administration takes accountability extremely seriously," Gibbs continued. "I think the Census Bureau evaluated and determined that this group could not meet the bureau's goal of achieving a fair and accurate count in 2010. And, I assume others are evaluating to ensure, as we always are, that any grantee is living up to what has to happen in order to fulfill that grant application."

Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) (Photo by Staff.)

Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) urged the White House to suspend all payment of federal funds to ACORN, "until we can get to the bottom of these extremely troubling reports.

"We must keep in mind," Lewis added, "they are only television reports at this point, but it would be irresponsible for us to entrust millions of federal dollars to this group until the issue is resolved."

A congressional analysis reports that, since 1994, ACORN has received $53 million from federal agencies.

"It is outrageous for any federal funds to be going to an organization that condones this type of activity," Lewis concluded.