ACORN "Pimp" Accused Of Landrieu Tap
The FBI on Monday arrested James O'Keefe, the 25-year-old activist and filmmaker famous for the undercover videos that helped cripple the community association ACORN, for attempting to wiretap the New Orleans office of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported today.
Also arrested were Stan Dai, 24; Robert Flanagan, 24; and Joseph Basel, 24. The AP reported that at least two of the suspects were dressed in work clothes and construction hats and claimed they were technicians for a telephone company. The 4 men were each charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony.
A news release from the US Attorney's office in eastern LA said the 4 men walked into Landrieu's office in the Hale Boggs Federal Building in New Orleans on Monday. Flanagan and Basel were dressed as phone repairmen. O'Keefe was already in the office with a cell phone camera recording his alleged accomplices.
O'Keefe gained fame and notoriety last year when, dressed as a pimp, he videotaped ACORN employees advising him and a female companion about running a prostitution scheme. The Times-Picayune reported that O'Keefe gave a speech on Jan. 21 to Libertarian Pelican Institute in New Orleans about investigative reporting and the role of new media.
"Because the details of yesterday's incident are part of an ongoing investigation by federal authorities, our office cannot comment at this time," said Aaron Saunders, Landrieu's communications director.
Calls to the FBI and U.S. Atty's office in New Orleans were not immediately returned. If convicted, all 4 could face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250K fine.
Update: Conservative blogger Dan Riehl has more details on 2 of O'Keefe's alleged associates.
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