FBI’s Investigation of ACORN a Welcome Development

House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri applauded reports this afternoon that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal investigation into whether the left-wing advocacy group ACORN has violated federal election law by fostering and promoting a national program of voter registration fraud.

---

The Associated Press reported today that the FBI is actively pursuing leads in the investigation of ACORN. Word of the investigation comes less than a week after Blunt joined Reps. Candice Miller (R-Mich.), Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), and Lamar Smith (R-Texas) in sending a letter to the Department of Justice urging it to act. Blunt, a former secretary of state in Missouri, joined other House leaders last week in urging the Bureau to "take all active and appropriate measures" to ensure the civil rights of legitimate voting Americans aren't diluted by systemic voter fraud. "Last week, I was proud to join three former secretaries of state now serving in Congress, as well as our ranking members on the Judiciary and Administration committees, in calling on the Justice Department to stand up in defense of the sanctity of Americans' right to vote -- and, as important, their right to be assured that vote counts," said the Missouri congressman. "News today that the Department has heeded that call and begun the process of unraveling ACORN's widespread program of alleged voter registration fraud is a heartening development -- and one all Americans ought to take notice of as they prepare to exercise their most basic civic duty next month. "I want to applaud the Department of Justice for taking this important step, and associate myself with the efforts of Leader Boehner to ensure not one more dime of taxpayer money is diverted into the coffers of this organization until Justice completes its review and determines whether ACORN's actions merit criminal prosecution," said Rep. Blunt. Obama's spokespersons claim he had a limited relationship with ACORN. However, the record shows that "[Obama] says he is drawn to politics, despite its superficialities, as a means to advance his real passion and calling: community organization. … In 1992 Obama took time off to direct Project Vote, the most successful grass-roots voter-registration campaign in recent city history." This week alone, ACORN officials admitted to submitting fraudulent voter registration forms in Ohio and press reports confirmed that ACORN submitted hundreds of fraudulent voter registration forms in Kansas City, forcing local officials to wade through fraudulent voter registrations, potentially disenfranchising legitimate voters.