4 Men Accused of Phone Plot Had Conservative Ties

Turborama

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Wed Jan-27-10 03:52 AM
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4 Men Accused of Phone Plot Had Conservative Ties

Edited on Wed Jan-27-10 04:08 AM by Turborama

Source: AP

The four men accused of trying to tamper with Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu's office phones share a common experience as young ideologues writing for conservative publications.

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Flanagan recently criticized Landrieu for her vote on the Senate health care bill after securing a Medicaid provision estimated in value at up to $365 million for Louisiana. Conservatives accused her of selling her vote but she insisted no "special deals" were made.

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His father, Bill, is the acting U.S. Attorney based in Shreveport. He was first assistant under Republican President George W. Bush appointee Donald Washington before Washington stepped down this month. President Barack Obama recently nominated Stephanie A. Finley for the post. Bill Flanagan's office declined to comment.

Dai is a former assistant director of a program at Trinity Washington University that taught students about careers in intelligence, university president Patricia McGuire said. It was part of a national effort to interest students at liberal arts colleges in careers in intelligence but did not teach spy craft, she said. He was listed as a "freelance consultant" in a Junior Statesmen program at the Central Intelligence Agency where he appeared as a speaker.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=9672304

The article goes on to mention the conservative publications O'Keefe and Basel wrote for and a joint interview they recently gave to CampusReform.org.

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Michael McHale has said Vitter has ties "to some of the players", too:

State Dems: Vitter tied to players in 'Louisiana Watergate'

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Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Michael McHale released the following statement in response to the arrest of four conservative activists in connection with a conspiracy to wiretap the phone of Senator Mary Landrieu:

"This is a Louisiana Watergate. Louisiana families are shocked and outraged that these men would break the law to carry out their political agenda with this Watergate-like break-in and attempted wiretapping. Given his ties to some of the players involved, Sen. Vitter should immediately denounce the actions of these four men and anyone who may have instigated, supported or assisted them."

"We call on U.S Attorney Jim Letten to conduct a thorough investigation and to prosecute any wrongdoers to the fullest extent of the law.

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One of the four people busted today is Robert Flanagan, the 24-year-old son of William Flanagan. Pere Flanagan is now the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. Sen. Vitter has placed a hold on all three of Sen. Landrieu's and President Obama's nominations for that post because he wants U.S. Attorney Jim Letten to be renominated for service in the Eastern District.

Full article: http://therachelmaddowshow.newsvine.com/_news/2010/01/26/3813782-state-dems-vitter-tied-to-players-in-louisiana-watergate

Rachel Maddow mentions the Vitter tie at the end of this segment: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x428019