One of those busted with O'Keefe is son of U.S. Attorney in Lousiana.

[jefferson_dem]

:wow:

Filmmaker James O’Keefe and Son of U.S. Attorney Arrested in Alleged Effort to Bug Office of Sen. Mary Landrieu

In what must be great news for ACORN, the filmmaker that was responsible for the recent controversy has been arrested in a bizarre effort to bug the offices of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. Filmmaker James O’Keefe (shown left) was reportedly arrested with other individual in the Hale Boggs Federal Building in downtown New Orleans. Also arrested were Joseph Basel, 24, Stan Dai , 24, and Robert Flanagan, 24. Notably, Flanagan is the son of the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.

The men reportedly entered the federal building at 500 Poydras Street about 11 a.m. Monday, dressed as telephone company employees, wearing jeans, fluorescent green vests, tool belts, and hard hats. O’Keefe reportedly was videotaping the operation with his cellphone.

This is a very serious violation for all involved. This is a terribly sad day for William J. Flannagan, who I doubt had any knowledge or hint of this activity.

I cannot imagine anything quite as stupid as this operation. Whatever credibility O’Keefe had with conservatives just evaporated with any future that he had. It is hard to imagine an obvious defense. There is a host of differences between a stunt in an Acorn office and this alleged stunt in a senatorial office.

They have been charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony. However, that is likely only the first charge. There are a host of additional charges that are likely given the alleged conspiracy to wiretap the office of a federal official. Moreover, I would expect other possible arrests. Usually there are other individuals with knowledge of such a boneheaded plan. As for Flannagan’s father, he is in Shreveport and thus not necessarily involved in any official capacity. Obviously, he will be insulated from any role in any investigation under standard procedures for conflicts.

http://jonathanturley.org/2010/01/26/filmmaker-james-okeefe-and-son-of-u-s-attorney-arrested-in-alleged-effort-to-bug-office-of-sen-mary-landrieu/

[cali]

1. Turley sounds sad over this. n;/t

[sharp_stick]

2. In addition

the spawn of the soon to be former US Attorney works for the "conservatard think tank" Pelican Institute where O'Keefe spoke last week.

From USA Today:
"Update at 4:41 p.m. ET: Robert Flanagan's attorney told the New Orleans Times-Picayune he believes that his client works for the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, a libertarian think tank in New Orleans. O'Keefe addressed the group last week, the paper adds."

Gawd what a bunch of pathetic wannabes. I bet they thought this up over beer on Friday and figured it would be a walk in the park. Nothing like breaking a shitload of Federal Laws just because you want to remain the cause-de-jour at Faux Noise.

I really enjoy the thought of those shits winding up in a Federal Prison. I just wish they could do their time at Angola, I'm sure the lifers there would love his little pimp costume.

[eleny]

3. "I bet they thought this up over beer on Friday" - I hope not...

I hope it goes right up the Republican chain.

[sharp_stick]

5. That would be nice

but this is quite possibly the stupidest thing I've ever seen anyone do. "I forgot my ID in the truck sir" as a ploy to sneak into a Federal GSA office and dick around with the phone system.

If this goes up the chain it will expose some real morons.

[WolverineDG]

7. Me too

I've got a few candles lit & said a few prayers already. :evilgrin:

dg

[librechik]

4. at last--something worth watching the cablenews nets obsess over 24/7--any bets

on how quickly it will disappear and how much phony outrage expended over those poor innocent men being dragged over the coals for no reason? I predict a defacto gag order withing 48 hours among all media types. No Gary Condit trial by accusation this time!

Republicans can do no wrong, remember? It was really Landrieu's fault, somehow. You'll see.

[WeDidIt]

6. All could be facing major felonies

LAndrieu sits on the Homeland Security committee and has access to some highly classified information.

This is spying. Literally. The consequences of their actions will be severe.

[rudy23]

8. That's why nobody's going to jail for this. A deal will be made and announced quietly.

Who wants to make a friendly wager?

[WeDidIt]

9. Too late, it's huge news and a Senator is the victim

They're going to federal prison.

[Babyhoneylips]

10. Yep. They're done. nt.

[Babyhoneylips]

11. dupe

[rudy23]

13. Valerie Plame was huge news...for awhile. Hey, I hope you're right.

But with this guy's Dad in the position he's in. I don't know, it might be a little more complicated than your standard break-in/wiretap deal.

[WeDidIt]

14. Valerie Plame wasn't a United States Senator

They're going down.

[rudy23]

19. Hope you're right. I think this "pimp" has to have backers to be pulling this crap.

He doesn't strike me as particularly brave or clever.

[Hannah Bell]

22. that was obvious from jump street.

[Marr]

15. The only thing that makes me think that might not happen is

the Senator in question is a Blue Dog. That practically makes her a Republican.

[dogday]

17. If Martha Stewart can go for Stock Fraud, then these guys

are going for sure. This is much more serious. Government takes this very seriously regardless of who is involved.

[alcibiades_mystery]

26. $20 donation to DU

I'll take it. One or more of these guys is going to federal prison for damn sure.

[rudy23]

27. You're on. I'll give $40 if it's the pimp. nt

[RedCloud]

12. Shades of Watergate plumbers revisited.

Don't those sons of bitches and bastards get it? We are hip to this shit. When I hear what sounds like a shot, I look everywhere. (From JFK times forward.)

[JBoy]

16. A 24 year old is not a child. They knew what they were doing and should do time.

[Scurrilous]

18. K & R

:thumbsup:

[jefferson_dem]

20. Meet the three sleazy repug accomplices -

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201001260052

[Hannah Bell]

21. sure removes any doubt about him being an operative v. an "independent

stuent filmmaker," doesn't it?

something i'm pretty sure those voting to defund acorn already knew, btw.

[suffragette]

24. Yep, always was an operative

and he's been training for years:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4054553&mesg_id=4058600
Wondering now how much he consulted with Liddy while at a conference together.


Stan Dai's bio is pretty interesting as well:
from http://mediamatters.org/blog/201001260052

Freelance consultant, former assistant director for intelligence center. According to a packet provided for the Junior Statesmen Summer School speakers program, Dai is currently a "Freelance consultant" after previously serving as "the first Assistant Director of the Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence at Trinity in D.C."

The Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence states that it "prepares students for careers in intelligence. Its curriculum develops the skills relevant to intelligence community careers, while also allowing students to pursue the major of their choice." In 2008, the Junior State of America podcast wrote of Dai's background:
Stan Dai is the Assistant Director of Trinity's Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence in DC. He was formerly the Assistant Operations Officer at a Department of Defense irregular warfare fellowship program and a Fellow on Terrorism at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Stan graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the George Washington University.

[TroglodyteScholar]

23. Pay close attention.

Within 15 years, all three of these little criminals will be "elected" officials at the national level.

[Hansel]

25. Or will have shows on Faux News. nt