Have you read the FBI Affadavit?

[CatWoman]

Read the FBI affidavit in the Landrieu phone tampering case. (First rule of any plumbers operation: dress up like the Village People.)

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/01/affidavit-detailing-charges-against-james-okeefe-filmmaker-who-broke-acorn-story.php?page=1&ref=fpblg

[paulsby]

1. yes and my analysis./..

the evidence for trespassing under false pretenses is STRONG

the evidence (displayed thus far ) for attempted phone tampering etc. is not really there.

that is not to say it may not be forthcoming, but not much in the affidavit to support much m ore than trespassing under false pretenses.

gotta wait for the meat...

[berni_mccoy]

5. Actually they tried to call the phone with *their own cell phones* LOL!

That's going to leave some record of evidence.

[napi21]

7. There will be evidence of what # they did call, but I suspect it

wasn't the office phone. It may have been the listening equipment in the truck a few blocks away. We'll see.

[theothersnippywshrub]

15. The statute applies to anyone who "interferes" with the working or use of the phone system.

It seems to me that the affidavit describes pretty good evidence of "interfering" with the phone. Depending, of course on what the definition of "interfere" is.

I agree that the evidence for entry by false pretenses is very strong.

[paulsby]

16. i'm just referring to the words i heard bandied about with "phone tapping"

etc. we don't know what they had back in the car (or their apt's) etc. it's just very preliminary right now

there's metric assloads of evidence they gained entry via false pretenses (which is a crime)

what exactly, there intent was, and more importantly, what can be proved as to their intent is still very open, just based on what i read in the affidavit.

the general rule with prosecutors (and i have seen this in scores of cases), is that they initially "charge high", and then let it flesh out.

interfering can be interpreted pretty broadly. i have seen that code used, for example, against people who merely flood a phone bank in order to attempt to keep others from getting through

[theothersnippywshrub]

17. I haven't seen or heard anything that would support any kind of wire tapping charge.

And the affidavit alleged violations of only Sections 1036 and 1362 of Title 18. Those cover the entry and the "interference" but not wire tapping. An indictment would provide more information.

I will be very curious to see how the US Attorney's office proceeds. Each of the teabuggers could be facing up to 20 years and $500,000 in fines, but I would be surprised to see anything near that. I just hope they insist on a felony charge for all four if they plea bargain the cases.

Can you imagine the vitriol and blood lust from the republicans if four employees of ACORN had done this to a republican Senator?

[paulsby]

18. i read an analysis from one former prosecutor

who said based on the crimes alleged thus far, and their lack of criminal history, 4-6 months sentence would be consistent with the sentencing grid

[theothersnippywshrub]

19. Not too surprising. I see that they apparently have now admitted that

they intended to make the phones inoperative.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7586431

[paulsby]

20. kind of like a bizarro version monkeywrench gang nt

[merh]

21. You don't have to complete the crime or perfect the crime to

be charged with attempt to commit a crime.

The device found in the car pretty much does 'em in, imho.

[Skink]

2. Are there any movie deals in the works?

[TexasObserver]

3. Yes. It's a strong case.

Prosecutors have many felonies available.

The perps conspired to commit a number of crimes, and did commit a number of crimes.

They dressed up in uniforms, represented themselves as utility workers to gain access, lied to get pass security checks, lied to get access to the office, lied inside the office to gain access to the telephone system, brought with them electronic recording devices which they used surreptiously, all while a confederate with a remote listening device sat nearby in a car.

Anyone who thinks this case isn't strong is too young to know anything about Watergate or Iran Contra.

The obvious connection to the sitting US attorney, the GOP senator involved in keeping that same US attorney in office by blocking the new appointment, and CIA worker bee, and the connection to previous GOP dirty tricks, make this one is a real live scandal.

[Faygo Kid]

4. Excellent. But is it only the Village People that O'Keefe and his merry band should emulate?

Seems to me hill folk might have worked better.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Or these guys....

The ORIGINAL Burglars.....

[John1956PA]

8. White hard hat, green fluorescent vest, denim pants, blue work shirt, tool belt . . .

not to mention the pimp costume O'Keefe wore when he visited the Acorn office. They must be trying to be comical, right? In 1972, G. Gordon Liddy was outlandish (e. g., holding his hand over burning candles), but he was well aware that, if he got caught, he was going to jail. These present four characters must have been too arrogant to realize that their stunt was a federal crime for which they may be incarcerated.

[napi21]

9. I don't they thought of it a a FED crome either! I bet

the US atty who is the one guy's father reamed his butt for BEING STUPID!

[spanone]

13. who paid for their uniforms or were they so dedicated to the cause they all chipped in???/

[midnight]

10. This sounds like they have admitted to being in the wrong. I wonder if

something like this goes to trial?

[PDJane]

11. The whole thing is a sitcom, and a bad one.

You'd think that the reich wing could get someone better to do their dirty work. Either that, or they've become really, really, really sloppy, knowing their base still falls for it.

[John1956PA]

14. The "reality-show mentality" may have been a factor.

O'Keefe and his cohorts may have felt the same sudden-fame lure which drove Balloon Boy's father to stage an outrageous stunt and lie to the authorities about it.

[spanone]

12. bwahahahahaaa....