(CNN) – The embattled community organizing group ACORN filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging a law passed by Congress that denies it federal funding.
Related: Liberal Dem blasts ACORN
The congressional appropriations resolution specifically provides that no federal dollars be provided to ACORN "or any of ACORN's affiliates, subsidiaries, or allied organizations."
In a release announcing the suit, an attorney for ACORN said Congress had overstepped its authority in singling out the organization for denial of federal funding.
"It's not the job of Congress to be the judge, jury, and executioner," Jules Lobel, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, said in the statement. "We have due process in this country, and our Constitution forbids lawmakers from singling out a person or group for punishment without a fair investigation and trial. Congress, as well as individuals and organizations must abide by the rule of law."
ACORN's lawsuit alleges that Congress' action is unconstitutional and seeks a court order prohibiting the federal government enforcing or complying with the congressional resolution.
The community organizing group came under increasing scrutiny in recent months after the release of videos produced by two conservative activists. The conservative filmmakers, posing as a pimp and a prostitute, sought advice from ACORN employees on setting up a brothel with underage girls from El Salvador. The activists recorded the videos in Baltimore and three other cities. The tapes show ACORN employees suggesting or condoning a series of illicit actions.
Related: ACORN sues filmmakers
The release of the videos caused federal agencies including the Census Bureau to reconsider their ties to ACORN and precipitated a number of investigations by federal agencies into ACORN's conduct.
Related: IRS inspector general joins entities looking into ACORN
The law passed by Congress denying ACORN federal funding also came in the wake of the release of the controversial videos.
Update: In a statement e-mailed to CNN, a spokesman for Rep. Darrell Issa, the Ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called ACORN's suit "baseless."
From CNN Politics
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Should the nations citizens counter sue them for essentially stealing our taxdollars on false promises, and unethical actions, of it's use?
Shouldn't acorn executives be thrown in prison for voting and tax payer fraud???
I like how CNN swept the reports on acorn during the elections.
I think ACORN has shown itself to not be able to police itself
I don't think those two had any idea how damaging that was to ACORN
but ACORN does not deserve federal funding
those two jerks that tried multiple times to set up ACORN also need to be prosecuted for violations of applicable state laws
Ha, this is classic, the corrupt organization fighting for OUR tax payer dollars. Shut this organization down, no more government funds.
The supreme court elected George Bush. Will they lose federal funding also?
Now the repugs and acorn haters can bring the so call evidence to the fore front or have their true intent and reasons behind their hate exposed.
ACORN is a criminal organization.
This organization is just plain CRIMINAL. How dare they sue. Oh, that's right.... most lawyers are very interested in deep pockets. Why should the federal government be immune? They better act fasty, though, as Obama is driving our government toward bankruptcy.
Constitutional Due Process protects Civil Rights and Property Rights. The bill doesn't put ACORN in jail... so doesn't this assume ACORN has a Constitutionally protected property right to federal funding? Yeesh.
We should be suing them to get OUR money back from this corrupt organization. By the way we have no $$ so we can't be donating anyway.
You gotta be kidding me, this is like Manson suing the Tates. While Acorn may have done some good it was hijacked and needs to be broken up NOW.
Where in the constitution does it say that Acorn is entitled to handouts from the government. I don't want my money funding that disgusting group.
Go ahead right wing nuts...let off a little steam by ranting about ACORN. I hope that makes you feel better. Now, get off your mom's sofa and go do something productive today. It's the afternoon already.
All the while their offices were being raided last week by the feds. Nice timing.
They must have gotten their lawyers from the same gene pool as some of their folks who provide consulting services to pimps.
Bill of attainder? Oh c'mon. Bills of attainder apply to government targeting people to do something to them. It is not the same thing as taking money away from them that the government (taxpayers) awarded to them to begin with. Government has the right to retract grants to private organizations any time it wants to. In fact, it doesn't even take an act of Congress to do so (which Congress conveniently provided in this case).
I wish Congress was as interested in investigating Blackwater and cutting off funds to them for the much more egregious crimes they've committed.
Funny how important the laws are when it's to Acorn's advantage. It wasn't so important when Acorn was registering Mickey Mouse to vote or advising a "prostitute" and "pimp" on how to hide their profits from the government.
Wouldn't it just be simplier for them to re-incorporate as Nroca. I'm sure the Administration would never connect to two together.
I know I don't want any of my tax dollars going to a bunch of pimps.
Accorn and all their affiliates need to be investigated by the Attorney General and the President of the United States should demand an
investigation. I will not even be apart of the Census if Accorn or any affiliatates have anything to do with it. I will never vote again if they are allowed anywhere near the handling of registrations in any state. This
country needs to be cleaned up.We are so far to the left we are corrupt.
When we go to far to the right we are corrupt. Has anyone in government heard of the middle road?
Liberals against liberals. This should be a fun exercise in twisted logic. I have to side with the liberal Congress on this one (although I'm sure they'll come up with something cockeyed and convoluted). They have dicression to decide what they fund. ACORN has no constitutional right (entitlement) to be funded. Congress decided, at one time, to fund them and now they are deciding not to. The argument that it's unconstitutional for Congress to be judge, jury and executioner is a case of logical contortion to divert the subject over to that premise and away from the fact that Congress funds what it funds and doesn't fund what it doesn't fund. It's actually simple.
ACORN screwed up and got caught. Now, they want to punish everyone because they caught caught in criminal activities. Oh, my. Gotta love the fact that criminals are now blaming the people who don't want to fund their criminal activities.
haaaaaaaaa. yeah right. another waste of the people's money. you know public money will be used in this case. Please, acorn go away. give it up. Your all useless. your all useless
Isn't that amazing? ACORN feels they have the absolute right to federal funding. It's obvious that entitlements have gone way too far in ths country.
Well let's see what ACORN can bring to the table during litigation. There was that embezzlement of funds thing. There was also the five seperate branch offices demonstrating how to circumvent laws to set up brothels.
Yeah, I'm sure ACORN is going to get real far in their lawsuit.
What a bunch of losers.
Ha,ha,ha! Desperate aren't they? Congress' job is not to judge anything...that's the JUDICIAL branch. Congress is in charge of approriating funds and they deemed ACORN not worthy. Get over it!
Yeah, but no one is guaranteed the right to receive federal funding.
This ogranization can make money on it's own. Using my tax dollars to fund this organization is a crime.
Way to go OBUMMER......... We're in a DEFICIT, yet you want to continue to fund these morons.
This is hilarious, tell us CNN are they using federal funds to do it too? The liberal SEIU scumbags should be in prison rather than in the White House.
Wow. Somehow they beleive they have a right to federal $$$. This describes the view of the Left pretty well on who's $$$ they think it is...
And so the story goes, of all the organizations and institutions that have engaged in culpable activities, one is singled out for punishment by the Federal Government. The one that represents and advocates for the poor, the needy, the powerless. What a suitable scapegoat.
Certainly glad they won't be having anything to do with the census.Wonder if they will just start up under a new name to get tax money again?
ACORN has been accused, indicted, and found guilty only in the court of Fox. While Halliburton, Blackwater, and several defense contractors have been found guilty and fined, congress does not cut off their funding.
To this date, ACORN has not been found guilty.
Obama's and Democrat's ACORN group is more powerful than the government? This is new to me. Supporting prostitution and advising people to lie to get funding is not a VIRTUE OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN nor something the founding fathers of this nation would tolerate and adore.
I find it quite amusing when people or organizations want to invoke the constitution when it is beneficial for them to do so. I got news for you folks. Alot of what is going on in the halls of government is unconstitutional these days. However, that is fine if it doesn't affect you. The actual truth is that it does affect you in the long run. It affects all of us. As for ACORN, they were caught in illegal activity. I fail to see why they feel that they should get federal funding. They do deserve a thorough investigation into all the facts as allowed by our judicial system. If then, it is found that they have been wrongly accused (yea, right) then funds can be restored. I do seriously doubt, however, that the results of any investigation would be truthful. Especially with who is in charge these days.
Mmmmm-kay ... Just HOW is not funding a corrupt, political organization that actively encouraged others to engage in illegal activities unconstitutional??
it's a criminal enterprise.
I hope ACORN wins the suit. Of course rethuglicans like to single out individuals, groups, and organazation without following the constitution. And stupid democrats who follow just because they afraid of loosing votes, cowards. If we going to invistigate ACORN we also need to do the same with many organazation that are using Federal Funds!
There better not be another nickel of federal money going to these crooks.
Actually this suit should immediately be tossed out. It is not an overreach of Congress to pass a law removing their money since Congress controls the purse strings. Since the budget was already passed they can withdraw the money. Maybe ACORN should spend more time on fixing their organization then suing the govt.
Zero chance of ACORN winning in court. Maybe the tape that shows ACORN employees giving advice on how to avoid paying taxes while perpetrating illegal activity will be all the court needs to throw this suit out.
Yeah. this kind of treatment is only okay for a conservative organization. If it were a conservative organization filing suit would be a wasteful act. What do you bet they get the funding restored?
Now acorn wants the cover of the constitution? Fitting.
The notion that Congress can't decide who to give taxpayer dollars is nonsense. Even if some whacked out Liberal Judge decides in favor of Acorn, there is nothing anyone can do if Congress simply cuts it out of the budget. Just don't fund the program, it doesn't have to be a law.
Sure, Congress should continue funding ACORN even though their employees have been proven to provide advice on conducting murder, running prostitution rings etc. under the services they provide. Maybe ACORN should clean up their act before reapplying for Federal money to support their ongoing criminal enterprise.
So they think they have a right to my tax dollars ??? This is what happens when handouts become the norm. Time to survivre on your own two feet Acorn. They day Acorn became a political action commitee for Obama was the day they lost their so called "right" to Government hand outs!
Why are these criminals not in prison. When they come to court just throw the cuffs on them and there biggest supporter OWHINER! This clowns should be jailed and forced to pay back tax payers money they have stolen over the years. Typical democrate get caught doing something illegal then cry racism.
Isn't this like the burglar suing the homeowner after he gets shot breaking in?! They have been proven over and over to have been breaking numerous laws. They were "singled out" because they were repeatedly being found guilty of violations. They are just mad their government gravy train has been stopped. The Feds need to investigate ALL of their operations and shut down this ongoing criminal organization.
Since when is federal funding a right? ACORN violated a public trust and should be eradicated like the vermin they are.
You were duped by the tea baggers! fall in a stupid trap! now after Acorn destruction, the tea movement rules the streets!. that was their intentions ruin Acorn= destroying the democratic party votes!!
And you just know that they'll expect the government (read you and me) to pick up the tab for the legal fees.
Does anybody in Washington even know the laws of the country? Maybe they should all go back to school. More lawsuits, more lawyers, more money. I always thought there were certain rules and regulations if you took government funds. money that came from the tax payers, us!
Good for Acorn, it's about time we put a stop to the hateful party of NO and get them back to helping people. Hey fox supports Bush is on the air talking run....before he goes away.....there we got rid of the pesky liars.
Good luck ACORN!!! Maybe you all will get the message... We don't want you, We don't trust you, now get out of the way and take your old pal BHO with you.
This is absolutely what I would call a frivalous lawsuit.....the government is not obligated in any way what so ever to give that organization or any other organization any money. It is purely voluntary and to think that they can even file a suit because they lost their free-bee is disgusting. They should fine them for wasting the court's time.
Congress is not very bright and does not seem to understand much about law. Maybe the Bill of Rights should be taught as a remedial course for these overpaid congressmen.
Acorn is a bunch of thieving cheating dirtbags and do not deserve any taxpayer money.......
LOL, sure when things go bad the liberals will cry it is unconstitutional!
You know what our Government has not been following anything constitutional in over a century.
Health care=unconstitutional
Social Security=unconstitutional
Colonialism=unconstitutional
Federal reserve bank=unconstitutional
Czars=unconstitutional
drug war=unconstitutional
The list is endless...
ACORN is right.....no other group has lost funding, even after they have been found guilty.......this is backlash because the wingnut think they stole the election for President Obama......which is completely stupid and lacks logical thinking.....how could they have pulled that off....You need ID in order to vote.....would Donald Duck be able to furnish valid ID?.....David Pulloff, who ran the best campaign in history said they had their own people on the ground....ACORN assisted but not to the extent that the ignorant wingnuts believe.....yet some that will post on this blog....will say voter fraud....My question will be how did President Obama benefit.
I work for one of the nations greatest hospitals, however, even we have theft within our ranks. It is widely known within the technology groups here at my hospital that flat screen TVs, and laptops are stolen more than anyone would like to admit (From areas only open to employees). This proves that when you have a large organization, you will have some bad apples. Would it be fair for groups that hate my hospital to go undercover to some members of our staff and ask them about getting them a piece of IT equipment from a warehouse, only to walk away accusing the entire hospital of being corrupt? I would guess that if you ask enough people in an undercover manner, you will find some who will tell you what you want to hear. Until a thorough investigation into the whole organization is done (not a right wing personal vendetta sting), then I say they should not be prosecuted (including stripping them of their funds).
LOL, Acorn sues in court!
Acorn thinks it has a constitutional right to get money from the Government.
Just another reason this organization should NOT get any.
Um, well, Congress isn't judge and jury, but it IS Congress and it can decide where it wants the money to go.
For once in a blue moon, I agree with it.
Mmm, a certain hot spot may have just cooled! I defended Congress!
; )
This has to be the most pathetic situation I've heard to date! These crooks are actually suing the American public for their lost funding!? They're essentially using our own money (taxpayers' money!) in order to get more of our money! ACORN was receiving funding from federal and state sources and aid programs – our tax money!!! The fact that they are claiming that their constitutional rights were "violated" says it all! We the people are the ones who were violated!
Love to see what Obama does about this, since he never publicly acknowledged their criminal activities.. oh wait, didn't they help get him elected thru voter fraud...?
Let me get this right...Congress is the holder of the funds for ACORN, but they do not have the right to stop those funds. What is wrong with this picture? Have these people had their hand out for free money so long they have forgotten how it is to earn a living? Unbelievable. If ACORN wins this, I will know we have reached the bottom rung on the ladder and have lost all sense of reality.
This is the same organization that willingly provides a loan to a self-described pimp with plans to open a brothel. Then, to top it off, representatives of this same organization went out of their way to ensure Mr. Pimp knew exactly what to do in order to get the loan. I guess certain representatives of this organization are fine with setting up a house for prostitution. Amazing.
So the obama campaign workers are going to sue the obama administration? ha ha ha
If it's against the law to single out acorn just stop all funding for all groups of this type.
Hmmm – ALL of ACORN was punished for the actions of a few.
Maybe we should punish all Congress because a few of them are crooked.
Vote the incumbents out every other election. Show them we're boss (we do pay them).
Excuse me: but if Congress can designate money for a group or cause – it CAN TAKE IT AWAY. I'm sorry; but, that's the way if it.
If you do badly – funding should be taken away. It's the legislative body that does it – NOT THE JUDICIAL body.
This should be interesting . . . depositions . . . cross-examinations . . . evidence (sssshh – OPEN THE BOOKS !!!)
ACORN is not entitled to federal funds. There is no due process requiement involved. The videos along with the voter registration charges in over a dozen states and the embezzelment cover ups show that ACORN does not deserve federal funds until an investigation and audit can show they are clean.
If theyre taking money from ACORN, then why is Blackwater, and other thieving, lying companies funded by my tax dollars still receiving monies from the government. I could think of a million reasons why that money should be used to produce shovel ready projects.
Congress was having a knee-jerk reaction to right-wing brouhaha over ACORN, their selected target. In fact the irregularities that ACORN has been accused of, for the most part were brought to the attention of Law Enforcement BY ACORN, who was policing some of its rogue affiliates. So ACORN catches them doing something wrong, turns them in, then FOX et al. blame ACORN and accuse them of condoning bad behavior, and they make such a putrid stink over this that Congress swallowed it hook, line and sinker without bothering to find out what was really going on. That's our "leaders" for you......
Whether or not Congress can do that? is a good question. Were the ACORN employees high ranking Officials. Keep ACORN honest with Mr. Anderson Cooper. Is ACORN an honest organization? Was this event a lone, greed driven event by one or more parties set up by goverment agencies?
Yeah...let me know how that works out for ya...ACORN.
Besides the funding is only suspended until at least December. It was more of a "grounding" then a suspension. Aparently ACORN is to dumb to know this.
The Dems need ACORN to get elected...they aren't giving up that crutch....they'd never get into office again.
I don't agree with what Acorn did, how ever they have a point, the is the law Congress over step it's bounds on this. All they did was jump on the hype fox news Glen Beck band wagon to score points. I hope the courts stand up for the law on this.
If Obama had any stones, he would have the AG launch crininal investigations into every aspect of Acorn and prosecute all wrong doing. But then, Obama is not going to bite the hand that feeds him and gets him elected.
If they really want "due process", fine. Like any other entity or group who were caught doing something naughty, we freeze funding until a full investigation can be done. But note – funding will be frozen no matter what! ACORN is worthless!!!!
When ACORN surrenders to a FULL and COMPLETE independent audit as to where OUR tax dollars are being funneled then maybe they should be considered to be allowed back to the tax funded nipple. They are NOT a bi-partisan group and I for one detest our tax dollars going to fund campaigns for people that I don't even care for. This is a RIP OFF of our tax dollars and it is just more of Obama's under handed manipulation of the lower class to perform his dirty work in promise for a free hand out.
Those that defend this organization shock me.
For those that bring up right wing organizations that receive federal funding how about this: All groups regardless of affiliation should be denied federal funding.
Blackwater, ACORD, SEIU, all of them, the government has no business giving Taxpayer money to any outside organization that isn't a federal body period.
Times are tough, and the federal dept is in the Trillions. What do normal people do when times are tough? They cut back.
It's time for the same to happen here. I don't care if the group is right or left, liberal or conservative. The funding of these types of groups needs to stop period.
Billions of dollars of TAXPAYER money has gone to this group, that has never been voted on by the people of this country, that the people of this country have 0 control over how it operates.
All of these groups should be shut out of all taxpayer funding. Period.
If ACORN is to be held accountable, it should be a precedent for ALL abuses related to public funding.
In fact, this pales in comparison to the millions in abuses from Halliburton, Blackwater, KBR, MPC, Boeing, ArmorGroup, etc.
Point #1: Every organization has bad employees... ACORN dealt with theirs as soon as they were exposed. Do you actually think everyone at ACORN is a crook ( I know some of you actually do, but to say that is like saying everyone at AIG is responsible for that company's misconduct)...
Point #2: ACORN was entrapped (how come congress did not act to "de-fund" every other government contractor that was convicted (not alleged- but convicted) of actual crimes
Point #3: I challenge ANYONE who has something bad to say about ACORN to actually look up ACORN's record of helping the disadvantaged and poor in our country... (They have done a whole lot more than Blackwater has ever done!). I'll wait to see if anyone actually does.
ACORN is a criminal enterprize do a search on (ACORN NINJA loans fraud) and see for yourself.
When are they going to enact legislation to strip every senator or congressman accused of wrongdoing of their federal pay and benefits? Or every defense contractor?
ACORN should be investigated for violation of fedaral racketeering laws. This lawsuit just proves that ACORN shouuld be forced to pay back every taxpayer dollar it ever got. The IRS should audit every ACORN employee. There was plenty of info out there before the election to show what a fraud ACORN was. The liberal MSM ignored it, and would still be ignoring it if Fox hadn't broken the story.
They should be thrown in jail and the key thrown away. If they manage to somehow win this, there truly is no justice in this world. What a bunch of crooks, slimeballs, and sleazes.
I would love for an open investigation of ACORN's books. I wonder if that would be possible?
I would like one of you right-wing nut-jobs screeching about how "criminal" ACORN is to please cite some proof of their criminality. And I mean PROOF, not just what you've heard on Cluster Fox. Wow . . . . . . deafening silence is all I hear.
With all the videos showing how to avoid taxes seems like the IRS would be doing audits on every tax return prepared by acorn. I bet they don't check one as long as this administration is in power.
OMG, I cant believe it . one of the biggest most crooked organizations is gonna sue? give me a break, they should all be in prison ornage
Whether you like Acorn or not, it is actually unconstitutional to directly target a specific corporation or person through congress. I'm pretty sure Acorn will win this lawsuit.
"Let me get this right...Congress is the holder of the funds for ACORN, but they do not have the right to stop those funds. What is wrong with this picture?"
Uh, read the Constitution. Specifically Article One, Section Nine. Then Google "bill of attainder." Then report back to the class on what you found.
This is what happens when entitlement is bred into society. Hire a lawyer when you don't get what you think you deserve.
Corrupt, biased, reckless, offensive....ACORN is a mess and should get no federal or state funding. This lawsuit is frivolous and symbolic of the crazy organization that needs to be sut down. Gary
Why don't some one give them a free lift to the grand Canyon , then have them jump , or just go away . For they have not filled the graves they already dug up.
Go figure. What a joke. If you don't help me or agree with me, I'll sue. The uber-liberal Modus Operandi.