[Vision2020] Buckeye Institute Files State Rico Action Against ACORN

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Buckeye Institute Files State Rico Action Against ACORN
posted October 14, 2008

COLUMBUS — The Buckeye Institute, a Columbus-based think tank, today
filed a state RICO action against the Association of Community
Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) on behalf of two Warren County
voters.  The action filed in Warren County Court of Common Pleas
alleges ACORN has engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity that
amounts to organized crime.  It seeks ACORN's dissolution as a legal
entity, the revocation of any licenses in Ohio, and an injunction
against fraudulent voter registration and other illegal activities.

Plaintiffs Jennifer Miller of Mason, Ohio and Kimberly Grant of
Loveland, allege that ACORN's actions deprive them of the right to
participate in an honest and effective elections process.  They allege
fraudulent voter registrations submitted by ACORN dilute the votes of
legally registered voters.

"The right to cast a vote that is not diluted by fraudulent votes is a
fundamental individual right," Buckeye Institute President David
Hansen said.

"ACORN appears to be recklessly disregarding Ohio laws and adding
thousands of fraudulent voters to the state's roles in the process,"
Maurice Thompson, Director of the Buckeye Institute's 1851 Center for
Constitutional Law said.  "Such voter fraud erodes the value of
legally cast votes," he added.

In the complaint, Thompson cites an accumulation of evidence showing
numerous instances of admitted fraud by ACORN employees, as well as
individuals solicited by ACORN.

"In light of its hiring, training and compensation practices, ACORN
should have known its conduct would cause fraud," Thompson said.  "It
also should know that its conduct will cause fraud in the future."

In addition, the complaint cites conduct by ACORN in Colorado,
Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

A full copy of the complaint is available online at
http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/acorn.pdf.

The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, together with its
1851 Center for Constitutional Law, is a nonpartisan research and
educational institute devoted to individual liberty, economic freedom,
personal responsibility and limited government in Ohio.
http://buckeyeinstitute.org/article/1207