This just in as Brad is headed over to the FOX News studios. Yesterday the Los Angeles Times reported on the Republican voter registration outfit who had allegedly been illegally changing thousands of registrations from Democratic to Republican.
Last night the head of that GOP backed group, Mark Anthony Jacoby of Young Political Majors (YPM), was arrested by the California State Election Fraud Taskforce and Oxnard, CA Police.
According to CA SoS Debra Bowen’s press release, Jacoby himself had committed voter registration fraud and perjury by lying on his own voter registration form. (That’s similar to what Ann Coulter did, though she not only committed felony voter registration fraud, she also committed actual voter fraud, as well, even though such fraud is exceedingly rare.)
UPDATE FROM BRAD: It was my pleasure to break this story today on Fox “News” of all places! Thanks to John Gideon for getting it posted as I was on the roll towards the studio. I’ll have the video up of my appearance on Fox, and the “Fox News Alert” I was able to do, later tonight (it’s now posted here). Please note, this isn’t the first time there have been serious problems with GOP-gathered voter registrations in CA, as outlined recently at Alternet. Looks like the GOP’s voter registration record for errors far outpaced ACORN! Whaddaya know? (Our special coverage of the GOP’s ACORN “Voter Fraud” Hoax is right here.) More updates now at bottom of article.
Bowen’s press release, just out, on Jacoby’s arrest is posted in full below, along with a number of additional updates after it…
CONTACT: Kate Folmar (916) 208-6521
of Man Charged with Voter Registration Fraud
SACRAMENTO ““ The owner of a signature-gathering firm that works across California was arrested in Ontario today on suspicion of committing voter registration fraud, Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced.
Mark Anthony Jacoby, who owns the firm known as Young Political Majors (YPM), was arrested after allegedly registering himself to vote, once in 2006 and again in 2007, at an address where did not live. An investigation by the Secretary of State’s Election Fraud Investigation Unit revealed that Jacoby twice registered to vote at the address of a childhood home in Los Angeles although he no longer lived there.
The Secretary of State’s fraud unit and the Ontario Police Department arrested Jacoby near an Ontario hotel just before midnight Saturday. An arraignment date has not been scheduled yet.
“Voter registration fraud is a serious issue, which is why I vigorously investigate all allegations of elections fraud,” said Secretary Bowen, California’s chief elections officer. “Where there’s a case to be made, I will forward it to law enforcement for criminal prosecution.”
For his business, Jacoby traveled California and a number of other states collecting petition signatures and registering voters. Under state law, signature-gatherers must sign a declaration stating that they are either registered to vote in California or that they are eligible to do so. Jacoby allegedly registered to vote at his childhood address to meet this legal requirement.
Under California law, it is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison to register yourself when you are not entitled to vote and it is perjury to provide false information on a voter registration card.
On October 3, the Public Integrity Unit of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged Jacoby with four felonies: two counts of voter registration fraud and two counts of perjury. A warrant was issued for his arrest and bail was set at $50,000.
“This arrest wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of the Ontario Police Department and Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley’s office,” Secretary Bowen said. “I thank them both.”
The Secretary of State’s Election Fraud Investigation Unit helps maintain the integrity of the electoral process by investigating allegations of election and voter fraud in California. Potential Elections Code violations brought to the unit’s attention are thoroughly investigated and referred to law enforcement officials for prosecution when there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. The Secretary of State’s office does not disclose information about the status of ongoing criminal investigations, but the information from a case that results in a criminal complaint filed by a county or state prosecutor is a public record.
Anyone who has witnessed a violation of the California Elections Code is encouraged to contact the Secretary of State’s Election Fraud Investigation Unit at (800) 345-VOTE or http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_fraud.htm.
More updates from Brad…
UPDATE: Los Angeles Times covers the arrest here, and notes:
The YPM firm has been under investigation for similar unlawful activities in a number of states. Nobody who runs ACORN, despite the nonsense you’ve heard on Fox, CNN, MSNBC, etc. has ever been arrested, to our knowledge.
UPDATE 10:24pm PT I’ve been able to learn from a source that Jacoby is free on bail tonight, and apparently staying at a La Quinta (instead of his “home”, which is actually his mother’s home, where he is alleged to have registered illegally to vote).
Also, “Mrs. Panstreppon” at dKos notes:
Read the story here
An 8/21/2008 Phoenix New Times covered YPM’s nefarious activities in Arizona where charges were made that YPM tossed thousands of voter registration forms in the trash.
Read the story here.
I seem to recall another GOP outfit being accused of filing phony voter registration forms in Nevada in 2006 but I don’t have the name at the moment. Anyone recall the case?
She’s likely referring to Sproul & Associates, the GOP outfit led by Nathan Sproul, that was charged with shredding Democratic voter registration forms in a number of states. They were paid more than $8 million dollars by the RNC, who tried to hide the expenditures in 2004. Details here.
And here are a number of BRAD BLOG reports on Sproul & Associates.
UPDATE 10/20/08, 2:28am PT: As I’ve been poking around, trying to learn a bit more about this Jacoby fellow, I came across a posting from someone who claims to be a friend of a friend of his at this website. I cannot verify the authenticity of either the comment, or the video, but it seems to be well informed, and matches up with several descriptions of the way Jacoby’s outfit has reportedly operated in a number of states. The poster, “foadi” says his/her friend is owed money by Jacoby, and he’d recently sent the friend an email “calling him an idiot for not working on this republican registration drive, saying that this was the cleanest campaign he’s ever done with the GOP and denying that he is under investigation, despite being driven out of san bernardino county a few weeks ago.”
“foadi” also calls Jacoby a few more names than I feel comfortable posting here for the moment. Again, I can’t verify the authenticity of these comments, or the video, as I’ve not been able to find an photos of Jacoby yet [Ed note: We’ve now seen a photo of him, see next update, this appears to be Jacoby after all — BF]. So proceed with the following at your own risk, and with those caveats.
Here’s the most notable details from “foadi’s” comments:
* they make a fake petition, usually something involving tougher laws on sex offenders.
* they use these petitions to stop people, setting up in front of big box stores, on college campuses, etc
* once they have a person signing their petition, they start asking them questions on the voter registration form (what’s your date of birth, which state/country were you born in, what’s your drivers license/state ID number, etc).
* by the time they get done with these basic questions the person is usually done signing the petition. they then hand the voter registration form to the person, telling them to fill out their name and address and signature at the bottom.
* last step, they either ask them to mark ‘republican’ because it ensures future funding for their petition, or they don’t tell the person anything and mark in republican themselves once the signer leaves.
using this strategy you can easily get over 100 republican registrations in a day. pay ranges from $5 – 10 per registration, so the people doing it definitely have the incentive to get as many registrations as possible.
And here’s the video which “foadi” claims to be of Jacoby, threatening someone who says he owes him $5000…
UPDATE 10/20/08, 12:21pm: RAW STORY rounds up some of the coverage, including videos of MSNBC and local Southern California’s CBS 2 News both on the story.
MSNBC interviews legal analyst Susan Filan who notes “This is really serious…This is a very specific, deliberate intent to mislead,” unlike the “Mickey Mouse” voter registration forms turned over to officials (as they are required to by law) and flagged as “problematic” by ACORN. They also mention that some voters had their registration records changed to “absentee”, so they could lose their vote this November, if their address was changed and they fail to bring in their absentee ballots on Election Day.
CBS 2 offers a photo of Jacoby in their report (photo posted at right) which confirms that the man seen in the video we posted above, does appear to be Jacoby.
Both videos are posted here at RAW…
UPDATE: 10/20/08, 4:39pm PT: Speaking of Sproul & Associates, the group accused of destroying Democratic registrations in several states (see the 10:24pm update above from last night), it looks like the McCain-Palin campaign and RNC has hired that frauster as well this year, despite his recent activities…
According to campaign finance records, a joint committee of the McCain-Palin campaign, the RNC and the the California Republican Party, made a $175,000 payment to the group Lincoln Strategy in June for purposes of “registering voters.” The managing partner of that firm is Nathan Sproul, a renowned GOP operative who has been investigated on multiple occasions for suppressing Democratic voter turnout, throwing away registration forms and even spearheading efforts to get Ralph Nader on ballots to hinder the Democratic ticket.
…
That Sproul would come under the employment umbrella of the McCain campaign — the Republican National Committee has also separately paid Lincoln Strategy at least $37,000 for voter registration efforts this cycle — is not terribly surprising. Sproul, who has donated nearly $30,000 to McCain’s campaign, has been in the good graces of GOP officials for the past decade despite charges of ethical and potentially legal wrongdoing.
Sam Stein has the full story at Huff Po…
Where in that “release” (from the always objective “Kate Folmar”) does it say that he has “been illegally changing thousands of registrations from Democratic to Republican”? From what I read he registered twice and that’s what all the fuss is about?
AGAIN – AGAIN – YOU FREAKING LEFTISTS REPORT LIES.
JACOBY WAS NOT ARRESTED ANYWHERE; BUT YOU PEOPLE HAVE CONNED YOURSELVES SO BAD WITH NOBAMA THAT YOU BELEIVE THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY SOMETHING AND IT IS THE TRUTH. THE FACTS ARE:
NOBAMA IS A SOCIALIST DISGUISED IN CENTRIST DRAG
HOPE YOU GET WHAT YOU PEOPLE DESERVE IN NOVEMBER
http://www.latimes.com/news/nat...,6338789.story
http://www.contracostatimes.com...nclick_check=1
http://www.latimes.com/news/loc...,3842357.story
Notice how the 2 nut bag Reich wingers deny the FACTS as usual?
What is it with these lunatics?
They are just like Young Earth Creationist, doesn’t matter at all how much verifiable documented evidence is presented to them they immediately deny it, ignore it in favor of “faith” in total bullshit.
Heres one for Brad since he had to go to Fake News today, it about says it all
Acorn and Fox News
Kira~! Well, there’s an angle we hadn’t considered in the subtext of election law! When the perpetrator of massive voter slamming is also guilty of voter fraud–I guess that seals it.
No need for further legal parsing.
And how ’bout that California Task Force and a shout-out to Mrs. Bowen for her timely press release? This would NEVER happen in Florida (maybe why Mark Anthony Jacoby felt he could get away with it there with no consequences.)
Nothing could be more perfect!
And GOP Backer: Whoa, Dude. Your font gives away your manic fear. I know, it’s hard out there for a GOP backer, but we’re here for you.
It looks strange, because you know who you’re voting for – no? Not necessarily. In a lot of states you are issued a ballot based on your registration. Then if you vote the “Straight Ticket” you may think you’re voting for YOUR candidated, but if they managed to switch your registration, you vote for the other party’s slate!
@Joe: The issue is that he registered with a false California address allegedly so that he could gather those very petition signatures. Read.
@ GOP BACKER: Ha! When you stick your head in the sand like that doesn’t it get in your eyes?
Woot! YESSSS!!!! I was hoping for this after I read this in the LA Times yesterday.
If the MSM covers this–AND THEY HAD BETTER–this will not only shut everyone up about ACORN but put the final nail in the McCain campaign. I really hope someone brings up Ann Coulter’s voter fraud along with it.
What’s next? Is anyone going to finally openly talk about the Palins’ connections to AIP?
Hey, “GOP BACKER”
The entire REGISTRATION SCAM was covered in the LOS ANGELES TIMES yesterday. Do you think that the California justice department brings frivolous cases? No, the GOP tried that trick with the U.S. Attorneys it fired because they wouldn’t investigate PHONY “voter fraud” cases. THIS IS REAL. This is FELONIOUS.
Carol, If this makes the MSM, I will eat my hat…with or without salt.
It’s amazing the level of ignorance on the right. GOP up above shows that. Please do tell what a socialist is. And what is the difference between socialism and social democracy?
Sweeeeeeet!!!, and even sweeter that Brad got to break the news on Fox!! 🙂
I can’t wait to see the Video!
This is penny ante — you Dems know a sorry operation when you see it don’t ya — your the expert at rigging the ballot box and getting the supreme court to go your way— Mr Jacoby needs to hang out with you guys more–
Holee Crimolee!! I go away for the day and look what happens! This is fantabulous!!!
Jeannie Dean, we wuz right hon! The word for the day is F E L O N Y! So, how many votes might have been padded into the ’04 sElection? Gotta think about that.
Oh yeah, the cat’s definitely coming outta the bag.
Can’t wait to see the video of Brad on FAKE NEWS – WOOT!!!
Hey! Look over there! Don’t look over here! Look over there! Nothing to see here, but wow, look what’s happening there!
Investigation into Voter Registration Fraud
10/20/2004
By Heather Sorentrue/WCJB TV 20 News
The State Attorney’s Office is investigating whether hundreds of voters were tricked into changing their political party affiliation. A for-profit company handed in the voter registration forms to the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections, who alerted investigators.
The group, Young Political Majors, set up shop on the University of Florida campus. Like many organizations they were trying to get students to sign a petition. But, one student we spoke with says the group had a hidden agenda.
While walking near UF’s Reitz Union, someone approached Benjamin Anderson and asked him to sign a petition on tougher punishments for child molesters.
“I signed the petition. There were a couple of pages to go through, the last one was this voter registration form,” says Anderson. “I wondered what it was all about and the person said ‘Oh it’s just to verify that you’re a registered voter and this is how we get our funding.'”
But, Anderson says he was shocked when he looked closer. “Then I got to the bottom and Republican party was pre-checked, and I’m a registered democrat,” says Anderson.
The UF Junior crossed out the Republican box on the form, but he fears other students didn’t catch the checkmark.
Supervisor of Elections Beverly Hill says Mark Jacoby of Young Political Majors, a group supposedly out of the Tampa area, handed in 1,218 registration forms. Hill found it suspicious that 510 people in the group wanted to switch to the Republican Party. So, she called about 30 of the voters.
“None of them thought they were changing parties. They had no intention to do that of the ones we talked to,” says Hill.
Now the forms are in the hands of investigators.
“We’re going to be doing some spot checking of that list to try to give us a feel as to the legitimacy of the cards,” says State Attorney’s Spokesperson Spencer Mann.
Jacoby, the man who handed in the forms, refused to speak with us today. An adviser to the Republican Party of Florida says Young Political Majors is a subcontractor for Arno Political Consulting, a group hired to do voter registrations for the Republican National Committee. The adviser told me they won’t cut ties to the group before the investigation is complete.
This is so important! Republicans think stealing elections is something you do to pass the time and pick up extra bucks.
I don’t care which party steals. Lock them up!
#2, it’s very interesting throwing the word “socialist” around – smells like Limbaugh, etc!!! It’s interesting that you throw that word at Democrats but your Repug prez recently nationalized banks, and of course the infamous bailout which was his selection too!
A thought for these times:
“your the expert at rigging the ballot box and getting the supreme court to go your way”
Project, much?
Seems to me that illegally purging voter rolls of hundreds of thousands of legal voters is “rigging the ballot box” by preventing legal votes from being cast. Might as well just reach in the blue box and shred a few balots.
SCOTUS? Really? you’re going there, Chuck? .. 2004 and the halting of the recount until State law kicks in and the State Legislature decides who gets the Electoral votes, not the people? .. Terry Schiavo ring a bell?
You right-wing nutjobs should just go Dick Cheney yourselves.
And did GOP Buttlicker say “socialist”? I couldn’t tell ya.. I don’t read posts in all caps.
Mark owes ME $5000. He owes countless others thousands. He has a nasty habit of ditching town right before he cuts the last check. I never was paid for cards, I never did voter fraud. He has made it a systematic procedure. I know, he trained me to do it. They tell people it doesn’t matter , and students will do it because the smiling circulator tells them they just need to get paid. This messes up the process especially in primaries. He’s a scoundrel and I’m glad he’s in jail. Now I’m calling Debra and getting the info I can deliver a subpoena finally.
Whats worse is his bait and switch tactic. They distract you with a fake petition. Then tell you , you MUST let me see your ID. They fill out the whole form, then say, just sign here ( quickly pulling the reg card on top of the petition), and then initial here ( they have you initial by the republican box) . They will later fill in the republican box themselves. I saw this, was trained to do this, I always let people fill in their own party box. Marks main people would do this for them. Its much worse than Acorn, Acorn pays for any card , no matter what party , they have no agenda , as for Y.P.M., they mess up the primaries.
This is such a non-story. California doesn’t even bother to count all of the votes cast in the presidential election, they just go straight into the Democratic column as soon as the polls close.
This is just one guy who registered himself improperly. This doesn’t even come close to the level of fraud that Acorn has achieved registering Terrel Owens and Mickey Mouse in battle ground states.
Still, it serves the purpose of distracting the easily distracted.
Dim – I mean “Tim”,
You’re letting your foolish ignorance show. Everything you said in your above post is easily proved incorrect with just a few minutes of using “the Google.” Stop being so un-American.
Tim,
ACORN actually turned their own people in for submitting faulty registrations.
Everyone needs to drop the hate.
For the folks denying the guy was arrested, read on.
Mark Anthony Jacoby was in fact arrested for Voter Fraud.
I don’t think MSM would run with the story without fact checking just a little.
Yes, the story is true. No matter how hard you wish it away, it will still be there.
Some vids from Youtube. I would guess there will be more coverage by MSM this week.
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
pelosi and the gang of four are behind this rebutal to ACORN-CRAP
To find polling places and where you are registered to vote, visit:
http://www.atelier-us.com/e-bus...hout-the-fluff
Well what a tangle web of deception woven by Mark
Jacoby,the RNC and McCain did the weave…The CAT
has definatly jumped out the bag,of all places the Faux Nazi News on prime time ! (my neocon mom
& dad watch that show every day)It had to cause
Rupert Murdock and Sean Hannady to cring and nash
thier teeth.