The Department of Justice is Senator Chuck Schumer’s strength. From his position as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he has exercised substantial influence in appointments and actions undertaken. Schumer worked with Assistant Attorney General James Comey, so active in the Plame issue.
Senator Schumer is in a position to weigh in to see that an independent special prosecutor is selected to investigate ACORN. ACORN has close ties to the progressive movement, to the Democratic Party, and to President Obama. Obama dared to suggest over the weekend he "didn’t even know that ACORN was getting a whole lot of federal money" even he did work for ACORN early in his career, he used them in his campaign, and he signed ACORN’s double dip in the stimulus and omnibus spending bills in February. Obama’s phrasing is too cute by half.
Attorney General Eric Holder stopped prosecutions recommended by federal attorneys in the pay-for-play scandal that apparently involved New Mexico’s Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson. Holder also dropped pursuit of the New Black Panther Party in Philadelphia who was involved in a voter intimidation case. So far, Holder has refused calls to explain his decisions.
If the public is to have any confidence in an investigation of ACORN, if Senator Schumer wants to reclaim the integrity of the Department of Justice for which he has oversight, if ACORN is not an issue the President says he "is paying a whole lot of attention to," then Senator Schumer should find someone who can pay the attention that is deserved, and he should urge the appointment of an independent prosecutor to examine ACORN’s behavior and finances to see if they should be prosecuted under the RICO statute amongst others.
ACORN’s activities are intertwined with political support in a way that challenges the foundation institutions of the United States. For the Department of Justice and Congress to retain any appearance of integrity and propriety, an independent special prosecutor is the only option. Make it happen, Senator Schumer.
