Nancy Pelosi demonstrates bipartisanship in Copenhagen (not!)

by Rossputin | 12:39 pm, December 17, 2009

The following story, as reported by the always excellent Connie Hair of Human Events was hard to believe, even for someone whose opinion of Nancy Pelosi could hardly be lower.  Just when you think they’ve hit the basement, they find a new level below it:

Pelosi Bars Republicans from Copenhagen Press Conference

One friend of mine (an astute observer of politics) offered this:

“Actually, the question is why are the Repubs such a bunch of girls that they allow themselves to be pushed around this way. Pathetic.”

Federal corruption and cover-up in the prosecution of Cory Voorhis – The Complete Article

by Rossputin | 10:02 am, December 17, 2009

In the interest of allowing people to read my entire investigative report into cover-up and corruption in the Denver office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, I have compiled both parts of the two-part report into a single PDF file which you may read, download, print, redistribute, etc.

I have also posted the article at Docstoc.com where it can be easily read in a browser.

Please feel free to distribute the article or the links to the article.

Thanks to all for your support of Cory Voorhis.

PDF file of article: http://www.rossputin.com/blog/media/DenverICEcorruption.pdf

Docstoc link: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19654581/Federal-corruption-and-cover-up-in-the-prosecution-of-Cory-Voorhis

To read the original two part article on these pages, the links are here:
Part 1
Part 2

Federal Corruption and Cover-Up Investigative Report

by Chuck Moe | 7:50 am, December 17, 2009

Colorado’s own Ross Kaminsky of Rossputin.com has written an excellent two part investigative report on the prosecution of Cory Voorhis. In the report he uncovers corruption at both the federal and state level. I highly encourage people to check out this important journalistic report. This is the kind of journalism that is sorely lacking in today’s [...]

Congressional Budget Office hides costs of health care bill

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, December 17, 2009

By not accounting for the cost to taxpayers of mandatory insurance, the Congressional Budget Office is hiding the true cost of the Senate health care “reform” bill. Michael Cannon at Cato writes that:
CBO’s score of the Clinton health plan is that the private-sector mandates accounted for around 60 percent of the Clinton health plan’s total [...]

Florida’s Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist Poll Even: Is Colorado Watching?

by Ben DeGrow | 11:38 pm, December 16, 2009

While I was busy yesterday highlighting the Rasmussen momentum for Colorado U.S. Senate candidate Ken Buck’s campaign, a truly earth-shattering survey came out from Florida’s Republican Senate primary: As Erick Erickson put it, a bomb went off:

Last night in Washington, close to one hundred leaders of the conservative movement gathered in a townhouse just down [...]

Colorado State University’s Concealed Carry Ban

by Julian Dunraven | 2:55 pm, December 16, 2009

Guest Post by actuary Rich Bratten As an actuary (Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, or FSA), I have reviewed quite a number of studies with respect to the issue of concealed carry laws and crime rates. One book that has done an exhaustive study of data down to the county level across the country [...]

Know Someone Who Might Do Something Great?

by Jon Caldara | 2:10 pm, December 16, 2009

Christmas is slowly closing in, and some of us have not yet finished our shopping.  (no comment).  Let the Independence Institute help you.  My first suggestion was to purchase a great t-shirt from our awesome cartoonist Ben Hummel.
My second suggestion is for your gift-less friends and family members who have the most potential.  We’ve all [...]

The Greatest Generation – trip blog

by Mr. Bob | 1:29 pm, December 16, 2009

#battleofthebulge #tggf #WW2
I had the pleasure of working with the Greatest Generations Foundation on a video project earlier this year. Currently a friend of mine is blogging a trip to Belgium for WW2 vets to visit Europe for the first time since they came back! They are there now.

I am jealous he got to go, but glad he is blogging the trip for the rest of us.

This is must read blog while they are there for anyone interested in WW2 history and honoring those who served.

CHECK IT OUT at BattleoftheBulge.blogspot.com

Health care “reform” is all politics now

by Brian Schwartz | 1:08 pm, December 16, 2009

Grace-Marie Turner cites a couple of good analysis in her National Review blog post:
The health overhaul debate is no longer about policy; it’s all politics now. And the tone at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue is becoming increasingly desperate.
Politico’s chief political correspondent says it’s pretty much now or never. No other president will try it.  [...]

Denver ICE Office Corruption Part 2 of 2

by Mr. Bob | 11:47 am, December 16, 2009

#tcot #redco #corruption #ICE
An in depth report from Blogger Ross Kaminsky at Rossputin.com is receiving national attention.
Part 2 of 2
Must read.

Your Neighbor’s Contract You Can’t Refuse

by Justin Longo | 11:24 am, December 16, 2009

Imagine you are good friends with your next door neighbor. Now also imagine that he is an ex-Marine, super-duper black belt in 12 different forms of martial arts, and he is a technology wiz who has all the latest gadgets and knows how to use them. Your neighbor uses his techie abilities and latest gadgets [...]

Federal corruption and cover-up in the prosecution of Cory Voorhis, Part 2

by Rossputin | 5:43 am, December 16, 2009

The following is the second part of a two-part investigative report, including supporting official documents, of several federal agents (from the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency) who were involved with the prosecution – some might say persecution – of Cory Voorhis.

For Part One of the report, click HERE.

To access a complete version of this report in a downloadable, printable PDF file, click HERE.

Last week, Senator Jeff Sessions told Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that he has become “concerned” with the case of Cory Voorhis. Sessions was familiar with the basic details of the case, including noting that Denver ICE agents have been “determined to have conducted themselves wrongly with regard to (Voorhis).”  In the first half of this report, we discussed two such members of the ICE office (including the specific agent referenced by Senator Sessions).

As if a perjurer and overzealous investigator with a conflict of interest weren’t enough, there are still more bad actors in the Voorhis saga including Denver’s senior ICE agent, Special Agent in Charge (“SAC”) Jeff Copp. Copp appears to have perjured himself by saying that his early questioning of Voorhis – who had said he did not want to answer questions on advice of counsel – was appropriate because Copp was not the “deciding official” regarding whether Voorhis would be suspended.  But it is clear from a series of documents that Copp was indeed the deciding official. In testimony in federal court on January 14^th, 2008, Mr. Copp said he had recused himself as deciding official “several months ago.” (See Copp Recusal Evidence, p. 20)

However, an e-mail chain between Copp, Assistant SAC Paul Maldonado, and ICE attorney Robert Erbe, beginning January 2^nd, 2009, discussing a draft “decision letter” to Voorhis which Copp would sign as the deciding official proves otherwise. (Ibid. Pages 1-8.)  In these e-mails they all agree to hold off giving Voorhis the decision letter signed by Copp until after the January 14^th hearing, apparently so Copp’s claim of recusal wouldn’t be proven false at that hearing. A former ICE agent filed official charges against Copp for Copp’s apparent perjury. (see DHS Copp Administrative Inquiry Report) Although the official inquiry said that Copp’s claims of confusion to explain his false recusal were “plausible”, the conspiracy among Copp, Maldonado, and Erbe to obstruct justice and suborn perjury seems plain.

ICE Denver ASAC Paul Maldonado, a key player in these intrigues, was found guilty by a DAAP panel of “Lack of Candor” in a matter unrelated to the Voorhis case. (See DHS Report of Investigation dated 11/16/07) Yet in another example of the cover-ups going on in the Denver ICE office, the decision as to his punishment was left to his friend, SAC Jeff Copp. Copp initially proposed that a temporary reprimand be placed in Maldonado’s folder – for an infraction that would often cost federal agents their jobs – and eventually, after an appeal letter from Maldonado, decided to take “no action” on the finding.  (See Maldonado’s Reprimand and Appeal from March and April 2008).

The reason for these cover-ups and promotions-in-lieu-of-firing are clear: the ICE bureaucracy and particularly the Denver office are desperate to rehabilitate their witnesses against Cory Voorhis as a final hearing on his job termination approaches in January.  If one or more of the key witnesses against Voorhis is shown to be a liar (a reasonable suspicion regarding each of them based on ICE’s own investigations), these men and the bureaucracy which has allowed them to remain in place have a lot to lose.

Beyond the damage to Voorhis (and to our national security from his absence) Denver ICE has caused another major problem.  Since Tony Rouco failed a polygraph, he has what is known in law enforcement as Giglio material against him, meaning that for any case in which he is involved as a participant or in swearing out an affidavit subsequent to failing the polygraph, the prosecution has a duty to tell the defense of his having failed the polygraph. An inquiry into whether the US Attorney’s office has sent that Giglio information regarding Rouco to the defense counsels of any people they have successfully prosecuted or whose cases are in progress was met with the following response: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office follows the laws and rules of criminal procedure under Brady and Giglio. We are aware of this obligation, we take it seriously, and we adhere to it…”

According to a source, Rouco was assigned (most likely by Maldonado) to prepare an affidavit in a child pornography case.  If Denver ICE knew of Rouco’s Giglio issues, they should never have compromised the government’s case by involving Rouco.  If they didn’t know, that would represent a tremendous failure by ICE’s own Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) to supervise and discipline ICE agents. An inquiry to ICE was met with this response: “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot discuss internal administrative issues regarding its employees.  However, ICE holds all its employees to the highest standards of ethics and professional behavior.”  It is unlikely that the US Attorney’s office would have allowed Rouco’s participation had they been informed of the taint of Giglio on him.

It is not clear that Cory Voorhis can get a fair hearing at his upcoming Merit System Protection Board appeal of his job termination: According to a government ethics watchdog blog, the Administrative Law Judge who will hear the case, Jeremiah Cassidy, has issued 20 decisions (with 8 more cases settled or dismissed) from the beginning 2009 through the end of October. Of the 20, Cassidy found for the agency, i.e. the government, 19 times. The sole time that Cassidy found for an appellant was a case of non-compliance by an agency with a settlement agreement, something hard to get around even with a pro-government judge.  (Note: The author of the above blog did a search for me to obtain the updated data.)

Cassidy’s bias against Voorhis is already apparent: He is refusing to allow even the presentation of evidence in a hearing regarding Voorhis’ claim that he is entitled to whistleblower protection. Although Cassidy’s initial inclination against Voorhis’ Whistleblower Protection Act claims might be correct, it is nevertheless unusual and irresponsible to bar an appellant from attempting to disprove a judge’s legal conclusions with evidence.  Cassidy also issued a gag order against Voorhis, prohibiting him from talking about almost all of the documents which have been noted in this report. Indeed, Mr. Cassidy appears to believe he has the authority to prevent third parties from discussing the critical facts shown by government records.

The apparent cover-up by ICE management, investigators, and attorneys makes the sanitizing light of day the only realistic treatment for the Denver ICE office’s ongoing disease of cover-up. Cassidy must also fear the clear light of Colorado, as he originally did not plan to attend the hearing in person, opting to participate by video conference. However, pressure from newspaper reports and Congressman Mike Coffman caused him to reconsider.

Perhaps fear of the light of day also explains why ICE attorney Robert Erbe tried to force Voorhis’ appeal hearing to be held in a small room, not open to the public. In an e-mail chain with Voorhis’ attorney, Erbe notes that “MSPB hearings are generally open to the public but there is no such right.”  (See Erbe hearing e-mail chain, page 4.) In arguing to exclude the public, Erbe said he has “security concerns” regarding using a larger hearing room. Voorhis’ attorney’s on-target response: “I realize that you work for DHS, but I don’t think that the media and Mr. Voorhis’ family have quite made the terrorist watch list just yet.” However, the same pressure which caused Mr. Cassidy to agree to come to Colorado has also forced Erbe’s hand and he has agreed to find a public meeting room large enough to hold a significant number of public spectators.

Like Manny Olmos, Mr. Erbe seems to have a particular interest in hurting Cory Voorhis. Since July, ICE has avoided paying Cory Voorhis about $25,000 in back pay and interest which they owe him from a settlement they agreed to regarding part of the period when he was suspended.  (It was not a settlement of Mr. Voorhis’ grievances against ICE, nor of his job termination.)  Mr. Erbe is the point man for this foot-dragging, about which Voorhis’ attorney says “I can’t see what it could be other than harassment. ICE’s refusal to adhere to the terms of this settlement agreement constitutes one more example of the bad faith in which they have approached Mr. Voorhis’ case.”

Every major ICE participant in the prosecution of Cory Voorhis has heavy ethical baggage; at least one was found (through an administrative process) to have committed a felony, and it appears he was not the only one – but none has been charged. Let’s not forget that these felonies and rule violations were committed to cover-up a series of terrible, politically-motivated decisions which resulted in Voorhis being charged with a misdemeanor, and unanimously acquitted by a jury.  It’s time for one of our most important federal agencies to come clean…and clean house.  It’s time for our justice system to dispense justice, both for Cory Voorhis and for those who succumbed to the pressure of the Colorado Democratic machine to ruin a good man’s life with their corruption and cover-ups.

More information about Cory Voorhis’ story can be found at http://www.corylegaldefense.com

Medicare “buy in”: more deficits, higher premiums, & step toward single-payer

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, December 16, 2009

A Wall Street Journal editorial summarizes:
[Harry Reid] is claiming that a Medicare “buy-in” for people from ages 55 to 64 has overcome the liberal-moderate impasse over the “public option.” But if anything, this gambit is an even faster road to government-run health care. …
Mr. Reid’s buy-in simply cuts out the middle man. Why go to [...]

Cory Voorhis responds to a reader’s questions

by Rossputin | 11:13 pm, December 15, 2009

Reader “tripwire” posed a few questions about Cory Voorhis in a comment to the first part of my investigative report (Part 1 and Part 2) into corruption in the Denver ICE office where Voorhis worked.  Cory agreed to respond to the questions, and I’ve decided that the answers are better posted here in a separate blog note than as a comment where they might not be seen by as many.

The questions were as follows:

1. What job has he worked since this all went south for him?
2. Why does he even want to go back to being a government worker again?
3. Will he get back pay for the time he has not worked if he is re-instated?

And Cory’s answers:

1. I don’t want to disclse my current employment.  Suffice it to say that I am severly underemployed.  It is a very competitive job market right now and ICE removed me under the trumped up “lack of candor” charges that effectively eliminate any possibility for me to return to Law Enforement work while that dark cloud lingers over me.  ICE knows that and that is why they did that.

[Note from Ross: This fact makes the way ICE is insulating other senior agents all the more reprehensible, since Cory has offered nothing but candor during this whole saga while his “superiors” at ICE have all lied or deceived repeatedly.]

2.  I have invested more than 19 years of my life in the service of the federal government.  17 ofthose years have been in 6C Covered Fedeal Law Enforcement where an individual is entitled to the “special” 6C Law Enforcement retirement with 20 years of service at age 50 or at any age after 25 years of service.  Under those rules, I would be retirement eligible at the age of 48.

I will not simply abandon all of that.  They are attempting to steal my retirement eligibility at a time wen I am extremely close to securing that benefit.

3.  I would receive back pay if the judge were to rule in my favor in the case.  I would also be eligible to receive 3X the back pay (actual damages) if the judge were to rule favorably of my whistleblower retaliation claim (Under the 2002 No Fear Act) which he already arbitrarily denied without first heaing argument or taking testimony on the matter.  I intend to appeal that decision.

Closer Look at Rasmussen: Ken Buck Surging Up, Jane Norton Standing Still

by Ben DeGrow | 8:33 pm, December 15, 2009

Last week, Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former Lt. Governor Jane Norton received a lot of attention for her 46-37 lead in a new Rasmussen poll over incumbent appointee Michael Bennet. Rossputin did a good job of summarizing the results.
One Norton primary challenger, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, showed a smaller lead of 42-38. [...]

The Most Evil Podcast EVER Recorded!

by Jon Caldara | 1:58 pm, December 15, 2009

More sinister than ghoulish goblins on a dark Halloween night. More evil than stealing candy from children. More satanic than Al Pacino’s character in this evil film….
It’s… THE EVERY MEMBER OPTION REFUND OF POLITICAL MONEY! No union goon can dream up something more evil than telling teachers they can receive some of [...]

Why Exactly Are Democrats Heavily Pursuing Unpopular Obama Care?

by Ben DeGrow | 12:08 pm, December 15, 2009

The Washington Examiner’s Byron York interviews an anonymous Democratic political strategist to help answer some questions that have been nagging me, too:
To some observers, the Democrats’ race to pass national health care seems irrational — even suicidal. Don’t party leaders understand how much the public opposes the bills currently on the table? Don’t they know [...]

Majority prefers “nothing” to Dems’ health “reform”

by Brian Schwartz | 12:00 pm, December 15, 2009

From James Taranto in the Wall Street Journal:
the health-care ideas Congress is considering are so bad that inaction would be vastly preferable. Fox News.com reports that a majority of Americans in a new poll now agree with us:
While 41 percent of Americans want Congress to pass major health care reform legislation this year, a 54 [...]

Clear The Bench Colorado makes multiple appearances building the case for removing four Colorado Supreme Court justices

by CTBC Director | 11:50 am, December 15, 2009

The hectic holiday season is upon us…
Clear The Bench Colorado made national news following Monday’s Colorado Supreme Court decision throwing out evidence gained in a case of identity theft by an illegal (er, “undocumented”) alien resident of Greeley, CO.  The Colorado Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, held that a lower court was correct in excluding [...]

Colorado Supreme Court Upholds Ban of Smoking on Stage

by Chuck Moe | 11:00 am, December 15, 2009

 

The Colorado Supreme Court voted to uphold a lower-court decision to bar cigarette use in performances. Six justices found that the ban on smoking in public places is constitutional because it aims to promote public health rather than stifle free speech. Colorado’s very own statist AG John Suthers defended the ban arguing that actors can use fake [...]

Denver ICE office rampant with corruption and slimy politics

by Mr. Bob | 10:24 am, December 15, 2009

#ICE #tcot #redco #voorhis
A law enforcement office, especially of the Federal kind should be free of liars, corruption and the like, but Denver blogger Rossputin reveals in an in depth report that the Denver ICE office has big problems…only getting worse. Time to clean house.

Recommend highly this read;

Colorado Supreme Court Upholds Illegals’ Privacy Rights—Correctly

by Julian Dunraven | 9:00 am, December 15, 2009

By Julian Dunraven, J.D., M.P.A.Honorable Friends,This evening, two of my honorable friends here at the PPC, Ben DeGrow and El Presidente, have called my attention to the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision in The People v. Gutierrez, in which a 4-3 ma…

Rossputin Releases Investigative Report into Cory Voorhis Persecution

by Ben DeGrow | 8:36 am, December 15, 2009

Update, 12/16: Part 2 is now available as well.
Rossputin performs a great service with a two-part, in-depth investigation of the “Federal corruption and cover-up in the prosecution of Cory Voorhis.” Part 1 is released this morning — for those less familiar with the story, Rossputin does a thorough job summarizing events. In addition, he introduces [...]

School district still disrespecting taxpayers

by Amy Oliver | 7:05 am, December 15, 2009

Apparently three members of the Greeley Evans School District 6 school board still have little respect for taxpayers.  According to the Greeley Tribune, in a split decision, the school board voted down a modest transparency proposal from new board member Brett Reese.  Reese’s proposal would have required the district to post on-line every transaction over $1000. 
Opposing board [...]

Federal corruption and cover-up in the prosecution of Cory Voorhis, Part 1

by Rossputin | 5:18 am, December 15, 2009

The following is the first part of a two-part investigative report, including supporting official documents, of several federal agents (from the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency) who were involved with the prosecution – some might say persecution – of Cory Voorhis.

To read Part 2 of this report click HERE.

To access a complete version of this report in a downloadable, printable PDF file, click HERE.

On Wednesday, December 9^th, during an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Ranking Republican member Jeff Sessions asked Napolitano about the case of Cory Voorhis. It was the first public indication that Senators are aware of the case and could represent a major turning point – and major trouble for both federal and state government officials involved in it.  On Friday, December 11^th, according to a Denver Post report, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would re-open the investigation into Voorhis’ supervisor based on evidence of perjury (more on this below).  Given similar but until now not publicized problems for other senior officials in the Denver office of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency (“ICE”), this could be the first crack in a massive dam of federal malfeasance and subsequent cover-up.

[You can read about the Voorhis saga below, or for more detail you can read my prior articles about it HERE and HERE, and skip in this article down to the new information regarding the corruption within the Denver ICE office.]

After several grueling years working along the US-Mexico border, including hand-to-hand combat with an illegal alien who was trying to kill him, Border Patrol agent (and US Army veteran of the Gulf War) Cory Voorhis was offered a promotion to special agent and a transfer to the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s Denver office.

Little did he know that the office, which later became part of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (“ICE”), was a haven of incompetence and corruption, with senior federal agents who would soon betray him and their oaths to uphold the law.

Three years after a politically-motivated prosecution, Voorhis stands acquitted by a jury of all charges but the Denver Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) office remains a haven for malfeasance and cover-up – a situation which is now coming to the attention of the U.S. Senate.

In September, 2006, now-ICE agent Cory Voorhis saw a Denver Post article in which former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, then a candidate for governor, blamed federal agents, i.e. ICE, for not removing enough illegal alien criminals from Colorado.  Voorhis was incensed by this accusation, since Ritter’s policy of letting criminal aliens arrested for felonies plead down to non-deportable offenses such as “trespassing on farm land” was well-known to Denver ICE officers who viewed it as obstruction of justice – and of their job to keep citizens safe.

A Denver Post article notes a list of 152 such pleas from 1998 to 2004 under Ritter’s tenure as Denver District Attorney and notes “A review of 15 of the agricultural trespass cases in Denver showed that heroin and cocaine charges, theft of motor vehicles and domestic violence crimes – miles away from any farm or open land – were transformed into agricultural trespass.”  Voorhis says this 152 “is the tip of the iceberg” since other non-deportable charges were also used for the same purpose; he estimates the total number of aliens who were able to avoid deportation due to Ritter’s policy at over 1,000.

Voorhis met with a representative of then-Congressman Bob Beauprez – who was also running for governor of Colorado – trying to expose Ritter’s dangerous “catch and release” policy.

Unknown to Voorhis, the Beauprez representative he was speaking with, John Marshall, was part of Beauprez’s gubernatorial campaign rather than tied to his Congressional office. (Marshall corroborated that he never told Voorhis he worked for the campaign.) The Beauprez campaign did their own research based on names supplied to them by Voorhis and produced a campaign ad regarding one of the illegal aliens, a Honduran illegal alien called Walter Noel Ramo, also known (outside Colorado) as Carlos Estrada Medina.  In THESE documents, you can see Ramo’s arrest for selling narcotics, his plea to a non-deportable offense of trespassing on farm land, and his later arrest in California for sexual assault on a minor.

Voorhis’ disclosure to Beauprez was not political in intent: During the trial, Voorhis’ supervisor acknowledged that Voorhis wasn’t a particular fan of Congressman Beauprez and that Voorhis was not alone in his outrage over Ritter’s catch-and-release of illegal alien felons. Voorhis’ goal was simply to shed light on the Ritter policy, hoping that public outrage would cause the practice to be ended.  But the full force of the Democratic political machine – including current US Attorney nominee Stephanie Villafuerte who was then a Ritter campaign operative and who refused to answer questions regarding her role in the affair and now offers unconvincing excuses – was unleashed against Voorhis. Bill Ritter called for a criminal investigation into how the Beauprez campaign learned of Ramo/Medina and Ritter was subsequently named Voorhis’ “victim” in a Colorado Bureau of Investigation report.  At the time, the head of the CBI was Robert Cantwell, former head of the Denver Police’s Intelligence Unit, and a man whose long working relationship with Ritter might have made his recusal from the matter appropriate.  (The US Attorney’s office in Colorado recused themselves, so the case was handled, or mis-handled, by the Cheyenne, Wyoming office.)

Eventually, the investigation led to misdemeanor charges against Voorhis (who never denied being the source of Beauprez’s initial information as he believed his actions to be both appropriate and legal) for improper access to a federal database, an offense which even if it had been true would normally be dealt with administratively, not with criminal charges.  A unanimous jury found Voorhis not guilty in an April, 2008 trial and the Beauprez campaign television ad had little impact in the governor’s race that Ritter won by a wide margin.  But those who were involved with prosecuting Voorhis have continued to try to destroy him, not least by firing him despite his complete acquittal.

[All documents referred to below were initially obtained by Mr. Voorhis from the government during the discovery process related to Voorhis’ trial and appeal of his job termination.]

The Voorhis prosecution is remarkable for questionable actions of almost every government agent and investigator involved.

One of the worst offenders (based on ICE’s own investigation results) is Voorhis’ former immediate superior at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), Special Agent Tony Rouco.  Following Voorhis’ trial and acquittal, Tony Rouco was interviewed for eight hours while wired to a polygraph. The official Examination Results of Rouco’s testimony state “Deception Indicated – With Confession”.

According to Cory Voorhis, shortly after he met Congressman Beauprez’s representative in late September, 2006, he told Rouco what he had done. Rouco admitted during the polygraph interview that he had met with Voorhis more than one time prior to October 13^th, 2008. (See Rouco Polygraph Transcript, pages 232, 265-267, 224) But at Voorhis’ trial, Rouco perjured himself and said that he had not had those initial conversations (See Trial Transcript, page 737), a falsehood which he repeated in a 2009 Deposition (see page 13). As an FBI agent involved with the case told Cory Voorhis, if Rouco had told the truth to begin with, there probably would never have been a trial.  Indeed, Rouco admitted at trial that he was pleased with Voorhis’ disclosure of Ritter’s plea-down policy and that Rouco himself had contacted congressmen including “most of the congressional delegation in Colorado” as well as “district attorney offices”, and “police departments and prosecutor offices” around the state to warn them of the dangers of Ritter’s plea-down practice. (See Trial Transcript, pages 807-811)

A Department of Homeland Security investigation into Rouco regarding the Voorhis investigation and trial (see DHS Report of Investigation dated 4/3/09) substantiated charges of:

• Willingly giving false testimony under oath during a federal criminal proceeding,
• Providing false statements to OPR Agents during an investigation,
• Providing false statements to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents during an investigation, and
• Failure to report employee misconduct.

The last of these bullet points could equally point to the fact that Rouco never believed Voorhis’ actions to qualify as misconduct.

And another DHS investigation of Rouco for improper conduct related to a 2005 threat against a Special Agent (see DHS Report of Investigation dated 11/15/07) substantiated four separate serious charges, including “Falsification of a Report of Investigation.”

As one source for this article noted, “every federal agent knows from his first days in training that if you are shown to be a liar or a cheat, you will be fired.”  But far from being fired, Tony Rouco received a temporary promotion from Group Supervisor in the Denver office to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC). The fact that the government has insulated Rouco from multiple substantiated charges and their intent to have him testify again against Voorhis in an upcoming appeal by Voorhis to have his job reinstated is an indictment of ICE’s ability to police itself and a measure of their current desperation.

Rouco’s failed polygraph brings us to ICE Agent Manuel (“Manny”) Olmos, the lead federal investigator of the Voorhis case.  Olmos’ zeal to get Voorhis has caused Olmos to “out” a confidential informant, to obstruct justice, and to suborn perjury.

Strangely, when a new internal investigative division was being formed in Denver, Manny Olmos was hand-picked to join it despite previous and unresolved concerns of corruption (See Olmos’ 8/7/09 deposition, pages 23-25) and his pending lawsuit against the government (which Olmos said he settled earlier this year; Ibid. pages 25-26).  Shortly after being given this job, took up his first case – that of Cory Voorhis. According to sources familiar with the investigation, Olmos viewed Voorhis as a “golden boy” because of Voorhis’ successful organized crime investigation of (and case built against) a Mexican organized crime leader, a case which garnered national attention.  The new Denver OPR office was also highly motivated to score a major internal affairs victory. Was Manny Olmos so motivated by these personal biases that he would do anything to harm him?  The evidence, including Olmos’ behavior during Tony Rouco’s polygraph questioning and the affidavit Olmos swore out following the polygraph results certainly points in that direction.

Olmos questioned Tony Rouco during Rouco’s polygraph examination on July 10^th, 2008 which arose from the government’s suspicions of Rouco’s untruthfulness throughout the Voorhis saga. During the interview, Olmos betrayed his bias and his desire to reach a specific outcome by saying to Rouco “we’re in a difficult situation right now for all of us.”  (Rouco Polygraph Transcript, page 204)  Rouco took the hint, however, asking Olmos “You’re asking me to help you get him. Is that it?” to which Olmos replied “No, no. Well, if you want to look at it that way…” (Ibid. page 245)

During the initial questioning, Rouco gave different answers about his conversations with Voorhis, many of which indicated deception according to the official polygraph analysis.  However, after pressure from Olmos, Rouco then asked “What do you want from me so I save myself?” Olmos replied “don’t – don’t go (to bat) for Cory.” (Ibid. page 264 & 265; “to bat” inferred from similar comments on page 263.) Rouco stuck for some time with a truthful position (according to Voorhis) that he never told Voorhis to stop speaking with Beauprez’s people (Ibid. page 364), but after more pressure from Olmos, Rouco changed his story yet again and said he told Voorhis (regarding speaking to Beauprez’s representative) “you can’t do that.” (Ibid. page 451) Olmos then submitted this obviously false answer to the Disciplinary and Adverse Action Panel (“DAAP”) determining whether Voorhis would be fired and omitted any reference to Rouco’s having failed the polygraph. (See Olmos Affidavit signed by Olmos, dated 8/12/08) Manny Olmos has repeatedly obstructed justice and suborned perjury; he corrupted the entire case against Cory Voorhis.

Tomorrow, in the second half of this report, we will look into several other senior members of the Denver ICE office, each of whom has his own ethical baggage to carry following apparent malfeasance during the Voorhis affair.

To read Part 2 of the report click HERE.

Harry Reid & Democrats’ health “reform” will enslave us

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, December 15, 2009

As you’ve probably heard, Senate Majority Leader Harry Read likens those who oppose the Democrats’ so-called health care “reform” as those who opposed the end of slavery:

Melissa Clouthier points out the irony of this, as it is the Democrats’ plans that erode our freedom and makes us more like slaves to politicians’ desires:
One could argue [...]

Review Questions for Epstein’s Essay on Standard Oil

by Ari Armstrong | 1:15 am, December 15, 2009

As I recently noted, Liberty In the Books, which I co-moderate, reviewed Alex Epstein’s essay, “Vindicating Capitalism: The Real History of the Standard Oil Company.”

I strongly recommend that free-market activists join a reading group in their area — or start a new one. See my notes for some ideas about how to do that. (Alternately, if you live out in the boondocks, you can follow the Denver group’s lead on your own.)

Following are my review questions that we used to guide our discussion. Remember, the point of review questions is to inspire discussion and keep it basically attached to the assigned reading. There is no need to discuss every question on the list. Page numbers here refer to the printed edition; I also include the section headers. This reading, assigned in advance of our meeting, worked great for a two-hour discussion.

1. Describe the views of John D. Rockefeller expressed by:‎
a) Henry Demarest Lloyd, 1881 (Pages 29-30)
b) Ida Tarbell, 1904 (Page 30)
c) Howard Zinn, 1980 (Page 31)
d) Paul Krugman, 1998 (Page 31)

2. What is the view of free markets expressed by Ron Chernow and John Sherman? (Pages 31-32)

The “Pure and Perfect” Early Refining Market

3. What is the theory of “pure and perfect competition?” (Pages 32-33)

4. What is Epstein’s basic economic critique of the doctrine of “pure and perfect competition?” (Page 33)

5. What were the benefits of kerosene to human life? (Page 33)

6. What caused the dramatic increase in kerosene refineries from 1859 to 1864? What were some of the problems with earlier refineries? (Pages 33-35)

7. What was the trend in refineries from 1865 to 1870? (Page 35)

The Phenomenon

8. What regional advantages contributed to Cleveland’s oil refineries of 1863? (Page 36)

9. What were the characteristics of Rockefeller’s first refinery? (Page 36)

10. What in Rockefeller’s background contributed to his success in business? (Pages 36-37)

11. In what specific ways did Rockefeller improve efficiency, expand markets, and advance technology in his industry? (Pages 37-39)

12. What is “vertical integration,” how did Rockefeller practice it, and what are the benefits? (Page 38)

13. What was the state of Rockefeller’s venture in 1870? (Page 40)

The Virtuous Rebates

14. What was Ida Tarbell’s view of the railroad rebates granted to Rockefeller, and what is Epstein’s criticism of Tarbell? (Page 41)

15. Why did railroads grant Rockefeller rebates? (Pages 41-42)

16. Were Rockefeller’s practices “anticompetitive?” (Pages 42-43)

The Missing Context of Standard’s Rise to Supremacy

17. From 1870 to 1880, what challenges did oil refineries face, what was the growth of Standard Oil, and what was the shift in oil prices? (Pages 43-44)

18. Why doesn’t Epstein believe that cartels can succeed? (Pages 44-45)

19. What was the strategy of the South Improvement Company, and what were the results? (Pages 45-46)

20. What was the Pittsburgh Plan, and what were the results? (Pages 45-46)

From 10 to 90 in Eight Years

21. According to Epstein, what motivated Rockefeller to buy out various competitors? (Pages 46-47)

22. Did Rockefeller’s treatment of some competitors to “a good sweating” constitute “predatory pricing?” (Pages 47-48)

23. What was the state of Standard Oil in 1873 and 1874? (Pages 48-49)

24. What arguments did Rockefeller make to competitors to persuade them to sell their businesses to him? (Pages 47, 49)

25. How did the Pennsylvania Railroad attempt to compete with Standard Oil, and what was the result? (Pages 49-50)

26. How did Standard Oil operate from 1870 to 1880, and what happened to the level of oil production and to kerosene prices? (Pages 50-51)

The 1880s and the Peril of the “Monopolist”

27. Did Standard Oil operate according to standard antitrust theory in the 1880s? (Page 52)

28. What was the “peak oil” theory articulated in the mid 1880s? Was was the problem with this theory? (Sound familiar?) (Page 52)

29. Why did Rockefeller expand oil production in the 1880s, what did he find, how did he cope with “skunk oil,” and what did this do for Standard Oil? (Pages 52-53)

30. What new competitors did Standard Oil face in the 1880s? (Pages 53-54)

31. What was the difference between Standard Oil and government monopolies? (Pages 54-55)

The Standard Oil Trust and the Science of Corporate Productivity

32. What was a trust, and what legal problems did it overcome? (Page 56)

33. What were Standard Oil’s successes as a trust? (Pages 57-58)

34. What were Rockefeller’s skills as a business manager? (Pages 59-60)

35. What changing market conditions did Standard Oil face from 1899 to 1914, and what happened to the company’s output and market share? (Page 60)

36. What were the journalistic and political responses to the successes of Standard Oil? What was the motivation of this reaction? (Pages 61-62)

State Supremes’ ID Theft Ruling Lifts Case for Clear The Bench Colorado

by Ben DeGrow | 10:36 pm, December 14, 2009

One of the most tireless conservative grassroots organizers I know today received a small but certainly plum reward for his hard work. I’m talking about Matt Arnold from Clear the Bench Colorado, and the plug he received in a Valerie Richardson Washington Times article about another controversial Colorado Supreme Court decision:

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled [...]

Ryan Frazier’s Hispanic Backers Mark GOP Strength, Political Diversity

by Ben DeGrow | 9:38 pm, December 14, 2009

As fellow RMA blogger Don Johnson also has noted, Republican Congressional candidate Ryan Frazier today announced support for his campaign from 23 key area Hispanic leaders. Many of them have made their marks as business leaders and entrepreneurs.
A good number on the list are traditional Republican partisans, such as former state party chair Bob Martinez, [...]

Villafuerte withdraws as US Attorney nominee

by Rossputin | 5:54 pm, December 14, 2009

Just as I predicted only 4 days ago, Stephanie Villafuerte has withdrawn her name from consideration to be Colorado’s US Attorney.  The confirmation process would have caused inquiries into the behavior of the Denver District Attorney’s office, the Ritter for Governor campaign, and maybe most importantly the Denver office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (“ICE”) – inquiries which would likely have been extremely embarrassing, even dangerous, for certain of their employees who were involved in the Cory Voorhis persecution prosecution.

What is important now is that public pressure for full investigations be maintained.

With that in mind, I ask you to check these pages tomorrow (Tuesday, 12/15) and the next day for a rather long investigative report I have prepared regarding senior staff of the Denver ICE office.

In my opinion, although Karen Crummy of the Denver Post has done a remarkable job so far, she has only touched the surface of a deep pool of corruption and cover-up in Denver’s ICE office.

« go back — keep looking »

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