The deeply troubled organization ACORN announced today that they were bringing a lawsuit against the two filmmakers that used hidden cameras to videotape ACORN workers without their consent.
The two posed as a pimp and a prostitute, claimed they were smuggling in underage girls for prostitution, and were looking for ways to cheat the IRS. ACORN workers in several states helped the young couple figure ways to avoid paying taxes on their illegal activities. Now, the ACORN and its workers are suing under a Maryland statute that claims both parties must have consent to audiotape private conversations.
So it isn’t so the actual video images, but rather that the video has an audio component to go with it.
The ACORN crew is also claiming ‘emotional distress’ over everything, and adding punitive damages on top, for a total of around $7 million.
Unfortunately for James O’Keefe, 25, and Hannah Giles, 20, the audio-taping law appears to be on the side of ACORN – but would any jury convict the two?
Thu, Sep 24, 2009
Video Surveillance