U.S. Rep. Steve King was one of 31 Republican members of Congress who signed a resolution praising the work of James O’Keefe, the filmmaker whose work helped damage the national reputation of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now and who on Tuesday was arrested for allegedly for trying to wiretap the New Orleans office of a United States Senator.
The October resolution praised O’Keefe’s undercover investigation of ACORN as “exemplary actions” and says he is “owed a debt of gratitude by the people of the United States.”
King’s office did not respond to several attempts to reach him for comment.
Here is the resolution King co-sponsored:
RESOLUTION
Honoring the fact-finding reporting done by Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III in their investigation in the fraudulent and illegal practices and misuse of taxpayer dollars by the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN).
Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III filmed investigatory videos uncovering the fraudulent and illegal practices of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN);
Whereas the House of Representatives voted to completely defund ACORN on September 17, 2009;
Whereas these videos resulted in the potential annual savings of millions of taxpayer dollars to organizations that contract with ACORN;
Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III have displayed exemplary actions as government watchdogs and young journalists uncovering wasteful government spending; and
Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III are owed a debt of gratitude by the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
(1) honors Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III for their work as investigative journalists;
(2) commends Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III for bringing to light the fraudulent behavior of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) and helping save millions of taxpayer dollars that otherwise would have funded ACORN; and
(3) respectfully requests the Clerk of the House to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III.