Daily Kos

NATIONAL! The smoking gun on voter registration fraud: Nathan Sproul

by Bob Johnson

Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 12:28:21 AM PST

Searching for information on the voter registration fraud stories breaking tonight in Nevada and Oregon, I kept coming across the same name: Nathan Sproul of Sproul & Associates in Phoenix, Arizona.

Nathan Sproul is the former head of the Arizona Republican Party and of the Arizona Christian Coalition (ah, the irony... a Christian).

Sproul is connected with the Republican National Committee-funded voter registration organization, Voter Outreach, Inc., a group that used paid registrars to register voters in a number of states including Nevada, Oregon, Arizona and perhaps more, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine and Missouri.  (Others states pending, particularly swing states.)  Sproul's organization also recruited registrars by fraudulently telling recruits that they would be working for America Votes, a legitimate nonpartisan GOTV operation!

But Nathan Sproul may have made one fatal mistake in his efforts... He got greedy.  Yes, he failed to pay many workers and he didn't pay his rent.  He pissed some people off.  And he raised suspicions.  There is a good chance that this may be fraud on a MASSIVE scale...

(more)

Sproul was also instrumental in getting petitions signed for Ralph Nader to get on the ballot in - surprise! - swing states!

Here is the first page of a Google search on Nathan Sproul.

Some real gems turn up:

How about this newsgroup posting to a forum for librarians warning them of a possible fraud perpetrated by Sproul.  It includes a description of the scam in Pennsylvania, an article from a West Virginia newspaper reporting the same scam, and a comment from a librarian in Medford, Oregon outlining the same scam in her library... all fraudulently misrepresenting the organization doing the hiring as America Votes:

From: "McCullough, Holly" mcculloughh@CARNEGIELIBRARY.ORG
Date: Fri Sep 17, 2004  5:49:58  AM US/Eastern
Subject: Re: SCAM ALERT: Voter Registration

We had the same thing happen here in PA.  Sproul and Associates hires
Kelly temp services to do voter registration.  At one library site
where they were suppose to be only doing voter registration they were
also asking people how they were going to vote.  I did some research
and found out that they were doing the same thing in WV (see the
article below) and one temp worker claims that they were trained to
ask people how they were going to vote.  If the person said "Bush"
they were given a voter registration form.  If they said "Kerry" they
were just told thank you and no form was given.  When we found out we
asked them to leave immediately.  One explanation from Sproul and
Associates was that they were doing "market surveys" at some sites.  
Later they claimed that it was just a problem with a few temp workers.
Sproul and Associates is headed by Nathan Sproul the former head of
the GOP and Christian Coalition in Arizona.

They also always said they represented America Votes.  When I finally
asked them to give me the contact information for America Votes they
told me that "America Votes is a non-partisan voter registration drive
project of Sproul & Associates.  Everything originates from this
office.  There is a partisan organization with that same name."  
Clearly they know that when they say they represent America Votes they
are misleading people.

Holly

Here is the article from the WV paper for more info.

VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE 'MISLEADING'

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 08/20/2004
Page: 1A
Headline: VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE 'MISLEADING'
Byline: TOM SEARLS
tomsearls@wvgazette.com

For a mother of two teens trying to finish up college, $9 an hour as a
temporary customer service representative sounded good.

"I wanted to find something that would work around my schedule and be
flexible," said St. Albans resident Lisa Bragg.

After spending more than an hour with Charleston personnel agency
Kelly Services last week, Bragg was hired. "They wouldn't tell us at
first what this job was," the 37-year-old Bragg said Thursday.

Then she found out it was registering Republican voters at One Stop
convenience stores throughout the Charleston region.

But she won't be there today, the first day she was scheduled to be on
the job.

"I'm giving up a job that I need," she said. "It's the only decent job
I've found."

While the job was to last six weeks, the $9 an hour was far above the
minimum wage of $5.15 Bragg was offered for most other temporary
employment.

Bragg feels her employers were misleading the public, even if it's not
illegal. Employees were to approach One Stop customers and ask if they
favor George Bush or John Kerry for president. If Bush was their
answer, they were then to inquire if the person was registered to vote
and offer them a voter registration card.

If the person supported Democrat Kerry, they were only to say thank
you and give them a registration card only if asked.

If asked questions, employees were instructed, "Only state you are
there to conduct a simple field poll to see what neighborhood support
is ... a nonpartisan registration drive."

They were told to quietly listen to any person who becomes angry and
to remember, "The goal is to register Republicans and to remain
positive."

"Is this the way it has to be? People have to be sneaky to make $9 an
hour?" Bragg said.

Employees were also given the number of a Kelly Services employee to
contact if there are problems. Contacted Wednesday, two different
employees said they would have someone from Sproul & Associates, the
firm paying for the survey, answer any questions.

Later, a Kelly Services employee who would identify himself only as
"Rob" initially said a message had been left with Ben Decker at
Sproul's office. He said he had no contact number for Decker, then
agreed to release a Michigan number.

A message left with Decker was not returned.

"[Kelly Services] said the less you know about the company, the better
off you are, especially if the media would come asking questions,"
said Bragg, an admitted Democrat. "That made me more curious than ever
as to who's behind this and what's going on."

Sproul & Associates appears to be operated by Nathan Sproul, former
head of the Arizona Republican Party and a wealthy GOP activist who
has been involved in petition drives. An Internet search shows Sproul
has received some financing from national Republican groups, though it
was not clear who is paying for the West Virginia work.

Bragg, and another person working for the group, said they were told
the owners of the One Stop stores had agreed to allow them to conduct
the work on the stores' lots. Patrick C. Graney III and Michael R.
Graney are listed as the principal owners of 42 One Stop stores,
according to the state Alcohol Beverage Control Administration.
Messages left at One Stop's headquarters in Belle were not returned.

For Bragg it's an economic loss, but one she carries with pride. She
asked about registering voters with another organization - a group
that treats those of all political persuasions the same - and found it
pays only $5.50 an hour.

"I just don't want to be in my hometown and mislead people," she said.

To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5192.

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Meghan O'Flaherty" <OFlaheMC@jacksoncounty.org>
Date: September 16, 2004 3:29:16 PM PDT
To: <libs-or@webhost.osl.state.or.us>
Cc: Subject: [LIBS-OR] SCAM ALERT: Voter Registration

Recently the Jackson County Library has been contacted by persons
purporting to represent America Votes.  Our director was contacted by
a Harry Miller and asked to call an 800 number to give permission for
America Votes to conduct a non-partisan voter registration project in
our libraries.  I received a letter from Sproul and Associates,a
consulting firm in Arizona,also saying they represented America Votes,
with the same request.  I contacted the Kevin Looper, the Oregon State
Coordinator for America Votes, to verify the information and received
this reply from him:

"Here is what I know:  We do not have a Harry Miller in our employ.
This organization is absolutely not representing America Votes, and my
National leadership is initiating action to get them to cease and desist representations that infringe upon our rights and mislead voters.

Further, Sproul and Associates is a partisan political consulting firm
Based in Arizona that works for very conservative causes and has worked to oppose campaign finance reform.  Their use of our name to cover their political leanings makes me question the overall intregrity of the voter registation that they seek to conduct.   I will be forwarding this information to the Secretary of State's office for further investigation."

Meghan O'Flaherty
Headquarters Library Manager
Jackson County Library Services
205 South Central Ave.
Medford, OR  97501
(541) 774-6403
oflahemc@jacksoncounty.org

So here we have Sproul involved in three (swing) states, using a bogus GOTV name to disguise his organization's own name, and using fictitious names (Harry Miller) as "contacts" for those with questions.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg with Mr. Sproul and the RNC.  Keep in mind that in the recruitment ads for Voter Outreach, Inc, run on careerbuilder.com in targeted states (including Missouri and Arizona), the bottom of the ads included this statement:

Paid for by the Republican National Committee. www.gop.com. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Folks, this was an organized effort in swing states by the Republican Party using Nathan Sproul as their hatchet man.

In fact, democrats.com noted Mr. Sproul's efforts in Oregon on September 22, 2004 with this piece:

GOP Caught Trying to Use Public Libraries as Fronts
22-Sep-04
Bush Campaign 2004
Mail Tribune: "A local librarian checking on a company's request to set up a voter registration booth in the library discovered the company was not affiliated with a non-partisan national group as it claimed. Sproul & Associates, Inc. of Phoenix, Ariz., phoned and mailed the library in September, saying it had been hired by America Votes. That came as news to America Votes. 'This organization (Sproul) absolutely has nothing to do with America Votes,' said Kevin Looper, the state organizing director for America Votes. America Votes is a non-partisan political organization formed in July 2003 to increase voter registration, education and participation in electoral politics. Libraries in Oregon and other states have been contacted by Sproul." A little digging by librarian Megan O'Flaherty revealed that Sproul & Associates, Inc. is a political consulting firm headed up by former Arizona state Republican Party executive director Nathan Sproul.

But they didn't put all the pieces together.  Sproul is operating this bogus scam in numerous states.

In Arizona, Sproul set up an organization to battle a proposed Clean Elections initiative that was to be placed on the ballot.  Clean Elections would clean up campaign financing in Arizona by delivering public funds to candidates.  Sproul wanted no part of that, as this article from azcentral.com makes clear.  (Note: It's a cached file so I can't post a direct link.)

The story includes some interesting history on Sproul:

It can be a complicated program. But simplicity is the key for the anti-Clean Elections committee. Even its name, No Taxpayer Money for Politicians, looks to make the question easy for voters in the November election. It doesn't encourage them to query whether the previous system, with lawmakers beholden to monied special interests, would serve them better. And it doesn't get them to ask why the former head of the Arizona Republican Party and the state's Christian Coalition would be pushing the move.

Sproul, who was born and raised in Tempe, has floated between religious and secular politics. He interned in the office of then-Rep. Jon Kyl during his successful 1994 run for the U.S. Senate, a campaign buoyed by Kyl's perfect voting score from the Christian Coalition. Sproul then worked for the Arizona Christian Coalition, eventually becoming head of that organization. He became executive director of the state Republican party in 1999, stepping down in January 2002.

The Christian Coalition was under intense scrutiny for its political activities during the 1990s. As a non-profit organization, it was prohibited from working to elect candidates. But the Federal Election Commission and the Internal Revenue Service determined it was too political.

In particular, the FEC cited the campaign of J.D. Hayworth in 1994, the sportscaster's first run at Congress. The FEC determined that it was improper for Thomas Grabinski, who was head of the Arizona Christian Coalition, to also work for Hayworth's campaign. Especially because the Coalition was preparing voters guides to hand out at churches - guides that were fairly blatant endorsements of Republicans like Hayworth and Kyl.

Usually, any appearance of the Coalition and a campaign working together would be deemed a violation of election law. But a federal judge said it was impossible to prove that Grabinski's work with the Christian Coalition influenced his work on the Hayworth campaign.

Sproul was also accused of questionable tactics. His name comes up in a U.S. Senate committee report on the organization's activities. The report cites an Arizona caucus meeting during the 1995 national Christian Coalition meeting in which Sproul told members to become active in politics, especially as local precinct committeemen, but to not let on that the Coalition told them to do so. An account of that meeting first appeared in The Arizona Republic.

Apparently for Mr. Sproul, the law be damned.

More tomorrow.  I need to go to bed...

Update [2004-10-13 13:18:12 by Bob Johnson]: I was in a meeting all morning (those pesky clients) and I came back to find a helluva' lot of great investigative work here. Essential to the story is the opensecrets infromation on RNC payments to Nathan Sproul and Sproul & Associates under different spellings/cases.

Also critical is the fact that Sproul and his organization misrepresented themselves to voters as a legitimate, nonpartisan GOTV organization. That is fraud, my friends.

We need to keep digging on this one. And we need our heavy hitters there (hi, Kos!) to make sure this info is reaching media sources who will take our information and use their sources to dig further.

This story has the potential to upend the elections IF we can prove that these voter registration frauds were part of an organized and coordinated effort to disenfranchise voters in key swing states. That's why we need to WORK FAST.

Americans don't like cheaters. And I imagine that many swing voters and even many soft Bush supporters would turn their backs on these guys if it can be proven that the RNC engaged in widespread fraud in an attempt to win the election.

Please keep digging. Unfortunately, I actually have some work that must be done so I will be offline for most of today.

Keep going...

UPDATE 2

As is noted downthread under the link to opensecrets info, Sproul has been paid more than $600,000 by the Republican National Committee for his "efforts."

KEEP DIGGING! And pass along a link to this thread to news organizations. Thanks...

UPDATE 3

Nice work, folks! The media is reporting part of the story but not the entire thing. But we have them snooping.

We need to keep digging and keep up the pressure (after the debate). We need to uncover similar patterns or reports for Sproul's group in additional states. Who can we contact in other swing states who may have had dealings with these folks?

Should we try Kelly Services in swing states and see what connections they've had with Sproul?

UPDATE 4

The media is flying with this story:

MTV!

AP story

Reuters

oregonlive.com>

KRNV TV

The story has also appeared on NPR, MSNBC and CNN.

UPDATE 5

According to this story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, additional employees have come forward to verify the complaints of destroying/discarding Dem voter applications. The workers were only paid for turning in Republican registartions.

We MUST do some more work on the other states where Sproul and Voters Outreach was active. These include Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, Maine, Missouri and any other swing states that we can uncover.

Also, is there any connection between the fraudulent Nader petitions in Pennsylvania (thrown out by the PA court yesterday) and Sproul's organization? His group was instrumental in getting Nader on the ballot in a number of swing states. Does anybody from PA have further insight on who collected signatures for Nader in PA?

The story is getting play. We need to open more chanels of investigation.

Keep digging.

GOING NATIONAL!

CBS National news reports Voter Fraud Charges Out West. Great story and the deepest yet on Nathan Sproul and Voters Outreach. Please continue to contact media outlets and reference this post and those of Norwegian Chef (above).

Media outlets need to know that this goes well beyond Oregon and Nevada. Sproul was active in at least six states (and probably more) and his MO was the same everywhere. Keep up the pressure!

Tags: Nathan Sproul, voter suppression (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 217 comments

  •  Please consider recommending this diary (3.96 / 88)

    Much more work needs to be done on Mr. Sproul and his connections to the RNC and the widespread voter registration fraud which he now appears to have managed in at least six states.

    We have some work to do on this one, folks...

    Thank Howard Dean. Donate to the DNC.

    by Bob Johnson on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 04:29:59 AM PST

  •  Am absolutely recommending this. Thank you (none / 0)

    for your work.  There was an earlier diary on this, which I also recommened, because I thought I was outraged just learning about the Nevada part of this.

    I have my own personal mantra for getting thru the election: everyday will be a new low, just be prepared.

    But this, this pissed me off.  It's so cynical and vile! Ugh.  I swear to God, if I was a Nevada registrant affected by this, I'd spend day and night looking for ways to sue.  Not for money, but for the principle.  Aagh!
    Thanks again for your work.

    Small varmints, if you will.

    by 2lucky on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 04:48:01 AM PST

    •  Exactly why I've stayed up until 3 a.m. (4.00 / 13)

      ... to research this asshole.

      I want to see this story front page on the New York Times or Washington Post by next week.

      Fuck these guys.  They're undemocratic, unAmerican and criminal.

      More work to do on Sproul and his connections to the RNC and this fraud effort.

      But I'm going to bed...

      Thank Howard Dean. Donate to the DNC.

      by Bob Johnson on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 04:53:41 AM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  Great work.... (4.00 / 8)

        Sproul stinks to high heaven...and those librarians....man, could you find a more trustworthy witness?  If you're not passing the smell test with librarians across the country...
        you stink.

        Great work, Bob.

        Recommended this.  But,  sad to say...there's a problem with late night recommends.  Because traffic goes down overnight..and recommends are time sensitve, your diary is gonna need ALOT of recommends to carry it through to morning.

        Repost it if it dissappears, I am absolutely sure that folks will want to read it.

        Get involved...VOLUNTEER...yes.we.can.

        by kid oakland on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:01:55 AM PST

        [ Parent ]

      •  This belongs on the main page (none / 1)

        Great work.  The Repugs are really desperate.  IIRC, under the recent legislation after the 2000 election, each polling place is supposed to have provisional ballots for people who claim they were registered.  This will gum up the count for weeks.  Meanwhile BushCo will just continue their horrible policies and act as if they won.  There will be no dislodging them without civil action.  

        There aren't enough cops or guard to protect this gov't once the people withdraw therir consent.

        In CA we get mailed a voter pamphlet and sample ballot.  Anyone who doesn't get one, or whatever they mail in your state, should inquire of the county registrar.  

        And get the story out.

        John McCain--he's not who you think he is.

        by Mimikatz on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 02:06:54 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

    •  Recommended Diaries (none / 1)

      I'm coming to believe that we need to expand the recommended diaries section to 15-20 diaries, considering the important issues that are now coming rapid-fire down the pike...

      by Jonathan on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:13:37 AM PST

      [ Parent ]

  •  Working overnite on this Bob... (4.00 / 5)

    ...so far, the unresistable, from the AP in 1997:

    "'There's no way you can do contraception education without saying we know you're going to have sex,' said Nathan Sproul, 25, of the Arizona Christian Coalition, who said he waited to have sex until he married last summer."

    So, he was 25 then, 32 now.  He's not running this.  But he'll be hard to flip - he's a true believer.

    Good to see he values chastity so highly.  Makes you wonder why he has no problem raping democracy.

    by Turtle Bay on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 04:53:00 AM PST

  •  Was busy writing my entry about this (4.00 / 18)

    RNC TIED TO MULTI-STATE REGISTRATION FRAUD

    First we get news out of a local Las Vegas news affiliate from CBS that an outfit called Voters' Outreach of America is caught trashing voter registration forms filled out by people trying to register to vote as Democrats. But while running down this outfit, they skipped town on their office space rent, and moved out of state (Nevada), and the CBS affiliate indicates that they might have moved their operation to Oregon.

    We also learn not too long ago, that Sproul and Associates, which is based out of AZ and is a directly funded RNC consultancy firm, was misrepresenting itself as being under contract with the legitimate nonpartisan group America Votes, while trying to get permission to do voter registration sign-ups in Southern Oregon libraries. A sharp librarian down in Medford double-checks with America Votes, and finds out that the Sproul group which had sent a letter to the public library seeking the permission, are not under contract or affiliated with the non-partisan group America Votes. It should also be noted that because of this, some confusion is circulating in the news media and conflating America Votes with the shady Sproul outfit.

    Then we learn that a "traveling team" hired signature gatherer is caught in downtown Portland's Pioneer Square, the night before Edwards is planned to hold a debate watching rally, refusing to register Democrats, and admits to throwing out forms filled out by people registering as such.

    This person also admits that the "traveling team" he is with was recently doing registration drives in Nevada. We still don't know if this "traveling team" is connected with either Voters' Outreach of America or not. This has led Oregon Sec. of State Bill Bradbury nd Attorney General Hardy Myers to tell news outlets late this evneing that they plan to investigate. Bradbury telling the local news outlet KGW that they are investigating this serious matter, and he appeared to be more than a little pissed to see this sort of fraud taking place. Now it seems the story is being picked up by the AP.

    We now find in a past story from The American Prospect that Voters' Outreach of America IS in fact connected with, and was under contract by Sproul and Associates which we know is directly funded by the RNC from FEC records at opensecrets.org. Voters' Outreach of America were under contract by Sproul to do signature gathering in AZ for petition gathering for "No Taxpayer Money For Politicians" petition AND to get Ralph Nader on the ballot in AZ (where he was eventually knocked off the ballot for fraudulent petition signatures).

    cheers,

    Mitch Gore

    Proud to support President-elect Obama

    by Lestatdelc on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:08:44 AM PST

    •  The relevant TAP article passage... (4.00 / 8)

      ...which shows the contractual connection between Voters' Outreach of America and Sproul & Associates, who are directly funded by the RNC:


      Nor has Nader denounced the covert assistance his Arizona ballot-qualification effort received from Sproul, who is currently running the No Taxpayer Money For Politicians" initiative, a right-wing effort to ban candidates from receiving public financing. According to several sources, two of the contractors Sproul hired to oversee petition gathering for No Taxpayer Money For Politicians -- Aaron "A.J." James, who directs Voters' Outreach of America, and Diane Burns -- were also paid by Sproul to get as many signatures as possible for Nader.

      (emphasis mine)

      We need to start digging on Aaron "A.J." James.

      cheers,

      Mitch Gore

      Proud to support President-elect Obama

      by Lestatdelc on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:15:48 AM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  On AJ... (none / 1)

        ...only Aaron James that comes up in Lexis news, and is linked to republicanism in any way, is this:

        The Republican mayor of Wichita, Bob Knight, ran for the GOP nomination for Gov in 2002.  He lost.  Local paper ran a story with a pic of him at the Olive Garden with his family.  One pic caption: Knight with son-in-law Aaron James.

        Will try to find out about Knight's RNC/Bush/Rove connections...

        by Turtle Bay on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:41:16 AM PST

        [ Parent ]

        •  HE also goes by AJ (4.00 / 5)

          according to an article on indymedia.

          Voters Outreach of America, Inc. was incorporated in Nevada - info available on the Nevada Sec of State/corporations website.

          Aaron James (also misspelled Arron James) is listed as an officer so is a Benjamin McLiechey, Jr.

          I'd be surprised if VOAI is authorized to do business in any of the other states in which it is operating as a "foreign corporation."

          FWIW - Sproul & Associates, Inc. is an AZ corporation and is deliquent in filing its annual report.

          To get corporate info- just google the name of the state you are interested in and the "secretary of state corporations".

          Most states have searchable databases for corporate information.

          For instance, National Voter Outreach, Inc. is also a NV corporation, with its President and Secretary being a Susan Johnson of Michigan, probably the same Susan Johnson of Michigan who googles out to be on the slate of electors for Bush/Cheney in that state.

          Another name that keeps cropping up is JMS, Inc. a Florida outfit - lady by the name of Jenny Breslyn involved.

          by payingattentionandappalled on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 11:51:54 AM PST

          [ Parent ]

          •  Makes me wonder again (none / 0)

            why the federales went after Indy's servers... think someone put in call?

            It probably won't stick to Blinky, though... he was taking an 18-minute nap.

            Show of hands... who would join Kucinich's effort to impeach VP Cheney?

            by Mogolori on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 04:07:21 PM PST

            [ Parent ]

          •  Nevada Registrations (none / 1)

            A Googling of the address for the records listed by the Nevada Secretary of State for "Voters Outreach of America" turns up this website:

            http://www.nevadaregistrations.com

            It's founded and owed by Mr. Todd J. Mc Millan, who's listed as the primary agent (the person who is accepted by the registered corporation to receive legal documents, notices, etc.) for the company.

            His website boasts, in what seems to be Mr. Mc Millan's biggest draw:

            "Reap the protective benefits of a Nevada Corporation and Nevada LLC by incorporating in Nevada today. Enjoy the complete confidentiality of the Secretary of State's Office thru the nearly impenetrable Officers and Directors "veil" of the Nevada court system."

            And some of the benefits listed  --
            (http://www.nevadaregistrations.com/benefits.html)

            "NO DISCLOSURES I.E. TO ANY ONE
            NO RECORDS OF STOCKHOLDERS
            NO NEED TO LIVE IN NEVADA
            NO NEED TO BE US CITIZENS
            BECOME JUDGMENT PROOF"

            Mr. Mc Millan is also ex-military/government -- (http://www.nevadaregistrations.com/about.html)

            "With the exception of a six year United States Air Force Korean tour of duty as a Special Agent, Office of Special Investigations, Office of the USAF Inspector General, Pentagon, DC, Mr. Mc Millan has spent over 50 years in all facets of real estate and corporate finance to include all phases and types of construction, finance, brokerage, management and corporate directorship. [...] Together, with his wife Irene, they own apartment complexes in three states and are involved with over one hundred corporations on an international basis."

            His email address is todd@nevadaregistrations.com.

            This is just what I've come up with in a few minutes.  This guy probably isn't really connected to whatever's going on, but I think that whoever is behind VOofA probably picked this guy's company for a reason.  Perhaps a lawyer could shed more light on Nevada's laws regarding these sorts of registrations and whether they're actually bulletproof shields that would prevent one from knowing who owns or controls the company.

            The Bush Plan:
            Step 1.: Invade Iraq.
            Step 2.: ???
            Step 3.: Democracy!

            by the good reverend on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:35:20 PM PST

            [ Parent ]

      •  possible contact info for A.J. (4.00 / 5)

        Yahoo People Search lists only 1 Aaron James in Arizona: Aaron James 851 E Toledo St Gilbert, AZ (480) 699-0408 This address is southeast of Tempe and may not be the address for our Aaron James. I also found an interesting article posted at Arizona Indymedia that discusses Sproul, A.J. & the Nader petition fiasco. Here's an excerpt:
        "Derek Lee, who, as owner of Lee Petitions, was part of the traveling petition carnival that descended on Arizona this spring. "The only thing I can tell you for sure is that Aaron was working with Nathan [Sproul] on this Nader thing. I've heard that from a number of people but they put the hush-hush on it real quick." Reached by phone, Burns and James were clearly nonplussed; when asked if they were hired by Sproul to get signatures for Nader, both immediately hung up. Neither responded to follow-up interview requests. According to a source who monitored petitioning in Arizona this spring, Sproul covered his tracks by having his secretary deliver Burns and James' Nader petitions to Breslyn, who was operating out of "a low-end motel" in Scottsdale. Upon receiving the petitions, the source says, Breslyn mixed them in with her own. Breslyn did not deny receiving petitions from Sproul: "I wasn't there [at the motel] all the time. I can't discuss my clients with you," Breslyn said. "I don't really even know Mr. Sproul"

        U.S. Mayors to Congress: "Pass H.R. 676 NOW"

        by peace voter on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 02:06:46 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

    •  More, older info from 2000 (4.00 / 5)

      He basically helped a Republican candidate subvert  Arizona election law so the candidate would qualify for public funding for his race. The candidate got away with it.

      Commission action leaves funding campaign allegation unresolved
      By PAUL DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer
      September 5, 2000

      Did the state Republican Party violate election laws by helping a candidate collect $5 contributions so he could get public funding to run for the Legislature?

      That question will remain unanswered, at least officially, for a while in the wake of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission's decision Tuesday that it doesn't need to tackle that issue right away.

      It turns out that Republican Patrick Kaminsky did not qualify for public funding for his campaign for the District 25 Senate seat because he failed to collect enough $5 contributions by the Aug. 24 deadline....

      The commission plans to consult with Secretary of State Betsey Bayless - her office oversees state elections - to determine what should be done about the issue of whether the GOP crossed the line in its mailing for Kaminsky.

      Cummiskey attorney David Eagle urged the commission to not let the matter drop. "What we have brought to your attention is a violation of the law," he said.

      Nathan Sproul, executive director of the Republican Party, later said it was easy to see through Cummiskey's complaint. "We know he's vulnerable and he's scared."


      by PitterPatter on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 01:15:00 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  Sproul Cheneyed McCain in 2000! (4.00 / 5)

        Just a hunch and I'm trying to track down articles now. But in the Austin American-Statesman (Texas) on February 21, 2000 article, In Arizona, McCain has his doubters Sproul disses the Senator, "Another reason for McCain's less-than-stellar performance in the polls, according to Arizona GOP director Nathan Sproul, is that Arizona has so many newcomers -- almost a million in the past 10 years. The state population is 4.6 million."

        McCain was strongly against Sproul's "No Taxpayer Money for Politicians effort"

        by PitterPatter on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 01:23:14 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

  •  There is a burgeoning (4.00 / 6)

    brand-new baby koss-wiki Voter_Registration_Fraud_Clearinghouse to be added to.

    Any and all with information that is:

    Breaking

    National

    Regional

    Local

    Historical

    Philosophical

    Or otherwise relevant...

    Come on over and help out!

    Make it happen (and help Kos do the background on his next Guardian column)...

    The only way to ensure a free press is to own one

    by RedDan on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:24:04 AM PST

  •  Nail 'em all on RICO charges (4.00 / 4)

    These thugs need to spend some quality time in prison.

    You can see some TV reportage on the NV fraud at KLAS-TV

    It looks like I better get some plane reservations ready for a march on Washington November 3.

    DailyKos for 50 States -- Let's Build It!

    by DavidW in SF on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:31:18 AM PST

    •  Sinclair on It? (none / 1)

      There are two Sinclair stations in Las Vegas, are either of them covering the Repug voter fraud?

      This aggression will not stand, man.

      by kaleidescope on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 10:40:46 AM PST

      [ Parent ]

    •  RICO is the way to go (3.50 / 2)

      For the uninitiated, RICO is the Racketeer-Influenced Corrupt Organization Act.  It's what the feds use against the Mafia, but it's broader than that.

      A RICO suit is perfect.  We need to locate someone to serve as plaintiff who (1) registered as a voter with them and (2) whose voter registration was not processed.  Then seek a temporary injunction and eventually a class action suit.

      The suit should also seek to revoke the corporate charter of any entity involved in this scam.

      by kenfair on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:52:34 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

  •  Sproul know's no shame (4.00 / 3)

    Check out this link from a Tucson station on Monday about Sproul's fear of voter fraud...guess it takes a perp to know one.

    http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2414631

    Oh, and what happened to the old html code in the post comments area - I don't really get how you turn text into linked text anymore. I used to be able to copy paste and make it work, but thats all changed now...

    "I'm a lifelong agitator, a radical. A rebel is just against things for rebellion's sake. By radical, I mean someone who goes to the roots." - Will Geer

    by Vitarai on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:35:39 AM PST

    •  Memorize this string of characters (none / 1)

      until you can type it in your sleep:

      <a href=""></a>

      Whenever you want to link, first type your memorized string. Paste the URL between the two double quotes: "url goes here". Put what you want the link to say between the two tags like this: >your text here<

      You're done.

      Except, remember to preview and test the link to make sure you pasted the right URL.

      Folly is fractal: the closer you look at it, the more of it there is.

      by Canadian Reader on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 02:52:52 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  Thank you (none / 0)

        I will try to remember that bit. It's just that a few weeks ago that string was above the text box and I could copy and paste it then copy and paste the url and my text into those spaces. My brain has lots to try and remember these days...

        "I'm a lifelong agitator, a radical. A rebel is just against things for rebellion's sake. By radical, I mean someone who goes to the roots." - Will Geer

        by Vitarai on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 03:27:47 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

  •  Who could prosecute Sproul? (none / 1)

    This could be a MAJOR scandal if it's properly followed and investigated, reaching across several states.

    Sproul must have had donors behind him to finance this operation.  They may claim some fig leaf of deniability by claiming that they didn't know the exact nature of the things that Sproul was doing.

    But I doubt that!

    The only way to go up the chain of command is to prosecute Sproul and try to get him to turn state's evidence.

    Now, here's the problem, though.  Who can prosecute him?  If Bush wins (don't faint), Ashcroft can't be trusted to investigate it thoroughly.  The state attorney general of Nevada is a Republican as well.  

    Is there a Democrat county attorney general or state attorney general in another affected state that could claim standing to prosecute Sproul?

    Any ideas about this?

    by Dumbo on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:45:37 AM PST

    •  How about this guy -- (4.00 / 2)

      http://www.naag.org/ag/ag_bios.php?id=45

      presuming there is enough evidence in Oregon.

      He has already been contacted by the Oregon Secretary of State.

      by smilodon on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:54:04 AM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  Excellent! (none / 1)

        Now... if we can get proof of similar activities by Sproul's organization in Oregon (not just proof of their mere presence), then, perhaps, Oregon Atty. General Hardy Meyers (D) can prosecute Sproul.

        by Dumbo on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:10:32 AM PST

        [ Parent ]

      •  Hardy Meyers (none / 0)

        Is consistent, fair, and enjoys years of service here in Oregon.  He's a good guy from what I have seen.

        Oregongal

        Change is inevitable - Growth is optional

        by oregongal on Thu Oct 14, 2004 at 11:44:37 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

        •  Uh (none / 0)

          while in salem last week I was not approached by a guy with registration forms.  I went up to him and said, "so what, do I look too dumb to vote or what?"  We got to talking; he couldn't tell me who he worked for (he didn't appear to know, which I kindly
          reprimanded him for), just that he was hired by an organization out of Eugene.

          There were a few kids on the street corners in Salem that day, registering voters. I wish I could remember exactly which day it was... dang.

          Change is inevitable - Growth is optional

          by oregongal on Thu Oct 14, 2004 at 11:51:59 PM PST

          [ Parent ]

    •  Read upthread (none / 1)

      We have Sproul & Associates dead-to-rights as being funded directly by the RNC... it is shown in opensectrets.org that they were funded over a quarter of a million dollars, by the RNC.

      In my entry here (which is also in my diary) In a TAP article we are told that Sproul had hired Voters' Outreach of America.

      cheers,

      Mitch Gore

      Proud to support President-elect Obama

      by Lestatdelc on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:03:43 AM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  I know, we have them identified as funders... (4.00 / 3)

        But if they were careful, they can credibly deny any knowledge of criminal activities by Sproul.  Something like, "We just thought he was gonna register lots of people because he was a good Amurcan!"

        The thing to prove is knowledge or complicity in election fraud, and for that, you need testimony from Sproul employees alleging that higher-up RNC people were aware of the real nature of what they were doing.

        I wouldn't be surprised if this goes way up the chain of command.

        by Dumbo on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:08:33 AM PST

        [ Parent ]

      •  "Slam dunk" news story (3.75 / 4)

        Open Secrets shows specific amounts and dates that the RNC paid Sproul and Associates.   All a reporter has to do to get the old "Tenet slam dunk" story is to ask the RNC to produce specific documentation for exactly what services were provided by Sproul and Associates, and when.

        by quake on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 12:20:07 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

        •  SPROUL and Sproul (4.00 / 7)

          I just realized there are two sets of numbers on the open secrets page.  "Sproul & Associates" is payment by the RNC for voter registration work, whereas (all caps) SPROUL & ASSOCIATES is payment for political consulting.  Seems like a lot of money.  Wonder how the RNC will explain this.  (Details below)   My apologies if someone else has already posted this, but it seems important.

          SPROUL & ASSOCIATES,INC
           $181,905
           8/4/2004
           POLITICAL CONSULTING

          SPROUL & ASSOCIATES,INC
           $160,001
           8/25/2004
           POLITICAL CONSULTING

          SPROUL & ASSOCIATES,INC
           $99,135
           8/11/2004
           POLITICAL CONSULTING

          SPROUL & ASSOCIATES,INC
           $27,916
           8/13/2004
           POLITICAL CONSULTING

          SPROUL & ASSOCIATES,INC
           $20,000
           7/14/2004
           POLITICAL CONSULTING

          Sproul & Associates
           $25,000
           6/8/2004
           VOTER REG

          Sproul & Associates
           $25,000
           7/7/2004
           FEA VOTER REGISTRATION

          Sproul & Associates
           $25,000
           6/4/2004
           VOTER REG

          Sproul & Associates
           $10,000
           8/12/2004
           FEA VOTER REGISTRATION

          Sproul & Associates
           $10,000
           2/19/2004
           FEA VOTER REGISTRATION

          Sproul & Associates
           $10,000
           7/9/2004
           FEA VOTER REGISTRATION

          Sproul & Associates
           $10,000
           6/18/2004
           VOTER REGISTRATION

          Sproul & Associates
           $5,000
           3/18/2004
           FEA VOTER REGISTRATION

          Sproul & Associates
           $5,000
           3/4/2004
           FEA VOTER REGISTRATION

          Sproul & Associates
           $58
           6/24/2004
           COPIES

          NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2004 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released on Friday, October 01, 2004. Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics.

          by quake on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 01:23:51 PM PST

          [ Parent ]

    •  The Juiciest Charges Are Federal (none / 1)

      State officials (county DAs & state-level attorneys general) don't proscute RICO ... the state-line issues mean that the entire beast can be tied up with a bow and consolidated into a single prosecution.

      But you're right. The rub is finding an Elliot Spitzer kind of prosecutor who has standing in this case. It is Mr. Ashcroft's department, but the some of regionals are fairly independent.

      Here's a website that lists the regional US Attorneys offices. Somebody more familar with the battleground states environment might be able lend insight into which might be likely to advance a criminal prosecution.

      Which pundit most resembles Ruby Rhod?

      by wystler on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 02:07:35 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

    •  Kerry's Attorney General (none / 0)

      Elliot Spitzer, under the Voting Rights Act.

      John McCain--he's not who you think he is.

      by Mimikatz on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 02:12:27 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

  •  These are repeat offenders -- (none / 1)

    how come we keep getting caught off guard.  

    There have been several cases of misleading election mailers in California that I have been paying attention to.  For instance they have a big picture of John Kerry and a list of people that democrats should vote for -- consisting of Kerry, Boxer, etc. and a bunch of local candidates (some of which are right threaded wingnuts).  

    When I did a google search I found out that the people behind them (discovered because the same temporary address used for the mailers was also used for a "reputable political consulting" business) have been fined repeatedly by the state elections board for doing the same thing.  

    I'd like to see a one strike and your out policy.  If you get caught once in some sort of obvious malicious deception -- no politician or political party should be allowed to do business with you again.  Barring that I say we camp out in front of their house next election season or find some sort of fitting public humiliation that only irresponsible bloggers would dream up.  

    by smilodon on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 05:46:01 AM PST

  •  Im not sure if it's a red herring or not (4.00 / 9)

    But another name that keeps coming in regards to Sproul's work in Arizona is "Lee Petitions", an agency that it seems Sproul has hired in the past.

    Not only were they the ones working on getting Nader signatures, but they have a history of voter fraud

    I have dreamed a dream, and now that dream has gone from me. - Nebuchadnezzar

    by Marius on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:13:50 AM PST

  •  More on Sproul - Payoff through other Co.? (4.00 / 10)

    Following Bob's trail of breadcrumbs, I find Voyager Learning as Nathan Sproul's employer in 2003 on a political donation form...who are they?

    From the Arizona Republic, Jan. 9, 2003:

    The man who ran the day-to-day operations of the Arizona Republican Party for the past three years is leaving to take a job with a Texas-based firm that specializes in literacy programs.

    Nathan Sproul, who helped spearhead the GOP's successful plan for political redistricting, will step down as executive director at the end of January. His new job will be regional president of an education organization called Voyager Learning, which recently expanded into Arizona and Texas.

    Sproul's departure comes at the start of the busiest political season in decades, with the governor's race, 90 legislative seats and eight congressional seats up for grabs.

    Sproul's mother has been a longtime schoolteacher and librarian, and he said education has always intrigued him.

    The organization, which runs "intensive literacy programs" for school districts, recently secured a $750,000 pilot program that is part of a high-profile bill for English-learning students. The $45 million bill was passed on the last day of a special session in December.

    Bob Fannin, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, said he hopes to name Sproul's successor by the end of February.

    "He got a really good offer, and for the good of his family, it was difficult to turn down," Fannin said. "It's sad to see him go. We've worked real hard the last six months, which makes things a little easier."

    Republicans credit Sproul, 29, with coordinating a record-setting $2.5 million fund-raising effort during the 2000 election. He was also a fixture at redistricting meetings, coordinating the GOP's strategy on Arizona's new political maps.

    by Turtle Bay on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:15:33 AM PST

  •  More on Sproul (4.00 / 7)

    From a Sept 30th column about dirty campaign tricks in Scottsdale mayoral race:
    http://www.azcentral.com/news/columns/articles/0930sr-roberts30Z8.html

    by DoryO on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:17:19 AM PST

    •  The story is a must read (none / 1)

      Thanks DoryO!

      The article gives readers yet another detailed account of dirty tricks linked to Sproul.

      STOP SPROUL!

      These people don't care about democracy.

      They care about gaining power and holding on to power and enriching themselves at the public trough.  They fear that they can't prevail if elections are fair.  That's why they wrote the book on dirty tricks.

      U.S. Mayors to Congress: "Pass H.R. 676 NOW"

      by peace voter on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 04:25:34 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

  •  Well well well (4.00 / 8)

    Look who is getting pork at the "No Child Left Behind" trough in the State of Nevada!!!!

    Voyager Expanded Learning indeed.

    cheers,

    Mitch Gore

    Proud to support President-elect Obama

    by Lestatdelc on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:30:52 AM PST

  •  Seems this is also his M.O. in other states (4.00 / 3)

    This library newsgroup has stuff (do a "find" on Sproul) from the Jackson county Oregon scam being foiled, and confirmation that this same scam was being run by Sproul in PA and WV as well... using Kelly Temps... which seems to follow the pattern we know he has been using of going through temp agencies like career builder.

    cheers,

    Mitch Gore

    Proud to support President-elect Obama

    by Lestatdelc on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:45:37 AM PST

  •  Transcript from Northwest Cable News (4.00 / 6)

    NWCN ANCHOR: There's concern this morning that some Democratic registration forms may have been thrown away in Portland.

    VIDEO OF MIKE JOHNSON IN PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE

    NWCN ANCHOR: This man, Mike Johnson, was out working the crowds in Pioneer Courthouse Square yesterday - he says he works for a group called the Travelling Team and that he gets paid five dollars for every Republican registration card he collects, but he says if he gets a Democratic card he just might throw it in the trash.

    VIDEO OF OREGON SECRETARY OF STATE BILL BRADBURY

    BRADBURY: The law says that if you're registering voters you have to accept whatever that voter says is their party, their choice of party. And it's not up to you whether you accept that registration.

    MORE VIDEO OF PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE

    NWCN ANCHOR: The Oregon Republican Party is investigating.

    Have you ever been to Alaska? It's like the The Road Warrior with snow. - Chris Rock

    by El Payo on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:48:09 AM PST

  •  FromABC the Note back in June (4.00 / 4)


    The plot thickens in Arizona, where Democratic leaders are calling for an investigation into a Republican consultant's involvement with the effort to put Ralph Nader on the presidential ballot. The Arizona Republic reports Dems say Nathan Sproul, who served three years as executive director of the state GOP before becoming a consultant, is funding the petition drive. Sproul dismissed the claims, "I'm not being paid by anybody to do petitions (for Nader), and I've not paid anybody to do petitions."

    Oh REALLY?!?!?

    cheers,

    Mitch Gore

    Proud to support President-elect Obama

    by Lestatdelc on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 06:59:33 AM PST

  •  Letters To Editors, People! (4.00 / 5)

    The only way to force this broadly into the mainstream media news cycles may be to give it the level of effort that's being directed toward Sinclair.

    This is a pattern of behavior the public needs to know... BEFORE November.

    Seek out the strongest arguments you disagree with - how else can you learn whether you're wrong?

    by Carneades on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:15:03 AM PST

    •  CAPITAL YES (3.83 / 6)

      WE need to push this.  We need to push the links to RNC, the quid-pro-quo payoffs to Sproul through Voyager, the nationwide nature of the scam, and Janklow's comment suggesting that the national GOP knows damn well what its doing.

      by Turtle Bay on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:17:46 AM PST

      [ Parent ]

  •  Let's go after Kelly... (none / 1)

    Kelly is a respected temp labor firm.  I doubt they want to be associated with a fraudulent partisan dickhead scheister <sp?>.  Perhaps a few well-placed letters and e-mails would get them to publicly denounce this fucker - and really make it a story.

    by OnStarboardTack on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:18:23 AM PST

  •  This link makes it real easy... (4.00 / 4)

    http://www.kellyservices.us/internet/kel/contact_us/form_pages/general_question?cat=Contact%20Us

    by OnStarboardTack on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:27:06 AM PST

    •  My note to Kelly (3.85 / 7)

      checked the box for employer (figured they paid more attention to those) and wrote:

      You need to know, immediately, that any of your workers currently performing voter registration drives may be unwittingly involved in illegal fraud. Specifically, Nathan Sproul and Associates, misrepresenting himself as America Votes, has used your organization (and other temp agencies) to conduct partisan voter registration drives in front of malls and libraries and convenience stores all across the country. This has involved destroying any democratic registrations that have been submitted, and only processing the republican ones - in direct violation of election law.

      For your own sake, cease any work like this immediately (and feel free to consider suing Nathan Sproul for conspiracy to commit voting fraud in such a way as to besmirch your own good reputation.)

      yours,

      "In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." - Barack Obama

      by AikidoPilgrim on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:46:08 AM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  You Might Add (none / 1)

        that Kelly may have exposed itself to criminal violations because prosecutors are investigating their temps. That might get them to issue a statement that they know nothing, etc.

        "There's no housing bubble..." - Fed Chief Ben Bernanke, 10/27/2005

        by chuco35 on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 02:14:57 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

    •  Kelly (4.00 / 4)

      The CEO of Kelly is Terrance Adderley.  Here is the corp address 999 W. Big Beaver Rd Troy, MI 48084 Ph 248 244 4192.
      The only thing that I want to add is be careful how you approach this.  Terry Adderley lost his son Ted on Sept. 11th.  He worked for Alger Management on the 93rd floor.    
       

      by Bethie24 on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 01:16:56 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

  •  Just used the Kelly site to post this... (4.00 / 10)

    My small real estate business is growing and I am considering hiring some temp labor from Kelly.  However I heard you are providing staffing for illegal republican voter registration drives (for an outfit called Nathan Spraul and Associates) in AZ, PA, and WV.  Unfortunately I cannot in good conscience hire a firm actively engaged in destroying democracy in America.  Before I make my staffing decisions, could you please reassure me (and the public) that Kelly no longer provides staffing for fraudulent voter registration efforts?

    by OnStarboardTack on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 07:37:30 AM PST

  •  Record of payments (3.88 / 9)

    Sproul & Assoc. has been paid $125000 by the Republican party for "FEA voter registration", and also paid tens of thousands by Trent Franks (R-AZ) for "consulting." There simply isn't going to be any way that the Republicans can shrug this off as a rogue party member.

    by silence on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 08:57:15 AM PST

  •  Widespread organized voter fraud by Nathan Sproul (4.00 / 3)

    Email lists: Cut and paste the first 250 words of this story then email (I have broken the list up into three parts because that goes down easier)

    rkemper@tribune.com, bjapsen@tribune.com, csimpson@tribune.com, cgarrett@tribune.com, fjames@tribune.com, GWashburn@tribune.com, gdelama@tribune.com, joshea@tribune.com, jgreenburg@tribune.com, jzeleny@tribune.com, jzuckman@tribune.com, jcrewdson@tribune.com, JPeres@tribune.com, mdorning@tribune.com¸ MPossley@tribune.com, cptkilian@aol.com, mtackett@tribune.com, nbendavid@tribune.com, psinger2@tribune.com, bdold@tribune.com, rranderson@tribune.com, RAP30@aol.com, shedges@tribune.com, schapman@tribune.com, vwalton@tribune.com, wneikirk@tribune.com, bmccauley@enquirer.com, cweiser@gns.gannett.com, dhorn@enquirer.com, dwells@enquirer.com, jborgman@enquirer.com, rcooklis@enquirer.com, tlang@enquirer.com, aaron.brown@turner.com, am@cnn.com, 360@cnn.com, andrea.koppel@turner.com, bill.schneider@turner.com, bruce.morton@turner.com, candy.crowley@turner.com, carol.lin@turner.com, crossfire@cnn.com, daryn.kagan@turner.com, david.ensor@turner.com, daybreak@cnn.com, kurtzh@washpost.com, inthemoney@cnn.com, insidepoliticts@cnn.com, crossfire@cnn.com

    newsonline@bbc.co.uk, btbtalk@aol.com, news@bet.com, anita@mindgallery.com, jfetzer@d.umn.edu, osanic@prouty.org, hprzybyla@bloomberg.net, hrosenkrantz@bloomberg.net, dkeil@bloomberg.net, ombud@globe.com, goodman@globe.com, kcooper@globe.com, johnson@globe.com, letter@globe.com, brelis@globe.com, oliphant@globe.com, lettersbwol@businessweek.com, richard_dunham@businessweek.com, buzzflash@buzzflash.com, query@cambridgeforum.org, 48hours@cbsnews.com, 60II@cbsnews.com, 60m@cbsnews.com, bpc@cbsnews.com, evening@cbsnews.com, earlyshow@cbs.com, efm@cbsnews.com, ftn@cbsnews.com, mkx@cbsnews.com, pma@cbsnews.com, rbc@cbsnews.com, sundays@cbsnews.com, grain@cbsnews.com, aweathersbee@suntimes.com, zwecker@suntimes.com, stbusiness@suntimes.com, cledbetter@suntimes.com, metro@suntimes.com, dmiller@suntimes.com, ddouglas@suntimes.com, metro@suntimes.com, showcase@suntimes.com, jbarry@suntimes.com, jwisser@suntimes.com, jbarron@suntimes.com, jcruickshank@suntimes.com, jwcary@suntimes.com, letters@suntimes.com, marym@suntimes.com, mcooke@suntimes.com, sneed@suntimes.com, prosen@suntimes.com, stphoto@suntimes.com, rroeper@suntimes.com, feder@suntimes.com, answerman@suntimes.com, rjr@suntimes.com, shuntley@suntimes.com, savage@suntimes.com, zays@suntimes.com, aobejas@tribune.com, ctc-editor@tribune.com,

    jeanne.meserve@turner.com, jeff.greenfield@cnn.com, jim.walton@turner.com, deirdre.walsh@turner.com, kelly.wallace@turner.com, kyra.phillips@turner.com, live@cnn.com, livefrom@cnn.com, livetoday@cnn.com, lou.dobbs@turner.com, loudobbs@cnn.com, miles.obrien@turner.com, moneyline@cnn.com, newsnight@cnn.com, paulazahnnow@cnn.com, paula.zahn@turner.com, rick.davis@turner.com, robert.novak@turner.com, tom.hannon@cnn.com, wam@cnn.com, wolf@cnn.com, george@coasttocoastam.com, info@commongroundradio.org, finlay.lewis@copleydc.com, george.condon@copleydc.com, bobdeans@coxnews.com, clindell@coxnews.com, gedmonson@coxnews.com, llipman@coxnews.com, mhopgood@coxnews.com, meversley@coxnews.com, mail@democracynow.org, imusshow@yahoo.com, bashamradio@yahoo.com, letters@economist.com, ed@kfgo.com, wendy@edschultzshow.com,

    Live Free or Die --- Investigate, Impeach, Incarcerate

    by rktect on Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 09:22:08 AM PST

  •  Charleston WV Gazette story... (4.00 / 4)

    Bragg, and another person working for the group, said they were told
    the owners of the One Stop stores had agreed to allow them to conduct
    the work on the stores' lots. Patrick C. Graney III and Michael R.
    Graney are listed as the principal owners of 42 One Stop stores,
    according to the state Alcohol Beverage Control Administration.
    Messages left at One Stop's headquarters in Belle were not returned.

    West Virginians, please contact your state attorney general's office and see if One Stop's licenses (liquor, operating, etc.) can get pulled for being co-conspirators in this fraud.

    Lev