ACORN initiates video investigation

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- ACORN, the embattled advocacy group for the U.S. poor, said Wednesday it will stop accepting new clients because of "indefensible" actions by a few employees.

Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, based in New Orleans, also said in a statement on its Web site it would initiate training for its staff.

The non-profit group's actions were precipitated by a video purporting to show ACORN employees in Baltimore giving two people posing as a pimp and prostitute advice on how to avoid paying taxes.

"As a result of the indefensible action of a handful of our employees, I am ... immediately ordering a halt to any new intakes into ACORN's service programs until completion of an independent review," said Chief Executive Officer Bertha Lewis, who took over leadership of the 38-year-old organization about a year ago.

"We have all been deeply disturbed by what we've seen in some of these videos. I must say, on behalf of ACORN's board and our advisory council, that we will go to whatever lengths necessary to re-establish the public trust."

The video footage of the ACORN organizers was recorded and posted online by James O'Keefe, a conservative activist, CNN reported last week. He and another conservative activist posed as the pair seeking advice in the undercover sting.

ACORN also found itself in news headlines last year when Republican groups jumped on allegations of voter registration fraud by the group in several states and claimed its workers were trying to swing the election in Barack Obama's favor.