Amy Busefink, ACORN’s deputy regional director, who authorities allege was involved with an alleged illegal voter registration incentive program, appears in court Sept. 29 in Las Vegas.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 | 12:04 p.m.
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The political advocacy organization ACORN and a former manager pleaded not guilty today to 13 felony charges tied to alleged voter registration fraud.
Amy Busefink, 27, a former regional director for ACORN, entered her not guilty plea today in front of Las Vegas Justice of the Peace William Jansen. ACORN was represented by its attorney, Lisa Rasmussen, who pleaded not guilty on the group’s behalf.
A trial date was set for April 19.
The Nevada attorney general’s office has accused ACORN of operating an illegal bonus system run by the group's Las Vegas office field director, Christopher Edwards.
Under the quota system, called “blackjack” or “21+,” the group is said to have paid canvassers based on the number of voter registration cards they collected each day. The canvassers were to gather at least 20 completed cards each day and anyone who turned in 21 or more would be given an extra $5.
Busefink, as a manager, is said to have approved the “blackjack” program. But ACORN officials have said Edwards acted alone in developing and carrying it out.
Tying money to or setting quotas for collecting voter registration cards is illegal under Nevada law.
Rasmussen said the group intends to file a motion to dismiss the case. Barring a dismissal, Kevin Stolworthy, who represents Busefink, said he intends a vigorous defense.
“I believe in her, sincerely, I really do. We're going to put on evidence at trial and witnesses that they haven't seen yet because the government had the burden at the preliminary hearing,” Stolworthy said. “We're looking forward to the jury trial and the motion to dismiss.”
If convicted, Busefink likely would face probation or less than one year in jail. ACORN could see a $5,000 fine.
Edwards agreed to testify against Busefink and ACORN after pleading guilty in August to two gross misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit the crime of compensation for registration of voters. He will receive probation in return for his testimony.
Nevada Chief Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen is the lead prosecutor in the case.
The Election Integrity Task Force, developed by Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller, state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI, last year began to investigate ACORN over questionable voter registration. The charges against ACORN and Busefink stem from information obtained during that investigation.
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