Federal Investigation of Romney

[Rosa Luxemburg]

Mitt Romney may have committed a serious crime.
There's substantial evidence that Romney may have broken the law by lying to the American people about when he left Bain Capital on an official candidate disclosure form.

That's why today, as reported in The Boston Globe, MoveOn is delivering a formal legal memo to the Department of Justice, along with a request for them to investigate.1

Because if Romney did break the law, his entire candidacy could be called into question. This calls for a federal investigation.

With absentee ballots out and early voting already underway, it's important that every American knows the truth as soon as possible—so we need to make sure that the Department of Justice gets to the bottom of this. And that will take a big public push.

Can you call the Department of Justice? Tell them: "There is substantial evidence that Mitt Romney committed a crime when he lied to the American people about his involvement with Bain. Please investigate."

Department of Justice
[phone]

Then click here to report your call.

On August 12, 2011, Romney filed his Public Financial Disclosure Report as presidential candidates are required to do by law. This requirement exists so that the American people know some basic, important truths about the people asking for their vote. Romney's report states that:
Since February 11, 1999, Mr. Romney has not had any active role with any Bain Capital entity and has not been involved in the operations of any Bain Capital entity in any way.2
But public filings confirm that Romney continued, after February 1999, to hold key responsibilities with Bain Capital. That means Romney may have knowingly lied in his public disclosures.3 If that proved to be the case, Romney could be charged with violating the False Statements Act—a serious crime for anyone, but especially for a presidential candidate.4

And we're doing what no one else has—providing a formal legal analysis and delivering it to the authorities. Now we need a strong public demand for an investigation to make it happen. Here's where to call:

Department of Justice
[phone]

Then click here to report your call.

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Carrie, Stefanie, Susannah, and the rest of the team

P.S. For more details, read the full memo MoveOn delivered to the Department of Justice today by clicking here.

Sources:

1. "Group seeks US inquiry of Romney's filing on Bain," The Boston Globe, September 27, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=281636&id=53014-10172093-eUpRHdx&t=5

2. "Did Romney Make a False Statement on His Financial Disclosure?" Mother Jones, July 13, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=281613&id=53014-10172093-eUpRHdx&t=6

3. "Mitt Romney stayed at Bain 3 years longer than he stated," The Boston Globe, July 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277303&id=53014-10172093-eUpRHdx&t=7

4. "18 USC § 1001—Statements or entries generally," Cornell University Law School
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=281614&id=53014-10172093-eUpRHdx&t=8

[teddy51]

1. Shit this is going to be dicey for the Justice Department! How does a Liberal Justice Department

properly investigate a Republican Presidential candidate without some serious kickback about bias? ugh

The only way I see this going forward is a Special Prosecutor being hired that is agreed on by both Republicans and Democrats.

[geckosfeet]

9. Are you kidding me. A conservative congress impeached a sitting president for

not disclosing details of sexual behavior. They (congress) had ZERO problems with it and the American public lapped it up like pigs at the trough.

This (r0mney's deceit) is a clear misrepresentation. I don't see how anyone could equivocate about pursuing this.

[teddy51]

11. Yeah, but you and I both know how loud the Repugs can scream and then Liberals tend to

back down. You tell me the Liberals that will carry this off!

[geckosfeet]

12. Not liberals. The legal system. The man lied on federal forms. Is this a civil case?

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates to an offense under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591, then the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party’s counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that proceeding.
(c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to—
(1) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or
(2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate.

18 USC § 1001 - Statements or entries generally

[teddy51]

14. And Holder has been a stellar Attorney General over the last 4 years (Not).

He has not brought charges against any of GW Bush minions, he has not reopened the 911 investigation (even though it was absolute BS), and how many other things has he missed on?

[robinlynne]

17. election fraud!!!!! He is supposed to be investigating, and did nothing. Citizens keep finding the

fraud.

[geckosfeet]

22. I don't know. Why don't you make up a list and complain loudly in another post.

[teddy51]

23. What's your point? I think my point was made in my previous post.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

24. At least

At least moveon is trying to do something

[geckosfeet]

31. My point is, I would prefer to go after the r0mnbot than president Obama's attorney general.

[robinlynne]

15. good reminder. I had forgotten.

[caseymoz]

26. Won't happen till after the election.

Justice will drag it's feet till then. It wants to avoid the political fallout if at all possible.

Good news is, I think they'll move on it on the day after the election even if Romney's elected. Bad news is, if Romney's elected and they move on it, that means Ryan will be President.

[kimbutgar]

2. I agree he could say he's being attacked by the Obama justice department

Best yet to get him after the election. Shame him real good.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. Investigated by the people for the people

he can't get away with this

[geckosfeet]

10. Don't agree at all. See my post #9 above.

[jaysunb]

3. Martha Stewart did time for the same thing....

but this has been out there for a while, maybe it's another, "make me do it," moment.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. Mitt thinks he's one of the untouchables

[Festivito]

32. But, Clarence Thomas won't do time for doing that.

'cause he's a Resmuglican.

[geckosfeet]

6. Because if Romney did break the law, his entire candidacy SHOULD be called into question.

[hrmjustin]

7. They will never do anything about it in the end. But it is worth a shot. n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. Keep it in the limelight right up to the election

[Frustratedlady]

13. I don't know about this...we know what we've got

what would we end up with if he's found guilty?

Which lie would they go with, he's told so many stories about when he quit.

[salinen]

16. means nothing

darth cheney had no problems lying about Halliburton.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. Was Cheney investigated?

[robinlynne]

18. Personally, I really like the candidacy of Mitt Romney. I wouldn't want it to end.

i feel we should all be focusing on congress and senate....

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. so he might win then?

[robinlynne]

21. no.

[Loudestlib]

25. Not good for the country

I'd rather beat him in a legitimate race. People don't accept Obama as it is.

Romney is in such bad shape they should just drop this.

[caseymoz]

27. I knew it.

I knew this would become a federal case.

Romney might beat every Republican prior by having a scandal that brings him down before he's in the White House.

[former9thward]

33. It is not a federal case.

It is a petition by MoveOn. No one will pay any attention to it no matter who is elected in November.

[caseymoz]

35. Why do you think it won't go anywhere?

It's not like Romney is going to have any friends in the Republican Party after he loses the election. They might be sore losers.

Do you think Justice is simply going to shrink from this case? That the Obama Administration doesn't want to make more enemies, or that there's some larger understanding between the two parties?

[former9thward]

37. Because I have read accounts of this by non-partisan people.

And they say it is 1) common to be listed on official paperwork for some time after leaving a company and if anything 2) is a petty paperwork violation at best that no prosecutor would bother with. One of these was a Security and Exchange official who said it was not an issue. Both the Washington Post and Factcheck.org investigated the matter and said the claim that Romney lied was "Three Pinocchios"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/do-bain-sec-documents-suggest-mitt-romney-is-a-criminal/2012/07/12/gJQAlyPpgW_blog.html

[caseymoz]

39. You mean all those warnings

at the end of any government paper I've ever signed, any private contract I've signed to vouch for my honesty, which all say "by the penalty of perjury" don't really mean it? They'd all just be "petty paperwork violations?"

I'm not arguing against you, I'm just incredulous.

Somehow I think the consequences for me would be far more dire if I regarded government forms that way when I signed them. So, we should look at anything a CEO signs under such penalties as being perhaps true? It makes a joke out of Sorbaines-Oxley. I now wonder what corporations could have been complaining about.

And companies are allowed to be so sloppy that they can misrepresent who runs them on official papers? Are we running banana republic now?

[former9thward]

40. Federal prosecutors have very limited resources.

When I was in law school I interned at the local U.S. Attorney's office financial crimes division. That division would not even look at a case unless it involved at least $500,000. That aside Romney never even signed these forms, investigations by the link I provided showed others did.

Politics aside I don't see a violation here, civil or criminal, but even if there was one and even if Romney was clearly responsible the public would not tolerate a prosecution. Many people on sites like DU would be happy but we are not representative of the American people. The average American would view it as pure political revenge and it would not go forward.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

36. Moveon have done well so far

[former9thward]

38. Not really.

See the post above yours with a link to independent investigators.

[NCLefty]

29. You... you want us to call the Department of Justice to make them go after Romney?

[donco]

30. I would keep

this on the back burner until after the election.Gives us something to chew on until the mid terms.

[ksoze]

34. He is killing himself just fine - let it be suicide not murder