Justice Dept. inspector general tells lawmaker he’s reviewing ACORN’s role with agency

IG reviews ACORN’s involvement with Justice Dept

WASHINGTON — An internal watchdog at the Justice Department said Monday he was reviewing the agency’s involvement with the activist group ACORN.

ACORN has come under fire for a hidden camera video involving a couple posing as a prostitute and her pimp. On the video, two ACORN workers apparently advise the couple to lie about her profession and launder her earnings to get housing aid.

Conservatives have called for a criminal investigation of the group.

Inspector General Glenn Fine wrote Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, that his office would examine whether ACORN sought or received any Justice Department grant money, or conducted any reviews of ACORN’s use of such money.

More than a dozen state and local authorities are also scrutinizing ACORN, including Maryland’s attorney general.