Right-wing lobbyist forges letters to congressman

Last month, when the American Clean Energy and Security Act was being considered by the House, Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Virginia) received at least 6 letters that appeared to be from organizations in his district opposing the bill.

But now it turns out that all of these letters are hoaxes. They were not-so-clever forgeries that tried to make it appear that these groups were against the proposed legislation.

These letters appeared to be from the local NAACP chapter and from a Hispanic organization called Creciendo Juntos. They even used the groups' logos.

But the letters were phony. In fact, the NAACP says that it supported the very bill that the letter opposed.

It turns out that at least one of the letters came from someone employed by Bonner & Associates, a conservative Washington lobbying firm with a history of opposing climate change legislation and prescription drug bills. This lobbying firm has been employed by major corporations like Pfizer.

The other letters were faxed from a D.C.-area company, but this firm said that at least 60 employees have fax machine access.

If we can find out which Bonner & Associates lobbyist was also employed by the other firm, we've got our culprit.

You do realize that the fact that one of the letters was sent through the mail constitutes mail fraud, don't you? And you do realize that the rest were wire fraud, right? I hope whoever is behind this hoax is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

(Source: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/local_govtpolitics/article/letters_sent_to_perriello_called_fakes._area_advocates_names_forged_by_d.c./43439)