Former Obama Labor Secretary Caught on Tape Illegally Shaking Down Donors

Obama’s former Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis, has been caught on tape illegally soliciting campaign contributions for Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign.

A recording of a voicemail, obtained by the House Oversight Committee, was released on Wednesday. Solis says in her voicemail that what she’s saying is “off the record”:
“Hi, this is Hilda Solis calling, um, just calling you off-the-record here—Wanted to ask you if you could, um, help us get folks organized to come to a fundraiser that we’re doing for Organizing for America for Obama campaign on Friday at La Fonda at 6 PM.”
“Ruben Smith, an attorney, and his staff are helping us put this together. There’s a lot of folks that we know who are coming,” Solis continued in the recording. “But I wanted to ask you if you might help contribute or get other folks to help out,” she said explaining that she and Smith were “good friends.” “We’re just trying to raise money to show that we have support,” she said.

The fundraising call is a violation of the Hatch Act, which specifically prohibits political activity on government time.

According to OpenSecrets.org, there is a “Ruben Smith” from Aliso Viejo, CA, who is a major Obama “bundler.” Open Secrets lists Smith as being with the law firm AlvaradoSmith.

In the recording, Solis begins to gives out Smith’s phone number, which the committee blocked all but the (714) area code. AlvaradoSmith’s Orange County, CA, office has the same area code and lists Smith as the “Managing Shareholder of the Firm.”

The House Oversight Committee did not disclose who Solis’s call was made to.


http://www.tpnn.com/2014/07/17/vide...caught-on-tape-illegally-shaking-down-donors/