Digest: $200,000 in grants linked to ACORN

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

$200,000 in grants linked to ACORN

While the Justice Department did not award any direct grants to ACORN between 2002 and 2009, it did fund one group that funneled money to the controversial advocacy group, an inspector general reported Friday in response to a congressional inquiry.

The department also gave one direct grant to an affiliate of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, and three other affiliates received sub-awards from Justice Department grantees. The grants and sub-awards to groups in New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Phoenix over the seven-year period were worth approximately $200,000.

Two of the sub-awards, worth $28,539, were not paid in full because of reported mismanagement of funds and disputes over expenses and record-keeping, the inspector general reported. It could not be determined what another sub-award for $20,000 was used for because of inadequate record-keeping.

The largest grant, for $138,130, came as the result of a congressional earmark and went to an ACORN affiliate working with youth in New York.

"Given the willingness of some ACORN employees to ignore the law, it comes as no surprise that the IG's report found several instances in which ACORN and its affiliates failed to adhere to proper procedures," said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), who in September had urged the investigation into possible grants to ACORN.

-- Garance Franke-Ruta

Sears Tower plot sentencing: Narseal Batiste, 35, the ringleader of a group of men convicted of plotting to destroy Chicago's Sears Tower and bomb FBI offices has been sentenced to 13 1/2 years in prison. Four other men were sent to prison but got less time than prosecutors sought.

Vote on stem-cell restrictions: The University of Nebraska's governing board on Friday voted down a proposal to restrict the school's rules governing embryonic stem-cell research beyond what the federal government allows.

Sanford impeachment up for consideration: South Carolina lawmakers plan to next week formally consider impeaching Gov. Mark Sanford, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison said Friday. He said he expects to have a resolution to impeach ready before Christmas for the full Judiciary Committee to consider.

Shootings on Saipan: A gunman killed two men, a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl before killing himself Thursday on the Pacific resort island of Saipan.

From news services