What a difference two years makes.
Back in 2006, Tan Nguyen stood before voters in the 47th congressional district as a successful Vietnamese immigrant and businesman with a tough stance on immigration. He was poised to take out Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, he told reporters clutching polls that he said showed his potential.
Today, Nguyen stood before a federal judge, pleading poverty along with his innocence as he was arraigned on charges of obstructing a federal investigation.
During his ill-fated campaign, Nguyen landed on the national media landscape after his campaign sent out mailer to more than 14,000 Latinos registered as Democrats warning that immigrants couldn’t vote. The mailer - which he first denied and later defended - triggered an intense backlash from voter rights groups as well as a slew of law enforcement agencies.
Several legislators - including State Assemblyman Jose Solorio and Senator Barack Obama - noted the episode as the motivation behind legislation they introduced stiffening penalties for voter intimidation.
California’s attorney general eventually cleared Nguyen of intending to intimidate voters but federal prosecutors decided to charge him with impeding the work of investigators.
At today’s hearing, Nguyen asked federal judge Arthur Nakazato to appoint him a federal defender because he was broke.
Nakazato at first hesitated, mentioning a long list of properties listed as assets. But Amy Karlin, Nguyen’s defender, noted that all his properties “are heavily leveraged.”
Nakazato referenced a pre-trial report noting that Nguyen had liquidated an investment account with more than $100,000 to pay credit card debts as well as an investment group Nguyen led to do business in Vietnam.
Nakazato eventually agreed to appoint a public defender for Nguyen, but asked that he contribute $200 each month toward his defense.
Nguyen was released on a $5,000 bond and asked to surrender his passport.
His trial, estimated by government prosecutors to last one day, will begin on December 9 in federal court.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE 2 YEARS MAKE?
if he is guilty i hope they deport his ass.
Poor Tan, he is broke. Well he will not need any money where he is going so why cry about it. After spending some time in a cage they sould send him back to where he came from.
God! Don’t these people have anything better to do? The Feds are the most incompetent of government entities. They screw up the economy, spent trillions on nation building for desert monkeys, billions on busting marijuana dispensaries, and now this pathetic of a nothing case. It’s time to get rid of this administration just for good riddance sake.
So here we, the taxpayers, are footing the criminal defense bill for this crook/alleged criminal who tried to intimidate 16,000 Latino registered voters from voting. Is there not something wrong with this picture?
On October 1, 2008 the Register reported that Nguyen had retained James Riddet, a high priced federal defense attorney to represent him. (See article here: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nguyen-federal-mailer-2176503-campaign-state . )
Riddet’s law partner, Al Stokke, said Riddet was retained as of September 16, 2008.”
So did Riddet return to Nguyen his “retainer”? The State Bar requires the prompt refund of any monies not “earned” to prevent private attorneys from dumping clients.
Why should tax payers pay for Nguyen’s defense attorney if Nguyen has already paid Riddet but the retainer was not refunded?
It appears to me if Nguyen rolls over on the people in the Orange County Republican Party who gave him the money to pay for or advised him to send out the mailer like his former campaign manager, Tom Fuentes, Nguyen could probably work out some kind of deal for Ngueyn.
The feds are hot on the trail of political corruption in Orange County. Former Sheriff of OC, Michael Carona is going to trial in federal court on criminal charges as well. In fact Carona’s case may have already started.
Why not round up all the unethical, crooked, Latino-bashing, wealthy “officials” and power brokers in OC at one time?
Are you pulling my leg here?
Whoever heard of a crooked politician?
What next, crooked cops?
I agree with yvonne, Feds…you’ve got more important things to do for God’s sake! This guy obviously was not trying to intimidate legimate citizens or residents who legally can vote. He was trying to intimidate illegal immigrants from illegally voting. He has already been aquitted of any voter intimidation crime…what gives!!?
Noberto need to get his fact straight. Nguyen has a tough stance on ILLEGAL immigration. He’s totally in favor of legal immigration. Don’t twist the guy’s view by leaving out a crucial word. Repeat after me Noberto …….”ILLEGAL”…… What kind of immoral journalist are you to cheat and lie like that?
Don’t get me wrong I don’t like this Nguyen guy but I hate lying s.o.b journalists.
NorthCounty wrote on October 14th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
“I agree with yvonne, Feds…you’ve got more important things to do for God’s sake! This guy obviously was not trying to intimidate legimate citizens or residents who legally can vote. He was trying to intimidate illegal immigrants from illegally voting. He has already been aquitted of any voter intimidation crime…what gives!!?”
This alleged criminal, Nguyen, was indicted by the federal grand jury in Santa Ana for federal “obstruction of justice” charges and that is what he is set to go to trial on on December 9, 2008.
The CALIFORNIA State Attorney General concluded Nguyen had not violated STATE law so they packed up everything and shipped it over to the FEDERAL Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division for follow-up. The feds indicted Ngueyn for violation(s) of FEDERAL law.
Sometime after the 2006 election, the California state legislature changed STATE law making it easier to prosecute people who attempt to intimidate registered voters.
The 16,000 mailers that were sent to registered voters in Loretta Sanchez’s Congressional District were all legally registered. Assemblyman Jose Solorio received one of the letters. He was running for the California State Assembly when the letter was sent out to him.
Nguyen was never “acquitted” because he was never charged under state law. However, he is now charged under FEDERAL law and faces 9 years in FEDERAL prison.
If his defense attorney can get the FEDS to allow Nguyen to testify and roll over on Nguyen’s former campaign manager and any other Republicans who advised him to send out or paid for the sending out of the letter, Nguyen will probably be able to work out a favorable deal for himself.
The FEDS are tired of the history of political corruption in Orange County by the Republican Party and their candidates that goes back to the poll guards placed at voting stations designed to intimidate Hispanic voters.
The public should be demanding these unethical criminals be put in jail and the key locked away. They have no morals and there is nothing they will not do to stay in power.
According to an article appearing in the OC Register on October 1, 2008, Nguyen retained Jim Riddet, a high powered and expensive federal defense attorney. Riddet was quoted in the press in that article.
Now Nguyen appears in court today pleading poverty. So did Riddet refund to Nguyen his retainer? The State Bar requires a prompt refund of any monies not “earned” to prevent private attorneys from dumping clients.
Why are we the tax payers paying for Nguyen’s defense if he had the money to retain Riddet in September?
bob writes on October 14th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
“No(r)berto need(s) to get his fact straight. Nguyen has a tough stance on ILLEGAL immigration. He’s totally in favor of legal immigration. Don’t twist the guy’s view by leaving out a crucial word. Repeat after me Noberto …….”ILLEGAL”…… What kind of immoral journalist are you to cheat and lie like that?
Don’t get me wrong I don’t like this Nguyen guy but I hate lying s.o.b journalists.”
Nguyen is the one who is indicted. Not Norberto.
How would you know Nguyen’s position on immigration?
The word “illegal” is a LEGAL conclusion based on FEDERAL immigration law. It is a judicial determination made by a sworn federal magistrate who has a hearing, hears evidence, reads legal documents, does legal research and then…and only then….makes a JUDICIAL decision.
The word “illegal” is something the public, like you bob, banter around without any idea what you are talking about.
Enough said.
well. I am a latino that received that letter from Mr. Nguyen. That letter was clearly intimidating LATINO IMMIGRANTS “as the letter said”. The letter did not specified legal or illegal Immigrants. I think Mr Nguyen or his campaign group really screwed it. Would that be because some people refer to immigrants as “”all illegals”" I really think Mr Nguyen deserves what he is getting now. I really mean it. I was personally very offended with that letter, specially when my daughter (18) who was to vote for the first time) asked me what was that about.
Well Nguyen is right when it comes to ILLEGAL’s in this country. They don’t have the right to vote or even be in the USA. I don’t get all of the hate from the latino community. If there here ILLEGALLY then they know there felons and can’t vote so whats the big deal? O yes political correctness, This is going to crush the USA some day. Voter intimidation may have been a problem during the wild west day’s but I think he was just letting people know that if you’re not here legally then you can’t vote.
Sounds more like a public service announcement to me
so, can some one tell me why Mr. Nguyen didn’t say “Illegals can’t vote” instead of “LATINO Immigrants” should not vote? why latino immingrants? if you are from any other part of the world and reside illegally here… can you vote? according to Mr Nguyen, you could. I am a Latino Immigrant, US citizen for the past 12 years legal resident for the past 25… I guess I can legally vote…. being doing it for the past 12 years… is that correct Stiles?
Stiles wrote on October 14th, 2008 at 6:00 pm.
Well Nguyen is right when it comes to ILLEGAL’s in this country. They don’t have the right to vote or even be in the USA. I don’t get all of the hate from the latino community. If there here ILLEGALLY then they know there felons and can’t vote so whats the big deal? O yes political correctness, This is going to crush the USA some day. Voter intimidation may have been a problem during the wild west day’s but I think he was just letting people know that if you’re not here legally then you can’t vote.
Sounds more like a public service announcement to me”
Federal law prohibits any kind of “intimidation” of voters. All the people who received the letter were a legally registered voter including Assemblyman Solorio.
^^^Luis
Stick to the FACT please. The letter that was sent was written in Spanish, NOT English. The word that was used was “emigrado”. Not “immigrante”, not “immigrants”, and certainly not “LATINO immigrants”. That’s the fact. Don’t use words that were not in the letters into the discussion. And do not translate “emigrado” into the definition of your liking for the sake of your own argument. The state of California decided to drop the case of “voter” intimidation because they could not equate “emigrado” to “immigrants”.
Or rather they could not equate “emigrado” to “naturalized immigrants” —> VOTERS
My understanding is Nguyen is a naturalized American citizen having been born in Viet Nam. If he is convicted of the felony “obstruction of justice he will be transferred to immigration authorites AFTER he serves his time in a federal jail or prison and placed in deportation proceedings.
Historically, ever since around the time of the Viet Nam war, Viet Nam has refused to accept it’s citizens deported from the United States. Therefore Nguyen will have to find another country who will take him and/or he will have to work it out with the federal authorities what he can do at that point in his life.
In the past Vietnamese citizens were kept in small immigration cells forever and were not allowed to be out on an immigration bond while they were fighting their deportation proceedings. That has changed a bit but Nguyen will have to pay a high priced, very knowledgeable and very influential immigration attorney who specializes in this area of immigration law to assist him in his IMMIGRATION case.
There are no free attorneys in Immigration Court because violations of immigration law are not technically considered a crime. They are administrative violations…..violations of administrative law, not federal or state criminal laws.
I highly doubt if he’ll be deported. In most cases those who committed violence crimes are the ones who get deported. If found guilty, he’ll go to federal prison and pay a fine. Deportation seems extreme in this case.
I mean they don’t even deport many ILLEGAL aliens.
But if they do deport him, don’t drop him off in Mexico because he’ll just cross the border with the thousands of illegal aliens who do so every year. Wouldn’t that be something? haha lol
Aragorn:
If he is a Naturalized U.S. Citizen, there will be no removal (Deportation Proceedings). Because he is a U.S. Citizen. Unless he fraudulently entered. Doubtful…Other then missing that fact I am sure you seemed persuasive to some….
bob if Nguyen was addressing only illegal immigrants why did a city offical with a hispanic last name get one of those letters sent to his home.
Could it be because he was addressing it to all hispanic immigrants??
Even if he did there was nothing illegal about it. A stupid move? Yes! Did he break any law? No!
Actually, he did commit fraud by faking CCIR’s letterhead. CCIR seems to be on his side and is not suing him. It could’ve been worse for him.
Lupe said on October 15th, 2008 at 5:51 am
“I highly doubt if he’ll be deported. In most cases those who committed violence crimes are the ones who get deported. If found guilty, he’ll go to federal prison and pay a fine. Deportation seems extreme in this case.
Lupe…I know you are not an immigration attorney. How do you know if he will not be deported?
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Lupe then said on October 15th, 2008 at 5:54 am
“I mean they don’t even deport many ILLEGAL aliens”.
How would you know that? Also, they are not “illegal aliens”. They are “undocumented” immigrants much like your parents were.
The word “illegal” is a LEGAL conclusion made by a sworn ADMINISTRATIVE judge who can only come to that conclusion after hearing evidence at a judicial hearing, reading court and legal documents, researching the law and then….AND ONLY THEM makes a decision whether the person before them meets the criteria of having entered or being present in the U.S. iin violation of FEDERAL law. At that time s/he makes their decision, it is subject to review by a highter court.
The public, like you, banter the word “illegal” around having no idea what you are talking about .
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Bob Said on October 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am
“If he is a Naturalized U.S. Citizen, there will be no removal (Deportation Proceedings). Because he is a U.S. Citizen. Unless he fraudulently entered. Doubtful…Other then missing that fact I am sure you seemed persuasive to some….”
All prior reports re Nguyen indicate he is a naturalized citizen subject to deportation if he is convicted of a felony.
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Lupe then said on October 16th, 2008 at 12:52 am
“Even if he did there was nothing illegal about it. A stupid move? Yes! Did he break any law? No!”
The U.S. Department of Justice disagreed with your “legal” conclusion. They decided Nguyuen did commit a crime and indicted him.
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Then again Lupe said on October 16th, 2008 at 12:56 am
“Actually, he did commit fraud by faking CCIR’s letterhead. CCIR seems to be on his side and is not suing him. It could’ve been worse for him.”
Nguyen is facing 9 years in state prison, deportation from his adopted country, the U.S.A. , and he’s broke according to the article.
How much worse can it get?
You’re WRONG!!!! He’s being charged with something that has nothing to do with the legality of the letter. He’s indicted for obstruction of justice, which he alledgedly committed DURING the fed’s investigation. It’s an after-the-fact kinda thing, you know. They couldn’t charge him with ANYTHING directly regarding the letter. Nothing!! NADA!!! After 2 years….NOTHING!!! Obstruction of justice and voter intimidation are two entirely different charges. Apple and oranges, different animals as they say.
He’s facing 9 years in prison for LYING to the fed. NOT for sending the letter. Get it?????
^^^Aragorn
When you sneak in to this country illegally, you are an ILLEGAL ALIEN. No if and but about it!!!! All these “undocumented” BS’s are only used by Mexicans to fool the public into thinking that somehow a bunch of illegal aliens seem legit. Not fooling anybody.
Maybe just you, but that’s it.
Have you ever heard of an “Alien” card???? It’s given to legal immigrants when they first enter this country. That’s right! The word “Alien” is written right on the card.
Lupe said on October 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
“^^^Aragorn ….All these “undocumented” BS’s are only used by Mexicans to fool the public into thinking that somehow a bunch of illegal aliens seem legit.”
Lupe…your father was Mexican, right? You are Lupe Moreno, a current and/or former member of two hate groups, the Minutemmen and the California Coalition For Immgration Reform (CCIR). You are hardly in a position to comment on “Mexicans” since you obviously hate them as well as yourself. Otherwise…why would you join the groups, right?
With regard to the undocumented, a person who was not born in the United States has a right to enter U.S. at any time to visit family or tour the country as in be a tourist.
The U.S. depends on these individuals to spend their money within our borders. We like them to come and we welcome them with open arms asking them to give us every cent they have while they are in the country. They pay sales tax on everything they buy which then pays for the local fire department that comes to your house when your house is on fire. Their tax dollars pay for your medical care, your education and that of your children, your streets and roads, etc.
Therefore we want those “aliens” to come to the U.S. and feel welcome.
They do not come here to listen to your message of hate that somehow they are less than you because if they were not here the government would not be able to pay for the firemen and women who will try to save your life as well as your house when it starts burning to the ground.
Next time you see a foreigner, given them a big hug and a kiss and say “Welcome to America!!
I don’t see what is wrong with telling non citizens they can’t vote. I voted for Loretta in the past, but no more.
Illegal immigrants are the 2nd largest form of income to Mexico. They are not helping the American economy they are draining it.
We are Mexico’s welfare and prison system.
CNN: PALIN HITS OBAMA FOR TERRORIST CONNECTION
ENGLEWOOD, Colorado (CNN) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday slammed Sen. Barack Obama’s political relationship with a former anti-war radical, accusing him of associating “with terrorists who targeted their own country.”
We see America as the greatest force for good in this world,” Palin said at a fund-raising event in Colorado, adding, “Our opponent though, is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.”
Palin made similar comments later at a rally in Carson, California.
Obama’s Chicago, Illinois, home is in the same neighborhood as Bill Ayers, a founder of the radical Weather Underground, which was involved in several bombings in the early 1970s, including the Pentagon and the Capitol, and the two have met several times since Obama’s 1995 campaign for a state Senate seat.
Palin cited an article in Saturday’s New York Times about Obama’s relationship with Ayers, now 63. Riot and bomb conspiracy charges against Ayers were dropped in 1974, and he is now a professor of education at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
Obama and Ayers attended a meeting for a school reform project in 1995 and met again later that year when Ayers held a campaign event for Obama when then-Illinois state Sen. Alice Palmer, who planned to run for Congress, introduced the young community organizer as her chosen successor, campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said.
Both men also served on a charitable board together, he said. Labolt also said the two have not spoken by phone or exchanged e-mail messages since Obama came to the U.S. Senate in 2005 and last met more than a year ago when they encountered each other on the street in their Hyde Park neighborhood.
Well, when it comes to the word “immigrants”; everybody knows right away “legal or illegal immigrants” Under U.S. law states only U.S. citizens can vote, not U.S. immigrants can vote. So far, I did not see nobody mentions that Nguyen sent out letters saying “Latinos U.S. citizens cannot vote.” Nguyen was once time legal immigrant himself, how could he anti-immigrant; unless illegal immigrants. Nothing is wrong with anti-immigrants idealogy. Next, the word “emigrado” means immigrating not like “emigrante” means “immigrant”. The judge, Federal government, and everybody must look into it; under U.S. law only states U.S. citizens can vote; not immigrants can vote; therefore, Nguyen is not guilty.
To Lupe: I do not deny Alien Cards are given to legal immigrants; but the legal immigrant status can be taken away if he or she was illegal and criminal alien. Once natralized and became a U.S. citizen, he or she can vote. I’ve never heard immigrant can vote, but only U.S. citizen can vote. I was legal immigrant once time; became a U.S. citizen and vote. I believe that everyone has the same chance to come to the U.S., but come to the U.S. in a legal way and America will aways open and welcome. Keep in mind, American has every right to enforce and uphold American laws without any fears, intimidation, and retaliation from any group. It’s about rights and responsibilities.
“Well, when it comes to the word “immigrants”; everybody knows right away “legal or illegal immigrants” Under U.S. law states only U.S. citizens can vote, not U.S. immigrants can vote. So far, I did not see nobody mentions that Nguyen sent out letters saying “Latinos U.S. citizens cannot vote.” Nguyen was once time legal immigrant himself, how could he anti-immigrant; unless illegal immigrants. Nothing is wrong with anti-immigrants idealogy. Next, the word “emigrado” means immigrating not like “emigrante” means “immigrant”. The judge, Federal government, and everybody must look into it; under U.S. law only states U.S. citizens can vote; not immigrants can vote; therefore, Nguyen is not guilty.”
Unfortunately for former Congressional candidate Tan Nguyen, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, the California Secretary of State, the California State Police and the California State General’s office disagree(d) with your “legal conclusion”. Nguyen now faces 9 years in federal prison and deportation from the United States once he gets out of custody if he is convicted of his pending “obstruction of justice” charges.
On October 19th, 2008 at 7:20 pm TIM NGUYEN [said]:
“CNN: PALIN HITS OBAMA FOR TERRORIST CONNECTION
ENGLEWOOD, Colorado (CNN) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday slammed Sen. Barack Obama’s political relationship with a former anti-war radical, accusing him of associating “with terrorists who targeted their own country.”
We see America as the greatest force for good in this world,” Palin said at a fund-raising event in Colorado, adding, “Our opponent though, is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.”
Colin Powell said it was this irresponsible, malicious and irrelevant conduct by Palin, the Republican Party and John McCain’s campaign that led him to conclude John McCain was not the person the American people needed to lead the U.S. out of it’s current economic and other crises. It is for this exact conduct that Powell stated on Meet The Press over the weekend led him to conclude he would endorse and support the candidacy of Barack Obama. (See http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/powell-endorses-obama/?hp )
To Aragorn: It’s so sad and scary when U.S. law is not enforced and upheld correctly by someone because of political pressures. The law is the law as the law states; however, Nguyen can try to appeal to California or U.S. Supreme Court. Well, if the law does not enforce and uphold; how can a U.S. citizen carry out his or her right and responsibility to this country. Political pressures should not play in enforcing and upholding the laws of this country.
The word that was in the campaign letter referred to hispanics that were not citizens of the United States. The lib media took ahold of it and falsley translated the sentence. It’s good to see mestizos sticking together and crying racism over this. Taking this right out of the playbook of the blacks. What will blacks and mestizos do without the government and welfare?
Tan Nguyen is only a victim of Tim Whitacre and Rosie Avila, now he is paying for them.
So what happened? The trial was scheduled for Dec. 9. Any news?