They spy with a pre-determined narrative in mind. They have collected a large database of questionable details on millions of Americans. They share their thinly connected findings with network of subscribers for their "reports". They can smear and spin with the protection of the shadows. It is not a surprise that John Rees and Jack Abramoff go way back. And it is not a surprise that they worked together. In fact, it makes perfect sense that Abramoff was on the Board of the Maldon Institute.
Abramoff was very concerned a decade ago with discrediting anti-sweatshop activists and anybody who called for corporate accountability. I’m certain that Jack’s sweatshop owning patrons were pleased with the work of the Maldon Institute as they "investigated" groups like Sweatshop Watch, UNITE and United Students Against Sweatshops. Abramoff’s 2000 billing invoices for the sweatshop protecting government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands included these items (emphasis added):
March 2000
• Monitored anti-sweatshop movement activities and alerted Hill contact, of inaccuracies and misstatements in same.April 2000
• Continued monitoring of anti sweatshop group activates, including campus and union Organizing activities.May 2000
• Continued monitoring of anti sweatshop groups; meetings with public policy organization doing research on same.
There were more entries. And this is only a fragment of detail from one of Jack’s clients. I think I am on safe ground to identify the "public policy organization doing research" as the Maldon Institute. When Jack or his clients or his Party needed some domestic espionage, I am certain they contracted John Rees and his network of spies.
This is a doorway into a much larger scandal. I think that there are many case of domestic spying that have been laid at the feet of this or that law enforcement agencies, that mask the involvement of this network of partisan spies for hire.
In my home State of Maryland, a recent case stands out as a possible example. Recently, it was exposed that the Maryland State Police under former Governor Robert Ehrlich was infiltrating and spying on activists opposing the death penalty and other groups opposing the War in Iraq. The ACLU of Maryland sued and won the release of some State Police records of the spying (you can see a PDF of these documents here).
This case has signs of the Maldon Institute all over it. First, it completely fits their three decades old MO. Second, the Maldon Institute is located in Baltimore, Maryland and Rees, Abramoff and the gang would have been big supporters of Ehrlich. Investigating progressive groups with possible links to Mayor O’Malley in Baltimore would have been a no brainer for these guys. And Erhlich’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Edward Miller used to run Grassroots Interactive, one of Abramoff’s front companies before he joined Baby Bob’s staff (more details are here). I’ll bet that, like the Great Philly Puppet Raid, there is a tie between the Maldon Institute and this latest case of domestic spying. I wouldn’t be surprise to find them involved in many other recent stories as well.
Sure, on one hand, these Conservatives might get various government employees of law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal level to spy of citizens through fear and rumor. It has already happened. But, on the other hand, if they are true to their grifter, anti-government, anti-civil society roots, they would want to "privatize" the spying function and reward their friends. It is what Conservatives do when they are in charge.
It is worth noting that we are fighting to take back our Country. It has been captured and held hostage by a gang of crooks dedicated to the enrichment of their corporate patrons and the destruction of our liberties. Jack Abramoff was their bagman. John Rees was their domestic spymaster and fearmonger for hire. There are many others who worked with these two. They all need to be exposed and defeated.
The task is big, but we have the power to do it. Yes we can!
If we want to stop domestic spying, we will have to expose these private groups like the Maldon Institute. Man, this web of corruption never ceases to amaze.
I thought you might want to know.
Cheers
