Updated 3x Source: Progress Kentucky Behind Mitch McConnell Campaign Recording

[DonViejo]

Last edited Thu Apr 11, 2013, 02:48 PM - Edit history (3)

Source: WFPL-News

By PHILLIP M. BAILEY, KENNY COLSTON AND GABE BULLARD

A secret recording of a campaign strategy session between U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and his advisors was taped by leaders of the Progress Kentucky super PAC, says a longtime local Democratic operative.

Mother Jones Magazine released the tape this week. The meeting itself took place on Feb. 2.

Jacob Conway, who is on the executive committee of the Jefferson County Democratic Party, says that day, Shawn Reilly and Curtis Morrison, who founded and volunteered for Progress Kentucky, respectively, bragged to him about how they recorded the meeting.

Conway says neither the local nor the state Democratic party had any part in the incident.

-snip-

Read more: http://wfpl.org/post/source-progress-kentucky-behind-mitch-mcconnell-campaign-recording

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Local Dem Says He Outed Progress Kentucky To Protect The Party (VIDEO)

The Democratic official who's claiming that two members of the group Progress Kentucky were behind the recordings of a secret meeting between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and campaign aides said Thursday that he made the information public for the good of his party.

Jacob Conway, who sits on the executive committee of the Jefferson County, Ky. Democratic Party, told the public radio station WFPL that Shawn Reilly and Curtis Morrison of Progress Kentucky bragged to him about recording the meeting, which was held Feb. 2 at a newly opened McConnell campaign office in Louisville, Ky. In one of the recordings, which were obtained by Mother Jones, an aide to McConnell can be heard discussing Ashley Judd's history with depression and how it might be exploited in next year's campaign.

Shortly after WFPL broke the story on Thursday afternoon, Conway told Fox News Channel's Megyn Kelly that he didn't want the actions by Reilly and Morrison to inflict damage on Democrats in Kentucky.

"The only reason that I came forrward with what I knew was I was trying to protect the Democratic Party," Conway said. "I believe in our party's values, and I was doing what I thought was best for the party because I did not want their bad behavior, their poor mistakes — I shouldn't say "bad behavior" — their mistakes, their lack of judgment to hurt our party's efforts here in the state Kentucky and in Jefferson County, here in Louisville."

-snip-

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/local-dem-says-he-outed-progress-kentucky-to

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FBI Obtained Surveillance From McConnell’s Campaign Office Building

PEMA LEVY 2:26 PM EDT, THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2013

The FBI has twice visited Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) campaign office and acquired surveillance footage from the lobby of the building where McConnell has campaign offices on the second floor, McConnell campaign manager Jesse Benton told Fox News Thursday.

Benton said that the FBI has not asked the campaign about Progress Kentucky, the group suspected of making the recording.

"I think the FBI's doing a wonderful job," Benton said. "They've been to our office now twice. I believe they've obtained some video surveillance equipment and they assure me they're taking this very seriously and working to make sure whoever did this was brought to justice."

"They think that they will have some substantial progress to be making some announcements very soon," Benton said of the FBI investigation.

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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/fbi-obtained-surveillance-from-mcconnells-campaign-office-building

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David Corn On Progress Kentucky Allegations: ‘Can’t Say Much Now’

Mother Jones' David Corn said Thursday that he has no comment on the report that two members of the group Progress Kentucky were behind the recordings of the secret meeting involving Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and campaign aides.

"I don't comment on confidential sources," Corn told TPM in an email. "Can't say much now."

It was Corn who reported on the recordings earlier this week. In one of the recordings, a McConnell aide can be heard discussing Ashley Judd's history with depression and how it might play in a campaign. McConnell's camp maintained all along that the meeting was recorded through a Watergate-style bugging operation, an assertion that Corn denied.

Jacob Conway, who sits on the executive committee of the Jefferson County, Ky. Democratic Party, told Kentucky NPR affiliate WFPL that Shawn Reilly and Curtis Morrison of Progress Kentucky bragged to him about recording the meeting. Conway subsequently told Fox News that he made the information public for the sake of the Democratic Party.

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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/david-corn-on-progress-kentucky-allegations-cant-say

[Iliyah]

1. Then one of these persons was

directly inside the meeting huh. I smell a rat.

[hrmjustin]

2. If they bugged this meeting and they admitted to this guy than they are in serious trouble.

[DonViejo]

3. The full article explains...

how the recording was made.

[GoCubsGo]

10. It doesn't sound like they bugged it.

It sounds like they stood out in the hallway and recorded it. Apparently, the room was not as sound-proof as its occupants thought.

[hrmjustin]

11. Than they might be able to get away with it.

But it does reinforce to people that MCconnell is a scallywag.

[premium]

14. Which, if I read KY law correctly,

is still illegal unless you have the permission of the party being recorded.
I imagine the FBI will figure it out.

[GoCubsGo]

20. As I understand it...

Recording in a public setting is not illegal, and the hallways of public buildings are public settings. It will be interesting to see how this one gets decided.

[hrmjustin]

21. My guess is they won't get in legal trouble, but they might make them sweat it for a period of time.

[premium]

22. You're probably right,

there might be just enough grey area in the law for these 2 to wiggle out of any charges.

[hrmjustin]

24. I wonder how this guy who outed them is going to be treated.

He may really be trying to protect the party but he may be in the dog house.

[premium]

26. I think he wasn't taking any chances that the local and state Dem Party

would become embroiled in what could possibly become a serious matter, especially now that the FBI is involved.

I really don't think he'll face any backlash from the party, at least, I would hope not.

[LiberalFighter]

29. I have two issues with the guy doing the outing.

If he wasn't doing directly on behalf of the county party then he had no business saying anything. Unless that person is the regular go to person assigned by the county party he had no business.

The second issue I have is for him to be talking to the local Fox news reporters.

[24601]

34. Why would anyone have issues with a whistle blower, regardless of party, who went public with

information about a potential violation of laws protecting people from illegal recordings?

[LiberalFighter]

35. I wouldn't have a problem whistleblowing something like that but unless he

was the designated spokesperson I don't think he should be speaking on their behalf.

[WinniSkipper]

39. Do you think this is whistle blowing?

McConnell is a low-life. No surprise there. But what was recorded goes on in every campaign, on both sides of the isle. While the tactics discussed may not be appealing - this is what happens in ALL campaigns

[premium]

23. You could very well be right.

I will be interesting to see how the law is interpreted considering that the McConnell bunch were in a room, door closed and locked.

[Sanity Claws]

4. Something doesn't sound right here.

Why would Conway say this?
Is there a dispute between the local Democrats and the Progress Kentucky super Pac?

In the immortal words of Aretha Franklin, "who's zoomin' who?"
(My inner grammar Nazi really wants to change that to "Who's zooming whom?&quot

[premium]

6. Probably because of the FBI's involvement,

he wants to distance himself and the local Dem. party from any possible charges that may stem from this recording.

[hrmjustin]

8. That is an interesting question.

Maybe he wanted it to be clear the democratic party had nothing to do with it. The fact that Mcconnell is a sleazy inhuman jerk is not a surprise to KY but they might not like the fact he was bugged. This might have been his reasoning. I am surprised the two people who allegedly recorded this would tell anyone.

[freshwest]

5. I'm not sure how helpful this news is. For whatever reasons, Judd won't run.

[ZRT2209]

7. sounds like a frame job to me, a la Dan Rather

[hrmjustin]

12. Dan Rather never framed anyone.

[Isoldeblue]

15. No, he didn't. But he may

have been set-up on that Bush military record story....

[hrmjustin]

18. Yes I agree.

I misunderstood the post.

[ZRT2209]

16. I mean that Dan Rather GOT framed....

[hrmjustin]

17. Ok sorry i got that wrong.

[0rganism]

9. so it wasn't a "Nixonian" bugging of McConnell's offices, then?

Apparently, the guys from Progress Kentucky just wandered in and heard the conversation from a hallway outside a conference room.
When can we expect Sen. McConnell's retraction?

[premium]

13. These 2 guys could still be in serious trouble,

as they didn't get the permission of those in the meeting to audio record them.

[csziggy]

19. From the first link in the OP

Kentucky law says it is a felony “to overhear, record amplify or transmit any part of a wire or oral communication of others without the consent of at least one party thereto by means of any electric, mechanical or other device."

But if the conversation was audible from a hallway, it's disputable whether recording qualifies as eavesdropping.
wfpl.org/post/source-progress-kentucky-behind-mitch-mcconnell-campaign-recording

So it may be a gray area. I expect this will end up in the courts.

[premium]

25. I suspect you're right. nt.

[LeftInTX]

27. The audio quality of the tape was excellent

Sounded like they were speaking into a mic.

But, I don't know about this stuff.
I'm sure the FBI will be able to determine whether they can reproduce the same quality from the hall.

[LiberalFighter]

36. Wouldn't lack of consent of at least one party require the person not recording & not be present?

That would mean a recording device or bug was placed in the room and activated to record. And anyone with knowledge of the device would not be within hearing range of the conversation.

[0rganism]

33. even so, it's not a bug, it's not a break-in, it's not "Nixonian" at all

The most Nixonian thing about this incident is McConnell and his campaign staff planning the dirty tricks to use in assassinating his opponents' characters, and apparently that's standard practice these days anyway.

He accused "the left" of "Nixonian" tactics. He owes the nation a retraction. Think we'll get one?

[csziggy]

37. What IS Nixonian is that Mitch used congressional staff to do his dirty work

See the link below about the ethics complaint because McConnell seems to have used aides from his government office to do the research on Judd. This should be fun!

[groundloop]

28. What REALLY SUCKS is that now poor poor Mitch McConnel is the victim

Never mind that he was plotting how to trash Ashley Judd and others, looking for ways to dig up dirt on them. Never mind that he's a lying sleazebag. Poor poor Mitch had his office bugged by the nasty lefties.

[hrmjustin]

30. You know he will play the victim.

Makes me sick.

[ZRT2209]

31. Does Mitch EVER do work for the American people, or is it all about holding his seat?

[Tx4obama]

32. A related update below

Mitch McConnell Hit With Ethics Complaint Over Leaked Ashley Judd Tape

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251299000

[Revanchist]

38. If this turns out to be true

If this turns out to be true what does it mean for the FBI case? I would be surprised if an illegally obtained recording would be admissible in a court case being fruit of the poisonous tree and all could this derail the entire investigation?