But Howard learned that fighting people like Roberti was a contact sport. During the petition campaign to force the recall election, the firm getting signed petitions for Citizens Against Corruption explained that Roberti had made them
too good an offer.
Moreover, the recall Chairman, Bill Dominguez, was personally victimized. His firearms collection was stolen from his house. Even though Dominguez never reported the theft to the press, Roberti's campaign began gloating within hours that an "arsenal" had been stolen.
Howard received death threats. CAC Chairman Richard Carone and his wife received lewd and threatening calls. Donors complained of harassment. CAC headquarters was burglarized, and Roberti claimed to have a "mole" in the
campaign. It appeared that part of CAC's mailing list had been stolen and that political hate mail was being sent to members.
In view of Roberti's great power, his dirty colleagues and the very real threats being made, Howard chose to withhold the full identities of CAC's donors, although the donation amounts were reported. This decision was consistent with Supreme Court rulings that have held that disclosure must be waived in such conditions.
The Fair Political Practices Commission did not see it that way. It held that donor identities should have been reported along with all the volunteers who re-mailed anti-Roberti letters. Contrary to the law that prohibits stacking by one party, two of the five Commission seats were vacant during the time in question, enabling Roberti's pals to do their evil deeds in darkness.
Now Howard is in court. The FPPC wants to make the $808,000 fine a court judgment. The trial judge is none other than Lloyd Connelly, a former anti-gun assemblyman and political ally of Mike Roos and David Roberti. Connelly has
admitted that Roos donated $5,000 to one of his campaigns, and that Roberti paid $12,000 to Connelly's law firm.
But, Judge Connelly says that there is no conflict here, and that is why he said nothing of it until he was confronted with it. And of course, he is not willing to recuse himself.
The anti-gun extremists in California are trying to do to Howard what he did to Roberti. But whereas Howard worked through the electoral process with money voluntarily given for the cause, Roberti, Roos and Connelly are using tax
money to conduct a vendetta through the machinery of government.
Please step up to the plate. Don't let Russ Howard be hung out to dry. He desperately needs funds to pay his legal bills.
You can get a tax deduction for helping Howard by writing out a check to Gun Owners Foundation and writing Howard on the memo line. Every dollar that comes in for Howard will go out to him.
You can donate by clicking here, or calling GOF (using GOA's toll free number) at 888-886-GUNS. Or, you can print out the response form below.
Please give as much as you can. Russ Howard desperately needs your help. And, please, forward this message to as many others as you can.
To make a tax-deductible contribution through Gun Owners Foundation for Russ Howard, clicking here.
To contribute by mail or fax, please print out the form below.
Reply Form
To: Larry Pratt
Gun Owners Foundation
8001 Forbes Place
Springfield, VA 22151
703-321-8585
fax: 321-8408
[email protected] ^
Money is cheaper than BLOOD.
The Fight For Freedom.
He is the ONE who got rid of roberti