By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – An investigation by The Associated Press has found a Democratic group working to defeat President Bush hired felons to conduct door-to-door voter registration drives in Missouri and at least two other swing-states.
The group America Coming Together paid felons to conduct door-to-door voter registration drives in Missouri and at least two other swing states.
Some were convicted of sex offenses, assault and burglary.
America Coming Together, or ACT, says convicts deserve a second chance in society. It employs felons as vote-canvassers in major metro areas in Missouri, Florida, Ohio.
The hiring also may be going on in other states among the 17 the group is targeting in its drive.
Some of the felons live in halfway houses. At least four now are back in prison.
The AP reviewed federal campaign finance and state criminal records.
It found that the names and home-towns of dozens of ACT employees in Missouri, Florida and Ohio match those of people convicted of crimes such as burglary, forgery, drug dealing, assault and sex offenses.
The group works against the re-election of President Bush. But ACT is independent and not affiliated with the Kerry campaign.