No politics, ICE agent just doing his job, attorney says
By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 1, 2008 at 11:41 a.m.
Updated April 1, 2008 at 11:54 p.m.
Cory Voorhis is charged with three misdemeanors.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Cory Voorhis was doing his job - not playing politics - when he ran names of illegal immigrants through a confidential crime database during the 2006 gubernatorial campaign, his attorney said Tuesday.
"Mr. Voorhis is not a political activist," William Taylor said in his opening statement. "He is dedicated to his mission."
Voorhis is on trial in federal court on three misdemeanor charges of exceeding authorized access to a government computer. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to three years in prison.
The charges stem from Voorhis' actions during the 2006 race between Republican Bob Beauprez and Democrat Bill Ritter, a former Denver district attorney who won office that fall.
Prosecutor Greg Phillips said in his opening statement that Voorhis called Beauprez's campaign manager after seeing Ritter quoted in a newspaper story as saying he was tough on illegal immigration.
Phillips said Voorhis met with campaign manager John Marshall and tipped him to deals Ritter had approved when he was district attorney in which illegal immigrants pleaded guilty to lesser charges to avoid deportation.
Using the lead provided by Voorhis, the Beauprez campaign checked courthouse records. Marshall then met with Voorhis again and gave him a list with seven highlighted names, Phillips said.
In September 2006, Voorhis ran five of the names through the National Crime Information Center database, giving the information he found to the Beauprez campaign, Phillips said.
Prosecutors say that Voorhis broke the law when he ran the names through the database because he was doing it for a political purpose. The database may be used only for law enforcement reasons.
The Beauprez campaign used the information to create an attack ad that exposed the deals Ritter approved, Phillips said.
Voorhis believed he was shining a light on an important issue - something that is part of his job description, Taylor said.
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Legislature Blog
Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.
-
Rocky multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Who's next?
Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.
-
Rocky year in photos
View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs
-
Shanahan's career
See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.
-
12 days of Drew
Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.
-
A dream fulfilled
A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
April 1, 2008
12:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
What a weasel. His job is not to assist political campaigns with attack material from confidential files... when it's HIS AGENCY that is forcing the plea deals by refusing to take custody of illegals for deportation and letting them back up in county jails.
Hey Cory, how about really doing your job and get your bosses to actually deport the criminals? Then local DAs and sheriffs won't have to resort tot he kind of crap your criticizing them for. What, too much time digging up dirt illegally to be bothered?
April 1, 2008
12:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
AWM writes:
If only more public service officers had the moral compass of Mr. Voorhis this country wouldn't be overrun with illegals! Individuals here illegally are criminals and they should be treated accordingly. We should be celebrating the fact that Mr. Voorhis had the courage and the backbone to expose the shaddy pratices of a corrupt DA rather than prosecuting him. This is a political lynching at best!
April 1, 2008
12:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
The weasels are the whiners like AC and others that excuse Ritter and his pro-criminal cronies that hand out "Get Out of Jail Free" cards to their buddies, and then whine when anyone REVEALS IT TO THE PUBLIC!
Why are Ritter and the Democrats so angry that the public knows what they're doing?
Why did Ritter and the Democrats try to COVERUP their slimey plea bargains?
Why are they prosecuting a man for REVEALING it to the public?
Simple. They KNOW the public finds such sleazy plea deals between Ritter and his criminal buddies repulsive.
April 1, 2008
1:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
davies writes:
Re: "Hey Cory, how about really doing your job and get your bosses to actually deport the criminals?" Sure, it's the guy's job to make his bosses do things, especially when it's such a minor issue. Now if you had directed that sentiment towards the U.S. Attorney prosecuting this case, it would make more sense to me.
The defendent DOES appear to be guilty, but let the punishment fit the offense: he deserves a reprimand in his personnel file, nothing more. This prosecution appears to have more political motivation behind it than did the original offense.
April 1, 2008
1:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
buffsblg writes:
Really rickyg, the public finds Ritter repulsive? Strange, these plea deals were front page news for weeks, Beauprez spent millions to publicize them and Ritter still destroyed Beauprez. It just kills you when the voters do not follow your so well articulated arguments doesn't it.
April 1, 2008
2:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Spencer writes:
How about if he went to jail AND got a medal. Would that appease everyone?
April 1, 2008
8:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
peachy0301 writes:
I hate to be picky, but this article still says that Cory is charged with 3 misdemeanor charges - one was dropped yesterday before the jury selection.
Cory is authorized to give information from this database to a congressman which Beaupreaz was at this time. His only mistake was calling the wrong phone number. He thought he was calling the congressional office not the campaign. Little point, but BIG impact. He did nothing wrong.
When Ritter was the Denver DA Denver was and still is a sanctuary city. Now with Ritter as governor Colorado is becoming a sanctuary state. By prosecuting Voorhis he is not only setting the example for any law enforcement personnel that they need to stop meddling with illegal immigrants, he is setting up the failure of the case against the Castorena crime family that excels in providing very good fake id. Cory was the lead investigator. By taking him down, Ritter weakens the case against them. Again, sanctuary state.