Inquiry has ICE agent in 'shock'
Judge denies bid to block comments from '06 guv race
By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 12:30 a.m., January 15, 2008
Updated 10:55 a.m., January 15, 2008
Cory Voorhis said he gave a "limited amount" of data and that it was public.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of illegally supplying information to Republican Bob Beauprez's gubernatorial campaign testified Monday that he was surprised and "extremely worried" when he became the target of a criminal investigation.
"I was in complete shock about the whole thing," said Cory Voorhis, 39.
Voorhis said he gave a Beauprez staffer "a limited amount of information" about illegal immigrants, and only information that was public.
"I knew I couldn't share with them the (non-public) information," he said.
Federal prosecutors say Voorhis used the National Crime Information Center database to look up criminal histories of illegal immigrants who received plea deals from Bill Ritter when he was the Denver district attorney.
Beauprez's campaign then used the information - which is to be accessed for law enforcement purposes only - in attack ads against Ritter, the Democrat who defeated Beauprez in the 2006 race, prosecutors allege.
Voorhis is charged with three counts of exceeding authorized access to government computers, a misdemeanor. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a $300,000 fine or both if convicted.
Voorhis took the witness stand during a hearing on a motion to suppress statements he made to his supervisors.
U.S. District Judge John Kane denied the motion to suppress Voorhis' statements and any evidence collected from his computers or paperwork.
Voorhis said he contacted John Marshall, Beauprez's spokesman and campaign manager, and told him "what to look for" after reading articles in the newspaper about the governor's race.
He later received a package from Marshall with eight names, Voorhis said.
Marshall wanted him to look up whether the immigrants committed other crimes, Voorhis said. But he testified that he told Marshall he could only tell him if the immigrants were in the country legally.
Shortly after the ad aired, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI began investigating whether the database had been illegally accessed.
At an October 2006 news conference, both Beauprez and Marshall said they did not know that the data might be illegal.
Around that same time, Voorhis said, Marshall recommended Voorhis retain lawyer Mike Norton, a former U.S. attorney for Colorado and the husband of then-Lt. Gov. Jane Norton.
Several supporters said Monday that Voorhis - a father of two who served in the Army and has worked for the border patrol and ICE for more than 15 years - was being unfairly targeted.
"It's political retaliation," said Michael Riebau, a former Department of Homeland Security agent and spokesman for Voorhis' legal defense fund.
The trial is scheduled for Feb. 4. Voorhis is on paid administrative leave.
burnetts@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5343
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January 15, 2008
7:06 a.m.
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vudumom writes:
This is a payback for someone who exposed Ritter and his D.A. office for what they were doing behind the public's back.They were breaking law after law and allowing criminal illegal aliens open access to Colorado and a get out of jail free card to prey upon the citizens.What's an illegal gotta do to get arrested and charged with something,kill a cop?
If they are going after Voorhis ,then when they are done their needs to be a Grand Jury seated to investigate Ritter and the D.A.'s office.
I think that is called two wrongs don't make a right,so both wrongs need to be investigated.
I also think what Voorhis did should fall under the whistle blower act.Ritter got caught with his pants down and now is trying to use his long arm of the law to convict a U.S. citizen for exposing him while he let thousands of illegals commit crimes,some felonies and knocked them down to Agricultural Trespass,which is totally ridiculous.Shame on Ritter and his vendetta on a man that exposed him for wht he his a hypocrite,a terrible D.A. and a waste of tax payer money.How anyone could have put him in the Governor's seat after that is beyond me. Someone that dishonest,someone who could care less about the safety of it's citizens should not be a Governor.How can he possibly be trusted?
January 15, 2008
7:34 a.m.
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justajob writes:
Using the NCIC/CCIC criminal data base for personal use is against the law. Any person who has access to this information has had that drilled into their head, and most agencies require you to sign a legal document stating you are aware of the consequences. Over the years, many people have asked me to "just tell if they're a criminal" info on neighbors, co-workers, boyfriends, etc. I have lost count of how many times I've said no. People think that it's public information, it's not. You are given a log on to the data base that is specific to you, so, if Voorhis did use his sign in to look up info on a list, that info is easily traced. Law Enforcement is and should be held to a higher standard, regardless of your political leanings.
January 15, 2008
8:54 a.m.
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elaineb writes:
What justabjob said is true. It is too bad that Voorhis caved in to the pressure or whatever. The Beauprez team could have easily paid CBI to get the information (which can be public, if done legally). Beauprez used Voorhis and now he is going to have to pay the price.
January 15, 2008
8:58 a.m.
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blacksho89 writes:
Agreed that Law Enforcement should be held to a higher standard.
This includes Bill Ritter ( former District Attorney), Mitch Morrissey (DA).
Ritter got caught in a lie, and is using his political power to hammer the whistleblower. Morrissey accessed the same database and passed the info on to Ritter's people to help Ritter out. Why aren't Mitch and Bill on trial?
January 15, 2008
10:50 a.m.
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buffsblg writes:
Just a moment of sanity here, the prosecution is by the Federal authorities who work for a REPUBLICAN U.S. Attorney in a Republican DOJ that reports to a Republican Attorney General who is a yes man operative for a Republican president. Just how do you loudmouths think that a Democratic governor in a swing state got all these Republicans to do him a favor? Your conspiracy theories are ridiculous and on par with Area 51 UFO nutcases.
This guy broke the law and and violated his oath. I notice that none of you deny it, you just justify it. Seems all that right wing "morality" goes out the door when it is your people who ignore the law, see e.g. Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, etc. Ends justify the means for the conservatives.
January 15, 2008
11:25 a.m.
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Theoldguy writes:
buffsblg
Whoa! I didn't weigh in just yet. A law enforcement officer that does something illegal is guilty and I would love to be the one that supplies the sword for him to fall on. I won't justify a cop taking advantage of a citizen's intelligence or supplying information to another. Now what needs to be done is to question your sitting governor. And stop allowing second place morality.
January 15, 2008
5:22 p.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
Funny how all the morons calling for Voorhis to pay the price, so quickly change their position when they're asked about Ritter and his Democrat cronies doing the exact same act. But then they lack the IQ to see the hypocrisy in their own flip-flopping positions on the issue.
January 15, 2008
5:27 p.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
"This guy broke the law and and violated his oath. "
So much for the concept of "innocent until proven guilty". But then the accused is considered a Republican, so that is enough for the lynch mob (aka lower IQ quadrant) to be convinced he "broke the law" before there is even a trial.
Strange how the same bunch of hypocritical nuts refuse to even consider investigating Ritter and his Democrat cronies that have publicly admitted they did the same thing.
January 15, 2008
6:11 p.m.
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buffsblg writes:
Really, where is the evidence Ritter did this other than your paranoid anti democratic mind. You are correct, Voorhies is innocent until proven guilty and I should have kept in mind that despite his confession, he remains only charged. I got caught up in challenging those who spout conspiracy theories. If you have evidence, not political hatred, but evidence that Ritter got into NCIC, an investigation is warranted. However, I find it hard to believe that a DOJ who fired U.S. Attorneys for not prosecuting enough Democrats is letting Ritter walk.
January 15, 2008
6:27 p.m.
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buffsblg writes:
I would point out the fact that Scooter Libby was guilty did not really mean much did it. If this guy is found guilty, maybe he can get off like Scooter did.