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DEA Appears to be Involved in Cover-Up
Denver agent changes story on potentially illegal campaigning activity
Mason Tvert | SAFER | 08/30/2006

PRESS RELEASE

DENVER - The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is changing its story regarding whether it was actively campaigning against a statewide ballot initiative to make marijuana legal for adults.

The Daily Camera in Boulder reported Sunday that in an E-mail sent from a U.S. Department of Justice account, DEA Special Agent Michael Moore appeared to be seeking a campaign manager for the "Colorado's Marijuana Information Committee." The message announced the "committee has $10K to launch campaign" and is "looking to employ a campaign manager to defeat a proposed November ballot initiative that would legalize the possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana for adults 21 years and older."

According to the article, Jeff Sweetin, the special agent heading up the Denver office of the DEA, said, "the $10,000 the committee has to spend came from private donations, including some from agents' own accounts." In the article, Sweetin also added that the law "allows his agency to get involved in that process to tell voters why they shouldn't decriminalize pot."

However, KMGH Channel 7 reported yesterday: "Sweetin said, despite reports to the contrary, his office is not campaigning against it or fundraising." When asked about the committee and the $10,000 mentioned in the E-mail, Sweetin said, "There is no $10,000 in money that I've ever heard of."

The statements by Agent Sweetin raise many questions, including the following:

1. The original e-mail referred to a "Colorado Marijuana Information Committee." There is no such committee registered with the Secretary of State's office (which is required before contributions are accepted). Why is this committee not registered?

2. Who is running this committee? Is DEA Agent Michael Moore a part of this committee? Is Agent Sweetin? (See possible inside information in #4, below)

3. Why did Sweetin say specifically that a "committee" had $10,000 and then later say, "There is no $10,000 in money that I've ever heard of"?

4. Sweetin said most recently that there "may" be organizations raising money to oppose the initiative. Earlier, in the Camera article, he specifically cited sources of money - "private donations, including some from agents' own accounts." Why did he previously divulge specific information about donors and is now saying that he doesn't know anything about the money?

5. Sweetin now says that the DEA is not campaigning against the initiative. Earlier, he seemed proud of the fact that the DEA was campaigning against the initiative, saying that the law allows the agency to tell citizens how to vote. What made Sweetin change his tune? Did someone above him realize they were potentially committing an illegal act?

6. If the DEA was committing an illegal act, are we sure they are done? Where are the contributions from private donors and DEA agents now?
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The SAFER Voter Education Fund is a lobbying organization dedicated to changing laws so that adults are not punished for making the rational, safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol.

Contact: Mason Tvert, campaign director, 720-255-4340

king cola

2 words for the DEA "FLIP FLOPPERS"

Toking Jedi

Now that this strange flip-floppery has been uncovered, it needs to be pursued. Newspapers and other news media need to jump on this and find out what's up. We on the left have to start using the tactics of the right-wing media conglomerates and pool resources to repeatedly attack specific issues over and over, like this one.

Hopefully, something along those lines will happen. I really think it should, considering how BIG of a story this could turn out to be. It could be potentially earth shattering. Not that I have my hopes up, though.

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