Friday, June 27, 2014

Cameron County Judge Candidate Joe Rivera's Shocking Campaign Finance Law Violations!



Eight Years of Joe G. Rivera Campaign
Finance Reports(7/06-2/14)

For the better part of eight years, and perhaps much longer, Joe G. Rivera has recorded on his Campaign Finance Reports  a Political Action Committee to receive campaign contributions, "The Friends of Joe Rivera."  

Such a Political Action Committee is not registered with the Cameron County Election Office and therefore does not exist.  Any monies contributed to such an illegal, unauthorized P.A.C. should be returned. 


In his most recent Campaign Finance Report, Joe G. Rivera lists a new P.A.C., "Vote to Elect Joe G. Rivera County Judge." That Political Action Committee is not registered with the Cameron County Election Office and therefore does not exist.  Monies contributed to such an illegal, unauthorized P.A.C. should be returned to the donor. 


Otis Powers, Listed as
Rivera's Campaign
Treasurer, but not
registered with state.
A basic requirement to run for public office is the designating and registering of a campaign treasurer. Until this recent campaign, Joe Rivera listed himself as campaign treasurer, which is legal as long as you register that appointment.  In the current campaign, Rivera lists Otis Powers as his campaign treasurer, but Rivera has not registered that appointment with the Cameron County Election Office as required by law.

Illegal Joe G. Rivera Campaign Sign

Additionally, Rivera's campaign signs, push cards and other campaign materials listing his unregistered P.A.C. are illegal.


Joe Rivera
All of the above is not just sloppy, irresponsible bookkeeping, but illegal, unethical.  In Rivera's case, we can't simply excuse him as new to public office. He's been County Clerk for 36 years.  His noncompliance reflects a certain arrogance as if the rules do not apply to him, just other candidates.  


From the editor:  The original version of this article stated that Joe G. Rivera had not filed his P.A.C. with the Texas Ethics Commission.  My source called to inform me that the requirement is to file with the Cameron County Election Office, not the TEC.

The source claims that as of "a few days ago" no P.A.C. had been filed.

  

90 comments:

  1. The stinking, lousy Brownsville Herald will never print this story. Thank you for keeping us informed Mr. Barton.

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    Replies
    1. Nice comment, Jim. Makes you an idiot, too.

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  2. Really makes me want to trust him as the County Judge ........ NOT!!!!

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  3. Otis Powers is a book keeper, he should re-evaluate his career if this is the way he takes care of books.

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  4. Bobby Cervantes has Alex Dominguez as the candidate running for an elected office as the one with the most violations in regard to filing election reports. Where does this one rank?

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    Replies
    1. This is far worse.

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    2. So says Morgan "Vote KasKKos" Graham ^^^^^^

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    3. That wasn't me, but you are invited too. Wednesday. VICC. Noon. And if you have a problem with Judge Cascos, stop being a little coward and say it to his face. He is man enough to be face to face with people, which is more than. I can say for all of you.

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    4. LULZ! Ol' Morgan's frothing at the mouth. Rivera's got his kook in Pat, now KasKKos has his too. Hey KasKKos Was it hard to find a nut in the RepubliKKKan party? Does she work for El Diablito too?

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    5. That wasn't me either

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  5. This is dirty politics by the idiot Karlos Kaskos

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    Replies
    1. So you idea of "clean politics" is sweeping this under the rug? You are part of the problem because you want blissful ignorance provided you benefit from it.

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    2. Morgan didn't sign again like she did a few minutes later.

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    3. Hey Roman, why don't you sign? You are obsessed with other people and bringing them up left and right. If you are so worried about people not signing their names, why are you hiding behind "anonymous" and talking about how smart and busy you are? What a joke you are.

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    4. Is this Morgan and James tag teaming? Morgan you know it isn't Roman commenting. It's tag team sock-puppeting. James writes something stupid, so Morgan can take the high ground. I guess it took 2 of them to make one brain. Pretty pathetic really. It's amateur hour. And this is what Carlos has to work with?

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    5. Morgan, you seem awfully obsessed with Roman. Maybe you need more to occupy your day than being Frank's puppet. Maybe you should get a job. BTW, remember to sign your posts.

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    6. This isn't Morgan. Guess again. Now who is obsessed? Roman's name comes up once and you squeal like a pig. You people say her name every chance you get. You can keep your Adrian Babosos and your Romano Cheese, but you can't try to guess somebody else?

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    7. Is it Jamesie Ross, Morgan's fat pool boy?

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    8. Leave James Ross alone. He has nothing to do with this. He also works his ass off for the party. What do you bring to the table other than discord? This kid is serving our country, and is going to be fighting for what we believe in, and you are going to be sitting on your butt posting anonymously like the hateful, obsessed, vicious little snake you are. I am not posting anonymously. James is not either. You people are, and are so trashy that you started using my name too. I tried to take the high road, but frankly it does the truth disservice to not be honest about the fact that you are malicious little guttersnipes wasting space on the Internet.

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    9. Also, very few people have ever been to my home and know what I have. I try to protect my family from filth that does things like this. So, Mr. Or Ms. Anonymous, you are quickly shortening the list of possibilities as few know I even have a pool. Dummy.

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    10. As I said, we will be at VICC at noon. Come and say it to my face. Of you have nothing to hide behind, like a keyboard amd a monitor, you might not be man, or woman enough, to do it. I have no problem with owning what I say and do. So do it.

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    11. VICC at noon. Wednesday. Be there.

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    12. YOU TELL HIM, MORGAN!

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    13. They wanted to be vicious little snakes in public, and if they do not show it is their own faults that they will be seen as cowards in public amongst their peers. Every event or meeting they go to, they will be known for what they are. Disgusting little cowards.

      Vicc. Wednesday. Noon.

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    14. So how do you explain your sock puppets? Do you sit on your hand until it falls asleep and then post? I've had it with this fight, you're not worth my time.

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    15. I don't have or need sock puppets, as you put it. Amd don't try to nack out now. You ran your mouth, but at the mention of you saying it to my face you suddenly have no time? After three days of your vitriolic personal attacks and insults? Lol. Not so fast. You soent 3 days attacking me, 3 days trying to get to me.

      VICC. NOON. WEDNESDAY. MAN THE EFF UP!!!

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    16. My most darling and bleached of socks:

      Can you share your shoe size so I can shop appropriately when we register for the measurement ceremony?

      Footwearedly yours,

      Not Morgan

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    17. ^^^^^^ chicken $hit

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  6. i really have to muster the feeling of "disbelief" and "shock" at this story...but knowing what i am surrounded by....it's nearly impossible. don't get me wrong, It does not make it any more palatable but it's almost expected. thank you, jim, for putting this out. @anonymous ^ will the herald not print it because there are not enough "journalists" with gonads working at the herald?

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  7. Joe Rivera represents all that is wrong with Cameron County politics. He has taken advantage of the corrupt system. This man has been too comfy for 40 years and is under the impression that he will get elected just because the position is due to him. Jim you sound like Bobby Cervantes on this report but I applaud you for bringing this up. Stay on top of this!!!!!!!

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  8. Gracias Jim and Nena Barton.

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  9. The voters should of stepped up to the plate for Ruben Pena. We continue to get shafted with no lubricant in this town.

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  10. If Joe has a candidate PAC for county judge the tx ethics commission wouldn't have it.

    Maybe next time before throwing stones, Morgan should find out if her BFF Cascos has listed with TEC.

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    Replies
    1. A.) I do not believe Cascos has a PAC.

      B.) You are right. The filings are supposed to be at the local elections office. That would include changing PAC Treasurers as well, or the name of a PAC changing.

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  11. How is bringing up wrongly filed campaign reports and potentially illegal contributions and campaign reports dirty politics?

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  12. This is the same guy who violated the rules that state that contributions can not be taken in any form within a courthouse or any building leased by the county. He had county employees selling tickets to raise funds on COUNTY TIME in the courthouse. This guy is a rat.

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  13. hey guys, guess who's back?!?!?!?!

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  14. Surely the above writer who said this was "dirty politics" is a local Dumbokratic Party supporter. To cheat is part of the Dumbokratic Party plan to win elections.....but if the other side points out the "unethical" behavior of the Dumbokratic candidates.....its considered a foul. If Joe Rivera can't do the simple accounting to manage his campaign, how can he manage the county. To use Otis Powers as a campaign treasurer is like saying.....Dumbokatic corruption and cheating as usual in the Joe Rivera campaign.

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  15. Joe Rivera is a nice guy, but incompetent to serve as County Judge. If elected, Gilberto Hinojosa would be the county judge by proxy. A vote for Joe is a vote to continue corruption and swirl faster down the toilet.

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  16. A wild guess but I think you will find that Rivera is correct. The rules will not apply to him in any significant way.

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  17. He is a Democrat in Cameron County and so none of his breaches of ethics should be considered "shocking". His unethical practices are consistent with his party and representative of the way Gilberto Hinojosa believe an election should be run. Instead of writing about this unethical activity in this blog, shouldn't we write to the Texas Elections Commission to report Joe????

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  18. Joe Rivera is what's right with Valley politics. What does this minutia have to do with qualifications? Joe epitomizes the "patron system" that is ingrained in the local culture. It is all about hiring and rewarding your friends and relatives once you get into to office. Meritocracy in an alien concept from another planet. It does not work here, ever. This has been shown over and over again. Good government creates gridlock. We require the wheels to be thoroughly greased, pardon the pun.

    This is just a technical miscue. The real thieves are your Republican boys in white collars that do everything "legally" and behind doors, going after the real money. I'll take Joe's petty corruption any day over the big time swindlers.

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    Replies
    1. It is the way it is because people like you want it that way.

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  19. Otis Powers has a shit eating grin that reminds me of a mule I once had.

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  20. Amazing how many readers believe it is right to be unethical. It is amazing too, that readers seem willing to accept "illegal" acts and who stupidly believe the Democrats are not "behind doors" in their wheeling and dealing here. Just shows that ignorance is a major element of the Democratic Party.

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  21. So petty corruption is acceptable? Now define petty. Wow.

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    Replies
    1. What is petty compared to big time corruption? Here is one example that might suffice: not registering a P.A.C. properly compared to pissing away over 20 million dollars on a bridge to nowhere.

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    2. I agree. But corruption is corruption regardless of the dollar amount. No? It goes to the character and integrity of people involved.

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    3. ^^^^ Right on.

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  22. "My source called to inform me that the requirement is to file with the Cameron County Election Office, not the TEC."

    Jim, I think you misspelled "Morgan" when you wrote "My source."

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    Replies
    1. It's true, he did.

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    2. You people need to stop acting like a bunch of dumb animals and sign your own names whilst pointing the finger at others for using anonymous to comment. I did not write the above comment, but the fact that you scumbags would go so far as to lie about this shows how obsessed, desperate, jealous, and malicious you are. You are disgusting cowards and not a single one of you has been man, or woman, enough to say a single one of these things to my face. If you have the gonads to show up at the next Republican Club meeting Wednesday, I challenge you to say these things to my face. If you don't, then you are the cowards you have indicated with your anonymous posts and your filthy, disgusting actions. Nothing is more disgusting than a coward calling out other people for cowardice.

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    3. Another thing, 8:58 and 9:18, since you are probably members of the Republican party, what have I done to you to make you want to undermine a story that could benefit a Republican candidate? Are you that driven by your petty jealousies and hatred (which for the life of me I can not explain because I have not done anything to warrant such malicious vitriolic attacks) that you would try to credit me with this work?

      Actually, i should be thanking you. You are trying to credit me with some work i didn't do. Lol. Thanks!

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    4. VICC at noon on Wednesday. Be there. I will give you a chance to redeem you man/womanhood by letting you say this all to my face.

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    5. Four replies to the same annoy post, from the same person? Dude, seriously...

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    6. Roman, duuuuude, relax with us and let your friend keep doing the talking,

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  23. Friends of Joe Rivera Pack has not filed anything ever with the Cameron county elections office. So what now?

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  24. Liz Dierlam is behind all of this.

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  25. With everything I've been reading, this Morgan Graham is like the Sarah Palin of Cameron County. I bet she can see Mexico from her house.

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    Replies
    1. You're totally wrong. That's the problem with replying based on "everything I've been reading" rather than what you've learned from your own work and observation. Morgan Graham has more sense and integrity than every "Anonymous" person posting on this list put together. And then some. She has been working incredibly hard to advance the local Republican Party when most of its members are much more concerned with petty jealousies, ego trips, and fiercely guarding their perceived areas of influence than they are in actually spreading the conservative message and, you know, actually WINNING elections! Although I'd love to see them make significant inroads, it'll be tough to make that happen so long as the local Republican Party's 9 members concern themselves with self-sabotage, rumor-mongering, and anonymously-posted and blatantly lying character assassination. Shame on them! I suggest that they shut the hell up, actually WIN a few local elections, and become RELEVANT before they start eating their own young

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    2. She is easily underestimated. I have seen her in action as she is as calculating as they come. Her looks make it easy for her to get away with a lot of manipulation. She might be backing Morris or Cascos, but it is all for her own gain. Don't think for a second she is not thinking ahead for herself. The more these people call her stupid the more they fall into her web. She is one cold bitch.

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    3. Nah she moved out of Brownsville when she saw a Mexican. It offended her Republican sensibilities.

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    4. I am from Brownsville, born, bred, and raised. My mother's last name is Cisneros, and I find your assertion both racist and ignorant. This is the culture in which i was raised, and I am a proud Hispanic. I might be a "mutt" or a half-breed like some other people like you have called me, but i know what my heritage is and i am proud of it. No jerk behind a keyboard can take away from truth, which has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

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    5. Hey, any of you are welcome to be at VICC at noon this Wednesday to tell me face to face. Man up, or woman up, and go. I look forward to seeing you there.

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    6. Everybody downtown can see Mexico from here. You dummy!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    7. The topic at hand is you're planting anti-Rivera stories that have no merit. Then you started to distract by attacking Pat Ahumada and Roman Perez.

      http://brownsvillevoice.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-internet-where-bullshit-flies-like.html

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    8. The topic at hand should be Jim Barton's article. And Bobby had an update indicating that, in fact, there are no filings on record and that the complaint has merit. Tonto. Your entire comment is wrong.

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    9. Awwww....Roman's favorite blog is being linked in a comment trying to shift the focus away from what it is about......the blog post. What a tool. Roman, nice try. We know you are the one trying to kick up a fight between Ahumada and Morgan because you need a real man to fight with a....manlier version of you.

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    10. Hey! 10:20!!! You are the contender for Sarah Palin of the RGV. A lot of people can see Mexico from their back yards dumbass!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahhaha

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    11. My fluffiest and warmest and snuggliest of right socks (could be left, hard to tell in the dark):

      Ahumada baiting is like flushing the toilet. Easy to do and makes a hell of a racket. 3 comments in five minutes is a true sign of your devotion to a karing, NOT FAT (*shudder*), Carlito Weeto.

      Snugglely yours,
      Dr. Scholls (not Morgan. Really. I swear. Trust me.)

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    12. You are an idiot Hasse, take a bath and kill the cat smell.

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    13. ^^^^^^ Ouch. This guy doesn't clean himself?

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  26. Do not be Carlos Cascos surrogate! To accuse someone of corruption because he did not properly follow the process in reporting is over reaching, unless you can prove intent. Did Joe Rivera have intent to hide, mislead, or circumvent the campaign finance laws? If not, he will be held accountable with a fine by the Texas Ethics Commission, which is the watch dog for these things. I personally do not believe Joe intentionally tried to circumvent campaign finance laws, but I do not have all the facts. Having said this, unless it is proven Joe R intentionally circumvented campaign laws, I am going to support him. I rather support someone who should have known better than someone whose ego will put at risk citizens, as he did when Carlos Cascos seized all the buses and put Brownsville at risk during a potential emergency evacuation. If you are not Carlos Cascos surrogate, dig and you will find things that he has done that is not right. To block the Weir Project because it was not his idea, is not my kind of leader.

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    Replies
    1. Mr. Ahumada, please refrain rom openly supporting Joe Rivera. We do not want or are looking for your endorsement. You are hurting our chances of getting him elected by you supporting us.

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  27. I heard you screwed all that up singlehandedly.

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  28. Cascos looks clean, but Pat what happened to that $25,000 check?

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    Replies
    1. Quit trying to distract from post....story is not about Pat and you know what happened with the check....city lost not one penny....Casco clean? Hardly.

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    2. You don't even know the county judge's name pendejo!!!!

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    3. It's Karlito KasKKos of the White Knights a.k.a. RepubliKKKan Party.

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    4. Of course I know his name you idiot....sarcasm you stupid pendejo! !!

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    5. .....you fail miserably at being clever. Sarcasm is a tool you should be banned from using. Pendejo.

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  29. So the litmus test is that of intent? Is that what I'm reading? Because there was no intent, there's no foul? Someone runs a red light, injures or kills someone, the defense is there was no intent, thus not guilty? Someone has a few too many, crashes into another vehicle, resulting in deaths, the defense is, no intent to drink too many, get behind a wheel & kill someone? I see.

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  30. Now you're really reaching.....nothing to do with killing or drinking and I think a jury of his peers found him innocent. Casco just by allowing valadez to do all his shenanigans on taxpayers dime shows his true colors.

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    Replies
    1. Idiot! You can't even spell his name right!

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    2. It's called sarcasm pendejo!

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    3. Be quiet BOOBIE.

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