Aaron Swartz (1986- 2013)
Aaron Swartz, an online activist and founder of Infogami, a service later merged with Reddit, has committed suicide in New York City on Jan. 11, the Tech reports.
The news was revealed to the Tech by Swartz's uncle Michael Wolf and confirmed by Swartz's attorney, Elliot R. Peters. "The tragic and heartbreaking information you received is, regrettably, true,” said Peters.
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Swartz, a former fellow at Harvard University's Safra Centre for Ethics, recently hired San Francisco-based Keker & Van Nest to represent him after being charged with wire fraud, computer fraud, unlawfully obtaining information from a protected computer, and recklessly damaging a protected computer. If convicted on these charges, Swartz faced up to 35 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and a fine of up to $1 million, according to a press release issued by United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz..
Earlier this year, Swartz was declared "of interest" to The Leslie Brodie Report as a result of the highly disquieting events that took place at "The Kapor Center" located at 543 Howard St. in San Francisco. More specifically, events surrounding OBAMA FOR AMERICA, Larry Lessig, Bettina Neuefeind, Mitchell and Freada Kapor, CaliforniaALL, and Monica Walsh of Manika Jewelry.
In March 2008, Larry Lessig, Joe Trippi, Aaron Swartz, and Manika Jewelry's Monica Walsh launched a Section 501(C)(4) non-profit entity known as "Change Congress." Simultaneously, they also launched a Section 501(C)(3) non-profit entity known as "Change V2 Foundation," the purpose of which was to fund-raise on behalf of and financially support "Change Congress." Prior to relocating to the Manika Jewelry's store in 2009, both Change Congress and Change V2 Foundation were conveniently housed at The Kapor Center, located at 543 Howard St., 5th. Floor, in San Francisco. From left are Monica Walsh, Joe Trippi, Larry Lessig, and Aaron Swartz. (image: courtesy photo)
In 2010 Larry Lessig, Manika Jewelry's Monica Walsh, and others launched a whole new Section 501(C) non-profit entity known as "Democracy Fund, Inc." -- EIN 27-2439840
Strangely, on 6/6/2011 Larry Lessig, Manika Jewelry's Monica Walsh, and others caused Change V2 Foundation (which was launched in 2008) to also operate under the name "Democracy Fund, Inc." -- EIN 26-3088283
Mitchell Kapor, the spouse of CaliforniaALL's Freada Klein Kapor and overseer of the many foundations and businesses housed at The Kapor Center, located at 543 Howard St., 5th. Floor, in San Francisco. Although other potential explanations certainly exist, as matters presently stand, it appears that operatives participated in what appears to be a sophisticated financial scheme to misuse the California Bar Foundation and non-profit entity CaliforniaALL as a vehicle to embezzle and launder funds originated from major utility companies and the California Bar Foundation to push for the election of Barack Obama in general, and on behalf of those seeking to promote green energy in particular. Presently, viewed as potential wrongdoers are Jeffrey Bleich, Ron Olson, Brad Phillips (of Munger Tolles & Olson) John Roos and Mark Parnes (of Wilson Sonsini) James Brosnahan, Tony West, Chris Young, Annette Carnegie (of Morrison & Foerster) Steven Churchwell (of DLA Piper in Sacramento) Kamala Harris and Freada Klein Kapor of CaliforniaALL.(Image:courtesy photo)
Bettina Neuefeind (on right) -- spouse of Larry Lessig and office manager of OBAMA FOR AMERICA in San Francisco -- shown above at The Kapor Center, located at 543 Howard St., 5th. Floor, in San Francisco. During the 2008 presidential election, the phone banks situated at The Kapor Center and generally used to fund-raise on behalf of the many foundations located there, were additionally used to contact potential voters and encourage them to vote for then candidate Barack Obama.(image: courtesy)
Kamala Harris of CaliforniaALL at The Kapor Center. During the 2008-2010 election cycles, San Francisco-based "The Kapor Center" was utilized by the campaigns of both Barack Obama and Kamala Harris.(Image: courtesy)
CaliforniaALL
CaliforniaALL, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable entity, came about as a result of a San Francisco restaurant meeting between Ruthe Ashley (a Diversity Officer at CalPERS and Vice President of the State Bar of California) and Peter Arth, Jr., Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey. Also present at that meeting was Professor Sarah E. Redfield.
In its brief existence from January 2008 to July 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from various utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra). In addition, in 2008 CaliforniaALL obtained a sub rosa contribution of $769,247 from the State Bar of California Foundation (dba California Bar Foundation).
Although other potential explanations certainly exist, as matters presently stand, it appears that operatives participated in what appears to be a sophisticated financial scheme to misuse the California Bar Foundation and non-profit entity CaliforniaALL as a vehicle to embezzle and launder funds originated from major utility companies and the California Bar Foundation to push for the election of Barack Obama in general, and on behalf of those seeking to promote green energy in particular.
Presently, viewed as potential wrongdoers are Jeffrey Bleich, Ron Olson, Brad Phillips (of Munger Tolles & Olson) John Roos and Mark Parnes (of Wilson Sonsini) James Brosnahan, Tony West, Chris Young, Annette Carnegie (of Morrison & Foerster) Steven Churchwell (of DLA Piper in Sacramento) Kamala Harris, as well as Freada Kapor Klein -- a California Democratic Party operative who served as a director of CaliforniaALL.
MUNGER TOLLES & OLSON TEAM: JEFFREY BLEICH, RON OLSON, BRAD PHILLIPS
In 2007-2008, Jeffrey Bleich of Munger Tolles & Olson served as a director with the California Bar Foundation, as well as president of the State Bar of California. Out of close to 230,000 lawyers in California, also serving as a director with the California Bar Foundation in approximately 2007-2008 was another attorney from Munger Tulles Olsen, Mr. Bradley Phillips. In 2007, Bleich established Barack Obama's National Finance Committee and served as its Chair.
He presently serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Australia.
In 2008, Bleich, through trickery (and with the help of State Bar of California employee Patricia Lee) managed to bamboozle the State Bar of California Board of Governors ("BOG") to "ratify" the selection of Freada Klein Kapor, James Hsu and Douglas Scrivner as directors of CaliforniaALL. Below is an image reflecting part of a memorandum Patricia Lee presented to the BOG.
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI TEAM:
JOHN ROOS, MARK PARNES
Mr. Parnes is presently a partner at the Palo Also office of Wilson Sonsini. He served as a director and secretary with the California Bar Foundation in approximately 2007-2008.
In 2007-2008, the California Bar Foundation poured into CaliforniaALL the large sum of $774,247, sub-rosa.
Mr. Roos is the former CEO of Wilson Sonsini in Palo Alto. He is a personal friend of both President Obama and Jeffrey Bleich. He presently serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
MORRISON & FOERSTER TEAM: JAMES BROSNAHAN, TONY WEST,
ANNETTE CARNEGIE, CHRIS YOUNG
Morrison & Foerster is law firm which assisted with the legal aspects of creating CaliforniaALL.
James Brosnahan is presently a senior partner at the San Francisco office of Morrison & Foerster. He considers himself to be the "mastermind behind the Democratic Party." CaliforniaALL was created by Morrison & Foerster, under the supervision of Mr. Brosnahan. Specifically Susan Mac Cormac and Eric Tate assisted with the legal aspects of creating the entity.
Dereck Anthony West, who goes by the name "Tony West," presently serves as third in command within the Department of Justice below Eric Holder and Lanny Breuer. Around 2007-2008, West served as Chair of the "California Finance Committee" of OBAMA FOR AMERICA .
Chris Young is currently listed on the State Bar of California's database as an associate with Keker & Van Nest. Around 2007-2008, Mr. Young was an associate at Morrison & Foerster.
Around 2007-2008, Mr. Young served as "Northern California Deputy Finance Director" for OBAMA FOR AMERICA.
Carnegie is presently employed at the Kaiser Foundation. Around 2007-2008, she was a partner at Morrison & Foerster and served as a director of the Foundation
DLA PIPER TEAM: STEVE CHURCHWELL
Churchwell , a partner at the Sacramento offices of DLA Piper, served as Treasurer of the Draft Committee of OBAMA FOR AMERICA also located at DLA Piper offices in Sacramento, as was non-profit CaliforniaALL.
For more about Churchwell's connection to Barack Obama, please see American Thinker's Patti Villacorta: "Breaking the Obama Code: The Green Money Machine." HERE
The California Attorney General RCT reflects that CaliforniaALL obtained its "Charity" status on March 14, 2008 (FEIN Number 510656213). The address for CaliforniaALL is listed as 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400, Sacramento, California. This is actually the address of the law firm of DLA Piper, where CaliforniaALL resided free of charge courtesy of partner Steven Churchwell -- Treasurer of the draft committee of OBAMA FOR AMERICA.
Nevertheless, CaliforniaALL's 2008 tax-return shows an expense of around $16,000 for "occupancy." See http://www.scribd.com/doc/48714110/6-CaliforniaALL-2008-Tax-Return
In its 2008 Annual Report (See page 9 : http://www.scribd.com/doc/48712884/3-2008-Annual-Report-of-Foundation-of-the-State-Bar-of-California-Foundation-AKA-California-Bar-Foundation ), the Foundation alludes to CaliforniaALL by stating:
"In 2007-2008, the Foundation supported the launching of CaliforniaALL and, as the project filed for incorporation and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, served as CaliforniaALL's fiscal sponsor. A collaboration between the California Public Employment Retirement System, the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Department of Insurance, and the State Bar of California, CaliforniaALL was created in an effort to close the achievement gap among California students from preschool to the profession and, specifically, to bolster the pipeline of young people of diverse backgrounds headed for careers in law, financial services, and technology. Once CaliforniaALL obtained its tax-exempt status and was able to function as a fully independent nonprofit organization, the foundation granted the balance of funds raised for the project – totaling $769,247 – to the new entity."
Also cleverly buried in the California Bar Foundation's 2008 annual report was the following sentence :
"We thank the following corporations for their gifts in support of CaliforniaALL:
AT & T
Edison International
PG & E Corporation Foundation
Verizon"
See page 24 : http://www.scribd.com/doc/48712884/3-2008-Annual-Report-of-Foundation-of-the-State-Bar-of-California-Foundation-AKA-California-Bar-Foundation
Most troubling, however, is the fact that Verizon did not report to the IRS either in 2007 or 2008 that it had contributed any money to the California Bar Foundation or CaliforniaALL. See :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/102325087/Verizon-Foundation-IRS-990-Year-2007
http://www.scribd.com/doc/102325330/Verizon-Foundation-IRS-990-Year-2008
