From Deseret News archives:

Illegal plea for illegals' cash?

Published: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 6:52 a.m. MDT
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The transcript shows talk show host Jose Libardo Rivera first brought up the idea of illegal immigrants donating to Cannon since they could not vote. Diaz said that wasn't allowed but talked about funneling it through citizens.

"We are trying to change all these rules, but the federal law really does prohibit us from doing some things, and we want to do everything by the rule," Diaz said.

He noted that if Cannon did not follow rules, "our opponent can attack us and say, 'You see, he is trying to influence the race with people that, that are not here legally in this country.' Therefore, it has to be done with precaution. We want all your help."

The transcript indicates Cannon made comments on occasion, including saying that minors who are citizens can make donations. Recent election law reform had outlawed such donations by minors, but Hunter says that portion was overturned by courts.

However, other intact portions of the law say it is illegal for "a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation . . . from a foreign national."

Also, it says, "No person shall make a contribution in the name of another person or knowingly permit his name to be used to effect such a contribution and no person shall knowingly accept a contribution made by one person in the name of another person."

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Hunter said Cannon late in the show clarified that illegal aliens could not legally funnel money to him. "The notion that he would advocate for donations from foreign nationals is absurd. He's not going to do that. He knows the law," Hunter said.

Rivera said he did not tape the program, but he remembers Cannon making such clarifications.

Staker said he remembers that Cannon did clarify in later portions that if minors made donations, it had to be their decision — but said he remembers no other clarifications.

Throckmorton said that the Radio Unica program aside, "What worries me even more is a loophole we have in our election law. In Utah, all you need to register to vote is a driver's license and Utah is one of just four states where we will knowingly give illegal aliens drivers' licenses. I worry he (Cannon) may try to get illegals to register" and vote.

Hunter called such speculation "absolutely absurd."


E-mail: lee@desnews.com

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