Five of the Most Interesting Things From the Bloomberg Anti-Gun Group Emails

Published on January 10, 2014
Duration: 10:06

This video discusses the findings from emails obtained by Judicial Watch, revealing potential misuse of public office and taxpayer resources by Bloomberg's 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns' group. The emails suggest coordination between government officials and the anti-gun lobbying organization, raising questions about transparency and the legality of using public funds and facilities for political advocacy. The discussion highlights the importance of public records laws and citizen action in uncovering such relationships.

Quick Summary

Judicial Watch obtained emails suggesting Michael Bloomberg's 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns' group was operated out of the New York City Mayor's office, with government employees coordinating with the anti-gun lobbying organization and potentially using taxpayer-funded resources for their advocacy efforts.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Tom Fitton
  2. 00:14Bloomberg's Anti-Gun Group Emails
  3. 00:39Mayors Against Illegal Guns Operation
  4. 00:58John Finlat's Communications
  5. 01:15Employee vs. Director Confusion
  6. 01:41Tri-State Scandal & Media Focus
  7. 02:09Post-Bloomberg Era Questions
  8. 02:20De Blasio's Funding & Office Use
  9. 02:40Bloomberg's Financial Role
  10. 03:05Lobbying Effort & Taxpayer Funding
  11. 03:12Taxpayer Dollars vs. Personal Fortune
  12. 03:33Lawsuit for Document Acquisition
  13. 03:46Victory for Rule of Law
  14. 03:53Next Steps: Investigations
  15. 04:08Analysis of Email Content
  16. 04:38Sandy Hook Response & Coordination
  17. 04:53Celebrity PSA Competition
  18. 05:05Sad, Creepy, Shady Revelations
  19. 05:15Positioning Bloomberg Post-Tragedy
  20. 05:23Comparison to Fort Lee Traffic Scandal
  21. 05:34NRA Attack Strategy Development
  22. 05:43Poll Questions & Messaging
  23. 06:00NRA Attack Research
  24. 06:09NRA Argument Testing
  25. 06:16Timing of Poll (Post-Sandy Hook)
  26. 06:25Attacking NRA & Gun Owners
  27. 06:27Government Emails & Lawsuit Necessity
  28. 06:38Public Official's Role
  29. 06:43Attack on Private Association
  30. 06:51Hypothetical Scenario Comparison
  31. 07:11Bloomberg & Mayors Against Illegal Guns
  32. 07:14Improper Conduct & Accountability
  33. 07:18Evidence Gathering & Pressure
  34. 07:33National Scope of the Issue
  35. 07:37Staffers in City Halls
  36. 07:44Regional Gun Violence Coordinators
  37. 07:54Investigative Journalism Opportunity
  38. 08:02Citizen Access to Information
  39. 08:06FOIA Laws Explained
  40. 08:13California & Florida Records Laws
  41. 08:17How to Request Information
  42. 08:23Local Community Coordinator Inquiry
  43. 08:34Basic Information Requests
  44. 08:46Legal Obligation to Respond
  45. 08:50Civic Action Suggestion
  46. 09:01Concluding Remarks
  47. 09:06Most Interesting Emails
  48. 09:14Additional Interesting Findings
  49. 09:24Relationship Between Entities
  50. 09:31Headline: Taxpayer Resources Converted
  51. 09:40Mayors Against Illegal Guns Funding
  52. 09:44Illegality and Wrongdoing
  53. 09:46Smoking Gun Evidence
  54. 09:50Call to Action: Examine Documents
  55. 09:52Broader Implications for Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Judicial Watch uncover regarding Michael Bloomberg's 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns' group?

Judicial Watch obtained emails suggesting that Michael Bloomberg's 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns' group was operated out of the New York City Mayor's office, with government employees coordinating with the anti-gun lobbying organization and potentially using taxpayer-funded resources for their advocacy efforts.

How were the emails from Bloomberg's anti-gun group obtained?

The emails were not provided voluntarily by the Mayor's office. Judicial Watch had to file a lawsuit to compel the release of these documents, highlighting a struggle for transparency and public access to government-related communications.

What concerns were raised about the funding and operations of 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns'?

Emails revealed internal discussions about pouring money into the effort and a lack of clear metrics, leading to questions about whether taxpayer dollars or Bloomberg's personal fortune were being used. There's also concern about government employees using public resources for a private lobbying group's political agenda.

What actions can citizens take based on these findings?

Citizens can utilize state and federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws to request information from their local governments. This includes asking for communications, spending details, and information on how groups like 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns' operate on government property and with public resources.

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