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First Posted: 3/26/2008
ANDREW M. SEDER
[email protected]
Calls for Dan Meuser to release records detailing an 11-year-old fine his company paid for hiring illegal immigrants can’t be satisfied because the records no longer exist.
Supporters of Chris Hackett, Meuser’s opponent in the heated Republican 10th congressional race, have publicly called on Meuser to release documentation of the case involving Pride Mobility Inc., of Exeter.
Joseph D. Burke, attorney for Pride Mobility, said the records were deleted as part of a routine file-clearing. If they were available, Burke said, they would show some of the allegations made by Hackett supporters are untrue. Among the allegations is that there were more than three illegal workers and that the fines weren’t for a first offense.
“The fact is that more than 13 years ago three illegal aliens defrauded Pride Mobility by providing our business with false identification. The assertion that there were more illegal immigrants is absolutely false,” Burke wrote in a letter to Meuser that was released to the media.
“After reviewing almost 60 documents, the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) found that there were three illegal immigrants hired by Pride. They also found that there were additional deficiencies in our collecting the required documentation for a number of Pride employees who were legal citizens. All of these claims were administrative in nature and at no time were criminal charges filed against Pride,” Burke said.
Pride was fined $41,000, which it appealed. After some negotiations, Pride agreed to pay $23,000 in 1997.
Burke said Pride took the incident seriously and took steps to ensure they wouldn’t recur.
In a letter to Meuser and the media last week, Hackett supporter Mark R. Zimmer, of Honesdale, raised the issue of the fine and what he believed were inconsistencies with the total amount, the federal law and its penalties at the time.
The Meuser campaign answered questions but did not release the documents Zimmer urged them to make public, and eventually revealed the documents no longer exist.
Hackett, Kingston Township, sees the questions as legitimate and ones that should be asked since Meuser, of Harveys Lake, is using illegal immigration as a top campaign platform.
“I don’t think it was negative when we asked for clarification on the hiring practices of Meuser’s company,” Hackett said. “You don’t get fined unless you knowingly hired illegals. I think it’s fair to get answers to legitimate questions so the voters of the 10th District can make an informed decision on who they want to represent them.”
The two will square off April 22 with the winner facing freshman U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, in November. Before that they’ll debate twice – at 7 tonight in Tunkhannock and on April 15 at WVIA-TV in Jenkins Township.
10th Congressional District:
What’s next?
Encompasses parts of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming and Tioga counties and all of Bradford, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
Chris Hackett and Dan Meuser will hold a public debate at 7 tonight at Tunkhannock Area Middle School.
Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269.