Sen. Whitehouse defends ACORN vote

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP/WPRI) - Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says he voted against a proposal to block an embattled community organization from receiving government grants because he did not want to punish the entire group for the actions of a few workers.

Whitehouse was one of just seven Senate Democrats to vote Monday against the amendment, which blocks the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN.

ACORN is facing scrutiny after hidden-camera video shot at four separate ACORN offices show ACORN employees giving a fake pimp and prostitute advice how to buy a home for their illegal sex business and how lie on tax forms to account for the woman's income.

The fake pimp and prostitute even told one of the workers they were planning to bring in 12 underage girls from El Salvador to work in the home.

Four workers have been fired in light of the investigation, and ACORN said it's ordered an internal review.

Whitehouse said in a statement Wednesday from Washington that "no one condones the conduct in question" but the organization should not be shut down for the actions of a few employees.