Scott Eckersley Maintains FBI is Investigating Fraudulent E-Mail with Possible Ties to Billy Long

The words Billy Long and FBI are on a lot of people's mind. The same force Long abused federal powers with in hopes of silencing a critic may be launching their own investigation against Congressman Long for election fraud. The investigation stems from a fraudulent e-mail that was sent to news outlets on October 29, 2010, claiming Eckersley was quitting the Congressional race.

The e-mail didn't come from the Eckersley campaign, but it did come from Chicagoland according to the ISP address. Circumstances surrounding the e-mail and social media on the Internet pointed to a possible connection between a political strategy company from the same area of the ISP with ties to Billy Long.

Last week KSMU announced the investigation that may include Congressman Long. Long's office issued this confusing statement that went as far as redirecting the focus away from the FBI and to the Federal Election Commission.

“I am not aware of an investigation from the Department of Justice. Anyone can file a FEC claim and I have complied with all requests by the FEC for a response. Given the nature of this claim we expect a positive outcome in the coming months,”

FEC? We aren't talking about the FEC Billy. We are talking about the FBI. Ah Jeez! Why is it everyone in the local press lets you get away with this changing of the subject?

Anyway, Susan Redding must believe there is reason to believe the FBI could be looking at Long, as she too has decided to make this story newsworthy. She interviewed Scott Eckersley, who explained to Redding the investigation of the fraudulent e-mail is moving forward by the Department of Justice.

Eckersley immediately announced that the e-mail was a fake, but not before some news sites had put it out. The candidate filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice saying his campaign had been the victim of “election fraud.’’ Federal authorities don’t acknowledge investigations unless they produce charges, but Eckersley last week announced that the DOJ has authorized a probe and an FBI agent has been assigned.

“There’s only one person who would benefit from news I was dropping out, and that’s Billy Long,” Eckersley said, referring to the Republican who easily won the 7th District election.