Louisiana Voice

As LouisianaVoice moves to day three of its fundraiser, we are exactly two months from choosing who will be president for the next four years. And as long as I am soliciting contributions to help us to keep our investigative stories coming, it is equally important that everyone check to be certain of their eligibility to vote. If you are not registered, please do so. There quite possibly has never been an election in this country that is more important than the one 61 days away. And while some say that voting is a privilege, I would suggest that it is an obligation as a citizen – a responsibility to take time out to ensure that our Bill of Rights are preserved and that we pass a free country on to our children and grandchildren.

A major part of my job is to point out the shortcomings of our public servants – those who put their own interests and the interests of major contributors ahead of the interest of their constituents. I have attempted to do that for 10 years and will continue to do so as long as good health allows.

I am presently working on a major story about the abuses of the rights of those who are victimized by local prosecutors who care about little other than a high conviction rate regardless of the strength of their case. And yes, I am fully aware that some of the accused are guilty but some are convicted only by prosecutors’ withholding of exculpatory evidence or by employing questionable methods and unreliable witnesses and experts as a means of obtaining convictions or coerced confessions.

That’s just one story I am investigating. But these investigations require substantial expense in terms of time and money. That’s why I hold two fundraisers each year.

As I said yesterday, if you are under any kind of financial stress brought about the coronavirus, please don’t tax your resources further. I don’t want your contribution. You need it for your own expenses.

But if you are in a position to help, I humbly asked that you do by clicking on the yellow DONATE button in the column to the right of this post. It looks like this to pay by credit card. But don’t click on this one because it doesn’t work. Go to the column on the right and click on that one. If that doesn’t work for you or if you prefer to pay by check, you may do so by sending your contribution to:

LouisianaVoice

P.O. Box 922

Denham Springs, Louisiana 70727

I failed to mention earlier that if you contribute $100 or more, you will receive a signed copy of my latest book, Louisiana’s Rogue Sheriffs: A Culture of Corruption. Those who have already given that amount will also receive a book.

I have set a goal of $5,000 to finance our operations until our April fundraiser. Don’t forget, because LouisianaVoice is a non-profit entity now, your contribution is fully tax-deductible. Upon request, I will be happy to provide our non-profit credentials.

As always, thanks for supporting independent journalism.

(Two months from today)

“One-way ticket fellas. Have your affairs in order. Me? I wouldn’t even spill my beer. I’d drop any 10 of you where you stand. Nothing personal. We just eliminate the threat. We don’t care what color you are. We don’t care if you’re left or right. if you show up like this, if We recognize threat…you won’t walk away. That’s not a challenge, fellas. It’s a promise. We don’t want to see your worthless ass, nor do we want to make your mothers cry. You’re the ones threatening, if you show yourselves, aggressively natured and armed in my presence, in my neighborhood, where I work, anywhere close enough to put my family or my fellow citizens in danger. That is where your journey will end. Fast. How fast? 1,450 FPS fast”

—U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, in a Facebook post, in which he threatened anyone who shows to protest the fatal shooting of Trayford Pellerin by Lafayette police on Aug. 21. Facebook took the post down because of its violent content. [Yet another example of the idiotic mindset of the man who, because of his sheer stupidity, would easily qualify as the worst member of the U.S. Congress were it not for his ineffectiveness. This coward would probably be the first one to run for cover if trouble started. My only question for Higgins is this: where are your hood and sheet?]

“No, I did not remove my post. America is being manipulated into a new era of government control. Your liberty is threatened from within. Welcome to the front lines, ladies and gentlemen. I suggest you get your mind right. I’ll advise when it’s time (to) gear up, mount up, and roll out.”

—“Captain” Clay Higgins, in an even more incendiary response to Facebook’s removal of his post. [Captain? Captain of what? Where did you obtain that rank? In the military, or in your abbreviated law enforcement career? Or was it during your days as a used car salesman? “Gear up, mount up, and roll out”? Can anyone take this Barney Fife moron seriously? Even as he issues overt threats against Black protesters, he says nothing about the presence of White Cajun Militia members in Lafayette on Tuesday. This clown is almost laughable with his false bravado. What civilian, other than a narcissistic, puffed-up buffoon, feels the need to cling to a former rank – especially one no higher than a mere captain, and especially when he was fired from one law enforcement position and forced to resign from another? Truly a legend in his own mind.]

“This is the same man who criticized the use of protective face coverings, yet coronavirus infections continue to spread throughout his congressional district. To put on social media that he would drop 10 protesters if they were open carrying arms was a clear adolescent ploy designed to stoke fear, incite violence, garner social media clicks and raise money for his campaign. In short, this is a clear example of dividing and distracting instead of addressing the real issue,”

—Rep. Cedric Richmond, on Clay Higgins’ lowlife mentality. [At least one member of Louisiana’s congressional delegation had the cajones – and human decency – to call Higgins out on such inflammatory demagoguery. What about the others? Crickets. Steve “Sleazy” Scalise, whom one might think would be somewhat sensitive to such violence-laced rhetoric? Mike Johnson? Ralph Abraham? Garret Graves? Bill Cassidy? And what about John Kennedy, who so loves to pontificate in front of a TV camera or microphone? Cowards, one and all.

Today is day two of our September fundraiser.

It also happens to be the 10th anniversary of LouisianaVoice. (Thanks, Bobby Jindal, for helping to kick of off a decade ago.)

I only conduct fundraisers twice a year and this year, only once, because I did not hold an April drive because of the economic hardships on so many people because of the coronavirus pandemic, which Trump continues to downplay.

But with our expenses mounting, I am asking those who have the resources to do so to help us. Please, if it would be a sacrifice for you to give—don’t. I do not wish to create a hardship for anyone. I’m asking only those who can afford it to contribute by clicking on the yellow DONATE button in the column to the right to contribute by credit card. It looks like this: but don’t click here, it doesn’t work; go to the column to the right.

If it doesn’t work (and for some, it won’t), you may donate by sending a check to:

LouisianaVoice

P.O. Box 922

Denham Springs, LA. 70727

As you know, I write about a multitude of issues, like the one on the 4th Judicial Court and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal that was posted yesterday. I am working on several other major stories even as I write this. But it takes time and money to do so and I am setting a goal of $5,000 to last until next April’s fund raiser.

Please consider helping.

With sincere appreciation for your continued loyalty,

Tom Aswell

“People that you’ve never heard of, people that are in the dark shadows. There are people that are on the streets, there are people that are controlling the streets. We had somebody get on a plane from a certain city this weekend, and in the plane, it was almost completely loaded with thugs, wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms, with gear and this and that.”

—Donald Trump’s wacko conspiracy theory, given in an interview with Laura Ingraham of conspiracy theory Fox News. [Mark my words here, there are idiots out there who will swallow this entire line of B.S. and regurgitate it all over the Internet.]

“I’ll tell you some time. It’s under investigation right now. [A] lot of people were on the plane to do big damage.”

—Additional unsubstantiated claims by Trump in the Ingraham interview. [Yeah, right. They’re going to fly on a commercial airline completely decked out in “uniform” with signs around their necks identifying themselves as “Looters” for all to see as they set about on their mission to do “big damage.” Does anyone in his right mind actually buy this crock? Someone please call out this damned fool and hold him accountable before he instigates a race war from which this country may never recover.]

“I will see whether or not I can get that person to speak to you, but this was a firsthand account of a plane going from Washington to wherever, and I’ll see if I can get that information for you, maybe they’ll speak to you, maybe they won’t.”

—Donald Trump, on those “looters” and “thugs” supposedly on that plane. [Any bets on whether or not he can get “that person” to come forward? If they do, it will be the very first time Trump will have come through on a promise – any promise.]]

“[A]t least a dozen males got off the plane in Boise from Seattle, dressed head to toe in black. Be ready for attacks downtown and residential areas. [O]ne passenger had “a tattoo that said Antifa America on his arm.”

—Facebook post last Tuesday (Aug. 25) by an Emmett, Idaho, resident, warning residents there apparently of these same thugs and looters who seem to really get around. [So, now we know where idiot child learned of those “looters” and “thugs” on the plane – but in Washington, D.C., not Washington State. Another conspiracy theory harvested from the good ol’ reliable Internet. Trump obviously resides in a blissful, delusional world, free from all the burdens of reality.]

“All I ask is that he keep his disrespect, his foul language far away from our family. We need a president that’s going to unite and take us in a different direction. We want the same right he’s got, and we want to be able to get our children home safely. They should be able to go anywhere they want in this nation and get home safely, and not get shot seven times.”

—Justin Blake, uncle of Jacob Blake who was shot seven times in the back by Kenosha police, on Donald Trump, who he called “the orange man,” during his trip to Kenosha on Monday.

“It seemed like it was almost inevitable and it was almost planned. They knew if they came down, they would meet the protesters that have been here for three months, and you saw what happened — people got hurt, one person got killed and a lot of just unbelievable situations.”

—Portland, Ore., resident Nick Sonies, following the shooting death of Patriot Prayer member Aaron Danielson last Saturday.

It’s that time again. LouisianaVoice has been investigating a number of stories and to do so costs time and money.

I hate to come begging when so many people are hurting. People have lost their jobs and folks in southwest Louisiana have been devastated by Hurricane Laura. The effects of the coronavirus was the very reason that I suspended our April fundraiser. I just didn’t have the heart to ask for money.

I still don’t.

But the expenses are – and have been – mounting up and we’re going to need money to keep going. I estimate that we will need at least $5,000 to keep operating between now and next April.

That’s why I’m asking those who can afford it – and only those – to help us out. Our September fundraiser will run through the end of the month, but I ask those who have the resources to do so, to help us keep this blog churning out stories.

I have one major story I’m planning to break within the next week and there will be more to follow.

Meanwhile, I humbly ask that you contribute by credit card by clicking on the yellow DONATE button to the right of this post. It looks like this: But don’t click in this one because it won’t work. You have to go to the column to the right and click on that one. If that doesn’t work for you (and it doesn’t for everyone, for some reason) or if you prefer to pay by check, you may do so by sending your contribution payable to:

LouisianaVoice

P.O. Box 922

Denham Springs, LA. 70727

As always, thank you for your continued support of a free and unfettered press and for responsible investigative reporting.

P.S. One more very important thing: We are now a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit which means that any contribution you make is tax deductible. If you wish to claim your deduction, email me at

louisianavoice@yahoo.com

and I will provide you my tax id number.