The Letter The Justice Department Sent To WWE, RAW News

– Saturday's edition of WWE AM RAW scored a 1.04 rating with 1,207,000 viewers. This is the highest rating the show has done in some time.

– On January 10th, WWE Monday Night RAW will take place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Tickets go on sale on November 27th.

– The Miami Herald posted the following letter, from the US Justice Department to the WWE, concerning their announcement that they would give away WWE merchandise near the polls in Connecticut?

U.S. Department of Justice
Criminal Division
Public Integrity Section
Washington D.C. 20530

November 1, 2010

BY ELECTRONIC MAIL

Jerry S. McDevitt, Esq
K&L Gates Center
210 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2613

Dear Mr. McDevitt:

Re: World Wrestling Entertainment

The Department of Justice has recently received information that your client, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), might be providing or planning to provide free merchandise to voters at polling places. However, the available information also indicates that if this practice is actually planned or occurring, it is open and notorious. Accordingly, this letter is to advise you that WWE might be operating in ignorance of applicable federal criminal law, and to notify you of that law.

Specifically, Section 1973i(c) of Title 42 of the United States Code makes it a federal offense to pay or offer to pay an individual a thing of value for voting. Violation of Section 1973i(c) is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years and a fine not to exceed $250,000. Please note the Department's understanding that this statute prohibits a person from providing a thing of value — such as clothing — in return for an individual's participation in the voting process.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Richard C. Pilger
Director
Election Crimes Branch