A right-wing conspiracy caused Congress to drop federal funding for the embattled community group ACORN, chief organizer Bertha Lewis told supporters last week.

In an e-mail obtained by The Post, Lewis begs for donations and blasts Congress for cutting ACORN’s money. Lawmakers acted after a devastating videotape surfaced of the group’s workers in Brooklyn advising an undercover “pimp” and “hooker” how to cheat on taxes and run a brothel.

“They [Congress] did it because Fox News and the right-wing smear machine told them to do it,” she wrote.

In a statement to The Post Friday, Lewis defended her aggressive stance and said she remained fully committed to reforming the organization.

“But that doesn’t mean we’re prepared to stand by silently while the right wing exploits this situation to score political points,” she added.