I’ve been thinking about writing a book. Have discussed the project with Jim multiple times during the last 18 months. I’d call it Symptoms of the Disease of course, and it would highlight stories like Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) dishing out scholarships from a charitable foundation to family members.
Convicted: Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez found guilty of bribery
After a long corruption investigation and a two-month trial, current Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez (D) was found guilty of bribery. He was found not guilty of fabricating evidence. Should he immediately resign?
Charlie’s Angles…
Blame it on my misspent youth — “I remember Charlie’s Angels.” Farah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, Cheryl Tiegs, big hair, bad guys and a resonant voice emitting from a intercom system. In this modern era of “re-imaginings” and “remakes,” let me make a modest proposal… I present, for your entertainment pleasure, “Charlie’s Angles.”
In a world with insoluble problems, like the tax code, enter Charlie Rangel. The man who writes the tax code and, recently, has called for harder and harsher enforcement of these regulations by the IRS. Charlie, however, doesn’t always live up to the letter of the laws he rights — as Leona Helmsley might say — taxes are for the little people.
Enter “Charlie’s Angles”. When the men and women who purport to represent you don’t live up to the standards they themselves set, they must face a jury of their peers — the Ethics committee. A clever man, Charlie Rangel has the best defense that money can buy. What do you buy for the man who has everything? I haven’t the foggiest — but, apparently, he tried to the Ethics committee for himself.
” A few Democrats returned Rangel’s donations, including Ethics Committee member Peter Welch of Vermont, who said he returned Rangel’s $20,000 out of “an abundance of caution.”
Two other Democrats on the panel — Ben Chandler of Kentucky, G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina — have refused to return Rangel’s contributions.
The House Ethics Committee’s wide-ranging investigation of Rangel has been expanded twice, as new revelations have come to light. “
Sunshine is the best disinfectant. The more light they shine on Charlie, the more they find.
Betcha Charlie wishes he could be a disembodied voice on an intercom, don’t ya think?
The first conviction
What was that San Fran Nan was saying about the “most ethical Congress ever?”
WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (Reuters) – Former U.S. Representative William Jefferson, who was caught with $90,000 in cash in his freezer, was found guilty on 11 of 16 charges related to a bribery and money laundering scandal, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.
“The ex-Louisiana lawmaker was accused in 2007 of soliciting millions of dollars in bribes from a dozen companies while using his office to broker business deals in Africa.
In a search of his residence, FBI agents said they had found the $90,000 in a freezer.
Jefferson faces up to 150 years in prison and could face forfeiture of payments totaling $456,000, plus stock certificates, according a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Virginia, where Jefferson was tried. Jefferson can appeal his conviction.”
One wonders if, in the tradition of Marion Barry or Sharpe James, William Jefferson will seek re-election.
Video: Why corruption thrives in Washington
Great video that you need to spend six minutes watching. No need to comment, other than saying that Dan Mitchell from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity is right on the money. [Read more...]
Culture Of Corruption Part Deux
We have listed this before … but I may have missed a few of the new ones. It does seem to grow on a daily basis. Oh and yes … Chris Dodd (D-Countrywide) made the list.
The most recent candidate in the malleable ethics sweepstakes is Ron Sims, chosen Monday to be the deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As King County (Seattle) executive, Mr. Sims was fined $124,000 for “blatant” violations of Washington state’s public records act for failure to release documents with regard to financing of the stadium where the Seattle Seahawks play. Last month the state supreme court said the fine should be increased.
Congress has turned an indulgent eye to these ethical lapses because there are many in Congress who are guilty of the same, or worse. Charles Rangel, New York Democrat, remains chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee despite his failure to pay taxes on $75,000 in rental income, and – according to a report issued Wednesday – repeatedly failing to comply with congressional financial disclosure rules. Sen. Chris Dodd (Democrat, Countrywide Mortgage) remains as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee despite having received a sweetheart loan from one of the worst of the subprime mortgage villains.
Woww … now Jack Kelly is using the (D_Countrywide) thing too!
And once again thanks to INSTAPUNDIT … damn.
Culture of corruption migrates to Hartford
Many already knew that it had arrived years ago. Hartford mayor, Eddie Perez (D) headed over to Troop H in Hartford this morning to turn himself in after a warrant was issued including charges of bribery, fabricating evidence, and conspiring to fabricate evidence. The warrant was issued after a 15 month grand jury investigation.
I’m not familiar with the details, but it looks like Perez and contractor Carlos Costa were caught wheeling and dealing back in 2007 and then conspired to cover it up.
From the Hartford Courant, who failed to let the national audience checking out the story know that Perez is a Democrat.
A grim-faced Mayor Eddie A. Perez turned himself in to state police at the Troop H barracks on Washington Street this morning around 10 a.m. He entered the building with his attorney, Hubert J. Santos, without speaking to the throng of reporters waiting.
A short time later Perez and Santos emerged from the building and heading for Santos’ waiting car. When asked for comment, Perez said “1 o’clock,” referring to a scheduled press conference at city hall.
Perez is charged with bribery, fabricating evidence and conspiracy to fabricate evidence.
State criminal investigators have circled Perez since early 2007, and in October of that year, the state formed an investigatory grand jury to probe allegations of political corruption in the mayor’s administration, including work contractor Carlos Costa did on Perez’s home.
Costa, who has done millions in work for the city on a troubled and long-overdue streetscape project, was arrested Monday and charged with bribery, fabricating evidence and conspiracy to fabricate evidence, according to his lawyer, William Gerace.
According to the chief state’s attorney’s office, Costa agreed to work on Perez’s home because he believed he would have been “black balled” from city if he didn’t.
Gateway Pundit asks if we can use the term culture of corruption yet? I say yes.
Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez was busted on bribery charges today. He joins three fellow democratic mayors caught in scandal this year. Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted Jan. 9, 2009, by a grand jury on 12 counts, including perjury, theft and misconduct in office. Racine Mayor Gary Becker (2nd from right) was arrested on charges of attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child, child enticement and possession of child pornography. Portland Mayor Sam Adams, the first openly gay mayor from a major American city, admitted last week that he had sexual relations with a teen intern.
Don’t forget all of the problems that the Massachusetts State Legislature has had the last six months. Dianne Wilkerson, Salvatore F. DiMasi, Therese Murray, John H. Rogers, Robert P. Spellane and J. James Marzilli are all either out or under a cloud of suspicion by residents.
Even the previous two Democrat House Leaders, Charles F. Flaherty and Thomas M. Finneran – now a radio show host at WRKO in Boston – resigned in corruption clouds.
Although all of the problems involve Democrats in Massachusetts, and all of the mayors happen to be Democrats, that does not mean there is not serious problems within Republican ranks.
I’m officially calling this the “age of Democrat corruption in the United States”. Didn’t Pelosi promise to clean up this act?
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