this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2023
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politics

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[–] Grant_M@lemmy.ca 48 points 1 year ago (5 children)
[–] ripcord@kbin.social 31 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

In general I agree, but this kind of corruption has become pretty normalized in Congress, I think.

Look at how many Senators and other congresspeople have become millionaires (or much, much wealthier) while in office. It's not all insider trading - there's so many special favors being done, "consulting fees" being paid to family members. Campaign "contributions" that find their way into pockets via thinly veiled (or deeply hidden) laundering, special payments/contracts for existing business interests, etc. I don't usually go for "both sides" arguments but the kind of corruption is widespread. Even if the GOP seems to be doing it more.

I'm just really happy to see someone actually investigated and charged for a change. No matter which party. This kind of corruption needs aggressively stamped out everywhere, it should be in the top 3 priorities for our government.

But I'll be amazed if it isn't shut down like the last charges against this piece of garbage.

[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 8 points 1 year ago

Book deals are, imo, one of the main vehicles of money transfer. Get a ghost writer, publish a book, your friendly superPAC orders 100000, clean cash in your pocket.

[–] Sabata11792@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

Bribery is perfectly legal as long as it goes though the right systems and they call it lobbying. Some one missed some paperwork.

[–] chase_what_matters@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

New Jersey. Whadya gonna do.

[–] Serinus@lemmy.ml 41 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Fucking dump him as fast as we're allowed to. We don't circle the wagons the way the GOP does.

[–] Rudis@kbin.social 18 points 1 year ago

Right. If he's guilty, he's gotta go.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

The only way to make this more New Jersey is to add a jughandle

[–] banneryear1868@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Senators and Congress acting like Senators and Congress

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yes, he's a centrist. It's what they do.

[–] OhStopYellingAtMe@lemmy.world 33 points 1 year ago

Let’s take it to the Supreme Court - because I’m sure judge Clarance Thomas would have so much to say on receiving bribes and remaining in office…

[–] DrinkyCrow@kbin.social 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The only correct answer to his response is to start setting up the guillotine.

[–] Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 year ago

It's quickly becoming very clear, at least to me, that power will have to be taken back. These people will not give it up until they are met with deadly force. I absolutely do not condone violence because I feel it should always be the last option. At the rate power is being consolidated and our rights taken away it is looking like the only way to force a pause and possibly a disruption is to drag one of these CEOs/politicians/crazy religious zealot into the street and execute them in cold blood.

Again, I am not condoning violence but the ease in which civilian's lives are being taken by law enforcement agencies and the like gives us very little recourse.

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 10 points 1 year ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


The U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan said Menendez, 69, accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cash and gold bars in exchange for using his power and influence as New Jersey's senior senator to benefit the government of Egypt and interfere with law enforcement probes into the businessmen.

Menendez has been an important ally to fellow Democrat Joe Biden as the president has sought to reassert U.S. influence on the world stage, rally support for congressional aid to Ukraine, and push back against a rising China.

Prosecutors are seeking to have Menendez forfeit assets including his New Jersey home, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz convertible, and about $566,000 in cash, gold bars and funds from a bank account.

Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, noted that Menendez's website says that as a senator he cannot compel an agency to act in someone's favor or influence matters involving a private business.

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey dropped a case in January 2018 in which Menendez was charged with accepting private flights, campaign contributions and other bribes from a wealthy patron in exchange for official favors.

In exchange, Hana, 40, put Nadine Menendez on the payroll of a company he controlled that had the exclusive right to certify halal meat shipped to Egypt from the United States, prosecutors said.


The original article contains 1,083 words, the summary contains 218 words. Saved 80%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] Wiz@midwest.social 2 points 1 year ago

accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cash and gold bars

GOLD BARS?

Isn't that difficult to spend?