Alleged Bribery Of Two Congressmen Apparently Not Considered A Crime (By Some)

From A Charging Elephant:

Alleged bribery of two United States Congressmen is no longer considered a Crime


July 5, 2010 · 2 Comments

by Jim Campbell



The White House has acknowledged that it made overtures to Colorado U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff about a possible administration job as it was trying to steer him away from a primary challenge against Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.



The statement by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs came the day after Romanoff revealed that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina offered to consider Romanoff for three posts as an alternative to his Senate campaign.







THE PLACE WHERE A PARTY GOES WHEN ITS PRESIDENT

CAN NO LONGER BE TRUSTED BY THE VOTERS.

The White House tried desperately and failed miserably, to wiggle out of the Joe Sestak bribery scandal. The administration replaced a memo claiming that impeached President Bill Clinton, at the behest of the Obama White House, merely offered a “non-paid” position in the Obama administration to Sestak.



Why is the mainstream media again giving the scandal ridden administration another free pass?



Are there no longer reporters of the caliber of Woodward and Bernstein working in the media any longer?





There should not be any way to wiggle out of another bribery scandal involving Colorado Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff; not with the revelations that exploded into the news June 2nd



White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs explained that Romanoff rebuffed the overture: “Romanoff said that he was committed to the Senate race and no longer interested in working for the administration, and that ended the discussion. As Mr. Romanoff has stated, there was no offer of a job.” He said what? Another contradictory story?



Romanoff received the e-mail from Messina containing descriptions of three positions, he said, attaching the e-mail to his release to reporters. “I later left him a voice mail, informing him that I would not change course,” Romanoff said. “I have not spoken with Mr. Messina, nor have I discussed this matter with anyone else in the White House, since then.” (Text of email)



In Romanoff’s case, Messina apparently suggested paid jobs in the administration, a difference from the Sestak overture. But unlike the unpaid position offered to Sestak, both the White House and Romanoff said Romanoff was never guaranteed a job.



Now, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) who has spearheaded the charge for an investigation into White House actions on Sestak, said the political muscling in the West Wing has “irrevocably shattered” the Obama brand.

“Clearly, Joe Sestak and Andrew Romanoff aren’t isolated incidents and are indicative of a culture that embraces the politics-as-usual mentality that the American people are sick and tired of.”



Romanoff had remained mum for nine months amid speculation of White House strong-arming, unlike Sestak, who repeatedly made the claim in public that the White House offered him a job in hopes of getting him out of a primary against Specter, the five-term veteran who had Obama’s backing. Sestak went on to defeat Specter.



United States Senator (D.) Colorado, Michael Bennet was sworn in on Jan. 29, 2009 to fill the Colorado senate seat vacated by the departure of Ken Salazar to be President Obama’s interior secretary.



Mr. Bennet, a Democrat, had never run for elective office. For that matter, he had no experience in the education field before taking on his previous job, as Denver schools superintendent; or in finance before taking an earlier job.



The Romanoff instance has stepped up Republican calls for a full investigation of the White House political operation. Already seven Republicans from the Senate Judiciary Committee have asked the Justice Department to open an investigation into both the Sestak and Romanoff matters.



Bribery is an extremely serious charge. Those involved could be guilty of violating federal laws. At least four of them are listed below:



• 18 USC 210: Offer to procure appointive public office: Whoever pays or offers or promises any money or thing of value, to any person, firm, or corporation in consideration of the use or promise to use any influence to procure any appointive office or place under the United States for any person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.



• 18 USC 211: Acceptance of solicitation to obtain appointive public office, which reads in part: Whoever solicits or receives, either as a political contribution, or for personal emolument, any money or thing of value, in consideration of the promise of support or use of influence in obtaining for any person any appointive office or place under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.



• 18 USC 595: Interference by administrative employees by Federal, State or Territorial Governments, which reads in part: Whoever, being a person employed in any administrative position by the United States…in connection with any activity which is financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States, or any department or agency thereof, uses his official authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting, the nomination or the election of any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives…shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.



• 18 USC 600: Promise of employment or other benefit for political activity, which reads in part: Whoever, directly or indirectly, promises any employment, position, compensation, contract, appointment, or other benefit, provided for or made possible in whole or in part by any Act of Congress, or any special consideration in obtaining any such benefit, to any person…for the support of or opposition to any candidate or any political party in connection with any general or special election to any political office, or in connection with any primary election…shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.



It is beginning to become very clear that the current White House holds itself above the law as it proved when the charges were dropped against the New Black Panther Party after a conviction was handed down by the court for voter intimidation.





Voters in Santa Ana, CA will not be intimidated at the voting both in November.



Random thoughts while observing the ongoing charade, I’m J.C.