Posted on 05/25/2010 6:01:22 AM PDT by Starman417
If Sestak is lying he should be disqualified for the Senate. If someone at the White House offered him a bribe to stay out of Senate race, they broke the law.
That's really the only two ways to look at this story. The White House made it clear they did not want Joe Sestak to run in the primary against Senator Arlen Specter. Sestak has repeatedly claimed that he was offered a high level job if he were to drop out of the race which he won in last week's Pennsylvania primary.
Sestak was asked about the controversy this past Sunday on Meet the Press and reaffirmed that an offer was made:
[VIDEO AT SITE]
Sestak refuses to say what the job was or who at the White House offered it to him. Earlier this year, Robert Gibbs, White House press spokesman, repeatedly tried to stonewall the matter hoping reporters would drop it. Finally this Monday David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist said that the matter had been looked into and that "nothing inappropriate happened." He refused to give any details and quickly changed the subject.
Read more at floppingaces.net...
Damn. That makes a lot of sense. Dick Morris said that?
Yep. Dick doesn’t always make sense, but that sounded logical to me.
Sestak case deepens--did White House commit a felony by offering a job to Sestak?
The Judge's comments:
Well the ramifications are potentially enormous. I mean to offer someone something of value in order to affect their official behavior as a member of Congress is a felony. We call it a bribe. To offer someone something of value to affect the outcome of an election is a felony. Each of those carries five years with them. The government has an affirmative obligation to investigate this.And Congressman Sestak who is a decent guy, we've all interviewed him. He sent you handwritten thank you notes after he was on your show, whether he agrees with you or not. Congressman Sestak has an obligation to tell the truth. Who offered him a job? What was the quid pro quo and what was the job? If he doesn't say that voluntarily a federal prosecutor should bring him before a grand jury and the grand jurors will inquire of his knowledge as we like to say.
Read the whole page, there's more information included in the quoted exchange. The part about having the ability to make good on the offer is left out here, but I recall the Judge making a strong point of that.
Food for thought: Why doesn’t Sestak simply say that he misspoke? That he WAS offered a job but no one said it would be in exchange for not running...THAT would simply be a natural consequence of taking the job?
Is it because he is a moral person? (Come on! He’s a dimocrat!)
Or, perhaps, does he fear a paper trail?
This would be VERY easy to dodge...unless you feared being caught in a lie. There must be a record some where.l
This is so good! Sestak has really stepped in it. What is the Dim’s exit strategy? Of course they are obfuscating and refusing a special counsel. My bet is that Sestak will be heavily leaned on to get out of the race. Better to lose PA than risk an impeachable scandal. Sestak could also be “convinced” to backtrack on his statements. This would undoubtedly kill Sestak’s campaign (and expose him to House ethics charges), but at least overall damage to zero could be contained. The only way out is for Sestak to be the fall guy. I hope that Sestak has a good life insurance policy. After all accidents do happen during Dim administrations.
But, I think that zero is too proud and power hungry to let another Senate campaign go down right now. At least for now we will be able to watch the Dims squirm and twist in their sewage of lies.
Enjoy.
Not that I've noticed, but is Bonior even in Congress any more? If not, guess he served his purpose, eh?
And you're right, now that there's the appearance of impropriety and knowing what happened with the Illinois Senate seat, we really need someone independent to get in and investigate the WH.
It is also my opinion that a fully-qualified exorcist will be needed to make the place safe for occupancy by humans whenever the current crop is forced to leave (I don't expect them to leave willingly no matter the reason given).
This is so good! Sestak has really stepped in it. What is the Dim’s exit strategy? Of course they are obfuscating and refusing a special counsel. My bet is that Sestak will be heavily leaned on to get out of the race. Better to lose PA than risk an impeachable scandal. Sestak could also be “convinced” to backtrack on his statements. This would undoubtedly kill Sestak’s campaign (and expose him to House ethics charges), but at least overall damage to zero could be contained. The only way out is for Sestak to be the fall guy. I hope that Sestak has a good life insurance policy. After all accidents do happen during Dim administrations.
But, I think that zero is too proud and power hungry to let another Senate campaign go down right now. At least for now we will be able to watch the Dims squirm and twist in their sewage of lies.
Enjoy.
18 USC 211 - Acceptance or solicitation to obtain appointive public office
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. Whoever solicits or receives any thing of value in consideration of aiding a person to obtain employment under the United States either by referring his name to an executive department or agency of the United States or by requiring the payment of a fee because such person has secured such employment shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. This section shall not apply to such services rendered by an employment agency pursuant to the written request of an executive department or agency of the United States.
Bonior was redistricted out of a job in 2002. He was bad and ran for governor and lost in the primary to worse in Granholm.
Thanks, Darren. I guess if he was still in there we would have been hearing from him. Pet yorkies usually keep yapping.
No, lost his seat to redistricting in 2000, so he ran for governor and lost in the primary to Granholm -- oh, the irony!
Thank you for the specific citation, very helpful!
I’m no lawyer, but if what Sestak alleges actually occurred, whoever tried to bribe him ought to be up on chgarges.
And that’s why an IC is required here — the days of the White House clearing itself of illegal or even merely inappropriate behavior are long over. An allegation has been made, so far I’ve yet to see reason to question its credibility. Holder must appoint an IC, and with the press hanging on to the story, especially as Sestak has not retracted, methinks it will happen sooner rather than later.
Think Clinton. The Historic One will not be tried and/or prosecuted! This story will go nowhere!
It isn't necessarily 0bama who did the bribing here -- WH officials, Rahm or Axelrod, they have the power to secure the offer to Sestak, not just the president.
Someone, other than Sestak, may take the fall but I doubt it. Who is the current AG and who does the AG answer to?
Move along. Sestak can be bought.
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