weeklystandard.com / By DANIEL HALPER / 1/31/13
IF Sen Menendez were to be found guilty of traveling to the Dominican Republic to engage in sexual intercourse with underage prostitutes, he could face up to 30 years prison. The appropriate law, which would seem to apply in this instance, is the Prosecutorial Remedies And Other Tools To End The Exploitation Of Children Today (or the Protect Act).
Menendez voted for the law when he was a member of the House of Representatives.
“TRAVEL WITH INTENT TO ENGAGE IN ILLICIT SEXUAL CONDUCT. “A person who travels in interstate commerce or travels into the United States, or a United States citizen or an alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States who travels in foreign commerce, for the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
‘‘(c) ENGAGING IN ILLICIT SEXUAL CONDUCT IN FOREIGN PLACES.—Any United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence who travels in foreign commerce, and engages in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.”
‘‘(d) ANCILLARY OFFENSES.—Whoever, for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, arranges, induces, procures, or facilitates the travel of a person knowing that such a person is traveling in interstate commerce or foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
‘‘(e) ATTEMPT AND CONSPIRACY.—Whoever attempts or conspires to violate subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall be punishable in the same manner as a completed violation of that subsection. (rest at web site)
CAN YOU SAY CONFLICT OF INTEREST? Sen Menendez is chairman of the Senate subcommittee that holds sway over the Dominican Republic.He pressured officials in the US State and Commerce Depts to intervene so that the DR port contract would be enforced, at an estimated value of $500 million. PLAIN AS THE NOSE ON YOUR FACE--Menendez, Meglen and Dominican Republic honchos have a secret deal that will profit them hundreds of millions of dollars.
Menendez used govt resources, govt authority and his privileged position to convene a special hearing on the port deal---he was the only Senator present but the hearing had the full force of the US govt.
Menendez dragged Obama administration officials up to the Hill for questioning---pressuring officials about why the Dominican Republic port deal had not gone through.
The New York Times quotes Menendez at the hearing: "You have another company that has 'American investors' that is seeking to - has a contract actually given to it by the - kind of ratified by the Dominican Congress to do X-ray of all of the cargo that goes through the ports, which have been problematic and for which in the past narcotics have been included in those cargo," the senator said.
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Casa de Campo where US pols play hide and seek under the sheets w/ the local kids.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Have you asked your Senator/Cong/legislator if THEY'VE ever spent time at Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic?