Developing~ Sestak Says He was Offered Job To Not Challenge Specters Senate Seat

[waggy]

I highly doubt that Clinton will go quietly.

Did the Obama camp forget that Mrs Clinton still wants to be president??

Also, Bill cares about his own legacy more than anything else so there is no way he becomes the fall guy for this.

Bill could implicate Obama in all of this and thus pave the way for Hillary to challenge Obama in 2012. Especially after the Democrats get an ass whopping in November.

...that's evil..i like it. :hmm:

 

[Patranus]

Wait, so the white house is admitting that they broke the law?

 

[PJABBER]

Well, now we know the White House side of the story.

Sestak has said that he will give his side later today.

 

[waggy]

Wait, so the white house is admitting that they broke the law?

nope. they are saying they didn't and if t here was anything wrong done it was clinton that did it.

also they are saying no law was broke because the job offered was unpaid.

 

[Patranus]

nope. they are saying they didn't and if t here was anything wrong done it was clinton that did it.

also they are saying no law was broke because the job offered was unpaid.

From what I have heard (I will admit I haven't read the law) money is irrelevant.

 

[ProfJohn]

If the White House version is the truth then Sestak is going to end up looking like a fool.

It was pretty stupid of him to make the claim in the first place and now it is going to come back and bite him.

 

[ProfJohn]

News flash!

Due to the fall out over this scandal and his role in it Bill Clinton is going to resign his position as former President and will now go by the title "The man formally known as the former President"

 

[Patranus]

And here we go!

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 as consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or 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 or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

http://vlex.com/vid/promise-benefit-political-activity-19191066#ixzz0pF9NoAoF

Bye bye President Clinton. I hope taking this one for Obama pays off in the future.

 

[PJABBER]

Paid or unpaid is irrelevant under the law. It is the tender of an offer meant to directly dissuade a candidate in return for anything of value that is criminal.

I posted the language in an above post, but here it is again...

18 USC 600 states,

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 as consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or 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 or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Edit: Patranus beat me to it!

18 USC 211 and 18 USC 595 may also apply in this case.

Using Clinton as an intermediary does not absolve the originator of the offer of anything.

Maybe they wanted to use Clinton because he already knows full well how impeachment proceedings go and they could stop Hillary in her tracks in the same Machiavellian move. He he he.

 

[Patranus]

Sestak just came out and said Clinton was authorized by Dead Fish and did offer him the job in exchange for dropping out of the race.

 

[Lemon law]

Sorry, if you examine, "by any Act of Congress, or any special consideration in obtaining any such benefit", its pretty clear that would not apply to someone merely running for a congressional office and thus not a person already elected to that office considering a specific congressional vote on a specific matter.

All I can say, to all you righty tighties, is that lots of luck finding any prosecutor that will touch your fantasies without laughing you out of their office. There is nothing criminal in taking sides within your own party primaries, more than one worthy candidate often runs in such primaries, and both Republicans, Democrats, and Independents engage in similar behavior.

 

[shiner]

Sorry, if you examine, "by any Act of Congress, or any special consideration in obtaining any such benefit", its pretty clear that would not apply to someone merely running for a congressional office and thus not a person already elected to that office considering a specific congressional vote on a specific matter.

All I can say, to all you righty tighties, is that lots of luck finding any prosecutor that will touch your fantasies without laughing you out of their office. There is nothing criminal in taking sides within your own party primaries, more than one worthy candidate often runs in such primaries, and both Republicans, Democrats, and Independents engage in similar behavior.

Did you just decide to skip over

"or reward for any political activity or 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 or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office,"

??

 

[Patranus]

did you just decide to skip over

"or reward for any political activity or 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 or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office,"

??

---

 

[PJABBER]

The argument for or against proceeding with indictments rests on the enticements/position(s) offered and the applicable statute. It can go felony or misdemeanor depending on the statute.

All we have right now are statements by one of the involved parties and the attorney for another. We need to get direct statements from Clinton and Emanuel as they are the ones who would be liable to charges. Obama may be involved but he would have to be given up by one of these two to be dragged in.

Based on what I am hearing, there might be a question of witness tampering as well.

Seems like an independent review by at least the Public Integrity Section of the DOJ is called for. I also think that Issa is going to go after this big time.

Like most of these kind of cases, the problem comes not so much from the original issue but the resultant cover up.

 

[shiner]

I highly doubt that Clinton will go quietly.

Did the Obama camp forget that Mrs Clinton still wants to be president??

Also, Bill cares about his own legacy more than anything else so there is no way he becomes the fall guy for this.

Bill could implicate Obama in all of this and thus pave the way for Hillary to challenge Obama in 2012. Especially after the Democrats get an ass whopping in November.

That ould be full of LOL's for me...I would love to witness such a Machiavellian political maneuver in my lifetime.

 

[nick1985]

Did you just decide to skip over

"or reward for any political activity or 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 or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office,"

??

I love me some Lemon Law ownage

 

[Lemon law]

That law is impossibly broad and I still believe it could be used to indict every politcian in the entire USA if its so loosely interpreted. I would more suggest its all in how the offer is tendered, it may be a possible law violation if the offer as phrased as I will offer you this job if and only if you decline to run in the primary. But not illegal if put in these terms, "Hi Mr Sestak, this is Bill Clinton, I always admired you and I could use a man with your set of ability for a job I have in mind. After that it could lead to other jobs and a career in government. And if Sestak comes back with, "Thank you Bill Clinton but I have already decided to run for the open primary for the Spectre seat." And if Clinton back with, "Oh well, I tried to recruit you but its your choice.", there is no crime to be found.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Given Obama and crew's past history in corrupt election processes, I think its pretty safe to say this should be investigated.

 

[boomerang]

Well, now we know the White House side of the story.

Sestak has said that he will give his side later today.

It will be in lock-step with the White House. This is over and done with.

Emanuel isn't guilty of anything other than talking to Clinton about it which IMO is not a punishable crime. Clinton is not part of the administration so there is no crime on his part.

They've had months to come up with whatever scenario cleared them of any wrong doing. Sestak has never said what position he was offered and who made it to him.

It's done. Swept under the rug.

Edit: There are plenty of folks here more savvy in these matters than I. This is my opinion based on gut feelings.

 

[Patranus]

That law is impossibly broad and I still believe it could be used to indict every politcian in the entire USA if its so loosely interpreted. I would more suggest its all in how the offer is tendered, it may be a possible law violation if the offer as phrased as I will offer you this job if and only if you decline to run in the primary. But not illegal if put in these terms, "Hi Mr Sestak, this is Bill Clinton, I always admired you and I could use a man with your set of ability for a job I have in mind. After that it could lead to other jobs and a career in government. And if Sestak comes back with, "Thank you Bill Clinton but I have already decided to run for the open primary for the Spectre seat." And if Clinton back with, "Oh well, I tried to recruit you but its your choice.", there is no crime to be found.

Maybe every politician should be indicted.

 

[PJABBER]

It will be in lock-step with the White House. This is over and done with.

Emanuel isn't guilty of anything other than talking to Clinton about it which IMO is not a punishable crime. Clinton is not part of the administration so there is no crime on his part.

They've had months to come up with whatever scenario cleared them of any wrong doing. Sestak has never said what position he was offered and who made it to him.

It's done. Swept under the rug.

That may well be, but Clinton went on the direct request of the White House to deliver a White House message.

It wasn't a casual conversation but a direct offer and, maybe, as part of that discussion, an implication of good and/or bad consequences should Sestak go forward or not.

We just don't know at the moment. Which is why an independent inquiry is called for.

Anyway, I am kind of watching to see what Sestak will say in the news conference he is going to give in a few minutes.

 

[PJABBER]

Looks like they attempted a coordinated message...

Sestak says his brother, White House met about alleged job offer

[SIZE=-1] By Paul Kane[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]The Washington Post
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1] Friday, May 28, 2010; A06[/SIZE]

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) said Thursday his brother has spoken with White House officials about the congressman's allegation that he was offered an Obama administration job if he would stay out of a Democratic Senate primary.

Sestak ran in, and won, that primary, defeating the White House's preferred candidate, Sen. Arlen Specter.

He told reporters Thursday that he would not expand upon his prior statements until the White House releases its report on the matter. President Obama said in his news conference such a report would come "shortly."

Richard Sestak, who has served as his brother's top political adviser and campaign lawyer, spoke with administration officials Wednesday, Joe Sestak said.

"They got ahold of my brother on his cellphone, and he spoke to the White House . . . about what's going to occur," said Sestak, who said he expects the White House will release its information Friday. He declined to elaborate on his discussions with his brother...

 

[waggy]

Looks like they are attempted a coordinated message...

hmm. this could get messy for Obama.

seems like sestek is going to continue talking.

 

[PJABBER]

I looked up the language of the possibly applicable statutes to get a focus on what charges might or might not apply, depending on what was said, who made the offer(s), on whose instructions -

18 U.S.C. § 600 – Promise of employment or other benefit for political activity

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 as consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or 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 or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

18 U.S.C. § 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.

18 U.S.C. § 595 – Interference by administrative employees of Federal, State, or Territorial Governments

Whoever, being a person employed in any administrative position by the United States, or by any department or agency thereof, or by the District of Columbia or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or by any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States, or any political subdivision, municipality, or agency thereof, or agency of such political subdivision or municipality (including any corporation owned or controlled by any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States or by any such political subdivision, municipality, or agency), 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, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

This section shall not prohibit or make unlawful any act by any officer or employee of any educational or research institution, establishment, agency, or system which is supported in whole or in part by any state or political subdivision thereof, or by the District of Columbia or by any Territory or Possession of the United States; or by any recognized religious, philanthropic or cultural organization.

 

[lupi]

saw this for the first time today while at a doctor appointment. while in the end nothing may broach into a true "illegal" aspect, you can't reek much more of old fashioned dirty politics than this.