NY Representative Michael Grimm Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges...Refuses to Resign

[master_shake_]

Throw him off a balcony?

ha!

 

[cubby1223]

Kind of like how Republicans - as part of the recent funding bill - insisted on blocking the new DC law legalizing possession and home-growing of marijuana, which had been passed by a more than 2-to-1 majority of the voters? Kind of like how the upcoming Republican-controlled Congress will leave in place federal laws blocking normalization of the U.S. relationship with Cuba, favored by 83% of Americans?

Yeah, Republicans respect the will of the people, until ideology gets in the way.

What?

If other people's representatives are not representing them, it is their choice to re-elect or not to re-elect, not mine. I only live in one U.S. congressional district, I am only responsible for voting or not voting for one representative.

What you are talking about is a major fault in the system we have, that we have a binary choice, Republican or Democrat, rather than the complex set of choices on all issues out there. Simple example, 10 issues with a straight yes/no position, that's 1024 different combinations. But we (typically) have only two choices on the ballot. 2 << 1024.

Both Republican and Democratic candidates often represent themselves while voting.


Oh, and one of the primary founding principles of our system of government is to not let populist waves control government. That's why we don't have a direct democracy of majority rule. That's why the U.S. Senate has alternating 6-year terms. You're more advocating for direct Democracy than anything else. I'm confident if I spent a few minutes I'd find many issues the Democrats took a stance on that was against majority opinion.

 

[Darwin333]

http://news.yahoo.com/u-rep-grimm-plead-guilty-tax-fraud-defense-182433292.html

U.S. Representative Grimm says will not resign after pleading guilty to tax fraud




Most citizens are denied federal employment for even minor misdemeanors on their records, let alone felony convictions...Why the fuck should any congressman/woman, regardless of party affiliation, be allowed to continue in a job that requires the trust of the citizenry being represented?

Boot his lying, cheating ass out of office...IMMEDIATELY.

Shrug, I dunno, I would personally leave it up to his constituency since he is their representative but that's just me.

 

[shira]

What?

If other people's representatives are not representing them, it is their choice to re-elect or not to re-elect, not mine. I only live in one U.S. congressional district, I am only responsible for voting or not voting for one representative.

What you are talking about is a major fault in the system we have, that we have a binary choice, Republican or Democrat, rather than the complex set of choices on all issues out there. Simple example, 10 issues with a straight yes/no position, that's 1024 different combinations. But we (typically) have only two choices on the ballot. 2 << 1024.

Both Republican and Democratic candidates often represent themselves while voting.

Residents of DC have no voting representation in Congress, and Congress (read: Republicans in Congress) has a history of blocking legislation enacted by DC voters.

With respect to the Cuba situation: Polling has shown that the only group that was against Obama's recent directive on Cuba was conservative Republicans (I don't have the poll results handy, but it should be reasonably easy to find on the web). But because of how laws get passed by Congress, conservative Republicans in the House and Senate will prevent any corresponding changes to federal law. Since very few people are "one issue" voters, and especially since Cuba is not high on anyone's list of issues, it's very, very unlikely that a conservative Republican will get booted out of office simply because he/she disagrees on Cuba with most of their constituents. And to suggest otherwise is simply to ignore the realities of our political system.

 

[theeedude]

Big business will get on the side of lifting the embargo, and GOP will get inline, after they raise the money off old Florida dupes first.

 

[smackababy]

Most citizens are denied federal employment for even minor misdemeanors on their records, let alone felony convictions...

Who exactly told you this? I know for a fact a felony conviction won't stop you from obtaining a Top Secret security clearance and military service.

 

[BoomerD]

Who exactly told you this? I know for a fact a felony conviction won't stop you from obtaining a Top Secret security clearance and military service.

It appears things may have changed over the years. In my youth, I was denied access to a couple of construction jobs on federal property because I was a felon. (the most recent time was about 2001...at Lawrence Livermore Labs)

I do believe a felony conviction will prevent you from military service...but it depends on the felony. Some things can be waived...others not so much.

 

[Jimzz]

Who exactly told you this? I know for a fact a felony conviction won't stop you from obtaining a Top Secret security clearance and military service.

That depends on the felony and how badly the office wants you.

Having a felony makes it much harder unless you have a very keen skill set that is needed and someone wants you bad enough.

 

[kage69]

That depends on the felony and how badly the office wants you.

Having a felony makes it much harder unless you have a very keen skill set that is needed and someone wants you bad enough.

I've always thought the hiring practices of NASA should give everyone hope when it comes those with troubled pasts seeking employment. Just gotta find that niche fellas!

 

[MongGrel]

No matter what kind of horrible crap congressmen commit, the vast majority of them get reelected over and over again.

The problem is The People, it always has been.

Pretty true, more or less.

Depends what lobbyists you have in the pocket too, I imagine.

 

[Fern]

If he just won re-election while in the midst of this I doubt he will resign. Looks like people in NY don't care.

I wonder why he was charged with felony tax evasion. That's pretty rare. In the vast majority of cases the IRS is just interested in getting their money, plus a hefty amount of penalties and interest. Either he did something 'special' or they were after him because he is a politician (although they didn't bother with Rangel).

Fern

 

[boomerang]

If he just won re-election while in the midst of this I doubt he will resign. Looks like people in NY don't care.

I wonder why he was charged with felony tax evasion. That's pretty rare. In the vast majority of cases the IRS is just interested in getting their money, plus a hefty amount of penalties and interest. Either he did something 'special' or they were after him because he is a politician (although they didn't bother with Rangel).

Fern

You answered your own question. The IRS is after him because he's a Republican politician.

On another note, a percentage of Obama's staff weren't or maybe still aren't paying their taxes. (How would we know if they have paid up and are paying now?) It's what the cool kids do these days. Government employee's aren't the "little people" and they have a different set of rules than the little people do. Being a Republican may result in one having to play by little people rules when the IRS is involved.

White House staffers owe more than $800,000 in back taxes

It's cool for me but not for thee. It is interesting to watch the swirl going around the drain pick up speed.

 

[Chaotic42]

Government employee's aren't the "little people" and they have a different set of rules than the little people do.

Maybe up at that level, but your average government employee has a life and set of privileges similar to most anyone else. It may be harder to get fired for some things, but it's easier to get fired for others. They certainly don't get to skip out on taxes.

 

[Jhhnn]

You answered your own question. The IRS is after him because he's a Republican politician.

On another note, a percentage of Obama's staff weren't or maybe still aren't paying their taxes. (How would we know if they have paid up and are paying now?) It's what the cool kids do these days. Government employee's aren't the "little people" and they have a different set of rules than the little people do. Being a Republican may result in one having to play by little people rules when the IRS is involved.

White House staffers owe more than $800,000 in back taxes

It's cool for me but not for thee. It is interesting to watch the swirl going around the drain pick up speed.

Amazing. From your link-

The report is part of an annual IRS review of unpaid taxes by government workers across the executive agencies and Congress — and the White House actually has a much lower tax delinquency rate than many of the agencies and Congress.

Here's the indictment against Grimm-

http://www.scribd.com/doc/220719500/Grimm-Indictment

He knew what he was doing. It's not like he left something off his 1040. If anything, the IRS went easy on him because of his position.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

http://news.yahoo.com/u-rep-grimm-plead-guilty-tax-fraud-defense-182433292.html

U.S. Representative Grimm says will not resign after pleading guilty to tax fraud




Most citizens are denied federal employment for even minor misdemeanors on their records, let alone felony convictions...Why the fuck should any congressman/woman, regardless of party affiliation, be allowed to continue in a job that requires the trust of the citizenry being represented?

Boot his lying, cheating ass out of office...IMMEDIATELY.

See agreements can always be found. Boomer & I completely agree.

 

[Sonikku]

Poor guy. Probably just a victim of affluenza.

 

[trenchfoot]

Looks like he's trying to stall for time so he can find a loophole or the right strings to pull to save his sorry ass. He must be calling in all of the IOU's he's collected over the years, but for this kind of crime, I really don't think he can stop his fellow legislator-friend rats from jumping his sinking ship.

He's going to end up with some cushy very well paying job with all of the big business connections he's got outside of politics anyway.

 

[theeedude]

He is from district representing same people who refused to indict the cop that choked Eric Garner. It's just how they roll, if you are their boy, they'll let you get away with murder.

 

[K1052]

If he just won re-election while in the midst of this I doubt he will resign. Looks like people in NY don't care.

I wonder why he was charged with felony tax evasion. That's pretty rare. In the vast majority of cases the IRS is just interested in getting their money, plus a hefty amount of penalties and interest. Either he did something 'special' or they were after him because he is a politician (although they didn't bother with Rangel).

Fern

IIRC this was the end of the line for investigations by the IRS and FBI over his campaign financing, which also landed some other indictments of people who fund raised for him.

I think there is a reasonable chance Boehner will force him out. He doesn't seem to have a lot of tolerance for congressmen who get themselves into very public trouble that reflects badly on the party.

 

[werepossum]

It appears things may have changed over the years. In my youth, I was denied access to a couple of construction jobs on federal property because I was a felon. (the most recent time was about 2001...at Lawrence Livermore Labs)

I do believe a felony conviction will prevent you from military service...but it depends on the felony. Some things can be waived...others not so much.

I've a friend who was denied entrance to the Navy based on a misdemeanor possession charge a decade or so back, so YMMV. Non-military federal offices may have a more, um, enlightened appreciation for felons. Shortens the training, you know.

I've always thought the hiring practices of NASA should give everyone hope when it comes those with troubled pasts seeking employment. Just gotta find that niche fellas!

lol School janitor, nope! Rocket scientist, you bet!

You answered your own question. The IRS is after him because he's a Republican politician.

On another note, a percentage of Obama's staff weren't or maybe still aren't paying their taxes. (How would we know if they have paid up and are paying now?) It's what the cool kids do these days. Government employee's aren't the "little people" and they have a different set of rules than the little people do. Being a Republican may result in one having to play by little people rules when the IRS is involved.

White House staffers owe more than $800,000 in back taxes

It's cool for me but not for thee. It is interesting to watch the swirl going around the drain pick up speed.

This may be one of those situations where kicking out half the crooks may be the best possible outcome.

 

[Fern]

-snip-
He knew what he was doing. It's not like he left something off his 1040. If anything, the IRS went easy on him because of his position.

Yeah, he knew, or should have known, what he was doing:

Grimm received a BBA in accounting from Baruch College in 1994. He transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and was discharged from service in 1997.[8] He received a Juris Doctor (magna cum laude) from New York Law School in 2002

(The above from wiki.)

I suspect him being a former LEO (FBI) was held against him too.

BTW: The IRS doesn't prosecute people. They merely refer cases to the DoJ. It's up to the DoJ to decide if they want to prosecute.

Fern

 

[Linux23]

IIRC this was the end of the line for investigations by the IRS and FBI over his campaign financing, which also landed some other indictments of people who fund raised for him.

I think there is a reasonable chance Boehner will force him out. He doesn't seem to have a lot of tolerance for congressmen who get themselves into very public trouble that reflects badly on the party.

shit you hit the nail on the head there. he did resign. apparently after talking to Boehner.

 

[UberNeuman]

shit you hit the nail on the head there. he did resign. apparently after talking to Boehner.

Boehner was hard on him even as Grimm tried to get off.

 

[Engineer]

http://news.yahoo.com/representativ...g-guilty-plea-reports-032732523--finance.html

 

[Linux23]

Hmm, where are the thug comments for this guy? Guess that's reserved for the Afros...