Senate ethics comittee call cops on John Ensign

[HomerJS]

This is going to be a big one. Not just a censure or reprimand but the comittee voted unanimously to call the US justice department on his ass. Another person who may be caught up in this is Sen Tom Coburn who acted as a go between during the payoffs of the mistress.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/12/ensign.charges.justice/index.html

 

[cubby1223]

Where in the article does it say the committee called the cops?

All the article says is that some information was passed to the DoJ.

 

[Craig234]

Where in the article does it say the committee called the cops?

All the article says is that some information was passed to the DoJ.

When he says called the cops, clearly he means alleged criminal conduct and referred to the matter to law enforcement - the Justice Department - for investigation.

 

[cubby1223]

When he says called the cops, clearly he means alleged criminal conduct and referred to the matter to law enforcement - the Justice Department - for investigation.

Ah, and here I thought "call cops" meant "call cops".

 

[halik]

This is going to be a big one. Not just a censure or reprimand but the comittee voted unanimously to call the US justice department on his ass. Another person who may be caught up in this is Sen Tom Coburn who acted as a go between during the payoffs of the mistress.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/12/ensign.charges.justice/index.html

Oh great, they get all riled up when there's a guy doing semi-shady stuff while fooling around with other's wives...

God knows that riding the moral high horse is so much easier than focusing on the Ted Stevens sorta stuff. i don't know about you, but as a tax payer that's about to get bent at 33% marginal, I couldn't care less if they all belong to the same swingers club. I do care when you take my tax money and use your influence to enrich yourself a la Stevens (or spend $2M + on a road in middle of nowhere, AK).

 

[HomerJS]

Ah, and here I thought "call cops" meant "call cops".

Law enforcement for violation of Senate law is the Justice Dept.

If you spotted your neighbor growing pot in his backyard and referred the matter to your local law enforcement that would be the local police department.

If John Ensign killed someone on the Senate floor that would be a violation of the laws of Washington, DC and the local police department would have been called.

Did I really need to explain this?

 

[cubby1223]

Yes it needs 'xplaining, I'm an ignant rightie!

 

[manimal]

Isnt Coburn a lawyer and was called in as council? He would be bound by privilege wouldn't he?


This guy is going to get multiple charges of conspiracy and fund raising malfeasance with that payout to the aide wont he?

 

[lupi]

Law enforcement for violation of Senate law is the Justice Dept.

If you spotted your neighbor growing pot in his backyard and referred the matter to your local law enforcement that would be the local police department.

If John Ensign killed someone on the Senate floor that would be a violation of the laws of Washington, DC and the local police department would have been called.

Did I really need to explain this?

people have been banned for less.

 

[Double Trouble]

It's about time some of those DC jerks get held accountable for some of what they do. Sadly this is certainly just one minor incident in a vast sea of crooked behavior.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Isnt Coburn a lawyer and was called in as council? He would be bound by privilege wouldn't he?
This guy is going to get multiple charges of conspiracy and fund raising malfeasance with that payout to the aide wont he?

Privilege protects clients, not counsel. If Senator Coburn participated in unlawful acts, even if he were explicitly retained as counsel by Senator Ensign, he would be liable to censure by the Senate and prosecution by the Justice Department for those unlawful acts. Privilege would prevent him from disclosing any information that Senator Ensign shared, if it were determined that they had a protected relationship.

 

[Darwin333]

So some politician is banging some married chick and pays (or has someone) pay her off or something to that sort, and the Senate asks the justice dept. to look into it. Meanwhile we get robbed of literally trillions of dollars and the Senate gives them a stern talking to.

Lol, we are so royally screwed.

 

[werepossum]

Oh great, they get all riled up when there's a guy doing semi-shady stuff while fooling around with other's wives...

God knows that riding the moral high horse is so much easier than focusing on the Ted Stevens sorta stuff. i don't know about you, but as a tax payer that's about to get bent at 33% marginal, I couldn't care less if they all belong to the same swingers club. I do care when you take my tax money and use your influence to enrich yourself a la Stevens (or spend $2M + on a road in middle of nowhere, AK).

To a large degree I agree. However, enriching themselves is something they all do to some extent, so unless the member's behavior is really explicitly illegal the ethics committees ignore that. Sounds like Ensign's behavior is like Clinton committing perjury or Delay placing himself in control of both hands of a typical D.C. money laundering operation - it might seem like a negligible difference, but it's the point that morally bankrupt but legal behavior crosses into morally bankrupt and illegal behavior.

To the extent that there is evidence that Ensign broke the law, he should be prosecuted. Voluntary loss of power should not be a shield against prosecution, and those in power need to be held to the strictest of standards. Agreed, especially the Stevens behavior, and arguably McCaskill's as well.

 

[Craig234]

The best media summary I've seen of this is Rachel Maddow's segment:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#43030078

 

[EXman]

Law enforcement for violation of Senate law is the Justice Dept.

If you spotted your neighbor growing pot in his backyard and referred the matter to your local law enforcement that would be the local police department.

If John Ensign killed someone on the Senate floor that would be a violation of the laws of Washington, DC and the local police department would have been called.

Did I really need to explain this?

Because the title evokes the image of guys in uniforms slapping cuffs on goober. Stop being a smartass. The story would be much better if they did get the cops in on that douchebag.

 

[Craig234]

Because the title evokes the image of guys in uniforms slapping cuffs on goober. Stop being a smartass. The story would be much better if they did get the cops in on that douchebag.

It's probably coming.

The people in this thread trying to minimize this as 'just sex' are pretty despicable.

 

[halik]

To a large degree I agree. However, enriching themselves is something they all do to some extent, so unless the member's behavior is really explicitly illegal the ethics committees ignore that. Sounds like Ensign's behavior is like Clinton committing perjury or Delay placing himself in control of both hands of a typical D.C. money laundering operation - it might seem like a negligible difference, but it's the point that morally bankrupt but legal behavior crosses into morally bankrupt and illegal behavior.

To the extent that there is evidence that Ensign broke the law, he should be prosecuted. Voluntary loss of power should not be a shield against prosecution, and those in power need to be held to the strictest of standards. Agreed, especially the Stevens behavior, and arguably McCaskill's as well.

I would agree in principle if the committee put the same amount of effort in investigating people like Maxine Waters that has some clearly sketchy financial dealings ... rather than going after some fool with the premise that adultery is the downfall of american society.

Much like with Clinton, I really don't care if you get blown by an ugly fat chick, I care about what you do with my tax money. Fat girls need love too.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

materially misleading title.

 

[wuliheron]

materially misleading title.

Tea Partiers are classy people. Nothing but the best for them.