(5/22/10) Issa threatens Sestak with complaint (Politico)

[VotingHillary]

A leading House Republican is threatening to file an ethics complaint against Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) if he doesn’t reveal who in the White House offered him a job to drop out of the Pennsylvania Senate primary.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the top Republican on the Oversight and Government Reform committee, said Sestak needs to explain what job he was offered and who at the White House was involved. Sestak, who beat Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) in the Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, said on a Philadelphia radio station in February that the White House offered him a job to drop out of the race.

Issa said he or another member of Congress would file a formal complaint to the House ethics committee by July 4 if someone else doesn’t bring the matter to the Office of Congressional Ethics, which handles ethics complaints from outside groups.

“I’ve reviewed the capability and appropriateness,” of filing a complaint, Issa said. “I’m one of many members of Congress considering that it has to be done if he doesn’t come clean.”

If the White House offered Sestak a job to drop out of the race, it could violate federal law that prohibits interfering in elections or promising employment for political activity. Issa predicted that a potential ethics violation could narrowly focus on covering up a felony or bringing dishonor to the House.

It could serve as a distraction over the next few months, as Sestak is locked in a statewide senate race in Pennsylvania against former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).

One lawmaker asking the ethics committee to investigate another is extraordinarily rare – the last time was in 2004 when former Democratic Rep. Chris Bell of Texas filed against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and former Rep. Dave Hobson (D-Ohio) asked the committee to investigate Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.).

The committee can initiate an investigation on its own, which is more common.

“I’m not sure what the truth is, I’m not sure what his full statement would be,” Issa said of Sestak. “Practically everyone that interviews him comes back with the same thing: he can’t be allowed to make an allegation against the White House and then say enough is said. It doesn’t work that way. Either he’s lying, or covering up felonies for political purposes.”

Issa has also asked Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate. The White House has repeatedly declined to comment on the situation.

I like Sestak, but I wish he would come clean on this one. Did he make it up for his own political furtherance or is he covering for the White House?



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37618.html#ixzz0oj5hqjvy

[Spang]

If Sestak said it it's true. Politicians don't lie. Nor do hips.

[Jim744]

I think he's covering. It wouldn't make sense to aggravate the WH by making such a thing up. But politicians have been known to do many sensless things.

[VotingHillary]

If Sestak said it it's true. Politicians don't lie. Nor do hips.

I'll trust Shakira's hips any day over a politician's lips.

[Suzan]

Did he actually say he was offered a job to drop out of the race? I heard him interviewed and all he would say was that he was offered something. He didn't specify that it was a job or that there was a deal involved for him to drop out of the race. He may have said that at another time, but not in the interview I heard.

This kind of stuff goes on all the time, I suspect. It's the back-room deal making that's involved in picking the party's candidate.

[Spang]

When a politician says something, it's true. Bush said there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, and just because we haven't found them yet doesn't mean they aren't there. They're there, we just have to look harder. There's probably a sand dune that we haven't looked under yet.

[Suzan]

Answering my own question, yes, he did say he was offered a job to get out. Yikes.

In an interview with CNN’s Rich Sanchez Wednesday, Sestak got another question about the matter.

Sanchez asked, “There is even a lot of talk that you were offered a job as secretary of the Navy. Let me stop there. Did the president of the United States, did the White House approach you and offer you the secretary of the Navy position?”

“I was asked the question about two months ago about something that happened last July. No one ever had asked me the question, ‘Did someone offer you something to get out?’ I answered it honestly, yes,” Sestak said.

“And then I said, ‘Stop. I’m not going to get into what was a deal offer, because I’m not going to get out for a deal. I’d only get out for the something that was right to do.’ And here’s what I believe – this kind of deal-making in Washington is kind of what soured Americans and quite frankly soured me, but I honestly believe this ...” Sestak added.

Sanchez said, “You know I appreciate you being here, and you know that I love having you on my show, but I just asked you a very direct question. Give me a direct answer. Did the president, did the White House offer you the secretary of the Navy gig?”

Sestak responded, “And the answer is, I said I was offered something. I don’t have to go beyond that. I don’t think it helps anybody. But I, you know, I could have demurred when I first (was) asked the question, I said ‘yes.’ But beyond that, it doesn’t matter. And by the way, remember it happened last July, and I didn’t even get asked about this until March.”

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, formally asked Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to determine if any laws were violated by the offer.

[VotingHillary]

Answering my own question, yes, he did say he was offered a job to get out. Yikes.

Suzan, this is what bothers me. I want to vote for him, but since he made that remark, he has been running for cover from it.

[Tybee]

When a politician says something, it's true. Bush said there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, and just because we haven't found them yet doesn't mean they aren't there. They're there, we just have to look harder. There's probably a sand dune that we haven't looked under yet.

Saddam was a weapon of mass destruction.

[Kbentleyis]

VotingHillary, this has bothered me since he made his statements public. However, I don't think he wants to tickoff the WH, or his party.

We need backbone running this nation.

[foxyladi]

fess up it,s good for the soul :D

[observer21]

When a politician says something, it's true.

Of course everyone knows that that's not necessarily true. Similarly, everyone also knows that it's not true that everything politicians say is a lie. I don't think we can say one way or the other if this was true or not, which is why we need some more clarification about the issue. If Sestak was lying, I would expect he would fess up to it. If not, I would expect more details so it couldn't be misconstrued as obstruction of justice.

[foxyladi]

wheeling and a dealing thats what most politicians do

[Brooke]

Joe was on Meet the Press this morning and was literally GRILLED by David Gregory the entire time. It was uncomfortable to watch. I'm not sure what Gregory has against him. Joe handled it very well though.

Anyway, he was asked this again and was asked what job it was. First of all, I believe his claim that he was offered a job to get out. It made sense considering how much pressure the powers that be were putting on him. Secondly, the job that I heard and believed he was offered was Secretary of the Navy.

Lastly, this ethics complaint is stupid and the timing is suspect. Sestak's been claiming this for months and yet now that he's won the primary, they're going after him. It's ridiculous and I can't see anything coming of it.

By the way, I will fully admit that I'm high on the Sestak Kool Aid. And I won't apologize for it. He's going to bury Toomey and I can't wait until that day. I've been a supporter of his for YEARS, then I met him and that support grew. But after last Tuesday, it just went off the charts. I really feel passionately about his campaign.

[Suzan]

Joe was on Meet the Press this morning and was literally GRILLED by David Gregory the entire time. It was uncomfortable to watch. I'm not sure what Gregory has against him. Joe handled it very well though.

Anyway, he was asked this again and was asked what job it was. First of all, I believe his claim that he was offered a job to get out. It made sense considering how much pressure the powers that be were putting on him. Secondly, the job that I heard and believed he was offered was Secretary of the Navy.

Lastly, this ethics complaint is stupid and the timing is suspect. Sestak's been claiming this for months and yet now that he's won the primary, they're going after him. It's ridiculous and I can't see anything coming of it.

By the way, I will fully admit that I'm high on the Sestak Kool Aid. And I won't apologize for it. He's going to bury Toomey and I can't wait until that day. I've been a supporter of his for YEARS, then I met him and that support grew. But after last Tuesday, it just went off the charts. I really feel passionately about his campaign.
I like him too and I don't want them to be able to use this against him. How do you think he's going to handle it?

[VotingHillary]

Joe was on Meet the Press this morning and was literally GRILLED by David Gregory the entire time. It was uncomfortable to watch. I'm not sure what Gregory has against him.

He wasn't backed by Obama....and he won.

[sojourner]

Scarborough Rips Press for Coverage of Alleged Sestak-Obama Deal: 'It is a Federal Crime'
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough has had a few missteps and stumbles over the years, perhaps tarnishing his conservative credentials in some people's view, but he still raises some great points every now and then.

On the broadcast of his May 24 "Morning Joe" program, Scarborough, in a segment with Politico's Mike Allen, wanted to know why an alleged deal that occurred between then-prospective Pennsylvania Democratic senatorial nominee, Rep. Joe Sestak and President Barack Obama, had not gotten more attention.

Sestak has hinted that he was offered the Secretary of Navy position if he were to have withdrawn his intentions to run for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa. With a raised voice, he said reporters eagerly wanted to give the White House a pass and suggested there was a double standard compared to the previous administration.

"We've had several reporters on today that seem to be going, bending over backwards giving the White House the benefit of the doubt, when if Dick Cheney had offered this had deal, indictments would already be down," Scarborough said. "This is so clear-cut."
Story Continues Below Ad ↓


Seeking clarity, "Morning Joe" co-host Mike Brzezinski asked Allen what the word "offer" meant in context of how Sestak has used it in prior public appearance pertaining to this deal:

BRZEZINSKI: Mike, I know you're trying to give us a sense of what the process is, but here's the issue. Congressman Sestak says he was offered a job. Tell me what "offer" means.
ALLEN: You know, that's why I say, I think he probably over-spoke what literally happened.

And that's where Scarborough really showed his disapproval for the media and the job it's doing on covering this alleged indiscretion - suggesting the press was working with a favorable set of assumption to benefit the image of the Obama administration.

"Why are you assuming and you're my friend, but why are you assuming as a reporter that he probably over-spoke when the White House denied it and then he came back out afterwards and said no, they offered me the job. He said it 100 times and we've been repeating it on this show and nobody's picked it up. Why is the press giving this White House the benefit of the doubt again on something that if Sestak is right, if this job was offered to him to keep him away from Arlen Specter, it is a federal crime. Why do you make the assumptions you make?"

The federal crime Scarborough was referring to was Title 18 U.S.C. Section 600, which says, "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, in 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 ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both."

Allen had no clear answer to the question and just said he would exercise better judgment in the future.

"I'm not going to make any more assumptions," Allen replied. "‘Bad News Bears' told us what happens when you do that." Source (http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2010/05/24/scarborough-rips-press-coverage-alleged-sestak-obama-deal-it-federal-crim)

[Tybee]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/24/sestak-repeats-claim-white-house-dangled-job-offer-exit-primary-race/

[sojourner]

Crimes and Criminal Procedure - 18 USC Section 600
Sec. 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.Source (http://law.onecle.com/uscode/18/600.html)

[Foggy]

That's a really poorly worded law, even if you had some tangible facts to try to fit into it.

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 ...Does that mean the job has to have been created by Congress? What if he was offered a job in the private sector that Congress had nothing to do with? @};-

[Spang]

Even CREW Says Sestak's Claim Of Job Offer Is No Scandal

Republicans have been launching a full-court press to trumpet the claim by Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) that the White House offered him a job in exchange for dropping out of the Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate, in an effort to clear the field for its favored candidate, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA). One GOP lawmaker has called for a criminal probe, alleging possible illegal conduct. But several experts tell TPMmuckraker this is much ado about nothing.

Last month, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) urged the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel to look into Sestak's claim, which Issa says amounts to an accusation of a bribe. The White House has said that nothing inappropriate happened. And on Friday, reports Politico, DOJ responded by denying the request.

That hasn't stopped the GOP's bid to make hay out of the claim. Issa isn't letting the issue drop, huffing that "the attorney general's refusal to take action in the face of such felonious allegations undermines any claim to transparency and integrity that this administration asserts." And Fox News and the rest of the conservative media have been giving it prominent play. Karl Rove -- who knows a thing or two about politicized hiring -- suggested today that there had been a "criminal coverup."

And even the Washington Post has slammed the White House for a "lack of sunlight" on the issue.

That may be fair as far as it goes -- the White House certainly hasn't been falling all over itself to be up front about what happened. But the experts seem to agree that there's no legal wrongdoing -- and very little scandal here.

"People horse trade politically all the time," Stan Brand, a prominent Washington criminal defense lawyer told TPMmuckraker. "So I don't put much stock in this, and I don't think its gonna go anywhere."

Even those who used to prosecute public corruption cases agree. "Talk about criminalizing the political process!" said Peter Zeidenberg, a former federal prosecutor with the Justice Department's Public Integrity unit. "It would be horrible precedent if what really truly is political horsetrading were viewed in the criminal context of: is this a corrupt bribe?"

And Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor who as the head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington isn't known for going on easy public corruption, concurred. "There is no bribery case here," she said. "No statute has ever been used to prosecute anybody for bribery in circumstances like this."

Sloan added that Issa's move was more about politics. "It's not at all about whether there was actual criminal wrongdoing," she said. "It's about how to go after Sestak."

Sestak first made his claim in an interview last month with a Pennsylvania TV station. He did not specify what the job was, and added that he rejected the offer immediately. Sestak last week defeated Specter to win the Democratic nomination.

The Source (http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/even_crew_says_sestaks_claim_of_job_offer_is_no_sc .php?ref=fpa)

[Brooke]

I like him too and I don't want them to be able to use this against him. How do you think he's going to handle it?

Well I think he's handled it well up until this point and I can't see that changing.

[sojourner]

I like him too and I don't want them to be able to use this against him. How do you think he's going to handle it?

He isn't the alleged criminal. The only way they can get to him is if he covers for the person that is.

[Kbentleyis]

Remember Blago? If our government officials are able to get away with such activities (which we all know they do... but never gets out to our ears), then all criminal charges should be dropped against former gov Blago.

IF THE JOB was one which would be paid by tax dollars, then it would even be a more serious crime. I know the article above said the White House denied allegations, but I never heard them deny it. All I heard was that the WH attornies said nothing in the discussion was illegal.

I don't think this is going away any time soon.

[Spang]

White House Mobilizing Against Sestak Claim

Marc Ambinder says "the wick burned out" on Rep. Joe Sestak's (D-PA) claim that he was offered a job by the Obama administration in return for dropping out of the primary race against Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA).

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), an Obama confidant, is now calling on Sestak to "make it clear what happened."

Ambinder also hears that "the White House will formally address the matter within a few days. That could mean the disclosure of an internal investigation, or the offering of new guidelines, or a statement from Emanuel and whoever else might have talked to Sestak."

The Source (http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/05/25/white_house_mobilizing_against_sestak_claim.html)

[sojourner]

The White House asked former President Bill Clinton to talk to Rep. Joe Sestak about the possibility of obtaining a senior position in the Obama administration if he would drop out of the Democratic primary race against establishment-backed Sen. Arlen Specter, the Obama administration will say in a report to be released Friday morning, Fox News has confirmed.

The report, by the White House Counsel's office, will describe the Clinton conversations as informal and unhinged from any precise job offer since, as a former president, Clinton could not guarantee Sestak anything.

The conversations with Sestak were initiated by Clinton at the behest of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel was Clinton's political director when he was president. Clinton promoted Sestak to vice admiral and made his director of defense policy. Sestak was a loyal and tireless supporter of Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency in 2008.

The report will be released one day after President Obama said the White House would issue a formal explanation that should answer questions about Sestak's allegation and insisted "nothing improper" happened. On the same day, Clinton had lunch with Obama.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has also said nothing improper happened, but refused to elaborate when asked repeatedly about the charge at Thursday's briefing.


Sestak, who did not drop out and won the race against Specter last week, repeated his allegation in an interview on Sunday, but also declined to elaborate.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who has been leading the charge for more details on the allegation, said he hopes Obama's pending response "will detail what conversations were had with Congressman Sestak."

"If what the president said is true and nothing 'improper' took place, Adm. Sestak's credibility will be called into significant question," Issa said in a statement. "If the president's response is insufficient or contradicted, the situation will only escalate." Source (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/28/white-house-asked-clinton-urge-sestak-drop-senate-race/)

Doesn't look like this is going away anytime soon.

[foxyladi]

why did they get Bill to do the dirty work???????:eek:

[Spang]

Oh good, now they can finally impeach Clinton, and the GOP can go back to saying no to every-goddamn-thing.

[RichardMZhlubb]

Let's dig up Reagan and charge him with a crime too. Or how about virtually every US President, because they've all done stuff like this? It's politics, not a crime.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae30/rte148/hayakawa2.jpg?t=1274969769

[sojourner]

why did they get Bill to do the dirty work???????:eek:

He is not in the administration, it gives them some distance, and it gives them some legal coverage?

[Spang]

"You'd think Bill Clinton would've learned his lesson about asking people to assume positions, unpaid or otherwise." - @delrayser

[foxyladi]

He is not in the administration, it gives them some distance, and it gives them some legal coverage?

besides he is trusted

[sojourner]

President Richard Nixon uttered one of the most infamous quotes in U.S. political history on April 6, 1977, defiantly declaring, “When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.”


This sentiment embodies all that is wrong with politics. It explains why, more than 30 years later, the political establishment struggles with the image that Nixon’s misguided statement creates.


Since February, questions have swirled around allegations first made by Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.). He is now the Democratic nominee for Senate in Pennsylvania, but he said that someone inside the Obama White House had offered him a job in exchange for dropping out of the primary against Arlen Specter.


Title 18 U.S.C. Section 600 clearly says: “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, in 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 ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”


Aside from the obvious legal issues that offering someone what amounts to a bribe in an effort to manipulate an election could present, there is a broader and symbolic issue at heart.
Maybe if we held people accountable, this status quo of trading positions for political gain wouldn’t be so easily accepted by the Washington establishment. Maybe if politicians lived up to their promises of transparency and change, the American people’s faith in their elected representatives wouldn’t be so easily shaken.


Obama led a movement that shook the very foundation of Washington. He stood on the cusp of an unparalleled moment of opportunity to transform the politics of greed and opportunism, to usher in a new era of cooperation, transparency and fundamental change. He assailed against those who would “say anything and do anything to win an election.”


Yet, from inside his White House, someone thought it was OK to try to maneuver Sestak out of the Pennsylvania Senate primary — effectively betraying the promises that candidate Obama made.
Source (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37884.html)

[foxyladi]

he has broken so many promises lost count:eek:

[Spang]

Title 18 U.S.C. Section 600 clearly says: “Whoever directly or indirectly promises any employment position...

Stop. Sestak wasn't offered any job. Continue.

...compensation...

Stop. Sestak wasn't offered any compensation. Continue

...contract...

Stop. Sestak wasn't offered any contract. Continue.

...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, in 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...

Stop. Yeah, none of that happened, either. Next non-issue, please.

[Suzan]

Wow, Sestak had to say no to the Big Dawg, who promoted him to Vice Admiral? That could not have been easy. However, clearly, this is going nowhere. As has been pointed out, Bill wasn't in a position to offer him anything.

[foxyladi]

I think he's covering. It wouldn't make sense to aggravate the WH by making such a thing up. But politicians have been known to do many sensless things.

like this http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line

[sojourner]

Wow, Sestak had to say no the Big Dawg, who promoted him to Vice Admiral? That could not have been easy. However, clearly, this is going nowhere. As has been pointed out, Bill wasn't in a position to offer him anything. Maybe not on the legal front, but this has an odor of political corruption about it. I don't think it is going away anytime soon. Obama will be damaged politically.

[Spang]

Obama will be damaged politically.

Not really, but as was mentioned in another thread, the GOP will continue to try to impeach Obama by any means necessary. It's not like there are any other pressing issues to worry about at the moment, so it makes perfect sense for the GOP to devote so much time and effort to getting Obama impeached at the expense of Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Taxpayer.

[Kbentleyis]

Wow!! How the lefties run to bury their heads in the sand! HEY, wasn't BHO suppose to "change" the status quo of Washington? Seas recede... etc. lol, bring up past president's actions--ooooooo, that makes it okay for BHO to run business as ususal.

Bull.

[Tybee]

Wow, Sestak had to say no the Big Dawg, who promoted him to Vice Admiral? That could not have been easy. However, clearly, this is going nowhere. As has been pointed out, Bill wasn't in a position to offer him anything.


If Bill was acting as an agent on behest of someone in the Obama administration, (which it looks like he was) he could make the offer.

[Tybee]

Not really, but as was mentioned in another thread, the GOP will continue to try to impeach Obama by any means necessary. It's not like there are any other pressing issues to worry about at the moment, so it makes perfect sense for the GOP to devote so much time and effort to getting Obama impeached at the expense of Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Taxpayer.

The Democrats never looked the other way when it's the Republicans. IMO, neither side should EVER look the other way. Why do you want them to?

[Spang]

The Democrats never looked the other way when it's the Republicans. IMO, neither side should EVER look the other way. Why do you want them to?

I'd like to direct you to post #35 (http://www.commongroundpolitics.net/discussion/showpost.php?p=731473&postcount=35).

[Tybee]

Feb. 23, 2010

YouTube- Sestak on White House Job Offer

[sojourner]

Not an issue because corruption and unethical conduct is a given and standard operating procedure in American politics.

[foxyladi]

why did they want Benedict Arlen so bad anyway

[sojourner]

why did they want Benedict Arlen so bad anyway

Didn't he get them to the magic number of 60?

[foxyladi]

Didn't he get them to the magic number of 60?

ahhhhhhhh.yes thats it..but is he is reverting back.

[Spang]

The Sestak non-scandal, in a nutshell

Conservatives: "Rahm Emanuel ordered a turkey sandwich. That's a scandal!"

Media: "OMG!"

The White House: "Rahm Emanuel ordered a turkey sandwich. That isn't a scandal."

Media: "It's the White House's fault we were all, like, 'OMG!' They should have told us sooner that ordering a turkey sandwich isn't a scandal."

Conservatives: "They really expect us to think all they did was order a turkey sandwich? How stupid do they think we are? That's obviously a cover story."

Media: "Questions about sandwich order continue to linger."

The Source (http://www.jamisonfoser.com/blog/2010/05/the-sestak-nonscandal-in-a-nutshell.html)

[foxyladi]

will blanco go free too:eek: