I am thinking positive thoughts about Maryland’s two Senators. Not only do they do an excellent job representing everyone in Maryland, but they do not take bribes. To compliment legislators for honesty might seem strange, but the recent charges brought against Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), remind us how easy it is for politicians to succumb to the temptations of power. Menendez is accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars, and a luxury car in exchange for using his influence in Washington to aid individuals and the government of Egypt.
The 39-page indictment includes photographs of the fruits of Menendez’s alleged corruption. The pictures are nauseating. Menendez, until last week, was the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In that post, he was privy to sensitive government information and had the power to block the sale of military arms to foreign governments. He also was well known within the State Department and other government agencies.
While legislators cannot order federal agencies to take or withhold actions benefiting an individual or foreign government, any communication from them bears weight. Most legislators understand this and, as a policy, tell any constituent asking for help that “crosses the line” that such intervention is beyond their authority. But nobody polices the communications of senators and representatives. Unless someone blows the whistle, improper actions might not be caught.
Senator Menendez counted on not getting caught. That is curious because less than a year before engaging in the alleged corruption detailed in the indictment, he dodged conviction on another bribery charge after the jury was deadlocked. One would have thought that experience would have taught Menendez that “you can’t get away with it.” Apparently, Menendez did not see his actions, and the size of the bribes he allegedly accepted, as sufficiently blatant to attract attention.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and many others have called on Menendez to resign. The Senator denies the charges and says he is not going anywhere. Even more disturbing is his statement made after calls for his resignation: “It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat. I am not going anywhere.”
Assuming the facts alleged in the indictment are accurate, Menendez will be leaving the Senate and going to jail. Assuming he is guilty, that will be justice, but that is not the end of the story. More important than holding a legislator accountable for corruption is the damage it does to the public’s confidence in democracy and our representative form of government.
The news of Menendez’s indictment comes as the “real story” in Washington is how a small group of reckless, radical right-wing Republicans have hijacked the weak-in-the-spine Speaker of the House of Representatives in an attempt to shut down the federal government. The unspoken truth in Washington is that the House of Representatives is broken, perhaps permanently. Opinion writers are telling us, “Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is running the House of representatives.” If you don’t know who Gaetz is, take something for your stomach and Google him.
We are also watching another U.S. Senator blocking confirmations of top military appointments in an effort to fight the military’s abortion policies. That Senator is ex-football coach Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). He is undermining the constitutional responsibility of the Senate to confirm appointments and risking the national security of the United States.
The actions of the radical right in the House of Representatives and Tuberville in the Senate coupled with the disgusting corruption allegations involving Menendez, his wife, and several others, paint a sordid picture.
I wonder how much more dysfunction Congress can stand before the public concludes it is time to throw the towel in on the Constitution. That is why the Menendez allegation is so worrying. In Congress these days, there are good people and bad people, but unfortunately the number of bad people is growing.
Maryland has had its share of corrupt politicians and right-wing ideologues. Remember Spiro Agnew, the only vice president to resign from office? And, unfortunately, I worry that the Eastern Shore’s own Andy Harris will be among those Republicans who will do nothing to stop the shutdown of the U.S. government.
Washington needs a good scrubbing. Until that happens, be worried, but also do something about it. Demand honesty and integrity from elected officials. And demand that they do their jobs and not play games that jeopardize national security or domestic tranquility.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
jeff morton says
I have never been able, when it comes to politics, to differentiate between a politician taking a bribe and a politician receiving gifts, trips, etc from lobbyists. Perhaps Sen. Menendez was confused also.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. I agree. That is why Congress has periodically tried to clarify the rules. You are right, perhaps Menendez was confused–but remember the gold bars, Mercedes convertible, and hundreds of thousands in cash. Menendez seems to be a pretty blatant case.
In any case, thanks for reading the piece and your comment.
Paul Rybon says
Even bigger than the Menendez or Agnew crimes that were self-serving, why does Mr Dean continue to tow the Democrat line about the Massive Biden family corruption which has far more sinister and dangerous effects on Americas economy and security?
Jerry McConnell says
It’s easy to read Mr Rybon’s comments and summarily dismiss them for being nonsense. But since he took the time to submit this guano perhaps he can back up his claims with some facts…Actual facts, please…not Fox News propaganda fed to slow thinking payasos who are unable to be honest and objective about anything. Real, honest evidence.
Then let’s have a look at the evidence behind the Bidens’ “massive family corruption”
Facts, please, Mr Rybon—with real documentation, not “what you heard on the news “
While we’re waiting, how’s the impeachment going?
Evidence of wrongdoing?
Didn’t think so….
Craig Fuller says
Excellent points! If there is more interested in seeing just how far favorable views of Congress have fallen, here is a link to Gallup research: https://news.gallup.com/poll/1600/congress-public.aspx
Perhaps most shocking (or, not) is the finding in 2022 that when asked if “most members of Congress deserve to be re-elected,” 77% of registered voters said, “NO.” This is the largest percentage rejecting incumbents in the over 30 years Gallup has asked this question. Of course, incumbents were, as usual, returned to office.
Wilson Dean says
In these highly partisan times, demanding honesty from our elected officials is something both Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree upon. While we must all agree that in the courts someone should be considered innocent until proven guilty, the evidence against Melendez is so overwhelming that it is not unreasonable to expel him from Congress immediately. The same was true of George Santos with his almost unfathomable lies, but unfortunately Republicans buckled and sent his case to the House Ethics Committee in order to preserve his vote for Republicans (especially for Speaker Kevin McCarthy). Of course, it is not lost on all of us that after a judge found the evidence so overwhelming that former President Trump’s business dealings over the past decade were so obviously outrageous he deemed a jury trial unnecessary before sentencing, Republicans stand prepared to nominate him as their nominee for the Presidency. More Democrats need to stand up and force Melendez out, just as Republicans should oust Santos and Trump. Refusing to do so and taking the partisan step of protecting one’s own party members in the face of their obvious transgressions only serves to underscore the saying that “following lines of least resistance is what makes men and rivers crooked.”
John Dean says
Thanks for your comment. As always, right on all points.
Kent Robertson, MD (Retired) says
So, I guess Mr. Dean is fine with increasing the debt $Trillions more. If the country is in decline, it’s because Washington DC loves spending the taxpayers’ money, and can’t reign itself in. I’m glad that Someone in DC is standing up and saying “Enough is Enough!”. Thank you Representative Andy Harris.
I am all for Term Limits for Congress, as are 75-80% of Americans in every poll for the last decade-plus. No more Career Politicians. No more geezers or geezettes falling asleep during important discussions of the Nation’s business. Term Limits would be a great first step in curing what ails the Congress.
dhlamotte says
“Just the Facts: Republicans Create Huge Deficits
President Trump and Senate Republicans promised to reduce the national debt. Instead, it grew by $7.2 trillion in four years under President Trump.
Republicans only think that deficits are a problem when Democratic presidents are in office. Yet, when Republican presidents are in office, they substantially increase the deficit.
President Clinton left office with a budget surplus of $236.2 billion.
President Obama inherited a historically high deficit at the time from President Bush and then cut it in half by the time he left office. Now President Biden has proposed a budget that reduces the deficit more in 2022 than any year in U.S. history.”