The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 19, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

A federal judge sentenced former New Jersey U.S. Senator Bob Menendez January 29th to 11 years in prison for corruption charges and acting as a foreign agent. Menendez, a Democrat, was contrite in the courtroom, but blasted the process as “political,” and “corrupted to the core” in a not-so-subtle appeal to President Donald Trump.

Menendez was convicted July 16th on all federal charges of conspiracy, bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction and acting as a foreign agent in schemes involving an Egyptian-American businessman and a New Jersey developer.   

In exchange for cash, a Mercedes convertible, and gold bars, Menendez used his influence as chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to procure exclusive import of halal processed meat products into Egypt.  The New Jersey Monitor reports that Menendez then signed off on billions in U.S. military aid to the government of Egypt, despite the country’s deteriorating human rights record.

But times have changed.  February 11th, the U.S. Justice Department ordered the Southern District of New York to drop bribery and corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.  He was accused of taking illegal campaign donations from foreign nationals and businessmen, and doing favors in exchange for luxury travel. The apparent quid pro quo with the Trump administration prompted six SDNY attorneys to resign in protest.

We linked to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (2024) ‘This wasn’t politics as usual, this was politics for profit.’  U.S. Senator Robert Menendez Convicted of Bribery & Conspiracy Charges.
U.S. Attorney – Southern District of NY – Former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez Sentenced To 11 Years In Prison For Bribery, Foreign Agent, And Obstruction Offenses
NJ Monitor – Former Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years in bribery scheme
U.S. Justice Department – New York City Mayor Eric Adams Charged With Bribery And Campaign Finance Offenses
U.S. Department of Justice  via CNN – Dismissal Without Prejudice of Prosecution of Mayor Eric Adams
NBC News – Federal prosecutors in New York and Washington resign after refusing to drop Adams charges

Groups Taking Action:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW),  Public Citizen,  Brennan Center for Justice

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Corruption #QuidProQuo #EricAdams #BobMenendez

The post Just 2 Weeks Before Bribery and Corruption Charges are Dropped Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez Gets 11 Years for Similar Charges appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 27, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

The framers of the U.S. Constitution included the Foreign Emoluments Clause because they feared the influence, corruption and bribery they witnessed in Europe’s monarchies.  Why should Americans care about it?

The Foreign Emoluments Clause, in Article 1, Section 9, reads in part: “And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”   

Fordham Law Professor Zephyr Teachout writes that James Madison mentions “corruption” 54 times in his Constitutional Convention notes, and that two dozen sections of the Constitution were designed to prevent it.

Fast forward to 2021, when after four years, 20 foreign governments spent an estimated $13.6 Million dollars at President Donald Trump’s properties, according to the House Ethics committee and good government groups.

Prior to Trump, Presidents put businesses and investments into a “blind trust”, shielding the President from information which could influence decisions not in the best interest of the country.  In 2017, Trump turned his assets to his two sons in a trust document, but continued to receive updates and income, and didn’t disclose the holding of over 100 trademarks in China and Russia until 2023.  

We have more on the Foreign Emoluments Clause at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, and we’ll discuss how it could influence policy decisions in a future report. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Congressional Research Service – The Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution
National Constitution Center – The Foreign Emoluments Clause: Article I, Section 9, Clause 8
National Constitution Center – Prof. Zephyr Teachout – The Foreign Emoluments Clause
American Constitution Society – Profiting off the Presidency: Trump’s Violations of the Emoluments Clauses
U.S. Supreme Court – BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE OF FORMER FEDERAL ETHICS OFFICIALS SUPPORTING
RESPONDENT
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (C.R.E.W) – Trump likely benefited from $13.6 million in payments from foreign governments during his presidency
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (C.R.E.W) – (2019)  Tracking President Trump’s unprecedented conflicts of interest
Business Insider – Trump waited until after he left office to disclose trademarks he owns in China and Russia

Groups Taking Action:

C.R.E.W., Public Citizen, Common Cause

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #EmolumentsClause #ForeignInfluence #Corruption #DonaldTrump

The post The Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause was Intended to Stop Bribery and Corruption.  Recently, Not So Much. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 13, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

With an astounding 86.4% vote on November 7th, Maine passed a citizen ballot initiative banning foreign campaign contributions to state candidates and ballot measures.  How much foreign money could there be in a Maine election? More than you think.

Hydro Quebec, a large Canadian power producer, conducted a multi-year effort to build a power line corridor through New England states.  The company failed in New Hampshire, then spent $22 Million dollars in Maine to convince voters to defeat a ballot initiative opposing the project.  In November 2021, 59% of Maine voters rejected the project, but a court ruled the initiative violated Hydro Quebec’s rights and the project moved forward.  

Federal rules prohibit campaign contributions by foreign entities in federal elections, but don’t address state spending or ballot initiatives.  The amendment to Maine’s constitution prohibits foreign entities or subsidiaries with 5% or more stake from making contributions to candidates or ballot measures.  It requires media to determine the source of advertising dollars for initiatives. It bans attempts to evade the rules, and sets penalties of up to two times the expenditure. And it requires disclosure whenever a foreign government attempts to influence an issue in Maine. 

Similar bans were enacted in Minnesota and Alaska, and several state legislatures considered bans this year.   More on those efforts in an upcoming report.  

We have more on Maine’s initiative and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Hydro Quebec – Appalaches-Maine Interconnection – Work Update June 2023
Reuters – States and localities take on foreign-influenced political spending
BallotPedia – Maine Question 2, Prohibit Foreign Spending in Elections Initiative (2023)
Spectrum News – Maine considers closing loophole that allows foreign government spending on referendums
Maine Public Radio – Question 2 passes, banning foreign electioneering in Maine
State of Maine – §1064. Foreign government campaign spending prohibited

Groups Taking Action:

Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, League of Women Voters Maine, American Promise, End Citizens United, Represent.Us

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers

The post After a Canadian Utility Spent $22 Million Dollars to Influence a Ballot Measure, Maine Voters Ban Foreign Money in State Elections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles:  

Reuters – Biden pushes election ‘dark money’ disclosure bill doomed to fail in Congress

U.S. Senate Bill S. 443 – Text of the Bill
Washington Post Editorial Board – A $1.6 billion donation lays bare a broken campaign finance system

Groups Taking Action:
Issue One, Common Cause, American Promise, Public Citizen

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

President Biden spoke September 20th about Dark Money in our elections and voiced his support of the Disclose Act, which is expected to be voted on this week in the U.S. Senate.  What is the Disclose Act, and why should voters support this campaign finance legislation?

Current campaign finance law prohibits foreign entities from contributing in U.S. elections.   But both domestic and foreign contributors have used 501c3 & 501c4 nonprofits, and limited liability shell corporations to hide the source of hard-to-trace Dark Money donations.  If passed, the Disclose Act prohibits foreign contributions, and would require donations above $10,000 from domestic corporations, unions or other political organizations to be disclosed within 24 hours.   

The bill also expands current election law to prohibit foreign entities from making dark money contributions supporting or opposing judicial nominations, or ballot initiatives.   It establishes penalties and possible jail time for those who attempt to conceal the contributions.   And it would require disclaimers on political ads to reveal the largest contributors to the organization who funded the advertising.

The Disclose Act has been proposed and failed in previous sessions, and may fail again.   Republicans like Senator Ted Cruz argue that anonymous donations allow corporations to fully express their First Amendment rights.

Links to articles, Biden’s speech and groups taking action are at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  

Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we HAVE, it’s something we DO!”  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl

The post ADM for Sept. 22, 2022: The Disclose Act Would Shine a Light on Dark Money Influence in U.S. Elections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.