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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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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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 May 14, 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 corruption trial of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez started May 13th for allegedly taking gold bars and cash in exchange for favors.  May 3rd, the U.S. Justice Department announced bribery charges against Congressman Henry Cuellar.  May 9th, news surfaced that former President Donald Trump promised U.S. oil executives he’d roll back climate regulations  – and asked for $1 Billion dollars in contributions.  

According to reporting by the Washington Post, Trump’s brazen ask occurred at an April dinner with U.S. oil & gas executives.  He told them they could afford to contribute $1 Billion dollars to his campaign, and promised he would expand drilling in the Arctic and Gulf of Mexico, and roll back Biden administration climate rules.  “You’ll get it on the first day,” he reportedly said.

Menendez, former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is accused of doing political favors for the government of Egypt, an Egyptian American businessman, and a New Jersey developer in exchange for gold bars, cash, and a Mercedes convertible. 

Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar was indicted May 3rd for allegedly taking $600,000 in bribes from Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil & gas company, and a Mexican bank. He could face decades in prison.

Campaign finance complaints will likely be filed against Trump, but it’s unlikely the dysfunctional Federal Election Commission would take action – because there were no gold bars involved.  

Find out more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Washington Post – (Possible Pay-Wall)  What Trump promised oil CEOs as he asked them to steer $1 billion to his campaign
Politico – Trump pressed oil executives to give $1 billion for his campaign, people in industry say

The Guardian – Trump promised to scrap climate laws if US oil bosses donated $1bn – report
Politico – ‘A little bold and gross’: Oil industry writes executive orders for Trump to sign
NPR – Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez goes on trial in New York on federal corruption charges
Reuters – US Senator Robert Menendez’s corruption trial to get underway
U.S. Justice Department – U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar Charged with Bribery and Acting as a Foreign Agent

Groups Taking Action:
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington,  Campaign Legal Center, 

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!

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

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #PoliticalCorruption #EndCitizensUnited #EndLegalBribery

The post Shades of Corruption: Menendez & Cuellar Prosecuted for Accepting Cash & Cars; Trump Reportedly Promises Climate Rollbacks for $1B in Campaign Contributions from Big Oil with Repercussions Unlikely appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute for October 12, 2022

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles: 

The New Republic – The Supreme Court Might Be on the Brink of Making Corruption Easier—Again
Scotus Blog – Percoco v United States
Washington Post – Ex-Va. governor Robert McDonnell guilty of 11 counts of corruption
Politico – Supreme Court overturns Bob McDonnell’s corruption convictions

Groups Taking Action:
Democracy 21,  Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, Citizens for Ethics in Washington (CREW)

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

What constitutes political corruption?    Short of receiving a briefcase of cash in exchange for a vote, there’s not much that will convince the U.S. Supreme Court that it IS corruption.   An upcoming case may even do away with that red line.

An article in The New Republic by Michael Linhorst explores an upcoming case in the U.S. Supreme Court called Percoco v. United States.  An aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo temporarily stepped down to run Cuomo’s campaign, saying he would return to his government job.  While a “private citizen” he used a government office and phones while he pressured state officials on behalf of a developer in exchange for $35,000 being sent to his wife.  

While it seems like open and shut corruption, court scholars and democracy advocates cite recent examples like the 2014 conviction of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.  He and his wife were convicted in state courts of taking lavish gifts, and sweetheart loans from a developer.   But because no quid pro quo was proven, the Supreme Court overturned the conviction.   Watchdogs think the Percoco case may open the doors of corruption even wider. 

In the 2010 Citizens United decision, which allows unlimited money in elections, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote “the appearance of influence or access” for donors “will not cause the electorate to lose faith in our democracy.”

We have links to articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post What Constitutes Political Corruption?   An Upcoming Supreme Court Case May Define it, and Not in a Good Way appeared first on American Democracy Minute.