tagged w/ Political Scandal
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February 9th, 2011
06:02 PM ET
BREAKING: N.Y. Rep. Chris Lee resigns after Craigslist personals scandal
By: CNN's Dana Bash and Deirdre Walsh
Washington (CNN) - Republican Rep. Christopher Lee of New York resigned his House seat Wednesday following a report that the married congressman had tried to meet a woman on Craigslist.
"It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Western New York," said a statement by Lee posted on his website. "I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents. I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all. I have made profound mistakes and I promise to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness."
The statement said that "the challenges we face in Western New York and across the country are too serious for me to allow this distraction to continue, and so I am announcing that I have resigned my seat in Congress effective immediately."
Just before 6 p.m., an announcement read on the House floor said Lee had resigned as of 5 p.m. Wednesday and the number of the House members decreased by one from 435 to 434.
Lee, who is married and has a son, resigned after the website Gawker published an item reporting he corresponded with a woman who posted a Craigslist ad and allegedly sent her a bare-chested photo of himself.
The speed of Lee's resignation indicated a culture of zero tolerance by House Republicans for potentially controversial behavior so soon after winning control of the chamber for the first time since 2007.
Lee was first elected to Congress in 2008 from New York's 26th district in the western part of the state, which includes suburbs of both Buffalo and Rochester. He won re-election last November.February 9th, 2011
06:02 PM ET
BREAKING: N.Y. Rep. Chris Lee resigns after... more
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Scandal-hit Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi today got himself in to deeper trouble when he told a press conference that it’s “It’s better to be passionate about beautiful girls than be gay” when quizzed about his involvement with a 17-year-old exotic dancer.
The perma-tanned Premier dismissed calls for him to resign over his involvement with an underage Moroccan runaway and defended his lifestyle and fondness for young women, in Milan today.
His comments sparked outrage from gay rights groups and fuelled new calls for him to step down.
Opposition politicians believe that Berlusconi abused his office by calling the Milan police in May when the then-17-year-old runaway nicknamed Ruby was detained for alleged theft, to ensure that they released her by falsely claiming that the girl was related to Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
Even centre-right commentators in Berlusconi's family-owned newspapers have criticized him for intervening in a possible criminal case. Berlusconi's now-estranged ally, Gianfranco Fini, said his antics had embarrassed the country.
Berlusconi's comments were also criticised by Mara Carfagna, the Equal Opportunities Minister within his own cabinet who said: “What he said was a joke at the end of a serious speech. He didn't mean to offend homosexuals or women. This government has shown its commitment against discrimination and because of this perhaps its better that we don't make such jokes.”
Berlusconi's relationship with Letizia, an 18-year-old would-be model from Naples, sparked a scandal last year that prompted Berlusconi's second wife to file for divorce.
Soon after, a high-end prostitute, Patrizia D'Addario, claimed she had spent a night with the premier and had tape-recorded their encounter.
The conservative leader has said he has never paid anyone for sex. Prosecutors have said Berlusconi is not under investigation in the scandals over his dalliances with women.Scandal-hit Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi today got himself in to deeper... more
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Host Conor Knighton and team wickedly skewer the week in media. Includes Health Care Reform, a politician's survival guide to their gay crisis, sex addiction in the news, a Viral Video Film School Pop Quiz, and songs that celebrities like.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.Host Conor Knighton and team wickedly skewer the week in media. Includes Health Care... more
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Wanna be in politics but are afraid you may have some gayness? Just use The "Straight" Politician's Guide to Managing Your Gay Crisis!
That's Gay is a recurring segment on the weekly television show infoMania. In each episode of That's Gay, Bryan Safi explores gay issues and stereotypes as they are portrayed by the clueless media. For more Bryan visit http://current.com/groups/thats-gay/ and Current TV.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.Wanna be in politics but are afraid you may have some gayness? Just use The... more
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This is so sweet you almost want to give the guy a pass.
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) is so smitten with his current live in girlfriend that he nominated her for US Attorney in Montana.
Alas, this selfless gift didn't work out, as John Stanton of Roll Call tells us:
Hanes, who is divorced and now lives with Baucus in the Eastern Market neighborhood of Washington, D.C., ultimately withdrew her name from consideration for the U.S. attorney position in order to move to Washington, and she now works in the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as a counselor to the administrator.
Baucus spokesman Tyler Matsdorf said the relationship was not the cause of Baucus' divorce and that Baucus did not arrange for her current position with DOJ.
"In no way was their relationship the cause of their respective divorces. When Senator Baucus and Melodee Hanes, his former state director, realized that their relationship was developing beyond a purely professional nature, Melodee began the process of resigning her Senate employment," Matsdorf said.
"After withdrawing from consideration for U.S. Attorney, Ms. Hanes independently applied for her current position at the Department of Justice. Having extensive experience and qualifications in the field, Ms. Hanes was awarded the position based solely on her merit. Since then she has excelled in her role," he added.
Hanes was one of three names Baucus forwarded to the White House for consideration as Montana's U.S. attorney. President Barack Obama ultimately tapped one of Baucus' nominees, Mike Cotter, for the position.
Odsbodkins! We are supposed to believe that one of the most powerful senators in Washington had nothing to do with getting his girlfriend a job in government? Yes, and you probably believe that man made global warming is real too.
This brings to mind that great song from A Chrous Line, "What I Did For Love:"This is so sweet you almost want to give the guy a pass.
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)... more
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KSirys
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept. 9) - A Republican state lawmaker from Southern California resigned Wednesday amid growing outrage over a videotape that caught him bragging in graphic detail about having sex with a female lobbyist and another woman.
Assemblyman Mike Duvall, whose votes on family-oriented legislation received high marks from conservative groups, said in a statement the furor over his comments had begun to divert attention from the work his fellow lawmakers were trying to finish during the final week of their session.
Duvall is married and has two adult children.SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept. 9) - A Republican state lawmaker from Southern California... more
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Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has been taken into custody on charges of seeking bribes in exchange for an appointment to the Senate among other allegations.
The impact of Blagojevich's arrest is far-reaching, with tentacles into the Senate, governor's mansion and the national political scene.
The most obvious fallout is in the race for the seat vacated earlier this month by President-elect Barack Obama. Under state law, Blagojevich is given total authority to replace Obama -- an authority he allegedly was using as collateral to extract concessions from those interested in the seat.
President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday joined others calling for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resignIllinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has been taken into custody on charges of seeking... more
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When Alberto Gonzales leaves office, the President will say goodbye to an Attorney General and a friend.When Alberto Gonzales leaves office, the President will say goodbye to an Attorney... more
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What happens when we elect public officials without truly knowing their pubilc record and say we don't want to know their private lives until it serves to be a tasty bit of scandalous news .. Eliot factor anyone?What happens when we elect public officials without truly knowing their pubilc record... more
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Tori
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4 years ago
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New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is reportedly working on plans to resign his post after a federal investigation linked him to a prostitution ring. Spitzer held a brief press conference on Monday to apologize to his family and the people of New York on Monday without specifically mentioning what he was sorry for.
The Republican leader of the state Assembly said he would introduce articles of impeachment on Thursday if Spitzer hadn't resigned by then. Assemblyman James Tedisco said it was a matter of right and wrong, saying he would give Spitzer two days to address any legal issues he might be facing, but that it would be impossible to continue the work of state governance with the "zoo" at the state capitol since the issue came to light.
If (or at this point, perhaps, when) he steps down, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson will take over as the first African-American Governor of New York and only the 4th in US history.New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is reportedly working on plans to resign his post... more
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Josh Marshall over at Talking Points Memo has been taking nominations for the best political scandals of 2007 and created the Golden Duke Awards. Winners just announced.
Named after disgraced (and jailed) congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the awards are "a big, exciting, super-well Muck-O-Rama Extravaganza contest, honoring the great acts of venal corruption, outstanding self-inflicted losses of dignity, crimes against the republic, bribery, exposed hypocrisy and general muckiness." Categories include: "Best Scandal -- Sex and Generalized Carnality" and "Outstanding Achievement in Corruption-based Chutzpah"
Funny stuff from a serious site that has covered all these scandals in detail from the moment they broke, or in a lot of cases, uncovered the scandal and corruption themselves. Josh Marshall over at Talking Points Memo has been taking nominations for the best... more
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According to Mitt Romney's math, the minimum percentage of the US population that a religion needs to qualify for a cabinet post is 6.2%.According to Mitt Romney's math, the minimum percentage of the US population that... more
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Was her blog interview her final undoing?
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Last Saturday, during the Halloween party I was throwing at my place, I grabbed my biggest Italian flag, sprayed the name of Judge De Magistris across it and took a picture with other Italians to virtually join the protest that was simultaneously going on in piazzas across Italy (once again) to protest the decision to transfer the judge who is investigating both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice himself.
Yes, that's right. Now they can turn an investigation into the flow of billions in European funds to the Southern Italian region of Calabria from a threat to their power into a whitewash managed by a carefully chosen substitute.
So it goes that the Minister of Justice exercised his power to take the case away from Judge De Magistris, and people across Italy are now wondering just what he was about to discover and demanding that he be reinstated.
That, folks, is corruption to the ninths.Last Saturday, during the Halloween party I was throwing at my place, I grabbed my... more
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4 years ago
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Oh Happy Day! Harry Reid had a great quote: "Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove," said Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), referring to the belief among many Democrats that political strategist Rove engineered the ouster of the U.S. attorneys to make room for appointees more loyal to Bush.Oh Happy Day! Harry Reid had a great quote: "Alberto Gonzales was never the... more
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I can't wait to see where all this leads
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An analysis of different faces made by Sen. David Vitter's wife in a press conference about his philandering. My first reaction was one of humanity...we should not expend our energy doing this type of analysis! But when you think about the fact that this press conference is orchestrated by his press team in crisis mode to counter the negative effects of these allegations...it makes it a little more appropriate.An analysis of different faces made by Sen. David Vitter's wife in a press... more
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"President Bush on Thursday acknowledged publicly for the first time that someone in his administration likely leaked the name of a CIA operative""President Bush on Thursday acknowledged publicly for the first time that someone... more
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