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The long-standing allegation from former President Donald Trump is that President Joe Biden has weaponized the Division of Justice and that there’s a double normal for Republicans as in contrast with Democrats.
There’s loads of proof in any other case recently.
Sen. Bob Menendez, the up-for-reelection Democrat from New Jersey, is on trial for bribery for the second time in seven years – and throughout the road from the place Trump’s New York state trial associated to hush cash funds is happening in Manhattan. Menendez denies the allegations, which embrace that he and his spouse accepted gold bars, envelopes of cash and much more.
In Texas, federal prosecutors have introduced corruption costs towards Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, for allegedly taking practically $600,000 in bribes, together with from a overseas oil and fuel firm. Cuellar denies the allegations.
One other Democrat, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, is the topic of a federal probe into her marketing campaign spending, in accordance with a CNN report in January. She has denied wrongdoing and defended paying her husband for safety companies.
The instances above, if nothing else, are a severe complication to Trump’s often-repeated declare that he’s the topic of a partisan “witch hunt.”
So is prosecution of Hunter Biden, the president’s son, in a gun case in Delaware that’s not often introduced as a stand-alone cost, and a separate tax case in California. Each trials are slated to begin in June.
Sure, Trump is the topic of two, distinct prosecutions introduced by particular counsel Jack Smith, regarding the former president’s refusal to return labeled materials to the Nationwide Archives after he left the White Home and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Each of these prosecutions are at the moment on maintain. However it’s value noting that federal prosecutors handed on charging Trump for the hush cash funds scheme that Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg later pursued.
An unusually feisty Attorney General Merrick Garland rejected any declare of bias throughout testimony on Capitol Hill final September.
“Our job is to not do what’s politically handy,” he mentioned. “Our job is to not take orders from the president, from Congress or from anybody else about who or what to criminally examine.”
The Cuellar indictment, the Bush probe and the start of the Menendez trial are new developments so as to add to a working checklist of federal prosecutions I first compiled final 12 months.
Right here’s a have a look at lively and up to date federal instances towards federal lawmakers and governors. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive checklist, however it’s what I may discover going again to 2000 in CNN’s protection and from different information retailers.
There may be one towards a Republican, expelled Rep. George Santos of New York, and two towards Democrats, Menendez and Cuellar. No costs have but been filed towards Bush.
There may be additionally a non-prosecution to say. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican, was knowledgeable final 12 months by the DOJ that he would not be charged in a long-running intercourse trafficking probe.
These are federal instances towards present or former federal lawmakers. I used to be capable of finding 9 focusing on Republicans and eight focusing on Democrats.
Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican from Nebraska – Found guilty in 2022 of three felonies in a case that centered on marketing campaign contributions.
Former Rep. TJ Cox, a Democrat from California – Nonetheless awaiting trial after his 2022 indictment, together with for fraudulent marketing campaign contributions. He was offered a plea deal, according to local reports.
Former Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican from California – Sentenced to 11 months in prison for misusing marketing campaign funds, however later pardoned by Trump.
Former Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican from New York – Sentenced to 26 months in prison for insider trading, however later pardoned by Trump.
Former Rep. Corrine Brown, a Democrat from Florida – Served more than two years for establishing a false charity.
Former Rep. Steve Stockman, a Republican from Texas – Sentenced to 10 years in jail for a number of felonies together with fraud and cash laundering, however pardoned by Trump after serving a part of his sentence.
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat from New York – Sentenced to 21 months in jail for sexting with a minor.
Former Rep. Chaka Fattah, a Democrat from Pennsylvania – Sentenced to 10 years in prison for racketeering, fraud and cash laundering.
Former Rep. Michael Grimm, a Republican from New York – Pleaded guilty and sentenced to eight months in prison for tax evasion. Tried to run once more for Congress.
Former Rep. Rick Renzi, a Republican from Arizona – Sentenced to three years for corruption. Pardoned by Trump after he served time.
Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey – Acquitted by a judge and other charges dismissed after a jury deadlocked in a bribery case that predates the present prosecution.
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., a Democrat from Illinois – Sentenced to 30 months in prison for misusing marketing campaign funds.
Former Sen. Ted Stevens, a Republican from Alaska – Conviction by jury for lying on ethics forms was later set aside over allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.
Former Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat from Louisiana – Sentenced to 13 years for corruption and soliciting bribes. There was video of him taking $100,000 from an African official. Served a number of years in jail, however lots of the costs had been later vacated by a choose primarily based on a US Supreme Courtroom choice.
Former Rep. Bob Ney, a Republican from Ohio – Sentenced to 30 months after a guilty plea for corruption tied to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, a Republican from California – Sentenced to eight years in prison after a guilty plea for bribery. Later pardoned by Trump.
Former Rep. James Traficant, a Democrat from Ohio – Sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption after defending himself throughout trial. Was later expelled from the Home.
Two Republican governors and two Democratic governors have been convicted in federal courts in latest a long time:
Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, was convicted for bribery and corruption. However the US Supreme Courtroom modified the principles in corruption and bribery instances when it threw out the case against McDonnell.
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, was convicted for making an attempt to promote his energy to nominate a substitute to Barack Obama’s Senate seat. His sentence was later commuted by Trump.
Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat, was convicted by a jury of bribery and corruption and was sentenced to greater than six years in jail.
Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, was convicted on corruption costs after an FBI sting.
Did we miss a federal lawmaker convicted or charged? Let me know at zachary.wolf@Local News Patch.com.
Native prosecutions – just like the state or native instances towards former Rep. Trey Radel, the Republican from Florida, for cocaine possession in Washington, DC, or former Sen. Larry Craig, the Republican from Idaho, for lewd habits within the Minneapolis airport – don’t actually match right here since they weren’t performed by the Division of Justice.
Some notable latest DOJ prosecutions have targeted on Democrats on the state stage, like Andrew Gillum, the Democrat and former Tallahassee, Florida, mayor who ran for governor and misplaced to Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2018. Gillum was acquitted of mendacity to the FBI.
Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, additionally a Democrat, was sentenced to three years in prison after she pleaded responsible to costs associated to a scheme through which native nonprofit organizations purchased her self-published youngsters’s e-book.
Trump likes to argue he’s the topic of a conspiratorial “witch hunt” engineered by a deep state.
Why, he’ll typically say, was Hillary Clinton not prosecuted for her e mail server whereas he’s being prosecuted for mishandling classified material?
This forgets the historical past of the 2016 election, which Clinton has mentioned she misplaced due to then-FBI Director James Comey’s dealing with of the investigation of her emails. Comey didn’t cost her earlier than the election however did criticize her, after which, 11 days earlier than Election Day, he mentioned the investigation had been reopened.
These whataboutisms can go on and on with out altering anybody’s thoughts.