Posted on 01/06/2005 12:27:49 PM PST by End Times Sentinel
Do as the French Do
And in other low-minded news involving French-speaking international diplomacy: France's daily Le Parisien revealed on December 20 that one of that country's best-known public magistrates, Pierre Hontang of Bayonne, is now under intensive Justice Ministry scrutiny for his alleged behavior at the Fifth Conference of European General Prosecutors in Germany this past May. Hontang attended the gathering as keynote speaker for a session on "fundamental principles of ethics for prosecutors." According to a preliminary report by a joint task force of French and German police investigators, however, Hontang also slipped away from the conference at least twice, both times in order to visit a brothel. And while he is thought the first time to have used his own money for what one detective called "activities that are a little
"The affair came to light," according to the Times of London, "after M. Hontang complained to the owner of the brothel . . . about the quality of its work. The owner noticed that he had not paid with his own credit card and alerted German police officers."
French justice minister Dominique Perben has asked the country's Conseil Supérieur de la Magistrature to suspend M. Hontang pending completion of the inquiry. "It just wasn't something we could ignore," a Conseil spokesman told reporters, "even in France."
That "even in France" part all by itself makes the whole story worthwhile, don't you think?
Great story, fellas! Enjoy!
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
Seems to me that those who inflict the law more often than not feel they are above the law.
Frog Justice -- gotta love it!
Stolen, huh? I'll bet there were two dogs out of the yard that day.
Yes, stealing the German colleagues credit card and using it was illegal, unless done completely by accident.
What other crime was committed here, though?
We are not told if the operation of a bordel is illegal in this German town. It is unlikely the use of such services is criminal.
Clearly intentionally using another persons credit card to procure bread, milk or any other services of any kind is illegal, and in a high magistrate cannot be overlooked.
I am not sure what the sex story has to do with any of this, other than as an amusing side anecdote.
I wasn't the same for a good 2 days afterward.
Later, when I was a senior in college and living in a different town, I was in a liquor store one night and some French guy wanted me to buy him a bottle of Tequila. I bought my own Tequila and waited on him outside and smashed it right across his face when he came out and yelled about how terrible that duck was.
Well, not really---but I thought about it.
***********
LOL! Good story, great ending.
How are those anger management classes working now?
"It just wasn't something we could ignore," a Conseil spokesman told reporters, "even in France."
Ahh the french, so easy to despise.
Not to be critical of your decision making, but that action would have been far more appropriate if your wife had of been there at the time, you know, 'cause of the salad.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
And even if something is legal it is proper to hold high-ranking judges to a higher standard, don't you agree?
It may not be illegal to cheat on one's wife but it is wrong.
The instructor pissed me off, so I'm not going anymore.
Gotcha. Like an honor thing in Islam.
I knew this was fiction when you said that a Frog wanted Tequila.
Takeyla - Non!
You: "Stealing another judges credit card and using it for a hooker is really not appropriate, don't you think?"
Of course it is not appropriate, and therefore should be punished as any other illegal taking and use of another's credit card.
You: "And even if something is legal it is proper to hold high-ranking judges to a higher standard, don't you agree?"
Not as such, no. If something is legal, the law applies equally to all people. There is not one law for the low people and a different law for the high people. There is one law for all people, and all people are equal under that one law. Now, certainly if he were an elected official, the voters could punish him by not voting for him. But he is mere civil servant, a judge. There is no special law for judges when it comes to sex. Nor can I see any reason for there to be.
There is also no special law excluding judges from punishment for taking another's money either. And I can see no reason why he should not be held accountable for this.
You: "It may not be illegal to cheat on one's wife but it is wrong."
Of course it is wrong. So is using foul language. So is masturbation and thinking lewd thoughts. So is not going to Mass every Sunday. Many things in this world are wrong, but people do them. Adultery is not illegal, and frequenting a bordel is not illegal. It is only in a matter of crime that the State has the power or the right to interfere in any man's private life. The crime here was the use of another's credit card. And for that the magistrate should be, and shall be, disciplined.
Maybe I was too quick to reject the idea of a career in "civil service". I mean, go to a whorehouse and have a foreign government pay for it - because I'm sure the German guy was getting reimbursed for his expenses while at the conference. "Money for nothin' and chicks for free"
I agree with that and he should be prosecuted under the law as anyone else would be.
He has no right to his job, however, and one who can't maintain a high standard of private behavior -- much less keeping one's private behavior private -- ought not be a judge.
A "thanks-I-will-get-mileage-from-this-one" bump.
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