I'm shocked.
Posted on 06/30/2016 8:46:45 AM PDT by GuavaCheesePuff
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine took advantage of the state’s lax gift laws to receive an $18,000 Caribbean vacation, $5,500 in clothes and a trip to watch George Mason University play in the NCAA basketball Final Four during his years as lieutenant governor and governor, according to disclosures he filed. Now a leading contender to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate, Kaine reported more than $160,000 in gifts from 2001 to 2009, mostly for travel to and from political events and conferences, according to disclosures compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project. The givers included political supporters, a drug company that soon after bought a facility in Virginia, and Dominion, the state’s biggest provider of electricity.
While legal under Virginia’s unusually permissive ethics rules, the gifts could become attack-ad fodder after similar presents led to corruption charges for Gov. Bob McDonnell, whose conviction the Supreme Court overturned Monday. Republicans could also use the records to portray Kaine as part of the self-dealing establishment in a cycle animated by hostility toward the political class.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Kaine is out.
Julian Castro is in.
Probably...I still see Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) being her choice.
One could also point out the breathtaking hypocrisy of the democRats who persecuted the now exonerated former governor Bob McDonnell.
Probably...I still see Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) being her choice.
He’s the Dem version of Sasse. Toes the party line but another phony careerist beltway “populist” in that mold.
Amazing that his party affiliation is not mentioned in the first paragraph.
Kaine’s staff and other defenders are quick to note that his gifts did not contain any suggestion of a quid pro quo trade for official favors — a major difference from the McDonnell case....
Under McDonnell you have to have a direct link from the "gift" to the "official act." The quid must be traceable to the pro. And the pro must be something more than arranging a meeting or hosting an event; it must be a vote, finding, recommendation or some other actual act by the office holder.
There was also an interesting Federalism issue raised in McDonnell. The argument is that it should be up to the states to describe what acts are illegal by their public officials, and should not be subject to definition and enforcement by the Federal government. Normally I'm a strong supporter of Federalism, but I found it curious that the SCOTUS would buy this argument to favor and protect corruption by public officials but not in just about any other sphere of government activity.
As I read the opinion, I think it does not protect the activities of Hillary Clinton. There is a quid pro quo there, but we have to prove it.
I was thinking about the McDonnell case too, when I read this article. I’m wondering if it was to soften the impact of finding out the D-Lt Gov had accepted bribes so Hillary! could still consider him for the VP slot. I no longer trust anyone on either side of the aisle in DC......but I especially no longer trust the SCOTUS.
I'm shocked.
All I got was this lousy tee shirt
LOL. I didn’t realize poor Tim was having such a hard time making ends meet on a Senator’s salary.
He was the Gov before McDonnell.
Kaine had no worry of being investigated by the same bh0 Justice Dept folks who investigated, tried and convicted McDonnell because he has (D) after his name.
Julian Castro’s mommie is a commie.
Bumping this thread.
Excellent.
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