Alexander B. Howard

Undercovered in 2024: “It’s the corruption, stupid.” If leader don’t run against the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain on behalf of foreign nations, corporations, & oligarchs by any politician, they’re seen as complicit or corrupt themselves. Past is prologue.

⚖️@SenatorMenendez was convicted by a jury of his peers, which found him guilty on all 16 counts, including bribery, wire fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, & acting as an agent for Egypt. nytimes.com/2024/07/16/nyreg… As the @nytimes reported, the verdict made @BobMenendezNJ the first US senator to be found guilty of acting as an agent of a foreign power, & the 7th to be convicted of a federal crime while in office. @SenSchumer called on him to resign after the verdict. @POTUS @JoeBiden has not commented, yet, though the conviction of the former head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for taking bribes for policy considerations surely occasions it. No person can be held above the law in any strong union of, by, and for the people, no matter which branch of government they serve on or gavel they wield. Our Constitution places no officer of the court, military, legislature, or executive beyond the reach of accountability for high crimes and misdemeanors, despite this Supreme Court annotated Article II with an immunity provision. Receipt of the emoluments is specifically denied — without the permission of Congress — in the anti-corruption clauses crafted to protect the integrity of a young nation from the foreign entanglements of the kings and empires of the Old World. Healthy political parties repudiate the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain — corruption — because they know it rightfully dissolved public trust and erodes democratic integrity, putting lives at risk and missions at stake. I believe a supermajority of Americans oppose corruption, regardless of party. We deserve a Congress, Court, and Presidency worthy of our trust. I hope to see it in our times after ethics reforms commensurate with the need are passed and implemented.

Corruption of US officials by foreign governments was such an existential concern by the Founding Fathers that they wrote anti-corruption clauses into our Constitution, banning taking emoluments without the consent of Congress. Secretly taking bribes is a clear abuse of power.

As a good governance type, I am glad to see @davidsirota write about corruption & the reforms necessary to fight it — open beneficial ownership is a key missing plank here: thebulwark.com/p/anti-corrup… To be credible, Democrats must not tolerate corrupt Members (see: Biden & Menendez)

After @realDonaldTrump sought to weaponize @TheJusticeDept against Members of Congress who said members of our military should not follow illegal orders, a grand jury has refused to indict them. It’s a watershed moment in American history. apnews.com/article/trump-mil… In our government of the People, Americans remain the ultimate bulwark against tyranny. The cost of library & freedom will be our eternal vigilance against corruption & unconstitutional acts by our elected representatives & officials entrusted with public health & national security. As @POTUS, Trump is not only fulfilling his campaign promise to abuse power to seek revenge against his political opponents, but declaring that American citizens and the free press are “enemies.” His administration is sending secret police who have deprived Americans of our rights to life & liberty across our union, without due process or accountability for violating our rights. Congress should defund unaccountable agencies engaging in unconstitutional policing, civil rights violations, or war crimes. Recovering broken public trust will depend on holding all federal officials accountable for upholding their oath to uphold & defend the Constitution, impeaching & removing those who refuse to do so, without fear or favor.