Showing posts with label Guam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guam. Show all posts

Monday, June 15, 2020

Prelude To Detroit: Another Chief Of Staff & Another Congressional #MeToo Ethics Investigation Transposable Model

Oh, those Chiefs of Staff!

John Paul Manuel, Chief of Staff for Michael F.Q. San Nicolas, Guam, was the one who accepted the unreported cash, which he then, turned around and used to book the hotel for the Member and his lover, who more than likely is a consensual woman over the age of 21 years.

More than likely, just because I am pretty sure who was the "Other" Chief of Staff, who probably reached out to John Paul, in some form and fashion, to install the fear of god in his heart and soul, that, if he did not follow through, he, too, would soon become a Former Chief of Staff, and be implicated as a co-conspirator, because #MeToo was an epic fail.

Considering the fact that we are dealing with campaign funds, I am just going to go out there on a limb and say that the Guam Delegate to Congress, more than likely had no idea that the hotel room was booked with undocumented cash as a campaign contribution, because he probably assumed it was his personal credit card or, in the purpose of business, his congressional office credit card, because he did end up hiring as a new staffer.

I will even go so far as to allege, just because I know how these people think, that the hotel room was set up with cameras, and there is probably a secret romantic tape, ready to be dropped, in hopes of distracting the masses with the thought of more congressional porn, so as not to be indicted for blackmail and other nefarious charges, when it comes to money laundering through the Member's congressional campaign, gifts of lucrative fake ass contracts, and, more than likely, the Congressional Credit Union.

Sometimes, these scandals are used as warning shots, to other individuals, to keep their mouths shut, or face a wrath of criminal charges, in full public specter, where the "Legal Geniuses" (trademark pending) will sacrifice one of their own, to send that message to invoke fear and trepidation, to remain silent.

The only problem in this absolutely ingenious, transposable model is that there exists a significant distinction between a congressional tryst and an epic romance, whereby that difference is that the latter involves a Quantum Renaissance.

Can I get a #MeToo?

Grace Meng needs to recuse herself from this investigation, but, then again, upon a secondary reflection, she did come out University of Michigan.

Complaint filed on alleged illegal use of campaign funds, San Nicolas says it's baseless



#maytheheavensfall

Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Delegate Michael F. Q. San Nicolas


Jun 12, 2020 Press Release

Pursuant to Committee Rule 7, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics (Committee) determined to release the following statement:

In accordance with House Rule XI, clause 3, and Committee Rules 10(a)(2) and 18, the Committee unanimously voted on March 11, 2020, to establish an Investigative Subcommittee.  Pursuant to the Committee’s action, the Investigative Subcommittee shall have jurisdiction to determine whether Delegate Michael F.Q. San Nicolas may have: engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual on his congressional staff; converted campaign funds to personal use; accepted improper and/or excessive campaign contributions; reported campaign disbursements that may not be legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes; omitted required information from or disclosed false information in reports filed with the Federal Election Commission; made false statements to government investigators or agencies; and/or improperly interfered or attempted to interfere in a government investigation of related allegations in violation of House Rules, law, regulations, or other standards of conduct.

The Honorable Grace Meng will serve as Chairwoman of the Investigative Subcommittee, and the Honorable Jackie Walorski will serve as the Ranking Member.  The other two members of the Investigative Subcommittee are the Honorable Darren Soto and the Honorable Vicky Hartzler.

The Committee has determined to take this action following receipt of a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics regarding this matter.  The Committee notes that the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.

No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.  Pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 3(b)(8)(B)(iii), and Committee Rule 17A(f)(1), no documents will be released at this time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

House ethics panel to probe Guam congressional delegate over sex with staffer, improper contributions allegations

WASHINGTON – The House Committee on Ethics announced Friday it was moving forward with an investigation into Guam's lone member of Congress over allegations he had sexual relations with a staff member and accepted improper political contributions.

The member, Del. Michael F.Q. San Nicolas, said he was ready to "disprove the allegations."

The bipartisan panel had been looking at the allegations against San Nicolas since last fall and decided in March to launch a full investigation. News of that unanimous vote to move forward was announced Friday by the committee in a news release.

The release said the panel would probe the freshman Democrat for engaging in a sexual relationship with a member of his congressional staff; converting campaign funds to personal use; accepting improper and/or excessive campaign contributions; and reporting campaign disbursements that may not be legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures.

U.S. Capitol Building
The panel will also probe whether San Nicolas omitted required information from – or disclosed false information in – reports filed with the Federal Election Commission; made false statements to government investigators or agencies; and/or improperly interfered or attempted to interfere in a government investigation of related allegations, according to the release.

The issue was referred to the committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics, a separate, non-partisan body of the House.

The release does not list the specific circumstances of the allegations.

'Baseless' claim:Complaint filed on alleged illegal use of campaign funds, San Nicolas says it's baseless

But in September, San Nicolas' former manager of his 2018 congressional campaign, John Paul L. Manuel, filed a compliant with the Guam Election Commission alleging the delegate received a $10,000 contribution from a Guam businessman – an amount above the legal campaign limit, according to the Pacific Daily News in Guam.

Manuel also alleged San Nicolas reimbursed himself from federal campaign funds after using money to carry on an extra-marital affair with a woman he later hired as a member of his congressional staff. He also alleged San Nicolas forged his own father's signature on campaign checks, the newspaper reported.

"This is just a part of the process that we are required to go through in order to disprove the allegations made against us," San Nicolas said in a statement released Friday to USA TODAY through his office. "We will continue to cooperate and thank the people for their patience and support during this time."

The House banned members from having sexual relations with their staff members in 2018 as part of sweeping ethics rules adopted after several lawmakers resigned over accusation of sexual harassment.

The probe will be led by two Democrats – Grace Meng of New York and Darren Soto of Florida – and two Republicans - Jackie Walorski of Indiana and Vicky Hartzler of Missouri.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Thursday, August 10, 2017

CONYERS: More Than 60 Members Of Congress Reject Trump Statements On North Korea


Administration Urged to Act with Restraint and Adhere to Diplomatic Approach

Washington, D.C. –  More than 60 Members of Congress, working from their home districts during recess, came together to write an urgent letter, below, to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to express “profound concern” over “irresponsible and dangerous” statements made by President Trump and to urge Tillerson to do everything in his power “to ensure that President Trump and other Administration officials understand the importance of speaking and acting with the utmost caution and restraint on this delicate issue.”

The letter warns that “Congress and the American public will hold President Trump responsible if a careless or ill-advised miscalculation results in conflict that endangers our servicemembers and regional allies,” and asks the Administration to reaffirm its understanding of the longstanding Constitutional principles that pre-emptive strikes on another nation must be authorized by Congress.

The Congressmembers indicate their strong support for Tillerson’s recent statements calling for direct talks with North Korea and offering assurances that our country is not their enemy and does not seek war or regime change.

The letter notes that Tillerson’s approach accords with that urged by 64 Members of Congress in a May letter to President Trump, and is also backed by leading experts on US-North Korea policy, including former Secretary of Defense William Perry, former Secretary of State George Schultz and former Senator Richard Lugar who have stated that our country “should make clear that the United States does not have hostile intentions toward North Korea.”

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) said, “As a veteran of the Korean War, I am ashamed that our Commander-in-Chief is conducting himself in a reckless manner that endangers our troops stationed in Korea and our regional allies.  Trump must immediately cease talk of pre-emptive war—which must be authorized by Congress—and commit to the diplomatic path advocated by both American experts and the South Korean government.”

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) said, “President Trump’s belligerent rhetoric is dangerous. Instead of saber-rattling, this Administration should pursue direct talks with North Korea to de-escalate tensions.”

Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) said, “President Trump’s statements were unhelpful, dangerous and raised tensions with North Korea higher than we have previously seen. This has led to North Korea directly threatening nearly 168,000 American citizens living in my home district of Guam. While I have great confidence in our military’s capabilities in the Pacific and appreciate that the DoD has deployed proven missile defense systems in the region, including a THAAD battery on Guam, President Trump must show steady leadership to prevent further escalating tensions. I join Representative Conyers and my Democratic colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to work with the international community and engage in diplomatic discussions with North Korea. It is imperative that President Trump and his Administration work towards a peaceful solution to this situation and refrain from any action that could lead toward a military conflict.”

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said, “Now is the not the time to encourage North Korea to make additional threats. Nearly 50 members of the House recognize that we need assured leadership in regards to the situation with North Korea and urge the State Department to choose diplomacy over a show of force.”

An Economist/YouGov poll conducted from April 29 to May 2, 2017, found that 60 percent of Americans support “direct negotiations between the United States and North Korea” to end North Korea’s nuclear program, while 10 percent were somewhat opposed and 8 percent strongly opposed.  63 percent of Democrats and 65 percent of Republicans support direct negotiations with North Korea.

Today’s letter was led by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13). Signatories include: Reps. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Madeleine Z. Bordallo (GU), Alma S. Adams (NC-12), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Karen Bass (CA-37), Don S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24), Judy Chu (CA-27),  David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Emanuel L. Cleaver, II (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Danny K.  Davis (IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Michael F. Doyle (PA-14), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Dwight Evans (PA-02), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), Al Green (TX-09), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04), Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07),  Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Daniel T. Kildee (MI-05), Al Lawson, Jr. (FL-05), Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Alan S. Lowenthal (CA-47), Betty McCollum(MN-04),  James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), José E. Serrano (NY-15), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Louise Slaughter (NY-25), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Darren Soto (FL-09), Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Timothy J. Walz (MN-01), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Peter Welch (VT-AL), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24), John A. Yarmuth (KY-03).
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