Dirty Politicians Who Will Be Consigned to Dantes Inferno

The following Politicians are damned.  That much is clear.  But where and how ?  Dante neglected to specify which circle of hell a soul is consigned to after betraying the Environment of the American People for personal gain.  These politicians have allowed special interests to continue polluting the air, land and water belonging to the American People so they could pay for their reelection campaigns and continue screwing us..

Traitors are of course consigned to the innermost circles, ranging from traitors to their kin, lords, country and benefactors.  No space appears to have been left for traitors to the American people.

The thought struck us that hell is long overdue for a make-over.  The business of sin has changed substantially since Dante's day.  Not only are many of the sins archaic (it seems doubtful at this point that Protestants are damned as schismatics) but as in the recent Republican scandals,  Dante has failed to keep up with the times.  What is the punishment for TV evangelists - or for that matter for people who leave a cell phone on in a recital?

Dante's choice of victims has also worn less well than it might.  How many of his damned souls would be remembered at all if it was not for Dante's verse?

We invite you, our readers to nominate persons and punishments to add to the damned of hell.  For obvious reasons candidates should be public figures whose names will be recognized by most readers.

21 Legislators from 109th Congress Investigated for Corruption

Excerpts from article by Paul Kiel in propublica.org - June 12, 2008

Eighteen months into the 110th Congress, federal investigators are still taking a hard look at the 109th, adding to the incredible tally of lawmakers from that body to reportedly be investigated by the FBI for corruption.

Recently revealed investigations of two former lawmakers bring that total to 21. Some of those 21 investigations have closed with no charges, some seem dormant, some are ongoing, and some have resulted in convictions. Since the FBI doesn't comment on ongoing investigations, it's often hard to determine the status. But the total clearly demonstrates that public corruption is one of the FBI's top priorities. The FBI told us the number of agents focusing on public corruption jumped by more than 56 percent in the past several years -- from 451 agents in fiscal 2001 to 705 in fiscal 2008.

Last Friday, the FBI raided a New York lobbying firm as part of an investigation by the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section into ex-Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY). And a former aide to ex-Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) pleaded guilty last week to accepting gifts from Jack Abramoff's lobbying firm in exchange for help with Abramoff clients.

Below is a rundown of all 21 lawmakers, current and former. Ten of them are no longer in office. Investigations of seven are part of the Abramoff investigation. Seventeen are Republicans, four are Democrats. This total, based on prosecutorial filings and unambiguous news reports, does not include at least three reported federal investigations of lawmakers for matters other than corruption, including Ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL). All the lawmakers, with the exception of those who have pleaded guilty, deny wrongdoing.

Two of those investigations resulted in convictions:

• Ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from two defense contractors in 2005. He's currently serving a sentence of eight years, four months in prison.

• Ex-Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from Jack Abramoff and his associates in September of 2006 and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. After serving one year, he was released to a halfway house, which he's likely to leave at the end of the summer.

Two lawmakers have been charged:

• Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) was indicted last June on bribery charges, but extensive litigation stemming from an FBI raid of his Congressional office has delayed the trial.

• Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) was indicted in February on extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other charges. He has also yet to go to trial and has said he will not seek reelection.

Four current and former lawmakers appear to still be under investigation related to the Abramoff scandal:

• A grand jury has issued a number of subpoenas regarding ex-Rep. Tom DeLay's (R-TX) and his wife's relationship with Abramoff. Two of his former aides have pleaded guilty to corruption charges, but DeLay has not been charged.

• FBI agents raided the Virginia home of Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) and his wife in April of 2007 as part of the Abramoff investigation. But he also still hasn't been charged. He's not seeking reelection.

• Ex-Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) appeared as "Representative #4" in guilty plea documents of his former aide John Albaugh. The filing describes a 2003 conversation between Istook and Abramoff, during which the lawmaker thanked the lobbyist for providing a skybox at FedEx Field for a fundraiser and then asked what appropriations Abramoff's clients could use. Istook says he's met with investigators and has been told he's not "a target" of the investigation. However, prosecutors typically only issue a "target letter" as a warning that they are moving toward filing charges. Albaugh has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for a reduction in sentence. Istook did not seek reelection in 2006, instead making a failed gubernatorial bid.

• In the spring of 2007, FBI agents sought emails and other documents related to Rep. Tom Feeney's (R-FL) participation in a 2003 Scotland trip organized and paid for by Jack Abramoff. Feeney has started a legal defense fund to cover fees related to the investigation.

Eight lawmakers are apparently under investigation for other matters:

• Grand jury subpoenas issued in the Ex-Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY) investigation reportedly focus on earmarks he obtained for clients of a lobbying firm that employed his wife. The New York Times reports the investigation is also part of the Abramoff investigation, but it's unclear how precisely.

• Ex-Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) lost re-election in 2006 after the FBI raided his daughter's home and office, among other locations. The investigation reportedly centers on his advocacy for his daughter’s lobbying clients. A former aide has pleaded guilty to accepting corrupt payments from a Russian non-profit.

• A federal grand jury in Washington has been investigating whether Ex-Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-NV) accepted illegal gifts from a defense contractor.

• Rep. Don Young (R-AK) has spent over $1 million on criminal defense lawyers, but has refused to discuss the nature of the allegations. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that federal investigators were examining whether Young had accepted bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from VECO Corp., an Alaska energy company.

• The FBI is also investigating whether Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) accepted such payments or gifts from Veco. The FBI searched his home last summer.

• Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) has paid more than $1 million in legal fees since June of 2006 in connection with an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Los Angeles. The probe reportedly centers on Lewis’ earmarks for clients of his longtime friend, lobbyist Bill Lowery.

• Federal grand jury subpoenas issued in September of 2006 focused on Sen. Robert Menendez's (D-NJ) relationship with a publically funded nonprofit group to whom he'd rented office space. In August 2007 the grand jury shifted focus to the lobbying work of his former chief of staff Kay LiCausi. No charges have been filed. Both Menendez and LiCausi have retained lawyers.

• Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) has been under investigation since May 2006 for earmarks to nonprofits he created. The grand jury subpoenaed at least one witness, in June 2007, to testify about his finances. According to Roll Call, he spent about $80,000 on legal fees in the second half of 2007.

There have been no reported developments in two investigations for 18 months:

• The FBI interviewed a number of Ex-Rep. Katherine Harris' (R-FL) aides as part of investigation into her relationship with defense contractor Mitchell Wade, who's pleaded guilty to bribing Duke Cunningham. There have been no reported developments in the case since late 2006, when she made a failed bid for the Senate.

• Federal agents interviewed officials in Monrovia and Fontana about several of Rep. Gary Miller’s (R-CA) land deals with the California cities. The Los Angeles Times reported in the summer of 2006 that Miller may have improperly avoided paying millions in capital gains taxes by mischaracterizing the sales as forced by eminent domain. The scope of that investigation, which involved the FBI, was always unclear, and there have been no reported developments since early 2007. Miller has consistently and vigorously denied any wrongdoing.

Three investigations have either been closed or gone dormant:

• Ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who was the second largest congressional recipient of gifts from Jack Abramoff and his associates, says his lawyers were told by investigators in December of 2007 that the investigation of his relationship with Abramoff had been closed.

• Ex-Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) was similarly notified around the same time. Both Hayworth and Burns lost reelection in 2006, in large part because of the Abramoff scandal.

• A Justice Department probe in 2005 centered on whether Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) had sought to aid the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in return for AIPAC's help in persuading House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to appoint Harman chair of the intelligence committee. The probe had found no evidence of wrongdoing and and was considered dormant, the Washington Post reported in late 2006.
  

In looking at Congress and the Senate, certain people stand out:

Senator Jim Inhofe

“Our future will be significantly impacted by how we work to fight global warming, yet Senator Jim Inhofe won’t even acknowledge that global warming exists,” LCV Senior Vice President Tony Massaro said.  “During his tenure in Congress, Senator Inhofe has made it his mission to vote against commonsense solutions to global warming and our nation’s energy challenges, earning an abysmal 5 percent lifetime LCV voting score..”

As Ranking Member and Former Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Jim Inhofe has earned his place at the top of the list for consistently voting against important environmental protections.  In fact, Sen. Inhofe doesn’t even believe the world’s best scientists on global warming.  This belief puts Sen. Inhofe at odds with President Bush and members of his own party.  When it comes to his voting record, he has voted against any amount of progress on addressing global warming pollution or investing in clean, renewable energy.   Sen. Inhofe not only continues to vote against policies to set America on a cleaner, more sustainable energy path, but he has vowed to filibuster any climate change-related legislation that comes to the Senate floor.  In addition, Sen. Inhofe has frequently voted on the side of polluters, not for the health and safety of Oklahoma families.  Since 2001, Senator Inhofe has taken $636,965 from polluting energy interests.  For more on Senator Inhofe’s voting record on energy and global warming, visit LCV’s Operation Spotlight project: http://lcv.org/OperationSpotlight/home.html#Inhofe

Representative Joe Knollenberg

The second person added to Dantes Inferno is Representative Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).  While Rep. Knollenberg calls himself an environmentalist saying that “protecting, preserving, and providing for the health of our environment is one of his top priorities,” his record paints a much different picture.  Rep. Knollenberg has repeatedly voted for corporate polluters and against environmental protections, earning him a lifetime LCV score of only 7 percent. Rep. Knollenberg has strongly opposed all attempts to raise fuel economy standards for cars and trucks. In 1998 and 1999, Knollenberg attached a rider known as 'the Knollenberg amendment' to congressional budget appropriation bills to prevent government agencies from doing anything that would regulate global warming pollution, including forbidding the EPA from holding educational seminars about global warming. In August 2007, he voted against a provision that would increase the amount of renewable energy produced in the United States.  
 
“Michigan families need to ask, ‘whose side is Representative Joe Knollenberg really on?’” LCV President Gene Karpinski said.  “Rep. Knollenberg’s record clearly shows that he votes for policies that reward his corporate contributors rather than supporting clean energy solutions to our energy challenges that would help fight global warming. We want to help inform Rep. Knollenberg’s constituents about his terrible environmental voting record – he can’t hide from it any longer.”

Since 2001, Rep. Knollenberg has taken $642,388 from polluting energy interests.  To view Rep. Knollenberg’s recent votes on clean energy and global warming, go to: http://lcv.org/OperationSpotlight/home.html#Knollenberg

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-CO)

During his tenure in Congress, Bob Schaffer worked to get Big Oil $33 billion in tax breaks by supporting an energy bill written by Dick Cheney and the oil industry. After leaving the House, he went to work for Big Oil. Now he wants to return to Washington to work for them in the Senate," said LCV Senior Vice President and Colorado native Tony Massaro. "Coloradans deserve a senator who works for them, not Big Oil."

Former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)

Sen. Stevens has long been a proponent of dirty, polluting energy and especially of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In 2007, he voted to create a mandate for the production of 6 billion gallons of global warming pollution-causing liquid coal by 2022, and to allow natural gas drilling on Virginia's coast. While promoting dirty energy, Stevens voted to dramatically weaken a requirement that utilities get 15% of their electricity from clean, renewable sources – by supporting an outrageous effort to allow things like coal and nuclear power to be included! Last year's raid on Stevens' home by the FBI and IRS as part of an investigation of alleged improper ties to an Alaska energy services company make this dirty Senator very vulnerable in November. Senator Stevens' consistent votes against the environment have earned him an LCV lifetime score of just 13%.

Rep. Don Young (R-AK)

Like fellow Alaskan Ted Stevens, Rep. Don Young has long fought to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. He opposed a 15% national renewable electricity standard last year and voted against shifting billions of dollars in subsidies from Big Oil and Gas companies towards renewable energy and energy efficiency. He even tried to send last year's energy bill back to committee with instructions to add environmentally damaging provisions for liquid coal and oil drilling. Like Stevens, Young is also under investigation for his ties to the same Alaska energy company. During the last three months of 2007 Young spent $400,000 from his campaign fund on legal fees. Rep. Young's LCV lifetime score is a measly 9%.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

The Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R. 6) increased fuel efficiency in cars for the first time in 32 years, no thanks to Sen. Landrieu, who repeatedly voted against clean energy legislation. In fact, she cast a deciding vote against a version of the energy bill that included increased fuel efficiency and a repeal of billions of dollars of subsidies for Big Oil companies already swimming in profits. Additionally, Landrieu voted against capping subsidies for industrial mega-farms, and re-directing that money into underfunded voluntary conservation programs for farmers and ranchers. Hurricane Katrina sent many of Landrieu's constituents out of Louisiana, and she is regarded as the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate.  Sen. Landrieu's lifetime LCV score: 42%.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Sen. McConnell cast a number of anti-environment votes in 2007, just as he has every year of his Congressional career. Among them were votes against clean, renewable electricity, increased fuel efficiency, and allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider the effects of global warming on our water supply. What did he vote for? An amendment that would increase the production of dirty liquid coal, an increase in offshore drilling, and an amendment that would eliminate current public health and environmental permitting procedures for new or expanded oil refineries. Amazingly, McConnell is running an ad in Kentucky touting his green record. As Senate Minority Leader, McConnell is a top target for defeat in November. McConnell's lifetime LCV score is just 7%.