What the heck is Durbin up to?
Monday, Sep 25, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The day after then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested…
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has joined the chorus of Illinois politicians urging scandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) to resign. Durbin on Wednesday sent a letter to Blagojevich, who was arrested a day earlier and accused by federal authorities of an array of crimes.
* February of 2009…
Senator Dick Durbin is asking Senator Roland Burris to resign but he is refusing to do so.
The junior Senator is in Washington D.C. for the first time since allegations surfaced he was untruthful during the impeachment proceedings of former Governor Blagojevich.
* Shortly after a photo was unearthed showing Al Franken making an inappropriate physical joke about a woman before he was a US Senator…
* Right after the 2020 general election…
Durbin was the first statewide Democrat to call for Madigan to go as head of the party in an interview on “Chicago Tonight” Wednesday.
“All across our state — and the advertising told the story — we paid a heavy price for the speaker’s chairmanship of the Democratic Party,” Durbin said. “Let’s wait and see what happens in the near term here.”
* Sunday…
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Sunday declined to call on Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to resign after his Democratic colleague was indicted on federal corruption and bribery charges.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Dana Bash, Durbin insisted that while the charges were “very serious,” Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence and that the decision of whether to resign must be made by Menendez and his constituents.
The feds busted Sen. Menendez red-handed on straight-up bribery charges…
As the grand jury charged, between 2018 and 2022, Senator Menendez and his wife engaged in a corrupt relationship with Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes – three New Jersey businessmen who collectively paid hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes, including cash, gold, a Mercedes Benz, and other things of value – in exchange for Senator Menendez agreeing to use his power and influence to protect and enrich those businessmen and to benefit the Government of Egypt. […]
Over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe — was discovered in the home, as well as over $70,000 in cash in NADINE MENENDEZ’s safe deposit box, which was also searched pursuant to a separate search warrant. Some of the envelopes contained the fingerprints and/or DNA of DAIBES or his driver. Other of the envelopes were found inside jackets bearing MENENDEZ’s name and hanging in his closet […]
During this same search, agents also found home furnishings provided by HANA and DAIBES, the luxury vehicle paid for by URIBE parked in the garage, as well as over one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of gold bars in the home, which were provided by either HANA or DAIBES.
[Hat tip: Amdor]
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:18 am:
He’s just become too cautious. Blue slips, SCOTUS, hell, even the Senate dress code, he’s too scared of letting things change.
- MOON - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:19 am:
Durbin’s only interest is keeping a Democratic majority in the senate.
He is driven by politics and you cannot trust the man.
He has over stayed his welcome and should retire.
- Brock - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:22 am:
What’s going on is control of the Senate, particularly with this bevy of corpse like octogenarians. The risk to the Democrats is particularly strong although in fairness McConnel looks every bit as bad as Feinstein and he keeps glitching. The Democrats are one person away from losing control and that would destroy them, and Biden. Durbin would end his career in the minority.
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:24 am:
What the heck is Durbin up to?
Simple, a one-seat majority makes politics trump character.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:25 am:
Durbin has stayed way too long in DC
Durbin is part of the problem.
Durbin has no juice in Illinois Dem politics, but only losing out to Pritzker, but showing that Durbin can even orchestrate a legal understanding of what it would’ve taken to control the party without any legal changes.
Durbin is now about keeping his position and prestige, about Durbin himself… admitting his own ineptitude to SCOTUS, admitting fallibility constantly, and more than willing to be about “status quo” DC “club” things.
- Bruce( no not him) - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:25 am:
“What the heck is Durbin up to?”
“I’d be all for kicking him out if we had a larger majority, but…” /S
- Roadrager - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:26 am:
One gets the impression Big Pockets Bob knows where a lot of the old guard Democrats’ bodies are buried.
Dick Durbin has given plenty of fodder to a potential primary opponent over the past couple of years, and I have no reason to believe he is aware he’s done so, as he seems to have lost the ability to recognize a world exists outside the Beltway anymore.
Dick Durbin was far more concerned this weekend about a Senator potentially not wearing a tie in the chamber than he was about one literally filling his jacket with cash and gold bars from foreign entities. Take that and run with it like you’re facing the Bears’ defense.
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:27 am:
Thanks for this post, Rich.
It would be nice if both he and Duckworth did the right thing and called on Menendez to step down.
Maybe Menendez will be stubborn and dig in as part of his criminal defense strategy but the rest of the Senate Dems don’t need to tie themselves down to his corruption anchor.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:28 am:
So… doesn’t NJ have a Dem governor who would appoint and further how would forcing Menendez to walk be bad for the politics?
Also, it should be noted that the US Senate does not have the Arroyo Rule.
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:28 am:
The majority issue is no excuse.
There is a Dem gov in NJ who can appoint a replacement immediately.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:30 am:
===The majority issue is no excuse.===
Exactly right. There’s no good Senate majority reason for this boneheaded ploy.
- Panther Pride - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:31 am:
I have a hard time believing this is entirely about protecting the Dem majority in the Senate. President Biden won NJ by 16 points in 2020 and Sen. Booker won by an almost identical margin. To OW’s point, NJ has a Dem governor who would appoint a Dem replacement.
Durbin has to go.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:34 am:
===The risk to the Democrats is particularly strong although in fairness McConnel looks every bit as bad as Feinstein and he keeps glitching. The Democrats are one person away from losing control and that would destroy them, and Biden. Durbin would end his career in the minority.===
This makes no sense to NJ’s situation or to that seat.
The NJ governor can appoint.
How did Menendez first arrive in the US Senate?
Google key that…
- Benniefly2 - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:46 am:
This is extremely disappointing from both of our Senators to say the least. Adding in Durbin’s constant (and justified) haranguing of Justice Thomas on ethics and corruption issues, it is hypocrisy of the highest order.
I have been voting for Durbin since was in the House, but stuff like this is just making me think he has a terminal case of DC brain, and it really is time for him to retire. If he does run again, hopefully someone plausible jumps into the primary next time around.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:47 am:
I am no fan of Durbin and I think Menendez is guilty lay but he has not been convicted. Let him go to trial he is innocent in eyes of law.
He beat a charge before.
- Roman - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:48 am:
My guess is he’s either really personally close with Menendez or there is some internal senate leadership dynamic at play. Schumer followed the same script as Durbin. I hope it’s because they think they can ease him out with behind-the-scenes nudging rather than public statements of condemnation. Though, what I’ve seen of Menendez leads me to think even the most skillful of low-key nudging won’t work.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:50 am:
=== He beat a charge before. ===
It was nothing like this.
- cermak_rd - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:51 am:
DuPage Saint,
Well no one is suggesting he be jailed before conviction. But in my job, there is a thing called conflict of interest and even more interesting appearance of conflict of interest and appearance of impropriety. Basically if it looks bad even if legal you can still be asked to leave. Because others are watching and drawing conclusions and possible losing trust as a result of that appearance.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:51 am:
==Simple, a one-seat majority makes politics trump character.==
This doesn’t make sense given that NJ is a safe blue state with a Dem Governor. Menendez would almost certainly be replaced by a fellow Democrat.
I guess you could argue that Republicans would be expected to filibuster the organizing resolution that would put Menendez’ replacement on committees, but since Menendez has already stepped down from his committees, that doesn’t seem very important.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:53 am:
Menendez is facing what I see as a “Jesse Jackson Jr and spouse” thingy… but add in international relations, national security, and less wall memorabilia.
He had @&#%+ gold bars…
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:53 am:
==I am no fan of Durbin and I think Menendez is guilty lay but he has not been convicted. Let him go to trial he is innocent in eyes of law.
He beat a charge before.==
I understand this, but OTOH I also think the criteria to be a Senator ought to be more than “not convicted of a crime”. And apparently Durbin at least used to think so, too?
- CLJ - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:55 am:
New Jersey is a special election state. Governor can appoint a placeholder until the special election. Menendez’s appointment came during the election year for the senate seat after the primary election. Corey Booker had to win a special election to get his seat. Also, this is not Menedez’s first brush with the fed’s.
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:56 am:
“Durbin has no juice in Illinois Dem politics”
Agreed. Durbin answers to the national monied donor class, so our Illinois-centric view is of little concern.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:57 am:
===a special election state===
From what I’ve read, the special election would be held next November, along with the regular general.
Your comment really doesn’t add much to this debate. Kick it up a notch.
- Grateful Gail - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 10:57 am:
Durbin has been useless for years. More concerned about being in DC than helping his constituents. He has some really good staffers who are out there listening, but he himself, has no follow through on promises. Useless!
- Disappointed Suburban Female - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:00 am:
Menendez isn’t going anywhere. Schumer, Durbin, Duckworth and a majority of Democrats in the Senate know that. They take the high road and say he needs to go, then they have to face him everyday…..that ain’t happening….so they will stay on the low road.
- ArchPundit - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:03 am:
Menendez ‘beat’ the last charge with a hung jury so not exactly an acquittal. He’s corrupt. He’s always been corrupt. He always will be corrupt and Durbin should say so.
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:04 am:
thinking of majority/election issues. and maybe the groping issues in the era of Me Too seem more unusual than the usual bribery.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:05 am:
==Agreed. Durbin answers to the national monied donor class, so our Illinois-centric view is of little concern.==
Eh, it’s a lot less clear-cut than that. Durbin can’t command IL Dems anymore, if only bc he’s no longer the biggest name in town, but he still has a ton of active connections in IL Dem circles, especially downstate.
- This - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:08 am:
Congressman James Clyburn joined Senator Durbin with some tone-deaf DC comments about Menendez yesterday.
Clyburn went so far to say - yes, of course, politics should be about helping your family members (Hunter Biden).
As a Democrat, these kind of comments will help elect Donald Trump and a Republican Senate.
- Nick - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:09 am:
The Franken comparison is a bit unfair, in the sense that it came after basically two months of mounting pressure and bad press. In fact at the time a lot of people were critical for how much Senate dems dragged their feet.
The other stuff more fair, though.
- cermak_rd - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:10 am:
Archpundit said:
“Menendez ‘beat’ the last charge with a hung jury so not exactly an acquittal. ”
I disagree. In our system, tie goes to the defendent. A 1 juror hang is the exact same as someone proving their innocence during trial. It’s not guilty, either way.
- Chicago Blue - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:13 am:
After this and the Vallas endorsement, oof. I’m really not impressed with his recent actions after a long, well-respected career.
- Jocko - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:14 am:
Like others have said, he’s another out of touch boomer that’s become inconsequential.
He’s still touting having removed smoking from airlines which is what…25 years ago?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:27 am:
===The Franken comparison is a bit unfair, in the sense that it came after basically two months of mounting pressure and bad press===
lol
So, you’re saying that if Menendez is still under indictment in two months, Durbin should step up?
Please.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:28 am:
==I disagree. In our system, tie goes to the defendent. A 1 juror hang is the exact same as someone proving their innocence during trial. It’s not guilty, either way.==
Uh, well, no. If a jury is hung, it’s a mistrial, and the prosecution has the option of bringing the charges back.
If a defendent is acquitted, that’s basically the end of it.
Now, in Menendez’ case, it might be meaningful that the prosecution declined to revive the charges, but I dunno.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:30 am:
== the national monied donor class==
This is also funny bc the “national monied donor class” includes a TON of folks from Chicagoland. There’s a reason all the major candidates on both sides of the aisle make stops here.
- Steve - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:31 am:
It’s not a good look for Dick Durbin. Especially, with some U.S. Supreme Court under an ethical cloud. I haven’t heard of Alito accused of taking gold bars.
- Nick - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:34 am:
No I’m saying that its not actually a good example given nothing about Franken situation was handled “shortly” or “quickly”
Happy to clarify
- cermak_rda - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:43 am:
Arsenal, yes you are correct that the prosecutor can opt to retry, but if they don’t we don’t let that hang over the head of the suspect. He doesn’t have to mark he’s been convicted on forms, doesn’t have to serve out any sentence, not even a fine. He may have to click the yes I’ve been arrested button but it’s perfectly correct for him to say he was not convicted.
- Just Another Anon - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:56 am:
I’ve said for years that Menendez gave off serious Paul Powell vibes. For those young folks here, the Trib did a 50 year retrospective on him back in 2020. Worth the read.
- OneMan - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:04 pm:
I seriously doubt he has a spine anymore.
The realpolitik of the situation aside, he doesn’t have a spine anymore.
- Prairie Progressive - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:09 pm:
Menendez is a clear and present national security threat. The Kompromat on him extends beyond having his hand out. What was the old goat up to in the Dominican Republic?
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/nation-world/sd-me-menendez-case-20171012-story.html
- Mr. Smith - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:11 pm:
Personally, I think that he should resign. But I also admit that I wrote to give Durbin grief about playing by “old rules” when it is clear that the GOP no longer respects the nor plays by them. We may think that’s pretty icky, but at least right now, there seems to be no mandate that is bipartisan to deal with these situations. The party can lean on him to resign, but until he is convicted in court, the worst that can be done is a censure. And as much as I think guys like Menendez, Santos, and Trump are guilty, and have no business being in office or running for it, due process is due process.
- Norseman - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:11 pm:
The Franken comparison shows that Durbin has lost his sharpness. His judgement seems duller and his punches don’t seem hard enough to move a child’s punching bag. (Not advocating MAGA hysterics, but seriously.)
- vern - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
I’m baffled at the idea that Durbin is laser-focused on electoral strategy and partisan power. If that were the case, why is he still giving Republican Senators blue-slip vetos over judicial appointments? Why does he support the filibuster? Why does he care enough about the dress code to speak on it?
The simplest explanation for all of that, and the Menendez support, is that Durbin prioritizes his friendships with other senior Senators over basically anything else. No policy accomplishment or ethical principle is more important than getting to trade “my learned colleague” jokes with ghouls like Menendez and Lindsey Graham. The club is all that matters.
- Weak side - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:29 pm:
Gonna be devils advocate here: maybe, just maybe, the people not calling for his head at the moment are ultimately going to be the people most persuasive in talking him into the right decision after the denial of obvious subsides.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:30 pm:
The Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been taking bribes, kick backs, or gifts from a foreign Government. The defense they’re seeming to offer at this point is that the FBI is misrepresenting the normal course of business for a US Senator.
Since that’s the defense Bob ‘Buy Me a Beemer’ Menendez is offering I think it’d be fair to approach Durbin’s office with questions regarding whether or not receiving large cash gifts, gold bar gifts, vehicle gifts, and putting a Senator’s spouse on the payroll for a no-show do nothing job is what the Senator thinks is the normal course of business for a US Senator.
Dick Durbin has a lot of opinions that he offers for people that aren’t his friends. Looks like Senator Durbin is doing everything he can to soil himself at the end of his public career so that the impression of the legacy he leaves is one of corruption and endorsing Republicans against black union leaders.
He loses nothing by calling on Menendez to resign. Menendez loses no rights by Durbin calling on him to resign. Menendez is 69 years old. I don’t understand the tendency for baby boomer politicians to seek to destroy the Democratic Party’s relationship with younger voters to protect someone who is well qualified for retirement from the consequences of their lawlessness.
- low level - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:47 pm:
==Durbin’s only interest is keeping a Democratic majority in the senate.==.
Perhaps but that would make him urge Menendez to resign. Menendez is up next year. No way Dems want to have to defend him to keep the majority.
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:53 pm:
Al Franken got the rawest of deals…in retrospect…comparatively.
- Rabid - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 1:10 pm:
Claiming money was from 30 years ago. What is the oldest year on the money?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 2:24 pm:
Mr. Durbin has been in DC since January 1983.
It’s up to voters to decide if he’s been there too long.
Durbin is telling us he’s outstayed his usefulness, while also reminding us he’s toothless to Illinois Democratic politics too.
The more Durbin yaps about the DC beltway “ways”, the more out of touch… locally, nationally, politically… to things not from the Reagan Administration.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 2:30 pm:
Pretty much the entire NJ Democratic establishment has called on Menendez to resign. I don’t see any reason why Durbin wouldn’t join the chorus too.
I do think it’s important to remember that this isn’t Menendez’ first time at the defendant’s table. He was acquitted in another corruption trial years ago. I fully realize that “not guilty” is not synonymous with “innocent,” so maybe Durbin is giving him the benefit of the doubt?
But yeah, there doesn’t seem to be a political downside to Durbin tossing some dirt on this guy’s coffin. I’m surprised he declined the chance on CNN.
- clec dcn - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 2:55 pm:
I really wish Durbin would just give it up and leave. He really is just in a place where he runs his mouth but does not do much for getting things accomplished. He is out of touch with younger voters even though his liberal politics probably appeal to them much more. He is all about CYA….cover you actions and hope no one looks to deep.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 2:59 pm:
===He was acquitted in another corruption trial years ago===
The evidence here is basically slam dunk, unlike the last trial.
Dude is toast.
- Pizza Man - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 3:31 pm:
New Jersey’s Sen. Menendez will not survive round # 2 after barely surviving indictment # 1 in 2017. This time the Titanic, it seems, will go down. Durbin being Durbin; “Let me see who you are before I decide attitude.”
- Pizza Man - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 3:32 pm:
Respectfully, this case reminded me of the late IL state senator Marty Sandoval’s issue when he was raided by the Feds; finding cash in his home.
- Politix - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 3:39 pm:
++He was acquitted in another corruption trial years ago++
He was not. He got lucky with a mistrial.
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 3:44 pm:
If only Paul Powell had thought of the bars, eh.
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 3:53 pm:
Durbin needs to step up or step away. You cannot hold the moral high ground practicing moral relativism.
=I haven’t heard of Alito accused of taking gold bars.=
Nobody on the conservative/gop side has any room to speak unless they call for trump and santos to step down. And almost none have.
- clec dcn - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 3:58 pm:
The late Paul Powell shoe boxes of money if I remember correctly.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 4:00 pm:
=== I haven’t heard of Alito accused of taking gold bars.===
Gold bars aren’t the “end all be all” thing to ethical lapses at the minimum.
So there’s that.
- Chicagoan - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 4:53 pm:
Hey OW , what are you referring to in the following
Durbin has no juice in Illinois Dem politics, but only losing out to Pritzker, but showing that Durbin can even orchestrate a legal understanding of what it would’ve taken to control the party without any legal changes.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 5:01 pm:
=== but showing that Durbin can even orchestrate a legal understanding of what it would’ve taken to control the party without any legal changes.===
“but showing that Durbin can’t”
Can should be Can’t.
Please refer to the limited time the DPI had a Chair but couldn’t legally do things a Chair needs done. That was Durbin. You can Google the rest, but here’s the gist… Durbin lacked the real skill and honesty to task so badly, that his proxy was so poorly chosen they couldn’t function in the role without charges, that by the way were touted as unneeded, but were needed.
Out of touch, out of the loop, and lacking muscle and thought to win. Bad look in the end.
- Rabid - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 5:16 pm:
Do the gold bars have serial numbers or registered ?