*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* We did a similar post on Sen. Durbin yesterday. Now it’s Sen. Duckworth’s turn. December of 2017…
Both of Illinois’ Democratic senators on Wednesday joined the list of lawmakers calling on U.S. Sen. Al Franken to quit. […]
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, in a statement Wednesday afternoon, said she was “deeply disappointed” by the Minnesota senator’s behavior.
“I am deeply disappointed by Sen. Franken’s behavior. He must step aside,” she said. “To all those across America who have come forward to share their stories over the past few months: thank you. Your courage and strength in driving this long-overdue national conversation is awe-inspiring.”
* November of 2020…
Hours later, Sen. Tammy Duckworth echoed Durbin’s and Pritzker’s concerns — and took it a step further — in calling for Madigan to step down from his two leadership roles, party chair and House speaker.
Illinois’ junior U.S. senator said the federal investigation swirling around the Southwest Side Democrat is an “unnecessary distraction” and the party should “consider new leadership.”
* January of 2021…
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today is calling for the resignation of U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL-15) after Miller said at a rally yesterday that “Hitler was right on one thing” in reference to the genocidal Nazi leader’s influence on youths.
“It is absolutely repugnant, obscene and unacceptable for any American – let alone a supposed ‘leader’ serving in Congress – to claim Adolf Hitler was right about anything,” Duckworth said. “To say that the perpetrator of the worst genocide in world history should be a model for any type of behavior, much less the indoctrination of children with hatred, racism and fascist ideals, is disqualifying for an American elected official. I cannot condemn in harsher terms Mary Miller’s despicable comments in the run-up to yesterday’s coup attempt, and I call on her to resign immediately so that someone who better understands the sacrifices our brave service members made during World War II can more effectively represent our state.”
* Today…
Ohio’s Sen. Sherrod Brown joined a growing number of Democrats calling for a member of their own party, New Jersey Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, to resign.
“Senator Menendez has broken the public trust and should resign from the U.S. Senate,” said Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, in a one-sentence statement Monday.
A federal grand jury in New York on Friday indicted Menendez on charges of corruption, alleging he and his wife accepted bribes of cash, gold, mortgage payments and a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for enriching the Egyptian government. Menendez has said he will be exonerated. […]
At least seven Senate Democrats have called for Menendez resignation by noon on Tuesday. In addition to Brown and [John] Fetterman, the others include Sens. Liz Warren of Massachusetts; Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin; Peter Welch of Vermont; Jon Tester of Montana; and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.
Sens. Ed Markey and Mazie Hirono have since called on Menendez to resign.
* I have reached out to Sen. Duckworth’s office twice today about why she hasn’t yet called for Sen. Menendez to resign. I’ve heard nothing back.
Thoughts?
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 11:54 am:
I am very disappointed in both her and Durbin.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 11:54 am:
Someone should ask Tammy, “Was Madigan ever caught with bundles of cash and gold bars?”
Presumed innocence is a stretch for someone acquitted of doing the same thing in 2018.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 11:55 am:
This guy wasn’t just a]leged to be taking bribes. He was alleged to be taking bribes to influence foreign policy.
What’s the hold up, Sen. Duckworth?
- vern - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 11:57 am:
Republicans are lining up to defend Menendez because Trump is forcing them to be the pro-corruption party. Durbin and Duckworth should lean into this kind of political gift, especially when it’s also the right thing to do.
https://x.com/sentomcotton/status/1706682272840130576?s=46&t=1zmJTUwTZY8aWTv_MrbeAA
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 11:58 am:
Tammy Baldwin is out here calling for Menendez’s resignation in a deeply purple state that is bright red at the state level thanks to a decade of legislative skullduggery.
Both Senators from the coin toss of Pennsylvania had no trouble sticking their necks out and saying he had to go.
Now here’s a Democrat from ever-reddening Ohio saying the same.
This should not be hard. At all. Especially here.
- SouthernCentrist - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:01 pm:
It’s pretty shameful that neither U.S. Senator from Illinois has called on Menendez to step aside(I haven’t been able to check the news much today, but I assume Senator Durbin is still silent). Just because Democrats aren’t calling on the Justice Department to be defunded or talking about a witch-hunt like the other side doesn’t make it okay to be silent. In the past, Senator Duckworth has clearly not been afraid to call out members of the Democratic Party, including a colleague in the U.S. Senate. What’s the hold up here? I have always respected Senator Duckworth and her long history of service, but her silence on Menendez is an unusual and unpleasant surprise.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:06 pm:
Traitors or Patriots.
The accused is facing charges of bribery for influence in international relations that favor a foreign power.
Pretty easy choice here.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:06 pm:
Morally pathetic display by both Durbin and Duckworth, as well as politically stupid.
It’s a shame that a solidly blue state such as this has a couple of chair warmers like these two in the senate.
- Tinman - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:07 pm:
I think they feel they are between a rock and a hard place. Not sure why. Doesn’t the Governor appoint a replacement . Takes the issue off the table . As long as he stays the worse it looks .
- Eire17 - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
12 Dem Senators so far calling on him to resign. But the two Dem Senators from a state that has consistently had elected officials on trial for years not a peep. Joke.
- Todd - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:16 pm:
having the Senator from NJ would put them in a different posture for control of the Senate for a while as a new Senator is selected. It’s politics pure plain and simple. If he goes Manchin and Senema regain control.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:16 pm:
Corey Booker just came out calling for Menendez to resign. I saw some speculation that some Dem senators were deferring to Booker before making their announcement. My guess is both Duckworth and Durbin will join the chorus calling on Menendez to resign.
And nobody thinks Menendez will actually resign, but that’s another story.
- Flapdoodle - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:17 pm:
Assuming the accusations are accurate (and they usually are in these case), Menendez should go immediately. The NJ governor is a Democrat, so there is no danger to the Democrat majority in the Senate which in these days is the only conceivable reason to hesitate ousting Menendez immediately if not sooner.
- Wowie - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:19 pm:
Even Senator Booker has called for it now. What’s going on Sen Duckworth?
- FormerParatrooper - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:19 pm:
I wonder how many others have cash socked away in clothes and gold bars laying about. I admit to having some on hand funds, I am not a politician on an important committee getting favors either.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:20 pm:
===And nobody thinks Menendez will actually resign, but that’s another story.===
This is 99+% of everything to this situation
- Flapdoodle - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:22 pm:
@ Todd 12:16 — Agreed, but a bit of coordination can address this issue.
- Cruising Along - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:24 pm:
Vern is right, but not the way he thinks. Ted Cruz knows that justice will take its course and need no push from Senate colleagues.
It’s the Other Tammy who’s virtue signalling. As well as Fetterman (who should go due to extreme frailty) and Sherrod Brown (do you know why he had to give up his presidential dreams?)
- Steve - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:25 pm:
Senator Duckworth probably thinks Illinois voters don’t care about what some Senator from New Jersey is doing (she may be right ). But, not a good look.
- John Lopez - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:25 pm:
With Senator Booker now publicly asking for resignation of Senator Menendez, let’s see what Senator Duckworth decides to do.
Fact both Senator Menendez AND his wife were indicted was very telling.
Would one settle for Menendez simply saying he will not run again in 2024? He’s already drawn a primary challenger in the New Jersey Democratic primary in June in Congressman Andy Kim.
Also, there’s talk about primarying Senator Menendez’s son, Congressman Rob Menendez, who’s a freshman Democrat in the safe 8th District of NJ where his father once served in the House before being elected to the Senate.
Oh, and being Latino myself, Menendez bringing up his ethnicity as his defense over the weekend was sickening, and thankful Congressman Kim called him out on that stupid defense for Democrats wanting him to resign from the Senate.
- Lurker - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:25 pm:
Democrats are appalled when it is in line with #metoo which is what finally got Madigan in trouble and lead to the removal of Bill Clinton as President. Oh wait, my bad.
Find a moral compass Duckworth as we know Durbin lost his over 30 years ago(bp)
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:29 pm:
===Ted Cruz knows that justice will take its course and need no push from Senate colleagues.===
Love of Peter, Ted Cruz is not a thoughtful individual towards the law or what’s best for this country.
Giving cover to Menendez is about protecting themselves (Cruz, et al) when they protect Trump.
The gentleman from New Jersey allegedly took financial gain by assisting a foreign power in his position in the US Senate. His is Cruz “kool” with it? Because it’s not about Menendez at all.
- Todd - is all over the crux of the members from AZ and WV.
- Benniefly2 - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:33 pm:
Once Pelosi gave everyone cover to do the right thing and they still don’t do it, that puts our Senators firmly on the ‘It is only a problem if the other guy does it’ train.
I really, really am not interested in hearing anything about almost any subject from people on that particular train at this point in my life.
- vern - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:47 pm:
=== It’s the Other Tammy who’s virtue signalling ===
I’m in favor of politicians “signaling” “virtue” in these situations. Opposing corruption is good. I want to know if my senators think taking cars and gold bars in exchange for legislative favors is bad or not. Is your position that senators should oppose corruption but say nothing about it?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 12:58 pm:
Two things at play here. Good government and good politics. The IL Ds (Durbin and Duckworth) are on the wrong side of both.
What frustrates me is that our society is so lacking in thought, it doesn’t appear to matter what position is taken. The tribe isn’t going to care and the others don’t bother to think about it.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:01 pm:
As an aside, anyone who plots this kind of public corruption so openly and immediately sells the gold bars they received as a bribe really doesn’t deserve any loyalty from anyone.
What Menendez and his wife did was criminal and the way they went about their criminal enterprise was stupid. If they’re going to be this stupid about it they deserve the outcome. No one should be expected to publicly support blatant stupidity regardless of whether or not it was criminal.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:06 pm:
Yesterday I said he is presumed innocent and I said he should stay. After reading more and several articles on why he should resign I am convinced I was wrong and he should resign. One thing that convinced me was an article saying he the person is presumed innocent but that does not mean he should be sitting as a Senator while charged with selling his office.
- Nick - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:06 pm:
I would guess both do so sometime later today or tomorrow at the latest. The dam has broken re the rest of the caucus especially now that Booker has spoken in favor of resignation.
- Dupage Dem - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:09 pm:
why should Mendez resign?? Doesnt everyone keep almost a half mil hidden around their house?? Snark meant.
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:09 pm:
At least former Sec. of State Paul Powell used shoe boxes for his stash of cash. But, Menendez stuffs his cash in suit jackets.
As a grifter, Menendez is an embarrassment to the Senate.
- Pizza Man - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:12 pm:
It’s political expediency. Both IL senators should be calling for Menendez’s resignation–and looking the other way. But–if it were an IL pol or a city official with the same issues…well, you guessed it!
- Socially DIstant watcher - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:15 pm:
Alright, so… the other side:
With Franken and Miller, the facts weren’t disputed. The photos or video were widely available and acknowledged as accurate. With Madigan there was a long history. Even if the facts were disputed, many of us had experiences with him and could judge what was credible.
With Menendez, there’s an indictment but no proof, no evidence. And Menendez was acquired not long ago with another federal indictment. Can we be so confident of different results?
It’d be easy to call for his head, but it may not turn out that way. Going slow makes sense.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:29 pm:
==Going slow makes sense.==
Really? This is the political equivalent of a hanging curve ball. Saying “I think he should resign.” carries no consequences and, TBH, is the very least they could do.
- Chicago Blue - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:29 pm:
He wasn’t acquitted, there was a hung jury and the Feds decided not to continue pursuing the case. And then one month later (according to the new indictment), he started ghost writing editorials for the Egyptian government, creating Halal-meat monopolies for his consulting buddy and performing other traitorous acts through via his wife’s cellphone.
- Hannibal Lecter - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:34 pm:
=== With Menendez, there’s an indictment but no proof, no evidence. ===
So let me know if I understand this correctly -
Madigan gets indicted for bribery despite never personally accepting a dime - and that is grounds to Duckworth to call for his resignation.
Menendez gets caught with literal gold bars in his home, among tons of other cash - Duckworth cites presumption of innocence and does not call for resignation.
Tammy, I thought you were one of the good ones. Don’t let the politics eat your soul.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:36 pm:
@Socially DIstant watcher - Menendez’s public explanation is the cash found was hoarded over 30 years of fear of Cuba-style revolution yet the bills they found were all from the last 10 years.
And even if you buy his nonsense excuse… this guy is on Senate banking and finance committees and doesn’t trust U.S. banks to hold his money?
18 Dem senators have done the right thing. Wish Duckworth would look to her fellow Tammy on this rather than follow Durbin’s lead.
- New Day - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:44 pm:
This is not a close call. They have him nailed dead to rights. Democrats need to unite in calling for him to resign. Frankly, I don’t get why they don’t since there is a D governor who can appoint a replacement. Just do it and do it quickly.
- Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:45 pm:
Kind of makes me wonder if she and Dick might have some gold bars and cash in envelopes at their house too…
- DuPage - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:55 pm:
What did Menendez say about where all that money and gold come from? Did he give any explanation or did he lawyer up/plead the 5th?
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:56 pm:
===there’s an indictment but no proof, no evidence.===
There’s a considerable amount of proof and evidence included with the indictment. We didn’t just have a mass hallucination about god bars, BMWs, and hundreds of thousands of dollars of walking around money stashed in different jackets.
I also would like to hear US Senators speculate on what kind of emergency one needs gold bars for.
- Todd - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:56 pm:
“Menendez gets caught with literal gold bars in his home, among tons of other cash”
Some of us common folk believe in stashing precious metals just in case. . .
- thunderspirit - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:58 pm:
I’m disappointed, but not especially surprised, at Durbin’s silence.
I’m disappointed, but quite surprised, at Duckworth’s.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 2:02 pm:
===Kind of makes me wonder===
See how obviously silly you are…
Is it odd that Durbin and Duckworth are silent? Of course.
Jumping to alleged similar criminality? That’s…
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 2:11 pm:
===…speculate on what kind of emergency one needs gold bars for.===
Gold is very handy for anyone fleeing prosecution. A lot of non-extradition countries are more than happy to exchange gold for the local currency on favorable terms.
- clec dcn - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 2:15 pm:
To me if he resigns, he basically says he is guilty. If he is not guilty then he should not resign regardless of the outcome. I do think he is compromised to act so that would be the reason to resign. Duckworth and Durbin are certainly not anything I agree with on policy; however, Tammy has served the country well and I applaud her that for sure. I think in the end he will resign and pretty quickly.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 2:23 pm:
===Gold is very handy for anyone fleeing prosecution===
Agreed. Now lets see some Senators come up with that one.
- Suburban Mom - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 2:52 pm:
I’ll be honest, I totally thought he was already in jail from last time.
- Scott Knitter - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 3:05 pm:
If they’re applying the “innocent until proven guilty” principle, they should realize no one’s calling for Sen. Menendez to be thrown in jail without a trial, but to resign so someone not encumbered by weighty accusations and damning evidence can do the job for the nation and for New Jersey.
- walker - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 3:32 pm:
“”This is the political equivalent of a hanging curve ball.”"
Yep Jocko
- On Topic - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 3:54 pm:
This isn’t about Trump or Cruz. Can we stay on topic, please?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 4:02 pm:
===This isn’t about===
It seems to be about how Duckworth has acted in the past and now to Menendez.
There’s so much of this to hypocrisy to who gets what pass when, context it seems is only warranted when pointed to by others.
I look at Duckworth’s past choices and this silence, all in a big picture and figuring what that means, so…
- NorthSideNoMore - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 4:17 pm:
The silence speaks volumes.
- Sue - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 6:13 pm:
Where were all these people demanding his resignation back in 2015 when NJ had an R Governor. Ain’t politics great. You call for resignations of indicted officials only when the replacement will be appointed by a D
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 6:23 pm:
===Where were all these people demanding his resignation back in 2015 when NJ had an R Governor===
Don’t be lazy, use the Google Key, see if you find any.
Instead, do you think he should resign, - Sue -?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 7:01 pm:
To the update…
…
There it is.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 7:05 pm:
===There it is. ===
Two days for that? lol
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 7:19 pm:
===Two days for that? lol===
Welp, I thought I gave it it’s just… acknowledgment.
“…”
lol
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 8:19 pm:
=Some of us common folk believe in stashing precious metals just in case. . .=
Gold won’t be the currency you need if that happens. Just sayin.
@Sue has been waiting 8 years to throw that out, poor thing. Feel better?