By Wallace Bruschweiler & William Palumbo
Reading the constant newspaper headlines over the past weeks and months, it’s high time we ask ourselves: are we living in a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah? These Biblical cities were infamously smote by God’s righteous cleansing by a rain of fire and brimstone; what will we do to rectify today’s situation?
The number of cases of sexual harassment/abuse from society’s so-called “elites,” (and since they run the media, government, and Hollywood, “elite” is no idle label) points to a disturbing – and, frankly revolting – number of sexual criminals running our country’s government and influential industries. From Harvey Weinstein to Charlie Rose to Bill Clinton, the highest level of our society is veritably infested by sexual predators who know neither morals nor consequences for their destructive actions.
Tax Payer’s Slush Fund for Congressional Predators/Criminals
Adding insult to injury, we recently learned that Congress has operated slush fund to pay out various victims of sexual, racial, and handicap abuse since 1995. Under the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) of 1995, they are required to report on the payouts from this fund, although under a convenient cloud of half-disclosed information.
According to the Office of Compliance (compliance.gov), Congress has paid out more than $17 million from 1997 – present day (20 years). This figure encompasses 264 individual cases, which include “overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Here are some questions to consider in the aftermath of this stunning and disgusting revelation:
- How many of these cases are related to sexual harassment/abuse? Since the revelation of this fund came only after the public outing of high profile sex offenders, is it reasonable to assume that most of the cases related to sexual offenses?
- How many individual lawmakers and aides does this slush fund affect? Is it 50? 100? 150? (Reminder: 264 cases since 1997.) How many are repeat offenders, and who are they?
- Is it completely fair to assume that these payments were only made to victims whose accusations were validated? It seems reasonable to conclude… yes!
- Additionally, is it also fair to assume that each victim who was paid out of this fund is normally sworn to secrecy as a condition of the payout? If so, it is fair to point out that “money for silence” is a common applied mafia tactic.
- What, if any, actions have been taken against the offenders?
- What was going on in 2002, when the fund paid out nearly $4 million for a total of 10 cases? (Average of nearly $400,000 per case.) What was the nature of these claims? And who are/were the offenders?
Proposed Reforms for the Rotten Core
In the days since we have learned of this horrifying tax payer-financed fund, there have been calls for reform. Up to and including President Trump, many people have been calling for Congress to disclose immediately the names of the criminals/offenders whose actions led these payouts. Here are our two simple, humble recommendations which should be implemented as soon as possible:
- All names of members of Congress and their aides who admitted to criminal actions that resulted in payouts should be released so that voters can identify them, and vote accordingly in the upcoming election. Victims should not be named.
- Any above named individual should refund the government/tax payer for any and all funds paid to victims as a result of their disgusting individual actions. The tax payer should not be responsible for any payment whatsoever that resulted from impropriety on behalf of elected officials and their staff.
Since the passage of Obamacare and its exemptions of Congressmen/women, it is commonplace to assert that elected officials should be subject to the same laws and rules as citizens. This fund for victims is the prime example! Elected officials are no different than the people who elect them, and if they are criminals they should be subject to the same investigations, arrests, penalties, and consequences.
We, the People, Accuse!
What type of a society accepts rulers that act like animals without morals or scruples? What is now considered “normal” by our society? Is the right to routinely abuse women and men, (and dare we ask, children, too? Cf. Dennis Hastert) a reward of winning elected office?
What type of society accepts men in power who prey on women/men/boys/girls, ruin their lives through traumatic experiences, and worst of all pays for these crimes through our provided tax dollars? This is a pox on our house that we cannot afford to ignore.
This appalling revelation of a tax-funded slush fund should not go unnoticed. For example, recent accusations against Al Franken (D-MN) should not lead to 1 cent being paid out on his behalf. All compensation money should come from Franken’s own pocket – PERIOD!
The Clintons, Bill and Hillary, ushered into Washington a disgusting culture of casual abuse and, yes, rape and pedophilia. The phenomenon, however, affects both parties and cannot and should not be looked at in a partisan manner.
It is our right – no, it is our duty – as citizens, as a civilized and moral people, to demand accountability and an absolute end to these criminals’ careers as lawmakers.
This is your government, and damnit it’s your country! Don’t let them off the hook this time!
