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Groping, Moping, and Hypocrisy on the Hill: A Slap to Voters, a Burden to Taxpayers

“I fervently abstain from wading in the bog of conspiracy theories. However, if I were to surface-skip stones I’d surely aim at conscience-burdened congressional and senatorial officials who so foolishly compromised their sworn duty to the folks who put them high on the Hill: the taxpayers.”

Even as a cop, I always found it counterintuitive that battering (punching) a human is a misdemeanor while trespassing (merely walking) upon a construction site is a felony. Similarly, I find it rife with hypocrisy that politicos demanding impeachment of the President Donald Trump refuse to stand-down for their woeful and morally corrupt behavior pertaining to exploiting women.

That just takes the cake…the upside-down pineapple one that keeps falling on the House/Senate floor.

Where does one begin to dissect an un-princelike frog? The latest revelation of a politician’s grubbiness and indecency is perhaps a decent place to start. Rep. Joe Linus Barton (R – TX) was the most recent politician in a string of elected officials outed for dubious behavior. Mr. Barton’s trysts leads to some curious twists.

Congressional Confessional?

As the Washington Post reported on Thanksgiving Eve, Congressman Barton “told a woman to whom he sent sexually explicit photos, videos and messages that he would report her to Capitol Police if she made any of the material public.”

That threat in and of itself would make any unseemly interactions subject to public record and, therefore, yank him from the closet he so desperately wishes to occupy. That is typical behavior of guilt and ditch attempts to bury a wrong with mounds of metaphorical dirt. As if adding more dirt to an existing pile of dirt will cleanse a soul.

Why’d one accuser come forward? The following may be the answer, and the impetus for coming-clean on their rendezvous:

According to WaPo, a recorded conversation between an anonymous female accuser and Rep. Barton reportedly entailed the following excerpt from Barton’s mouth: “I had a three-year undercover relationship with you over the internet that was heavily sexual and that I had met you twice while married and had sex with you on two different occasions and that I exchanged inappropriate photographs and videos with you that I wouldn’t like to be seen made public, that you still apparently had all of those and were in position to use them in a way that would negatively affect my career.”

As a reader, the emotion says “fry that guy!” As a law enforcement-oriented analyst, my gut says those alleged words are meticulously scripted as if from a violator who is not omitting clues and submitting robust evidence via self-incrimination. Why? It is all too much of an in-the-bag confession reportedly provided after he knew his tryst was already in the clenches of the media…and his political career prepared for the mulcher.

Is Mr. Joe Linus Barton airing out his linens so as to appeal to forgiving hearts of Americans, namely his constituents, so save his 18-term-long congressional seat?

https://twitter.com/HoaxWars/status/932836220819795969

According to a Dallas News article published on November 24, 2017 and titled “In his hometown of Ennis, residents say Rep. Joe Barton’s personal life is none of  their business“, it seems the pulse of political support is mostly disinterested in the sexual exploits and infidelity of a married and sitting congressman.

Referring to Rep. Barton’s sexting campaign with his allegedly consensual mistress who outed him, “It’s not smart, but am I not going to vote for him? That wouldn’t be a reason. If we delved into every politician’s personal life and secrets, very few would be good enough to be in politics,” Ennis resident Debbie Ware told Tristan Hallman of the Dallas News.

Former Ennis city councilman and police chief Red Sanders was not so shy, saying “Don’t ask me about Joe Barton! Joe Barton is an [expletive]!” Two interviews by one interviewer, and polarity in how they feel about their elected official representing their interests.

I guess it boils down to a matter of personal life choices and how it jibes with representing the public in the US Congress. It also pares down to how one defines the marital status “separated” and if that qualifies as infidelity or not. It’s just paper, right? Do we lessen the standards for elected leadership to soften the blow?

Rep. Barton formally apologized for his sexting and his exploits with various women while his divorce pended, saying, “While separated from my second wife, prior to the divorce, I had sexual relationships with other mature adult women. Each was consensual. Those relationships have ended. I am sorry I did not use better judgment during those days. I am sorry that I let my constituents down,” reported the Texas Tribune.

“It is still unclear how the photo got onto social media, who put it there, or whether its posting would constitute revenge porn, which is illegal under Texas law,” added the Texas Tribune. Should criminal charges per Texas law be applicable, and the anonymous individual who posted the naked selfie of Rep. Barton is identified, due process awaits the parties involved.

Do we simply follow suit with the myriad other societal standards we have seen decline over the past eight or nine years? Are we becoming a culture of looking the other way as long as we are not personally damaged? What about damages, such as tax dollars paid to hush women so as not to publicize the sexual exploits of/with government officials?

I fervently abstain from wading in the bog of conspiracy theories. However, if I were to surface-skip stones I’d surely aim at conscience-burdened congressional and senatorial officials who so foolishly compromised their sworn duty to the folks who put them high on the Hill: the taxpayers.

Reeda Peel, a former Ennis, Texas neighbor of Rep. Barton, said “The voters will take care of it,” referring to his current disgrace and dilemma.

Hush Slush Funds

A D.C. Clothesline article more than alluded to theories based on the trysts and sexual antics of elected officials automatically place each and every one of them in positions to be blackmailed by way of money or political favor. One need only examine the case involving Rep. John Conyers (D — MI) whose sexual antics with four congressional staff cost us taxpayers. Because his pants were ostensibly inflamed, our pockets were turned inside-out. That was more “representation” of self, while discounting constituents whose entrusted votes were to reap good governance. I suppose it is a matter of definition, huh?

BuzzFeed News purports to be in possession of “four signed affidavits, three of which are notarized, from former staff members who allege that Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the powerful House Judiciary Committee, repeatedly made sexual advances to female staff that included requests for sexual favors, contacting and transporting other women with whom they believed Conyers was having affairs, caressing their hands sexually, and rubbing their legs and backs in public. Four people involved with the case verified the documents are authentic.”

Side note: Rep. Conyers was married at the time of his alleged activities with four women. His spouse, Monica Conyers, has a twisted tale of her own, involving bribery charges for which she was sentenced to 37 months federal imprisonment.

Buzzfeed News publicized details alleging Rep. Conyers’ office “had paid an accuser $27,000 to settle a complaint that she had been fired after refusing his sexual advances.” As often is the case, we the taxpayers lose bigly. And it appears the methodology was not on the up-and-up. Breitbart reported “The settlement, using taxpayer funds, was reached outside of the formal reporting mechanism for sexual harassment claims. Last week, Rep. Jackie Speier testified that Congress had paid out more than $15 million over the last decade to settle such complaints.”

The ego is of no help and leash-walks libidinous zombies into a heap of hypersexuality.

Enter Rep. Ron DeSantis (R–FL) who offered a pre-Thanksgiving Day gift to address the elephant in the room while suited turkeys were nail-biting. Via his Twitter account, DeSantis flagged: “I’m working on legislation to unseal settlement records, bar use of tax dollars to pay claims against members & staff, prohibit members from using office budgets to camouflage payments (a Conyers rule) & require reimbursement of the taxpayer.”

“Settlements paid with tax dollars should not be kept secret. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Furthermore, members of Congress cannot be allowed to use the American people’s money as a personal slush fund to cover wrongdoing.” Indeed, it is utterly audacious for any elected official to dig into tax dollars to make the fallout from their wanton and reckless behavior go away. We have every right to know how our money is spent while government has no right to blow it on sexcapades.

As if the Conyers creek needed more dredging to stir undue attention, his democratic buddy, Rep. James Clyburn (D — SC), decided it was wise to take swipes at the four accusers, essentially calling them liars:

Stupidly, it seems the untouchables think they are out of reach of scrutiny and carry so much authority so as to use dwindled tax drawers (and not even their own obese salaries) to quash do-whatever-you-want nonsense on the Capitol. According to Fox News, resignations are on the menu and the kitchen is getting hotter. Case in point, a November 26 tweet from Rep Conyers…

Rhinos on the Loose

In the end, it all comes back to bite one in the ass…simply because one so politically embedded and accomplished decided to act like a testosterone-raging high-schooler. Narcissism is a liar and a fraud. The ego is of no help and leash-walks libidinous zombies into a heap of hypersexuality.

Like their sordid actions and disingenuous apologies, remaining in the fiefdom while compensated by the tax dole is unconscionable.

The case involving Rep. Conyers’ sexual harassment allegations emphasized four women, all of whom signed/swore testimony in affidavits implicating the long-term congressman of inappropriate advances. Herein is the prequel to the ugliness of payoffs with our tax doles. $$$hhhh…don’t tell.

BuzzFeed News reported that Rep. Conyers “settled a wrongful dismissal complaint in 2015 with a former employee who alleged she was fired because she would not ‘succumb to [his] sexual advances.'”

How does that settle both the requisite trust in elected officials and the budget burdens with which we wrestle? The insolence is inexplicable and the lawmaking responsibility is contrary to inherent integrity. Dignity born of stepping out on one’s spouse and constituents’ costs beckons removal, voluntarily or involuntarily. Like their sordid actions and disingenuous apologies, remaining in the fiefdom while compensated by the tax dole is unconscionable.

Senatorial Situations

A recent Lifezette exposé regarding Sen. Al Franken (D — MN) and his foray into inappropriate and inexcusable touching of a semi-conscious female et al. titled its piece “The Real Al Franken: Part Nasty, Part Jerk.”

In his pre-senatorial days as a comic, Mr. Franken’s “humor often relied on the misogynistic and the obscene,” Lifezette‘s Jim Stinson wrote. Sounds like the same ole’ dog with the same old bone.

That ball of yarn is still rolling, and even the cats don’t want anything to do with it. Indeed, Frankenstein is no Einstein. Just look at the hypocritical title of his latest book —“Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them”— and compare it to the nonsense he brought upon himself. Gee, how prescient. His other written works also come off as confessionals, too. In 1999, he published “Why Not Me? The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency.” See, its’ true…he is a comic.

“Oh, the Things I Know!” was written by Mr. Franken in 2003. Now, we all know.

Then there was Sen. Franken’s tweeted apology to his accuser, Leeann Tweeden:

Ms. Tweeden “called the groping photo a ‘parting shot’ after nearly two weeks of being ‘belittled and humiliated’ by Franken,” wrote Lifezette‘s Joe Stinson. This is the “parting shot” Ms. Tweeden refers to:

Whereas he is universally known to get testy when anyone disagrees with him, he seems to seize the moment when potential opposition is…in a vulnerable state of existence.

For all his senatorial barbs, pokes and jabs directed at many others…not much Frankinsense wafts the air. Although Lifezette rightly labeled Sen. Franken “part nasty, part jerk,” I believe they were kind. I can think of an array of ingredients which make him not at all palatable. I suspect Ms. Tweeden concurs.

In view of newer allegations of inappropriate behavior towards women followed by an additional apology from Sen. Franken, “Warm person” is not one of the character traits I would ascribe. More like “in heat.”

Lest we forget familial victims: Sen. Franken has been married to Frannie Franken since 1975.

Of import, “Abby Honold, who had worked with Franken to introduce legislation that would provide training to law enforcement interviewing victims of trauma, requested that Franken withdraw his name as the sponsor of that bill. Honold was raped by a former Franken intern,” chronicled Wikipedia.

Upon return from Thanksgiving Day break, Sen. Franken opened up to reporters, pleading for another chance. After victimizing several women, Mr. Franken vows to do better “going forward.” He claims his sexual misbehavior won’t happen again.

And here I am writing about what we, the American taxpayers who trusted, suspected all along and now have relative confirmation.

How do these supposedly intelligent figures victimize then expect to be respected? The hypocrisy is astounding. For any of these elected officials to sit in a coveted congressional or senate seat —pontificating as if they are holier than thou— creating laws for the choir while singing a hollow oath is unfathomable. And each of the politicians we discussed herein was married during their respective indiscretions/affairs, just like Bill Clinton was during his soirées while married to Hillary.

Speaking of Bill and unfathomable goings-on, how could such a discussion not include these two and their phantom-like collusive machinations?

I wish there were a way to get through writing without incorporating aspects about corruption, questionable political practices, a dubious double-digit body count, blamelessness, irresponsibility, anti-police pandering, Micheal Brown grandstanding, system-rigging, Bill’s sexualized life, and a plethora of other nasty things…but they continue to serve it up like chocolate at Willy Wonka’s place. Like air, the Clinton name is ubiquitous. One is necessary, the other a festering malignancy.

Resignation Reservation

Rep. Barton’s spokeswoman claims he has no plans to resign and that his re-election bid will go forward. Sen. Franken’s doom looms, yet his office also claims he has no intention of stepping down from the senatorial throne. There is a historical list of dalliances by politicians who have faced what these poles now confront. Several colleagues on the Hill have called for Rep. John Conyers to resign:

And we arrive at the preposterous continuous bark of democrats demanding impeachment of President Donald Trump. How ludicrous. How hypocritical. How insanely misguided members of the House and Senate can be, complicit, wringing their hands of wrongdoing while our nation’s state of affairs looms. Not what we mean by “political party,” at all.

Lest we forget to throw deserved shade at the MSM, a GoFundMe page called “Al Franken and John Conyers Must Go” is set-up to compel resignations from both Sen. Franken and Rep. Conyers. Launched by Jean Thomas (Stop the Scalpings), it reads pointedly: “Both Senator Franken and Congressman Conyers remain firmly ensconced in power. They have absolutely no intention of resigning. Their media minions are not forcing the issue, so why should they?”

Naturally, as I touched upon above, there is a Clinton connotation involved here. Ms Thomas’s GoFundMe mission statement reads: “I am inviting every woman with a story to tell who has been silenced and ridiculed by Hillary Clinton and others, who have never had their day in court.” Likely gonna need a bigger boat!

So, are these politicos compromised by their sexting, groping and damage control (tax dollars) options made public? Will they get a mere slap on the hand and be sent back to their electoral seats? In either view, they owe taxpayers restitution money.

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Stephen Owsinski

Stephen Owsinski is an OpsLens Content Manager and Contributor. Owsinski is a retired law enforcement officer whose career included assignments in the Uniformed Patrol Division and Field Training Officer (FTO) unit. He is currently a researcher and writer. Follow Stephen on Twitter @uniformblue.
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