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Subscribe to RSSWASHINGTON -- Federal immigration agents were prepared to arrest an illegal immigrant and registered sex offender days before the November elections but were ordered by Washington to hold off after officials warned of "significant interest" from Congress and news organizations because the suspect was a volunteer intern for Sen. Robert Menendez, according to internal agency documents provided to Congress.
The Homeland Security Department said last month, when The Associated Press first disclosed the delayed arrest of Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta, that AP's report was "categorically false."
Sanchez, 18, was an immigrant from Peru who has overstayed a visitor visa that allowed him to enter the United States. He eventually was arrested at his home in New Jersey on Dec. 6. He has since been released from an immigration jail and is facing deportation. Sanchez has declined to speak to the AP.
After the AP story, which cited an unnamed U.S. official involved in the case, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa and six other Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked the Obama administration for details about the incident.
According to those documents, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Newark had arranged to arrest Sanchez at the local prosecutor's office on Oct. 25. That was fewer than two weeks before the election.
Noting that Sanchez was a volunteer in Menendez's Senate office, ICE officials in New Jersey advised that the arrest "had the possibility of garnering significant congressional and media interest" and were "advised to postpone the arrest" until officials in Washington gave approval. The documents describe a conference call between officials Washington and New Jersey to "determine a way forward, given the potential sensitivities surrounding the case."
The senators, in a letter to the Homeland Security Department, said the agency documents showed that Sanchez's arrest "was delayed by six weeks," as AP had reported. They asked for details about the department's review of potentially sensitive, high profile immigration cases when arrests are delayed.
In a letter Monday, Assistant DHS Secretary Nelson Peacock said an allegation that the government delayed Sanchez's arrest "for political purposes" was categorically false. Neither the unnamed U.S. official cited in AP's original story or the senators in their letters to the department had specifically alleged that the arrest had been delayed for political purposes. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to discuss details of Sanchez's immigration case, told AP last month that the department had instructed federal agents not to arrest Sanchez until after Election Day.
The documents provided to Congress do not indicate why the arrest should have been delayed or whether anyone outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement — such as in the headquarters offices of the Homeland Security Department — was consulted.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP file
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
Menendez, D-N.J., who advocates aggressively for pro-immigration policies, was re-elected on Nov. 6 with 58 percent of the vote. Menendez said last month that his staff was notified about the case immediately before AP's story, he learned about the case from the AP and he knew nothing about whether or why DHS had delayed the arrest.
According to police records, Sanchez was 15 when he was arrested on a charge of aggravated sexual assault in 2009. The records show he was accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy at least eight times and sentenced to two years' probation and required to register as a sex offender. The AP is not reporting the boy's relationship to Sanchez to avoid identifying the victim.
The agency documents show that Sanchez failed to update his sex offender registration, and local prosecutors considered arresting him for that. During the same time, immigration officials learned that Sanchez had applied for the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which would have allowed him to stay in the country and legally work for two years. He did not disclose his arrest or status as a sex offender on the application and was eventually denied, according to the documents.
Immigration enforcement operations in New Jersey were largely halted starting Oct. 28 as officials prepared for Hurricane Sandy. By Nov. 29, ICE had planned to arrest Sanchez after Citizenship and Immigration Services had formally denied his deferred action application. The following day, the ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor was consulted. The agency's chief counsel was also consulted and the arrest was approved Dec. 5.
Sanchez was arrested the next day.
During the final weeks of President George W. Bush's administration, ICE was criticized for delaying the arrest of President Barack Obama's aunt, who had ignored an immigration judge's order to leave the country several years earlier after her asylum claim was denied. She subsequently won the right to stay in the United States after an earlier deportation order, and there was no evidence of involvement by the White House.
In that case, the Homeland Security Department had imposed an unusual directive days before the 2008 election requiring high-level approval before federal agents nationwide could arrest fugitive immigrants including Zeituni Onyango, the half-sister of Obama's late father. The directive from ICE expressed concerns about "negative media or congressional interest," according to a copy of that directive obtained by AP. The department lifted the immigration order weeks later.
Previous story: Sen. Menendez employed intern who was illegal immigrant, sex offender
Leave a Comment:
2008? Check.
2012? Check.
Government bureaucrats are careful not to do anything with potential political ramifications just before an election. The bureaucrats will still be around after an election and do not want to take the chance of offending whoever might be the winner.
This isn't 'new' news; it was obvious when it was reported the first time that some sort of political favor was called in. All that's new here is they have some documetation....
This is BS, the arrest was delayed by a Democratic administration to prevent the possible negative impact to the reelection chances of a Democratic candidate. If this had been done by the Republicans the Democrats would be howling and demanding resignations and Congressional hearings, but when it is one of their own who was helped they try and make excuses or say nothing. These should be a new special election for Menendez's seat as his election is tainted due to manipulated by the administration so as to hide damaging information from voters.
"This is BS, the arrest was delayed by a Democratic administration to prevent the possible negative impact to the reelection chances of a Democratic candidate."
Care to offer proof? I read the article and it didn't say that at all. Are you making this up or do you have knowledge outside of this article that you wish to share?
JS in SD,
I guess you missed the part where they said a similar thing happened just before the election in 2008...you know, during a GOP administration.
Yeah. let this POS have a week to rape some more children just so my "boy" gets elected. This is horrendous and unbelievable??? Whoever did this need to be impeached and/or fired........
Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta
Sen. Robert Menendez
I guess you missed the part where they said a similar thing happened just before the election in 2008...you know, during a GOP administration.
In 2008, it was Obama's family and most likely the GOP administration held off because of the ramifications that would have happened if a GOP administration arrested a Democratic presidential candidates family memeber for immigration violations just days before the election. I'm sure if the arrest had gone through, the liberals would have been screaming at Bush about this. And, Obama's aunt was not an accused sex offender as well.
@Dannylandulf-854223 - The difference is that the administration delayed taking action on Obama's aunt to keep from being accused by the media and the Democrats of making a politically motivated arrest to try and damage Obama's campaign. They did not do it to hide pertinent information from voters to try and get one of their own reelected. Had the Republican administration taken action on Obama's aunt right before the election the Democrats as well as the media would have been howling about it being political dirty tricks and motivated by attempts to embarrass Obama and influence the election. In addition, Obama's aunt was not a registered sex offender who had failed to register at his new address and represented a danger to other people. Sex offenders have a very nasty habit of re-offending and represent an ongoing threat to their communities, that is why they are required to register to start with.
this was reported weeks ago and dismissed as hysteria by liberal media after election and now everybody is surprised only because there is a paper trail..
nothing says re-elect me, like an illegal alien and registered sex offender on your campaign staff !
Actually, if you read the article CLOSELY, you will see that
So, there was a conference call on OCT 25 asking to delay until officials in DC gave their approval, Immigration activities were HALTED on OCT 28 (THREE DAYS LATER) due to a HURRICANE that had a HUGE impact on NJ, and the deferred action application was denied SOMETIME between Oct 28 and Nov 29 (inference that is easily granted). The ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor was consulted the FOLLOWING DAY (NOV 30) and the arrest was approved on Dec 5th. A reasonable inference is that he had applied for deferred action prior to Oct 25, the decision to deny his application was sometime between Oct 28th and Nov 29 and the decision to arrest him was less than a week later. WHAT THE FREAK IS THE PROBLEM? Do y'all not have reading comprehension? Is it possible that ONE of the "interesting" things to the media would have been that he had applied and not yet been denied for deferred action so they couldn't arrest him until that application had actually been denied? Sheesh. That would CERTAINLY garner media and Congressional attention, you know? Trying to deport someone who had an application in for deferred action before that application was finished and a determination had been handed down ...
What a outrage! once again the DEMS covering their dirt up!!!
If the GOP did this the MEDIA would be making a HUGE deal out of this.
I'm very surprised MSNbc said he was a Democrat.
Hey AKRandy, read the article and then read Cat's post above yours. Take your time, use a dictionary if necessary.
I agree this is nothing new--about the double standard to which political parties are held.
At least this one actually made the news, so I guess that, itself, is newsworthy.
Cat and Freebird, (interesting combination, LOL) you apparently forgot about the part of the story covering that sex-crime thing, his failure to follow the procedures required of convicted sex-offenders, and this follow-up crime for which an arrest was also considered but not executed.
Select memory much?
Using prep for Sandy as an excuse to not arrest a sex offender? How hard is it to go out, put cuffs on a guy, and throw him in the slammer? This was 100% politically motivated.
CAT- Do you work for MSNBC and/or the DNC? I'm impressed with your exceptionally quick and detailed analysis of the situation. You got that post up within an hour after the article showed up on this page. Amazing.
To Freebird:
I agree with :Steve Sjurset
"Bob Freebird; Are you effing kidding me? Reread the article, slooooowly."
CAT - you reed and rite real fast-like. You some sorta book-lernin' eleetest? Amazing.
So is Washington responsible if some other little boy was sexually offended during their "cover up" period?
WHY is a registered sex offender, let alone an illegal alien working for the senator???
Give up Bob......
Re: hardtostarboard. The prep started Oct. 28. They originally planned to arrest him on the 25th. I wonder if it would have bothered ICE if he sexually abused a child during the delay ?
This is unmitigated corruption and abuse of power! Despicable!
The U.S. federal officials directing ICE to delay arresting an immigration lawbreaking sex offender should be arrested. The The sex-offending immigration lawmaker should be deported.lawbreakers should be arrested and deported. All immigration lawbreakers should be deported.
A GOVERNMENT WHICH REFUSES TO ENFORCE ITS OWN LAWS IS INTOLERABLE!
You may agree with him, but no one has offered proof that "the arrest was delayed by a Democratic administration to prevent the possible negative impact to the reelection chances of a Democratic candidate". If you guys are right, it shouldn't be that hard.
Even if you come to the baffling conclusion that politics played no part in this matter, you still should have a "wtf" moment at the idea that ICE agents were part of a hurricane preparation team. National Guard? Got it. FEMA? Got it. HHS? Got it. ICE? Um, don't got it.
More importantly to me, from the perspective of reason that is, is that the same people trying to minimize THIS story are the same who tried to minimize the previous story by repeating the administration line that the AP story was categorically false. Well, it wasn't false, categorically or otherwise. But since we were told it was (an untruth) and found out it wasn't, why now give the administration the benfit of the doubt?
The Bush administration decision is easily more explainable. Obama's aunt wasn't a sex offender and had not been thought to be a threat to people other than her refusal to obey a judge's order. Had an arrest gone forward then the left, and the MSM generally, would have complained about playing politics. And now the fact we know it didn't go forward (to avoid claims of playing politics) the left uses that fact to explain why the Obama administration decision (at whatever level it was made) wasn't political. Thinking minds go "huh?".
Yet all of the hypocritical liberal freaks will say it's no big deal. If this happened to a GOP it would have been released weeks before the electiona and been in the news 24/7. Obama and his admin. knew about this and forbid it's release. What a POS.
And those background checks they do are great.
Beat me to it, Jack...kudos!
Cat and Freebird...
So what is the defense of a Senator having a sex offender on staff?
Kevin, because he had no way of knowing.
"The prosecutor's office in Hudson County, N.J., said Sanchez was found to have violated the law in 2010 and subsequently required to register as a sex offender, the AP reported. The exact charge was unclear because Sanchez was prosecuted as a juvenile and those court records are not publicly accessible. The prosecutor's office confirmed to AP that Sanchez registered as a sex offender, although his name does not appear on the public registry."
who didn't know that it was delayed by the Chicago Thug in Chief , that is how it is done in the great azz boil known as Chicago , too bad 51% of America was high on election day
Do you notice that the usual first responders are no where to be seen?
Wonder...yeah where is Fisting Redhead? She is probably related to this guy!
It really amazes me how people read what they want to hear into a story like this. I see people calling this guy a homosexual child rapist, yet I didn't see that anywhere in the article. This was an offense that occured when he was a juvenile, and those records are sealed. He was a registered sex offender, but his name does not appear on the public register, and he was going to be arrested for failure to report, not for some new offense. I don't see anywhere that's the presidents name is mentioned, or that ICE was involved in the Sandy prep, but people are spouting these things as if they were facts. Yes, liberals like facts, and proof, when we form opinions. That's what separates us from the right wing fringe element that has become so vocal recently.You guys are still talking about Benghazi, and fast and furious. Why aren't you so adamant about how many soldiers and civillians died in Iraq, a war we were duped into waging with imaginary evidence of a "Smoking gun in the form of a mushroom cloud" Why is 4 dead in Benghazi so much worse than the thousands dead in Iraq?
scotty
your little buddy in question is here ILEGALLY , that is sufficient to jack his azz out of the country
"Why is 4 dead in Benghazi so much worse than the thousands dead in Iraq?"
haha , the Alinsky syndrome of "change the issue" don't debate it...oh and your right , it doesn't matter that your leftist King and his minnions like Hillarious are responsible for the death of our Ambassador , after all you lefties have the "right" to change and rewrite "the facts"
Answer the question, or don't respond. Put up proof, or don't respond. Address the issues I put forth, or keep my name out of your posts.
Sort of resembles the Benghazi cover up HUH?
"During the final weeks of President George W. Bush's administration, ICE was criticized for delaying the arrest of President Barack Obama's aunt, who had ignored an immigration judge's order to leave the country several years earlier after her asylum claim was denied. She subsequently won the right to stay in the United States after an earlier deportation order, and there was no evidence of involvement by the White House."
In other words....AFTER the election....You think Barry didn't know or wasn't informed....
What the heck do you think P.0bama's Super-Secret Decoder-Ring Blackberry is for, the one he insisted on keeping, even though he wasn't supposed to, and the Secret Service and CIA encrypted it....
A question is......WHO else and HOW MANY PEOPLE have one of the Super-Encrypted Decoder-Ring Blackberry's that Barry texts and e-mails to, without any Government Records ??? Hmmmmm
If you think Conservatives were happy with Bush 43....you're crazy. I had blood squirting out of my eyes by the time he uttered " We have to abandon Free Market Principles to save the Free Market". Like all other Presidents, he spent the last 2 years Legacy Building.....I'm Afraid the current President will spend all 4 years of Term 2 Fundamentally Transforming as much of the U.S. as he possibly can.....And he will Pre-Pardon everyone that ever worked in his WhiteHouse on his last day in Office....
Bob Freebird is asking for proof that "the arrest was delayed by a Democratic administration to prevent the possible negative impact to the reelection chances of a Democratic candidate". While I can't provide proof of the intent of the action, Bob Freebird should be well aware that any action such as the one implemented in this case would come as a directive from the Director of ICE, who is an appointee of the Administration, and is, in fact, a direct appointee of the President, confirmed by the Senate. So while we will always have a "he-said he-said" understanding of the intent, we know that "the arrest was delayed by a Democratic administration."
The disgusting piece of crap should never have been allowed in the country to begin with.
When it comes to sex offenders, and when it comes to immigration, no records should be sealed, I don't give a damn how old he offender was when the crime happened. The people of this country have a right to expect the government to protect them from immigration of predators from other countries.... we have enough of them here protected by civil rights laws.
We don't need to import sex offenders from any other country what so ever. No juvenile records should be sealed pertaining to immigration, and any immigrant granted citizenship who commits a felony should have citizenship revoked after serving a prison term for the crime.
When citizenship is granted, they take an oath to abide by the laws of this country, which is a verbal contract with the citizens of the US, and by committing a felony crime they are breaking that contract and should not have the privilege of citizenship.
Wow, they actually edited this story and didn't note the edit. Took it down and put it back after an edit, leaving the comments intact. Whaaaaaaat?
NBC, AP, CBS, ABC, all liberal media outlets always have to report something negative about a democrat with something negative about a republican. This is Obama's administration and this is about Menendez, both Democrats. Obama's aunt was considered a criminal because she was here illegally, however, she did not have sex with an 8 year old. Menendez failed to report this information about a sex offender, and Obama and his cronies failed to report the truth about the murder of 4 Americans in Benghazi--why did they do this because both cases would have negative effects on their re-elections. I am trying my damndest to teach my child about morals but when you have Scholastics praising the most dishonest President in history and failing to mention all the great Presidents in history to honor President's Day it is extremely hard to teach my child right from wrong.
Well, if it smells like a rat and looks like a rat then it is probably a democRAT
Is Home land above the law? we have issues;
Political purposes.
unnamed officials.
Condition of anonymity.
Not authorized to discuss.
Immigration case, Illegal Alien--------- in a gov capacity??????
Instructed not to arrest before Election? sounds like Obama, our president from the great state of Kenya, one of the missing 7 states, they also have a birth certificate. and it looks more real then the digital copy Hawaii provided.
I love it when Democrats lie its so obvious to everyone except Liberals and hard core Democrats, brain dead but still voting.
Regardless of the facts or how the facts can be manipulated something just is not right with this picture, will there be some investigating, I understand that the Democrats are automatically innocent of wrong doing so can we blame this on the Republicans, I think we should, reason being the GOP is better at accepting blame then the Dem's, the Dem's cant handle the truth, and in realty sh!t really does roll off the GOP where it has a tendency to adhere to Dem's.
I forgot to mention that by order of the President all Democrat sh!t is to be considered Transparent, that is to signify a transparent Government, All GOP stuff is to be blanketed and magnified as to appear camouflage but colored bright orange to signify the difference to the liberals and the socialist and the Illegal aliens so they can cast theyr votes. yes its confirmed illegal aliens do help run the country, they are allover the place, in fact Obama is looking for some more, he likes them they vote for him, and if he can fix it so he can pull a Chavez and run again, they will be most desired and influential come the next election, illegal votes Robin hood politics Obama is a shoe in for another 8 years, oh don't forget his relationship with Putin, Putin's playing like he is angry today but in a short time he and Obama will realign, in the mean time do we still have free speech? or is it limited to only what you say that is Politically Correct????
With a sex offense, juvenile or not this man should NEVER have been allowed to be in this country period!!!! I firmly believe that a long serious hard look, work and effort need to be put into immigration reform before the government willy nilly starts passing out amnesty etc.. Do we really need to fill the country up with any more illegals much less predators??? What kind of background check did this guy get put through before being allowed to work in this Senators' office??? I have a hard time buying that somebody didn't have knowledge of this guys crimes. Sounds like a bunch of excuses were made to postpone the arrest. Too bad we have one set of laws that apply to the average citizen and another set for illegals and politicians.
ROTFLAMO!!!!!!!
And of course the limp-wristed Libbies are all over on the Mark Sanford thread about him possibly running for the Senate thumping their chests about how horrible that will be.
Here we have an obvious cover-up by the Democrats and the complicit media of an incident that would have damaged the elections. Just like Benghazi, the rest of the Middle east crisis was totally ignored while the war on women, killing grandmas entitlements and Romneys taxes were all headlined by the ;amestream media.
Liberals/Progressives have no honor or shame, their only agenda is to punish the real Americans who actually take responsibility for themselves, work and succeed. Barrack Hussein hates anyone who achieves more than middle class because her feels only the Ivy League faculty-lounge elitists should be rewarded with wealth and fame.
Of course the poor little useul idiots that voted for him, not once but twice, believe they will somehow be rewarded by Barrack Hussein and his crony statists. I guess when you have no hope of achieving anything of significance in life, begging for the crumbs off the Liberals table is the best they can do.
Sleazy slimey yucky creepy DC BS...dump all incumbents...take back our country from this self serving bunch of bast*rds. Vote for anybody but an incumbent.
"or keep my name out of your posts."
uuuhhh...no
"Wow, they actually edited this story and didn't note the edit. Took it down and put it back after an edit, leaving the comments intact. Whaaaaaaat?"
duh...they do it all the time it's called being "journalists" here at leftist central , you may have just opened your eyes to lefty tactics
Great - let's generate some phoney outrage about something which doesn't afffect you. GOood Republicans. You're alll down with the program.
THe Left WIng Media is a myth which owes its longevity to two factors: 1.) the paranoia which affflicts many on the Right and,
2.) AMong the more mentallly agile it's a form of gamesmanship- similar to what Phil Jackson used to do to the refereees before a bi playofff series. After alll, the thinking goes, it might get you a calll or two and besides, IT doesn't cost a thing!!!!
It's amazing how "little our politicians" claim to know when it is negative towards them but are on the front page if they can get a photo op. We have the best bureaucrats and politicians money can buy.
Honestly, until the public stops taking incidents like this to blame a politician (who had nothing to do with the abuse, I'm assuming. No one checks the papers of a volunteer either), these types of political delays will (and I dare say SHOULD) continue to happen.
It would have been a complete distraction to the election and the issues.
I agree. This sort of thing could happen to anyone.
Wrong. It is pretty clear that someone very high up, and this means at least Mendez himself deliberately forced a criminal's arrest to be delayed because it may have created an uncomfortable question for him to deal with during an election. Thus Sen. Mendez in fact is responsible for the crimes committed, as surely as if he watched the crime and then hid the criminal.
It is even worse when you consider that Mendez;s primary stated goal is to life restrictions on immigrations at it turns out that he was protecting am illegal immigrant who in addition to be a criminal alien was also a homosexual and child molester.
Candlewycke, got any proof? If so, cite your sources.
Bob Freebird; Are you effing kidding me? Reread the article, slooooowly.
It would have been a distraction, all right. One that would have likely eliminated another crooked Democrat from taking office. Not that Republicans are any better. Nice to see our system of justice is blind to positions of power. And BTW: people like Bart Conner are the reason this country continues to go downhill. What an idiot.
Steve, I read it a few times. Point out in the article where "someone very high up, and this means at least Mendez himself deliberately forced a criminal's arrest to be delayed because it may have created an uncomfortable question for him to deal with during an election".
A Lib has no problem at all calling someone a racist for doing nothing more than voicing an opposing opinion. When the tables get turned though, all you hear is "got proof, cite sources". The hypocrisy is unbelievable.
You're right, royboy, proof and sources and facts are overrated. Who needs 'em? We should be allowed to make up anything we want and offer it as fact. I heard that roybokhade molests bunny rabbits. Truth!
Bob It looks like you work for the DEMS or NBC all you to is insult people and they keep letting you.
That kid should have been deported a long time ago. He's nothing more than a perverted child molester and he doesnt belong here. It shouldnt even matter what our politics are, he commited a heinous crime against an 8 year old for cryin out loud. How can anybody defend that. Maybe those of you defending these actions of delaying his arrest should invite him to your house for a sleepover.
Good thing there is still no Bengahazi coverup going on...
@Bart you are a Idiot these things never should happen...who is responsible?
@Bart again If you are placing a individual into one of the countries most responsible positions with the best Pay, Benefits, Medical, Retirement, and a massive Per diem package, would it be asking to much for them to actually be responsible, I am tired of these deadbeat bums on rich mans welfare. and I hope they all understand that the clock is ticking, not my clock I cant afford new batteries but somewhere a clock is ticking. I have lost all faith. from now on its results that count not BS.
Somebody in ICE needs to be fired!
Among other places!
You mean Homeland Security. ICE was prepared to make the arrest, but someone higher in the DHS stopped it! OUTRAGEOUS!
Home land security needs to go period, they are not good at representing the American citizen, in fact I cant figure out who they work for. its not the people. They can take that Patriot act with them. Oh I'll throw in Obama with that. they can all go live in the 57th state of Kenya, live long and prosper, show off your transparency and live in Kenya. I still wonder about the other six states?
Oh Jant glade you got your job back aren't you?
.
We pretty much are the most corrupt Country in the World.
No, there are worse. But we're pretty damn close to the top for a first-world country.
I have zero confidence in our government, and that goes for both parties and from the president down to the county clerks!
Come, come now, one set of rules for the politicians, another for the common public. Who is really expecting anything different? I mean, stand up and raise your hand? Okay, go back and start reading all those Executive Orders beginning decades ago. Still think the same way?
Dang, I see the problem, it's that garbage stuck in your eyes and ears from the main stream media. Happens a lot to good folks. Try some good old fashion independent sources and a notebook. Use at least once daily for a pristine opportunity to see more clearly and keep track of important issues.
No surprise here. They're all crooks.
This is a clear abuse of political power. It has been consistent throughout the Obama Presidency. All Americans should oppose this vigorously.
However, if anyone criticizes these politically motivated actions, they're attacked by the Obama believers.
Think about what happened in Nazi Germany while Hitler was gaining and consolidating power.
So, you are going to be fair and call out the Bush Administration as well, right? I assume YOU did read the article in its entirety before commenting?
To Letus""""
Wow...what a hoot
Alaskagirl I read the article twice to make sure I understood and after your comment I read the last paragraph again.... "
"During the final weeks of President George W. Bush's administration, ICE was criticized for delaying the arrest of President Barack Obama's aunt" ... "and there was no evidence of involvement by the White House" ...."the Homeland Security Department had imposed an unusual directive days before the 2008 election requiring high-level approval before federal agents nationwide could arrest fugitive immigrants including Zeituni Onyango, the half-sister of Obama's late father"
I am not sure what you are talking about, but it appears that this action helped Obama, not Bush.
Read the history of the indictment of Republican congressman Rick Renzi from Arizona and you will see that the AG's office waited until after the election to indict him so as not to allow anyone to make the case that the indictment was politically motivated. It's the normal way things are handled when the outcome of an election could be affected by information that has not been proven in a court of law. It's a good thing because politicians with connections would be trying to use the police in every election to do their dirty work and discredit their opponents if they thought they could get away with it.
So you think sex offenders should not be arrested before an Election?
I have to wonder WHY/HOW this young man wasn't sent back to his own country when he was found to have sexually abused a child several times in 2009 and; how is it that he was given a position (whether paid or volunteered), in a US Senators office to begin with????!!!??? I would think that any senator/representative would make sure that those who work under him/her have not been in trouble with the law and haven't done anything that would be detrimental to his/her position as a representative of the people in the state represented and/or the country itself!! It appears to me that the entire political empire in DC needs a thorough "house cleaning from top to bottom!!
To AKRandy....I believe that ANY sex offenders should be arrested when they are found committing such a crime; especially envolving children!!
Doesn't matter. The idiots in N.J. would re-elect "Spanish Bob" anyway.
How is Sen. Robert Menendez any different then Joe Paterno?
"Menendez said last month that his staff was notified about the case immediately before AP's story, he learned about the case from the AP and he knew nothing about whether or why DHS had delayed the arrest."
Uh huh.
Politicians always claim to know nothing when it benefits them. Does Benghazi ring a bell?
And "Fast & Furious."
Menendez "said" so, Bob? That's your proof? I think the hypocrisy is so obvious that the left heads are struggling because they aren't used to a liberal press presenting a story that is less than flattering to the Dems. Shows how easily their arguments crumble without the liberal press spinning it for them. Count how many times you see the word "Democrat" in this article. Anyone following politics would know that Menendez is a Democrat, but no matter how well known a Republican is, the liberal press will write out Republican. This is so the negativity of the story will always be associated with Republican. Not so with this article. A "D-NJ" is about all you see. She(the author) spelled out Republican in this article when mentioning senators calling for an explanation....but not Democrat. This is called "spin".
There was more publicity and a much bigger deal made of Ryans pre-elelction stop at a soup kitchen and more hate and bs spewed over it than this incident!! What's wrong with that picture????
The senator is in a far far greater position of power and influence that Paterno. There was a witch hunt over Paterno. Apparently a Senator with an illegal sex offender in his employment is no big deal though.
What I really do not understand in all of this, besides the obvious, is why are we not conducting background checks on anyone that is working with a member of Congress, volunteer or otherwise? People on both sides of the aisle are always harping on accountability, accountability, yet here is a convicted sex offender not only able to work with Congress, but able to roam freely in our country when he is clearly a threat to all children! He never should have been able to be in this country in the first place! This is not directly related, but Canada has it right when they do not allow anyone into their country who has a DUI on their record. This country on the other hand allow convicted child hunters into our country.
AlaskaGirl
I completely agree with what you just said. Those in congress who do not do a thorough background check on those they allow to work in their offices and/or knowingly allow them to work when they are aware of people working in their office that have committed a felony offense, should be booted out of office....that includes senators, representatives, & all other officials elected to represent the people of this country...no matter what party they are in!!
inexcusable to delay that arrest.
All pigs are created equal, but some pigs are more equal than others.
All pigs are created equal, but some pigs are more equal than others.
Yes and apparently the pigs in government are more equal than the rest of us.
Oh my yes this sure would of flipped the elections to favor the republicans ...how dastardly can the dems get ...
Jeeeeze
I have missed your sarcasm! HA!
Nah...Dem voters don't care about dead ambassadors, why should they care about child molesting illegals?
Exactly!!
Amunaka
I could care less whether it 'turns an election' or not... a dangerous individual should be arrested and any representative of the people who knowingly allows a dangerous felon to work in his/her office should be ousted as well. What gives these people the right to cover-up a crime & put others at risk for the sake of an election or anything else??
Aparently the true point is far over your sarcastic head Amunaka. Linda states it well.
A US Senator harbored a fugitive from justice. The political party does not matter. If ICE delayed this case, they potentially put our kids at risk. Whose side is our government on? What nation is our Federal Government employees serving? If the government is shut down in a couple of months, will it matter at all?
I'm playing devil's advocate here, but where in the article does it say that the Senator harbored a fugitive from justice? Think about this, though. Don't you think that if Menendez had known about this guy(hence the need for background checks) that he would have been the first to throw this guy out of the country so as to not hurt his career? What better way for a politician to score points with his country than to show the country that he is Country first, career second?
The answer to who's side government is on is they are on their side. We have government run by and for the benefit of those in government.
Alaska - Menendez claims ignorance of everything. As you suggested, he should have done a background check on his staff candidates to learn that the guy was both a sex offender and an illegal.
Menendez probably knew the person was illegal, but he wants them in the country, so he would never take steps to have them deported.
By not doing any kind of check, he can claim ignorance, as he has done. As the police will tell you, ignorance is no excuse, except in D.D.
....that he would have been the first to throw this guy out of the country so as to not hurt his career? What better way for a politician to score points with his country than to show the country that he is Country first, career second?
Except the liberals only critcized Romeny when he found out the law care company he hired employed an illegal immigrant he then fired. I guess in the eyes of the left, someone outing an illegal immigrant is only putting country first when that person is a Dem, but a bigot and hypocrit when someone in the GOP does it.
Well, this is one lib who doesn't care what party is employing an illegal. It is wrong, and there are plenty on the left who take this stance, so just as the right should not be labeled in its entirety as a bunch of crazies, so should not the left be collectively lumped together.
Alaska I'm sure you know full well that if it had been a repub Senator in the exact same position all hell would have broken loose and that Senator would have been accused of harboring a fugitive a a whole lot worse.
This is bad.
I am shocked our fine upstanding representatives of the people would so flagrantly violate the law and sense of decency. Only kidding, we expect nothing less from the sleaze balls in government.
Shocked and stunned I say!!!
Dems pull this s h i t all the time. Like fully implementing Obamacare, with its tax increases, aftr the 2012 elections.
Lucky for Obama that his supporters are so stupid.
And yet Romney supporters appeared to be no brighter and kept sliding further to the right driven by an ever increasingly vocal and disturbing fringe of groups screaming about God and gays, firing weapons into the air.
Politics as usual in government CYA and NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
Plausible deniability - Make it go away
In my 25+ years as a political campaign consultant I'm aware of several instances where arrests were delayed until after an election because of legitimate concerns that such an arrest could alter the outcome of the election without all the facts being known, creating an unfair situation for the candidate(s) involved. Federal enforcement agencies tend to error on the side of caution so as not to be accused of trying to influence the outcome of an election. While the facts of this case appear relatively clear, it's doubtful that Menendez would personally be responsible for doing a background check on a low-level campaign staffer --- it would be the duty of the campaign manager or others. As an example, the feds began investigating Rick Renzi a few years ago, an Arizona Republican congressman. They had reams of evidence to indict him but waited until after the election so as not to influence the outcome. They did this because, in spite of all the evidence, if they didn't get a conviction, a case could be made that the indictment was a political ploy. It's not a perfect system but it ensures that law enforcement activities can't be used illegitimately to smear a candidate right before an election. In this case the offender will face the appropriate penalties, just at a later date.
But Rick Renzi wasnt a child molester, big difference. Do you really think it's appropriate to allow a child molester that's here illegally to stay here? He should have been arrested and immediately deported, period. I dont know how anybody can defend this. I dont care what anybodys political affiliation is, child molesters belong in prison and I dont think they should ever be allowed out, ever.
Alaska girl: I did read the article in its entirety, and about calling out the Bush Administration on Obama's Aunt who should have been deported. They admitted it would upset the election, and if the Bush administration had deported O's aunt the news media would have crucified him. But if it happens under the Obama administration according to the media all is fine.
Arlene, read Richard's #21 & #8.4 comment. Very interesting "inside" knowledge of how it seems to work.......on either side. DA.
obamas aunt was told to leave2 yrs. before. Then was allowed to stay and lives off us taxpayers by being on welfare and section 8 housing. With all the americans that need help with the economy being so bad, just burns my butt that we are handing out our taxes to illegals. And g-d don't get me started on our community center/president. Couldn't find his way out of a wet paper bag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey chilton? You hand a billion a year to farmers in Iowa alone, here's a hint, there were a lot of those farmers, so destitute they had their hand in your pocket, paying some guy to mow portraits of Romney and messages of freedom in their fields before harvest.
As a staunch Dem this story stinks. A ped is a ped. If it were my son I wouldn't need any gov entity. This offense would be handled whether there was law or anarchy. Peds need absolute correction. This story stinks and I don't care what party affiliation you reserve. I will not make any excuses for anyone. This needs to be looked into.
This was handled in exactly the same way as Benghazi, and yet no one will be called on the carpet. Poor liberal voters, led like lambs to slaughter.
Isn't Mendez already under investigation over hookers in South America?