General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOH (Toledo) Council ravaged by democrat arrests
Last edited Wed Jul 1, 2020, 12:58 PM - Edit history (1)
Council members Larry Sykes, Tyronne Riley, Gary Johnson and Yvonne Harper were all arrested Tuesday morning. FBI officials say bribes affected at least three City Council votes over the last two years, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per bribe from local business owners...
The federal complaint shows that one businessman allegedly bribed Riley at least $2,000 to support a special use permit.
Other bribes listed involved internet cafes on Holland-Sylvania Road, Central Avenue, Reynolds Road and Manhattan Boulevard, not being named by the FBI at this time, where at least $26,000 were given to all four council members and $2,000 to local attorney Keith Mitchell who solicited the payments.
"These council members are charged with federal violations, but they're also charged with violating the public trust and they did that for their own personal financial gain," U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said.
Harper is facing an additional charge for threatening to revoke one tenant's liquor license and bringing negative attention and protests to the location after a dispute unless the tenant compensated her with $25,000.
"The residents of Toledo deserve a city government where every elected official is deeply committed to serving the public rather than themselves."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nbc24.com/amp/news/local/fbi-charges-4-toledo-city-council-members-1-attorney-with-bribery
"The political ramifications of this should not be understated. It's an election year, not in city council. Those members are elected in odd years. It's an even year but it's a presidential election so I think not just Lucas County democrats but democratic officials around the state are concerned about such a high profile scandal of not just one but four democratic elected officials in Lucas County," Miller said.
https://www.13abc.com/content/news/Where-does-Toledo-city-council-go-from-here-571575611.html
THERE WERE MORE ARRESTS a second and third post follow. Links:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213683119#post2
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213683182
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)won't they?
live love laugh
(13,214 posts)From what I gleaned it seems they may have plead guilty.
raging moderate
(4,317 posts)Are we expected to believe that Democrats were the only ones accepting bribes?
live love laugh
(13,214 posts)Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)I doubly ashamed that this happens to have been done by Democrats in my specific community.
They need to be made examples out of. They should receive zero leniency.
Amishman
(5,559 posts)Here's a little thought exercise.
When politicians take bribes, who is it from? Usually companies or business owners who want to do something that is held up by rules or regulations.
Where do you usually have lots of businesses and tight regulations? Cities.
Who do cities elect? Democrats.
You see this more with Democrats because the places where the incentive exists don't elect Republicans. You get Republicans elected in the types of places where there isn't much worth bribing over.
(And I say this as someone who absolutely can't stand even visiting a city.)
Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)rockfordfile
(8,709 posts)SharonClark
(10,014 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)Reminds me of an FBI sting in my hometown that got the Dem mayor Pat Cannon put away. Greedy fuck.
If the FBI have these people on tape like they did Patrick Cannon, they're in big trouble.
MagickMuffin
(15,976 posts)Talk about taking bribes. They take bribes all the time, foreign governments, big pharma, is a start!
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Damn shame.