We live in a world where most of us are held accountable for our unsavory actions. They result in dire consequences at times. This does not seem to be the case when it comes to our elected officials in Congress who often seem to be exempt from charges that would leave the average American citizen accountable and usually jobless. This double standard can no longer be ignored and should be addressed. Change should be implemented by an overwhelming outcry from the public.
This disregard for equality in distributing justice is apparent in Congress and is an insult and affront to those thousands of American citizens being held accountable with fines, loss of jobs, and even prison time for malfeasance and illegal improprieties. You would think that our elected officials would correct this injustice occurring among their colleagues, but they seem complicit in their failure to offer legislation to correct or punish this abuse of power.
How can anyone overlook the serious allegations of Congressman George Santos of New York that include fraud identity, wire fraud, falsifying records, wrongfully claiming unemployment benefits, conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States—and pilfering thousands from donor’s credit cards. He arrogantly states he will not step down regardless of the findings of congressional investigations. He shouldn’t have that option if found guilty. It should be an automatic expulsion. This miscarriage of justice continues among noted politicians any time you have wolves guarding the henhouse.
Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida stills holds his position after being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and allegations of witness intimidation, and even sex trafficking. Apparently being young White men in Congress offers you privileges and entitlements not available to others.
Sen. Robert Menendez of N.J. is accused of taking bribes of cash, gold bars, and a luxury car in using his influence in foreign affairs to aide Egypt and other countries. Large sums of money ($500,000) and gold ($100,000) were found hidden in his home. Understand that serious evidence is often obtained beforehand to warrant these felonious allegations.
The Congressional Ethics Committee doesn’t seem to have any teeth. It’s just a deceptive tool giving the illusion that flagrant, felonious acts of congressmen are being investigated. The punishment in many notable investigations may be seen as a slap on the wrist.
Why are elected politicians adamant in initiating policies and laws legislating penalties and prison time for citizens convicted of abusing the trust of their fellow Americans when they refuse to regulate their own colleagues? It has graduated to the level that Congress is the epitome of hypocrisy—incompetency at best. Doing the right thing should be the consensus of our elected officials in Congress, but there are so many loopholes and proprieties awarded to members of Congress that they appear to be above the law.
Moral and ethical provisions for members of Congress are useless if they are not seriously investigated or regulated. As it stands now, we literally have criminals and crooks reigning comfortably and uncontested in Congress. How can we act as the vanguard of righteousness indignation and truth for other countries in the world when we don’t seem to practice or take those tenets seriously ourselves as a country?
Many elected officials running our country are a joke. Literally laughing in our face, they appear to feel that they have immunity from prosecution. And actually, investigating them is so egregious and lengthy that it is apt to fail.
You can be an embarrassment to Congress and maintain your elected position. The biggest punishment for some Congressmen accused of felonious crimes seems to be simply being dismissed from appointed committees. As it stands, the Republicans lead the list for accusations of refusing to vote to remove members accused of gross improprieties. But they are not alone. We need bipartisan cooperation in doing what we all know is right: voting their crooked colleagues out of office.
