July 13, 2025
Dear editor;
This submission concerns money received from foreign governments in the U.S..
One year ago, Democratic senator Robert Menendez was found guilty in what U.S. attorney Danielle R. Sassoon called an “egregious abuse of power.” She added, “attempts to corrupt the Nation’s foreign policy and the rule of law will be met with punishment.” For accepting bribes of more than $500,000 in cash, a few gold bars, and a luxury car, all from Egyptian interests, Menendez rightly received an 11-year prison sentence.
What a difference a year and a change-over to an incredibly corrupt administration can make! Concern about the possible influence of foreign money and American policy goes back to the writers of the U.S. Constitution. The so-called “Emoluments Clause,” Art. 1, sec. 9, clause 8 prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts, payments, or titles without congressional consent, specifically to prevent foreign influence and corruption among U.S. leaders. Touted as “great for America”, Trump’s Middle East sojourn netted his family kleptocracy a $400,000,000 air-liner from Qatar, a Trump tower in Saudi Arabia, a Trump hotel in Oman, and on the side, a golf course in Vietnam; add the untold millions garnered by his pay-to-play crypto scams and the millions extorted from high-end law firms, universities, and media conglomerates, it is no wonder Eric Trump proclaimed, “We’re the hottest brand in the world!” What did America get? Menendez got 11 years.
“Following the money” is a time-honored method for sniffing-out corruption both foreign and domestic though, on a national scale, a great place to start would be the White House and its current occupants.
Peace.
Dave Hoehne, Aurora