Adams is the most recent politician caught in foreign corruption scandal

Mayor Adams’ corruption indictment involving the government of Turkey seems like weak tea compared to other recent scandals. 

But it also indicates just how intertwined America’s ruling class has become with foreign governments — and foreign money.

Adams is charged with getting over $120,000 in business-class international air travel and other perks from Turkey, while accepting campaign donations from illegal foreign sources — and getting public matching funds on that basis.

Prosecutors allege he used his authority to perform various favors for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime in return.

(Adams asserts, plausibly, that the prosecution is payback for his criticism of Biden-Harris immigration policies — though that doesn’t mean he’s not guilty — and that the Turkish goodies were merely “gratuities.”)

But Adams isn’t even the tip of the iceberg: He’s more like one of the little frozen chunks floating around it. 

Because in truth, American politics, all the way to the top, is riddled with corruption and foreign cash on a scale that dwarfs Hizzoner’s alleged misdeeds.

Across the Hudson, the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) revealed an extravaganza of gold bars and envelopes full of cash (along with a Mercedes and, weirdly, basement carpeting) in exchange for favors. 

This was after a previous jury deadlocked on an earlier set of charges against Menendez involving gifts and trips to the Dominican Republic.

Menendez resigned from the Senate after being convicted of federal bribery charges for acting as an agent of the Egyptian government.

Hunter Biden’s ties with the Ukrainian firm Burisma and a number of Chinese companies are well-known — as are the allegations that Joe Biden was a direct beneficiary.  

An analysis of Hunter’s laptop and other documents revealed he raked in at least $11 million from those and other shady overseas sources between 2013 and 2018.

Just this week, we learned that whistleblowers from within the Department of Homeland Security have raised serious concerns about Kamala’s running mate Tim Walz’s numerous visits to China while a member of the US military, and his…

(Hey, it’s a delicacy). 

She allegedly prevented New York state from denouncing the Chinese genocide of the Uyghurs.

China’s approach has been called “Source link