White House Accused of Federal Crime in Specter, Bennet Races

The White House today is deflecting charges that it attempted to use bribery in an effort to convince two fellow Democrats to drop out of their respective Senatorial campaigns.

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak alleged last Friday that the Obama administration offered him a “high-ranking” government appointment in exchange for dropping his campaign against Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter.

Although the Obama administration has denied the allegations, Rep. Sestak contends his claims are accurate.[1]

This is the second time the Obama White House has been the target of bribery allegations.  In September, 2009, Andrew Romanoff was reportedly offered a high-ranking position at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by Obama’s deputy chief of staff, Jim Messina to drop out of his campaign against Sen. Michael Bennett.[2]

Both Romanoff and the White House refused to comment.

What’s being missed in these reports, and what the American Spectator was quick to point out, is that offering political appointments in exchange for anything of value is an impeachable offense and a federal crime.

"Whoever solicits or receives … any….thing of value, in consideration of the promise of support or use of influence in obtaining for any person any appointive office or place under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both." -- 18 USC Sec. 211 -- Bribery, Graft and Conflicts of Interest: Acceptance or solicitation to obtain appointive public office

"It is a federal offense to offer any man a federal job in return for a favor."
- President John F. Kennedy