This upside-down notion—that if an elected politician commits crimes in office, it’s undemocratic to hold them accountable—is a big part of why America is in this mess. No, winning an election does NOT grant permission to break the law. Yes, following democratically enacted laws is democratic. - ThreadSky

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social • 11 days ago

This upside-down notion—that if an elected politician commits crimes in office, it’s undemocratic to hold them accountable—is a big part of why America is in this mess.

No, winning an election does NOT grant permission to break the law.

Yes, following democratically enacted laws is democratic.

Reposted from Jon Campbell

Earlier today, Gov. Hochul was asked whether she's considering using her power to remove Eric Adams as mayor.

" That does not feel like something that's very democratic," she said. "That's why I'm not going to go there."

Comments

lesliead717.bsky.social•10 days ago

But having the POTUS and his DOJ insert themselves into a case to gain control over the Mayor seems democratic??? Start playing on their field

daniel22223333.bsky.social•11 days ago

I agree, but do you agree that it requires hurdling even higher than normal bars to justify prosecuting an elected official? Prosecuting risks that the charges are seen (rightly or wrongly) as a witch hunt, and invites retaliation. And once that cycle begins, it seems like it could be hard to stop.

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social•11 days ago

Setting a high bar is reasonable in law enforcement, especially with high profile individuals. What’s unreasonable is saying the bar can never be cleared because democracy means elected leaders can crime if they want.

Some might act in bad faith is a bad reason to not honor the law in good faith.

daniel22223333.bsky.social•11 days ago

I don't disagree. I just see how this type of prosecution can be especially dangerous, and we'll likely have to live thru some examples of that, once Trump's DOJ picks a political opponent or two (e.g., folks on the #J6 Congressional committee) and brings a retaliatory indictment against them

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social•11 days ago

There’s a danger an innocent person will be prosecuted for murder, so we have to let Ted Bundy go free. Maybe a Bundy sympathizer will lie about it, so to head that off, we’re dropping the charges.

daniel22223333.bsky.social•10 days ago

Okay, lol, I get it. Apropos of nothing, I just read a good book about Ted Bundy! It's called Bright Young Women. It tells the story solely from the perspective of the women who Bundy harmed. The idea is that the press made Bundy out to be a handsome, smart fellow, and that narrative needs to change

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social•10 days ago

Huh. Interesting. I hadn't heard of that book before, thanks.

jhattara.fi•11 days ago

Now the bar for prosecution of President is non-existant, because it's not possible to prosecute the President, regardless of what he does.

centristsisyphus.bsky.social•10 days ago

NY should investigate whether Adams violated NY laws. Good chance, and a good chance to defend the principle of justice, now AWOL in DC.

katelarkworthyillo.bsky.social•10 days ago

Right on!

handsomebane.bsky.social•10 days ago

That while city government is rotten to the core. They don't think there's any successor to that spot who isn't already a scoundrel.

chrisoates.bsky.social•11 days ago

It's also a product of the modern political culture which is that the buck stops anywhere but here

teddycohn.bsky.social•11 days ago

It's a general extension of their time honored punch and flop strategy.

Bully as victim.
Assault inoculating against accountability.

Etc.

Insert all relevant emojis.

suffernofools123.bsky.social•10 days ago

maybe NY state prosecutors can take up the investigation of Adams and his cronies?

matthewsp.bsky.social•11 days ago

If Kathy Hochul were a GOP mole, what would she be doing differently?

labboypro.bsky.social•10 days ago

Also, democracies often install protective mechanisms for when democratic processes recognize mistakes... like impeachment, recall, or in this case, the state's Constitution. The "we can't use laws designed to protect the institution... to protect the institution" arguments are getting old.

fredgrott.bsky.social•10 days ago

friend she has to wait until a conviction...please be smarter than this....

gordonvincent.bsky.social•10 days ago

That reminder that, among the factors leading to the fall of the Roman republic, the steadfast refusal of the Senate to prosecute and punish powerful criminals was conspicuous.

cdg864.bsky.social•10 days ago

That was also the problem with the SCOTUS case about Trump's insurrection dq case. Am14sec3 clearly denies the voters the opportunity to choose an insurrectionist. If they trusted the voters not to, they wouldn't have needed the amendment! The governor has this power for a reason

green496.bsky.social•10 days ago

Adams cheated to win the office (illegal campaign contributions were matched by public funds), so it’s not particularly democratic to leave him in office either.

thamilton007.bsky.social•10 days ago

Couldn't agree more.

jaredhardd.bsky.social•10 days ago

And it isn’t *just* that he’s a corrupt criminal, he’s also openly catering to the corrupt criminal President to the detriment of his own constituents!

gonenonlinear.bsky.social•11 days ago

Not to mention that *she* was elected to carry out certain duties, and she's decided that preventing naked corruption in the NYC government is not one that she should bother with.

tigur.com•10 days ago

I want to see a local executive take this to court because they were committing crimes. Seems reasonable to presume that if the President can do whatever they want as part of their time in office that say a local mayor could apply the same reasoning. Lets see how that goes.

enceladusty.bsky.social•10 days ago

Also don't get how running to keep the job that facilitated your crimes is an excuse to not prosecute.

timrhughes.bsky.social•11 days ago

Can she get recalled or impeached? She sucks.

kencomplain.bsky.social•10 days ago

randchange.bsky.social•10 days ago

Every New Yorker should be calling or visiting Gov. Hochul’s constituency office to let her know if she should get rid of Adams. THAT is very democratic.

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