2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumFederal Investigation of Romney
Mitt Romney may have committed a serious crime.
There's substantial evidence that Romney may have broken the law by lying to the American people about when he left Bain Capital on an official candidate disclosure form.
That's why today, as reported in The Boston Globe, MoveOn is delivering a formal legal memo to the Department of Justice, along with a request for them to investigate.1
Because if Romney did break the law, his entire candidacy could be called into question. This calls for a federal investigation.
With absentee ballots out and early voting already underway, it's important that every American knows the truth as soon as possibleso we need to make sure that the Department of Justice gets to the bottom of this. And that will take a big public push.
Can you call the Department of Justice? Tell them: "There is substantial evidence that Mitt Romney committed a crime when he lied to the American people about his involvement with Bain. Please investigate."
Department of Justice
(202) 353-1555
Then click here to report your call.
On August 12, 2011, Romney filed his Public Financial Disclosure Report as presidential candidates are required to do by law. This requirement exists so that the American people know some basic, important truths about the people asking for their vote. Romney's report states that:
Since February 11, 1999, Mr. Romney has not had any active role with any Bain Capital entity and has not been involved in the operations of any Bain Capital entity in any way.2
But public filings confirm that Romney continued, after February 1999, to hold key responsibilities with Bain Capital. That means Romney may have knowingly lied in his public disclosures.3 If that proved to be the case, Romney could be charged with violating the False Statements Acta serious crime for anyone, but especially for a presidential candidate.4
And we're doing what no one else hasproviding a formal legal analysis and delivering it to the authorities. Now we need a strong public demand for an investigation to make it happen. Here's where to call:
Department of Justice
(202) 353-1555
Then click here to report your call.
Thanks for all you do.
Justin, Carrie, Stefanie, Susannah, and the rest of the team
P.S. For more details, read the full memo MoveOn delivered to the Department of Justice today by clicking here.
Sources:
1. "Group seeks US inquiry of Romney's filing on Bain," The Boston Globe, September 27, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=281636&id=53014-10172093-eUpRHdx&t=5
2. "Did Romney Make a False Statement on His Financial Disclosure?" Mother Jones, July 13, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=281613&id=53014-10172093-eUpRHdx&t=6
3. "Mitt Romney stayed at Bain 3 years longer than he stated," The Boston Globe, July 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277303&id=53014-10172093-eUpRHdx&t=7
4. "18 USC § 1001Statements or entries generally," Cornell University Law School
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=281614&id=53014-10172093-eUpRHdx&t=8
teddy51
(3,491 posts)properly investigate a Republican Presidential candidate without some serious kickback about bias? ugh
The only way I see this going forward is a Special Prosecutor being hired that is agreed on by both Republicans and Democrats.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)not disclosing details of sexual behavior. They (congress) had ZERO problems with it and the American public lapped it up like pigs at the trough.
This (r0mney's deceit) is a clear misrepresentation. I don't see how anyone could equivocate about pursuing this.
teddy51
(3,491 posts)back down. You tell me the Liberals that will carry this off!
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates to an offense under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591, then the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that partys counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that proceeding.
(c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to
(1) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or
(2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate.
18 USC § 1001 - Statements or entries generally
teddy51
(3,491 posts)He has not brought charges against any of GW Bush minions, he has not reopened the 911 investigation (even though it was absolute BS), and how many other things has he missed on?
robinlynne
(15,481 posts)fraud.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)teddy51
(3,491 posts)Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)At least moveon is trying to do something
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)robinlynne
(15,481 posts)caseymoz
(5,763 posts)Justice will drag it's feet till then. It wants to avoid the political fallout if at all possible.
Good news is, I think they'll move on it on the day after the election even if Romney's elected. Bad news is, if Romney's elected and they move on it, that means Ryan will be President.
kimbutgar
(21,177 posts)Best yet to get him after the election. Shame him real good.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)he can't get away with this
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)jaysunb
(11,856 posts)but this has been out there for a while, maybe it's another, "make me do it," moment.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)Festivito
(13,452 posts)'cause he's a Resmuglican.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)what would we end up with if he's found guilty?
Which lie would they go with, he's told so many stories about when he quit.
salinen
(7,288 posts)darth cheney had no problems lying about Halliburton.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)robinlynne
(15,481 posts)i feel we should all be focusing on congress and senate....
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)robinlynne
(15,481 posts)Loudestlib
(980 posts)I'd rather beat him in a legitimate race. People don't accept Obama as it is.
Romney is in such bad shape they should just drop this.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)I knew this would become a federal case.
Romney might beat every Republican prior by having a scandal that brings him down before he's in the White House.
former9thward
(32,066 posts)It is a petition by MoveOn. No one will pay any attention to it no matter who is elected in November.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)It's not like Romney is going to have any friends in the Republican Party after he loses the election. They might be sore losers.
Do you think Justice is simply going to shrink from this case? That the Obama Administration doesn't want to make more enemies, or that there's some larger understanding between the two parties?
former9thward
(32,066 posts)And they say it is 1) common to be listed on official paperwork for some time after leaving a company and if anything 2) is a petty paperwork violation at best that no prosecutor would bother with. One of these was a Security and Exchange official who said it was not an issue. Both the Washington Post and Factcheck.org investigated the matter and said the claim that Romney lied was "Three Pinocchios"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/do-bain-sec-documents-suggest-mitt-romney-is-a-criminal/2012/07/12/gJQAlyPpgW_blog.html
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)at the end of any government paper I've ever signed, any private contract I've signed to vouch for my honesty, which all say "by the penalty of perjury" don't really mean it? They'd all just be "petty paperwork violations?"
I'm not arguing against you, I'm just incredulous.
Somehow I think the consequences for me would be far more dire if I regarded government forms that way when I signed them. So, we should look at anything a CEO signs under such penalties as being perhaps true? It makes a joke out of Sorbaines-Oxley. I now wonder what corporations could have been complaining about.
And companies are allowed to be so sloppy that they can misrepresent who runs them on official papers? Are we running banana republic now?
former9thward
(32,066 posts)When I was in law school I interned at the local U.S. Attorney's office financial crimes division. That division would not even look at a case unless it involved at least $500,000. That aside Romney never even signed these forms, investigations by the link I provided showed others did.
Politics aside I don't see a violation here, civil or criminal, but even if there was one and even if Romney was clearly responsible the public would not tolerate a prosecution. Many people on sites like DU would be happy but we are not representative of the American people. The average American would view it as pure political revenge and it would not go forward.
Response to former9thward (Reply #40)
caseymoz This message was self-deleted by its author.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)former9thward
(32,066 posts)See the post above yours with a link to independent investigators.
Response to Rosa Luxemburg (Original post)
guyton This message was self-deleted by its author.
NCLefty
(3,678 posts)donco
(1,548 posts)this on the back burner until after the election.Gives us something to chew on until the mid terms.