Remember former Chicago Representative Mel Reynolds? If you recall, he resigned from his congressional seat in 1995 after he was convicted of 12 counts of statutory rape, obstruction of justice and solicitation of child pornography. Well, he is back in the news after an arrest in Zimbabwe. You guessed it. He is charged with allegedly possessing pornographic material and violating immigration laws.
The biggest surprise for me was not that Reynolds was arrested but that he was out of jail. He was convicted of sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer. In a story all too familiar, he was reelected to his Chicago seat despite the criminal charges — as was the case with Jesse Jackson Jr. In an indictment of the voters, both men came from the same district. Jackson replaced Reynolds and then after Jackson was convicted, Reynolds tried to get the seat back under a “redemption” campaign. The blind loyalty shown by voters to these two men was a disgrace that cost millions in special elections.
While he was convicted on 12 counts, he was given only five years in 1995 and only went to prison until 1998. However, in April 1997, he was convicted on 15 unrelated counts of bank fraud and lying to SEC investigators. He was looking at the full sentence on the first conviction plus an additional sentence of 78 months in federal prison. That is when President Bill Clinton stepped in. While Clinton has worked hard to get people to forget his scandals in office, his abuse of the pardon powers from friends like Marc Rich is hard to forget. Less known but equally outrageous was his commutation of Reynolds who showed an utter contempt for the law and a sense of total impunity. However, Clinton stepped in to set him free.
He ended up in Zimbabwe and arrested again. He had racked up hotel bills worth $24,500 by the time he was arrested. He has been in the country helping the corrupt government of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to avoid sanctions. Now there is an image. A former felon and disgraced congressman fighting international sanctions against one of the most abusive and corrupt leaders in the world.
Perhaps Clinton can write him a letter of support.
Mel must have pissed off Mugabe if he was allowed to be arrested. Maybe Club Zimbabwe will be more enjoyable to Mr. Reynolds.
I guess he might have wanted a career change after his residency at Club Fed. What a better way to start on a new profession, as a well paid intern under Robert Mugabe. Mel can learn from the best and shows much promise to be a shining star of corruption, one who can benefit so few world wide.
Wayne, Yeah, a US Federal Prison is looking like Nirvana right now.
Being arrested in Zimbabwe must be an interesting experience. Wonder how the food is?
Criminals always prey on their own people.
To make it to the top a President, any President has to lie, cheat, steal, eat, bite, f*^k, suck, gobble, nibble, chew. Our only choice is that we get a capable man in the White House. So far, that has only been possible with the Democrats.
McCain brought us Sarah Palin. Mitt’s idea of responsibility is that the $10,000,000 he gives to his son to start out in life is not squandered, how biblical. Bush, well enough said, a C-, captain of the cheerleaders, member of the skull and bones club, silver spoon, financial failure, the one who the old guard saw coming and told, he was presidential material.
So, don’t worry about a few arrogant moves by Clinton and Obama. They are both self made, intelligent, and capable. Complain all you want. But, take a good look at the alternative. It is what it is.
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Will someone tell me what Issac is saying regarding this issue ? Our only choice is that we get a capable man in the White House. So far, that has only been possible with the Democrats. Is that a left field comment or what is its significant & demonstrable bearing to this Ivy League person will funded malversation ?
Mugabe makes his reform about “empowering black Zimbabweans”, under the cover of sticking it to the white minority. In reality, it is really just a system that empowers a few close cronies, to the detriment of the majority of black Zimbabweans. Sounds like a number of recently jailed DC council members
Issac says: “don’t worry about a few arrogant moves by Clinton and Obama. They are both self made, intelligent, and capable. ”
Both Clinton and Obama owe their success to The Company. Neither man is/was “self made”.
Sounds like he is being used as a fall guy …. as a scapegoat….. not a man to like… but what exactly did he do that was so bad ?
Isaac, Thanks for reinforcing why I HATE the duopoly. The motto of BOTH parties is, “We may suck, but we don’t suck as bad as those other guys.” You just said that in many more words.
You left out the part about the big Obama campaign bundler from Chicago for whom Reynolds was working in Zimbabwe–Elzie Higginbottom.
http://mg.co.za/article/2013-06-27-00-obama-fundraiser-digs-for-deals
He has been in the country helping the corrupt government of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to avoid sanctions. -Jonathan Turley
And, according to some reports:
“Before his arrest, Reynolds had gained prominence in Zimbabwe for being involved in attracting investment for the $145 million construction of a Hilton Hotel and office complex in Harare, reported The Herald. Construction is expected to begin in April and be finished in last 2016, said the newspaper.” (sic)
“He toured the construction site back then in the company of government ministers Walter Mzembi, Webster Shamu and Ignatius Chombo, and businessman Mr Farai Jere,” according to the paper.
http://www.suntimes.com/25668263-418/former-us-rep-mel-reynolds-arrested-in-zimbabwe.html
So, you get your choice, an idiot straw man who is used by a political machine to further special interests-cost a million dead around the world, or a slick dude with libido control problems-cost a million dead in Rwanda (By his own admission on TV Clinton said that his big regret was not sending in 10,000 Marines to prevent the bloodshed. This is only one move that would have stopped bloodshed. The biggest move would have been for the Belgians to have stayed and stopped the slaughter, seeing that their country is responsible for setting the whole chaos in motion. They were one of the first to leave.).
To make it to the top a President, any President has to lie, cheat, steal, eat, bite, f*^k, suck, gobble, nibble, chew. Our only choice is that we get a capable man in the White House. So far, that has only been possible with the Democrats.
McCain brought us Sarah Palin. Mitt’s idea of responsibility is that the $10,000,000 he gives to his son to start out in life is not squandered, how biblical. Bush, well enough said, a C-, captain of the cheerleaders, member of the skull and bones club, silver spoon, financial failure, the one who the old guard saw coming and told, he was presidential material.
So, don’t worry about a few arrogant moves by Clinton and Obama. They are both self made, intelligent, and capable. Complain all you want. But, take a good look at the alternative. It is what it is.
Chicagoans take perverse pride in their corrupt politicians. Now they have a pervert politician to be proud of.
What a sicko Reynolds is.
At first I was outraged not knowing more about the guy, but sometimes disparate things just come together right.
A serial offender like this, and a stupid one at that, needs some Zimbabwe justice.
White privilege is responsible I am sure…..
They can keep him in Zimbabwe!
What a crook