The Taking Of Albany One Senator Two Votes Three Times Under Investigation
Runaway Senator Pedro Espada Grabs Power, Hijacks NY Senate
New York State Senator Pedro Espada, who last Monday stole the presidency of the Senate, only to find himself in a dead-even tie when his under criminal-investigation counterpart Hiram Monserrate flip-flopped back to the Democratic party, yesterday announced, “I can have two votes!” Yes, the most-American idea of one man, one vote, to Pedro Espada, a man under numerous criminal investigations by numerous bodies, has decided that he can re-interpret the rules of the New York State Senate to give himself two (count ’em – TWO) votes; one vote for being a senator, one vote for being the “acting” lieutenant governor. Never, never in the history of this country has one man ever legally had two votes. As a matter of fact, when the president invokes the 14th Amendment, and there is no Vice President, the Speaker of he House has to resign before taking the oath to be the President of the United States temporarily. Perhaps Senator Espada should consider that alternative.
We all know Espada. You knew him as a kid. He’s the neighborhood bully. Unchecked, figured out at an early age that rules only apply if you get caught. Figured out at an early age that most people are too afraid or too busy or too powerless – or think they are – to stop someone who thinks they’re unstoppable. The problem is that this game of his has gone on far too long. And we, the citizens of the Empire State, are paying a dear price. (There’s a joke floating around Twitter right now about Espada: “Senator Palpatine called- he’d like the New York Senate back.” Only, it’s not funny.)
In fact, Espada is playing a game of chicken right now. Instead of saying, “Oh my God, I’m in trouble. I’m being investigated left and right,” Espada is taking the offense and filing a complaint with State Inspector General Joseph Fisch for “prosecutorial misconduct and selective prosecution.” PolitickerNY reports, “Espada hasn’t rebutted any of the charges against him, focusing instead on his record of public service and the fact that his constituents have elected him.” Well, that’s a strategy, and we’ll take a look at Espada’s career of corruption. But this quick note, first:
Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., is the author of the gay rights bill sitting in Albany, awaiting a vote. He claims tirelessly he wants to see a vote on it, calling it his “signature legislation.” I don’t care. I certainly care about marriage equality and about LGBTQ rights. But I care more about good governance and the reputation of the people of New York State than I can about a bill, even a gay rights bill. So, in the interest of good governance and pride in my state, I will continue to work to expose Senator Espada for the fraud and offense to the people he claims to represent, because New York deserves better.
But it’s not just the gay marriage bill that is affected. The New York Times reported yesterday,
“The Assembly has passed dozens of bills in recent weeks that would allow counties to charge additional sales tax. But those bills have been bottled up in the Senate, which has not taken action on a single piece of legislation since June 8.
“That’s the thing that I think is being missed by most people,†said Joanne M. Mahoney, county executive for Onondaga County, which includes Syracuse. “I don’t know if they realize this has very real consequences for us on the local level. This pays for our schools, our public safety. It’s $40 million for our budget.â€
And yes, you absolutely can blame Sneator Espada, more than any other Senator, for this disaster.
So, what’s Senator Espada up against? He’s being accused and/or investigated for the following:
Espada is accused of not living in his district, although he claims he does, and is required to as terms of his being a State Senator. The Bronx DA is investigating. He could lose his Senate seat for this issue alone.
New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating Espada’s use of his Soundview Health Clinic for personal political reasons.
Espada owes more than $60,000 in fines because he refuses to file campaign finance reports. The New York Times notes, “It is not the first time he has run afoul of the State Board of Elections: His 2000 Senate campaign was fined for failing to submit finance reports.”
Speaking of interesting campaign contributions and pandering, Espada is chairman of the Senate Housing Committee. He has effectively squashed a bill that would have cost landlords and the New York housing industry billions of dollars, and saved his constituents and many renters in New York billions of dollars.
And to all this, Espada replies, “They hate me because I’m not perfect.â€
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The House Ethics Committee has reportedly announced that U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is facing a review by the Office of Congressional Conduct.
The origin of the review was not been disclosed. Under committee rules, officials are prohibited from stating whether the matter constitutes a formal investigation or identifying its underlying cause. The Committee only stated that there is a “matter regarding Representative Nancy Mace.”
“The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the Ethics Committee statement reads. It was posted to social media by congressional journalist Jamie Dupree.
The statement also says the committee will “announce its course of action in this matter on or before March 2, 2026.”
Congresswoman Mace is currently running for governor of South Carolina.
Earlier this month Mace warned that Republicans may lose control of the House, saying they have not “done enough” and could “do a lot more” to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda, The Hill reported.
Image via Shutterstock
A prominent Republican lawmaker is vowing to thwart any attempt by President Donald Trump to acquire Greenland through force or financial means.
Speaking from Copenhagen as part of a bipartisan delegation of U.S. congressional lawmakers, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), told reporters it is “an important message for the people of the Kingdom of Denmark to understand” that the United States has “three separate but equal branches” of government.
Reminding them that under the U.S. Constitution it is Congress that controls spending, Senator Murkowski, who has broken ranks and stood up to President Trump at times, said, “In Congress, we have tools at our disposal under our constitutional authority that speaks specifically to the power of the purse through appropriations.”
She noted also that “Congress has a role. Certainly, when it comes to spending authorities, the Congress has a role in basically helping to facilitate the message that comes from our constituents, to be reflected in whether it’s legislation or appropriations, or actions or measures, that can indicate, again, the will of the Congress.”
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The “vast majority” of Americans do not support the acquisition of Greenland, Senator Murkowski added, noting that “some 75 percent will say we do not think that that is a good idea.”
“Greenland needs to be viewed as our ally, not as an asset,” Murkowski also told reporters.
Politico reported that U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) “also took part in the visit by House and Senate lawmakers,” and “said he would push ahead with legislation to curb Trump’s power to act unilaterally.”
He also denied President Trump’s claims that Greenland is necessary to be owned by the U.S. for national security reasons.
“Are there real, pressing threats to the security of Greenland from China and Russia?” Coons said. “No, not today.”
Sen. Murkowski: “When you ask the American people whether or not they think it is a good idea for the United States to acquire Greenland, the vast majority, some 75%, will say, we do not think that that is a good idea. This senator from Alaska does not think it is a good idea.” pic.twitter.com/zfitY31LyF
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) January 16, 2026
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Image via Reuters
Just one day after threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, which would allow him to unleash domestic military forces onto American streets, President Donald Trump once again on Friday hinted he would do so while suggesting he may be “forced” to take action.
Trump targeted Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, claiming they “don’t know what to do” after he deployed roughly 3,000 federal troops to the city.
“In Minnesota,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, “the Troublemakers, Agitators, and Insurrectionists are, in many cases, highly paid professionals.”
“The Governor and Mayor don’t know what to do, they have totally lost control, and our currently being rendered, USELESS! If, and when, I am forced to act, it will be solved, QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY!”
The Guardian labeled Trump’s claims that protesters are paid as baseless.
Attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick wrote: “Note that the Trump admin hasn’t yet been able to produce evidence of a SINGLE ‘paid protestor.’ They’ve had total control of the FBI and the DOJ and ICE HSI and yet despite all of that, they can’t even find ONE person who they can accuse of being paid to protest.”
Separately, The Steady State, a group of over 365 former national security officials, while not referring to Trump’s remarks from Friday morning, noted that the Insurrection Act is “an extraordinary power meant for true emergencies, not a shield for unconstitutional policing. Using it to silence dissent or justify unlawful paramilitary activity at the hand of ICE undermines the rule of law.”
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Image via Reuters
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