In a Sunday, January 7 editorial, The Philadelphia Inquirer urges voters to consider ousting three longtime lawmakers this year over their Donald Trump-influenced lack of "integrity."
The newspaper's editorial board calls out the "disgraced" actions of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Pennsylvania's own — US Rep Scott Perry (R), as well as State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), noting "all three" public officials "are up for reelection this year."
"Unfortunately, Mastriano, Perry, and Menendez know nothing about integrity," the board emphasizes, and "voters should keep that in mind."
Despite the fact Menendez was "charged with taking bribes in return for using his power to benefit foreign governments" in September — and just last week — indicted again on charges alleging he abused "his office to help a New Jersey developer obtain millions of dollars in investment from a fund with ties to the government of Qatar" — the senator says he's "not going anywhere."
The board writes:
Perry defied a subpoena from colleagues in the House that investigated events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. The final House reportmentions Perry 22 times and referred him to the Ethics Committee.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) said Perry sought a pardon from Trump during his final days in office, which Perry denied. FBI agents seized Perry’s telephone, though the congressman said he was not a target of any federal investigation
"Mastriano spread false information about vote totals in Pennsylvania, though like Perry, Mastriano did not challenge the votes regarding his state Senate race. Mastriano used campaign funds to bus protesters to Washington and marched to the Capitol with insurrectionists," the editors note, adding there's "nothing more egregious than a public official participating in a plot to overturn a presidential election."
"None of them have any business serving in a government the authorities say they worked to subvert. Yet, despite allegations that they abused their office, each man continues to pocket their six-figure, taxpayer-funded salaries," the editors emphasizes. "There was a time when disgraced elected officials would at least resign for the sake of the institution and the public they served. But instead, taxpayers are stuck for now."
Read the full editorial here.
