The allegation is bribery. Did House Representatives take bribes to vote in a certain favor?
We have a photograph and admissions that checks were distributed on the House floor. But bribery?
We can easily review WY SOS filings to find that many legislators have taken campaign funding near and during past sessions.
Proving bribery requires accusers to show, beyond doubt, that money was exchanged with the intent to sway actions.
Does anyone really believe that this happened? It seems many are claiming so.
But I find it questionable that they truly believe the full extent of the accusations. This whole situation stinks of political exploitation. I would posit that we find ourselves exactly there.
The flames of this barn-fire are being fanned with gusto in attempt to sway opinion and muddy the very waters which could extinguish them.
Unsurprisingly, the left has developed high moral clarity over night. Finger wagging and tongue lashings abound, and of course, there are calls for criminal investigation.
We expect an emotional response from this group; that’s a staple modus operandi, Leftism 101.
But unexpected is the response from the right. We’re seeing much of the same behavior.
A photo is worth 1000 words? Well, this photo seems to be worth a lot more than that!
I’m saddened by the abandonment of the presumption of innocence before guilt has been proven (or even examined.)
One may not like the look of an elected officer taking money during session. That’s fine, and it’s your free opinion.
The late, great Rush Limbaugh used to say that when the left makes a mistake they circle the wagons to protect their own. Full stop.
But when the right makes a mistake, they circle the firing squad. Sadly, we are witnessing just that. In many cases those on the right have abandoned basic principles (innocent until proven guilty) for the prioritization of other virtues.
My take on this? We’ve taken the bait. The bandwagon is full but more are piling on.
Maybe one doesn’t want to be “stained” with the appearance of impropriety. Heaven forbid we offer grace to someone we historically know to be an honest, principled individual.
Seemingly many can’t wait to rid themselves of something that, they’ve been lead to believe, smells bad, and they’ve further dredged up the muck.
The stink that remains didn’t come from the initial alleged event, but from the swamp mud bought from the left and then slung from the right.
This is nothing more than an attempt to make political hay. Goodness, we’ve got a barn-full! And it’s hijacked our session.
We should be having budget debates and advancing needed legislation, but instead this has become the perfect filibuster opportunity for the left to both advance their narrative and hold off real work being done.
I’m frustrated that so many have allowed the emotion of the day cloud their good judgment.
This is not to say one needs to defend or even agree with those in the ring of fire. But must we pull out the firing squad before the dust has even settled?
Few know more details than what can be read in the local rag, and yet so many seem poised to pull the trigger.
Conservatives in WY want honesty. We want transparency. I believe we can still have those things, if cool heads can be allowed to prevail.
Let us not, as Thomas Sowell put it, be “counterproductive for those we claim to be helping and [damage] the fabric of society as a whole.”
I would substitute “WYOMING” for his use of “society”.
May we assume innocence until guilt is proven. May we continue to pursue truth.
May we see Wyoming through the smoke of this political performance and not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
I stand with our House conservatives and pray for the future of our state.
Former Rep. Sarah Penn,
Penn represented House District 33 from 2023-2024
