Posted by Frank James at 5:00 p.m. CDT
After reading the Swamp posting on Brian Doyle, the DHS deputy press secretary arrested on charges of preying on a minor, commenter Tom wrote that he had seen a mention on thinkprogress.org of another Homeland Security Dept. official who had engaged in lewd conduct with a minor.
Thanks, Tom, for reminding me of that incident which I had frankly forgotten. The incident he's referring to involved Frank Figueroa who last October was relieved of his post as head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Tampa, Fla.
Figueroa once headed the Operation Predator program which pursues sexual predators, especially those who prey on children. He was arrested in Orlando last October after exposing himself to a teenaged girl in a shopping mall food court. The Tampa Tribune had a story around the time of the incident.
So the Doyle incident isn't the first of its kind to hit Homeland Security. And whereas Doyle was a press secretary, Figeroa was a line law-enforcement manager, which makes his alleged transgression even more breathtaking.
The Tampa Tribune reported today that Figueroa pleaded no contest to the charges against him which will allow the court to sentence him without a trial which the Tribune reports was to have started tomorrow.
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Comments
How come the Brian Doyle case gets national front page media coverage, but this Figueroa case is buried below the fold? This is just as, if not more disturbing.
Posted by: Tim | April 5, 2006 11:14 PM
I can think of a much more important official in charge of the nation's security, who pled guilty to lying to a grand jury. These allegations against low level bureaucrats are nothing compared to the conviction of President Clinton--yet I have never seen a Tribune reporter describe Clinton's guilty plea as "breathtaking".
Posted by: Bruce | April 6, 2006 7:41 AM
For God's sake, Bruce, you are the one who is "breathtaking"! You're going to equate a top Homeland Security official soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl (a current issue, by the way) with Clinton's indiscretions with a 21-year-old intern eight years ago?? What age group do you teach? Are the parents of your students aware of your views? If some author created you as a fictional character, the work would be slammed as completely unrealistic!
Posted by: Dienne | April 6, 2006 11:07 AM
HEY BRUCE SHUT UP !!!!!!!!!!
I find it hard to belive this paper will still print the stupidest things that come off your keyboard. You have to be the biggest moron in the world to think you can still blame every political problem on the Clinton's.
Posted by: Rory M | April 6, 2006 11:28 AM
Yet another example of Bruce's one-sided hypocrisy. One might interpolate that molesting children is just fine by Bruce (a teacher -- somewhat disturbing), just so long as it's a Republican who's doing the molesting.
Bruce has been harping for a month on wanting to have Clinton censured, years after he's out of office, and does not seem to realize that the window of opportunity for that is somewhat past. Or perhaps it's just desparation as he watches Fuhrer Bush drown in his incompetence and dishonesty. Whatever.
Posted by: John | April 6, 2006 11:41 AM
Bruce - get over yourself. Can we deal with issues that are happening NOW. I could care less what political party these creeps belong to, their actions are horrendous and criminal and they should face the consequenses, just like Clinton or anyone else.
Posted by: Andrea | April 6, 2006 1:16 PM
By the way, Bruce, repeat after me: Clinton was impeached, he was tried, and he was ACQUITED!
Posted by: Dienne | April 7, 2006 8:49 AM