Last modified on December 13, 2021, at 16:43

Patrick Leahy

Patrick Leahy
Leahy.jpg
Senior U.S. Senator from Vermont
From: January 3, 1975 – present
Predecessor George Aiken
Successor Incumbent (no successor)
Information
Party Democrat
Spouse(s) Marcelle Pomerleau
Religion Roman Catholic

Patrick Joseph Leahy (born March 31, 1940) is the Democrat senior senator from Vermont. He is the former chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, current chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee[1] and has served in the Senate since 1975. He is a prominent figure of the political Establishment, having been in Washington for decades, like Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi. This is especially given by the fact that he's received hundreds of thousands of dollars from major firms, with less than 2% of his campaign finances coming from indiviudals.[2]

Background

Leahy was born on March 31, 1940 to Howard and Alba Leahy in Montpelier, Vermont. He attended Saint Michael's High School until 1957, entering Saint Michael's College afterwards, from where he received a B.A. in 1961.[3] Leahy descends from 19th century Irish immigrants (far nobler than the illegals he supports nowadays) who went to work in Vermont granite mines.[4]

Early career

Leahy has been in the Establishment for almost his entire life. After graduating from Georgetown University in 1964, he was admitted to the Vermont bar, and to the DC bar in 1979. He began practicing before the federal court system in 1965.[3] He became a successful lawyer, becoming an ally of Governor of Vermont Phillip Hoff. Hoff would give his crony the position of Chittenden County State Attorney in 1966.[5] Leahy was involved in the prosecution of crooked Vermont cop Paul Lawrence, whose behavior exposed Vermont's faulty law enforcement system, which Leahy was a part of.[6]

Senate career

Leahy was elected to the Senate, replacing retiring senator George Aiken after 34 years (seems like his state has a tendency to not be able to elect anyone else), in 1974. Leahy's campaign coincided with the Watergate scandal, and he stated during a campaign rally that he would "reverse the 'frustration and disillusionment' many felt in government..." and would bring a "fresh, new approach" to governance.[7] Of course, Leahy would soon become a swamp monster himself, switching gears in recent years and believing that politicians should have a steady hand at the wheel, versed in the ways of Washington.

Somewhat redeemingly, however, Leahy has opposed the authoritarian Patriot Act.[8] He worked with libertarian Senator Rand Paul in 2011 to amend certain sections of it. In doing so, Leahy opposed fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein who claimed "the three expiring provisions [the one's opposed by Paul and Leahy] were essential to protecting the United States." Leahy is also opposed to the death penalty, and has sponsored (sometimes bipartisan) legislation to reform the criminal justice system in the U.S.[9][10]

Leahy has, however, been all over the place on other key issues, take gun control for example. Leahy stated, in regards to D.C. v. Heller, that "the Supreme Court held the Second Amendment guarantees to Americans the individual right to keep and bear arms. I am a gun owner, as are many people in Vermont, and I agreed with the Heller decision."[11] He also supported allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains,[12] and opposed foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership.[13] Nonetheless, Leahy voted yes on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets[14] and voted no on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.[15]

Leahy was made presiding officer of the second impeachment trial of private citizen Donald Trump in 2021.[16] The Constitution proscribes that all impeachment trials be presided over by the Chief Justice. Justice Roberts' refusal to attend[17] and the riddled-with-errors prosecution[18] all add to the veracity that the impeachment was a show trial.

ACORN

After countless stories of election fraud by the group ACORN, Patrick Leahy was one of seven Democrats that voted to continue funding ACORN. The vote failed and ACORN was stripped of funding in the Senate [19] Bill Wilson of Americans for Limited Government said, "The ACORN Housing Corporation has long been pushing the very loose-lending policies that helped destroy the housing industry. And now it has been exposed for working with prostitutes, as well. Yet, these seven Senators [Leahy] have knowingly voted to keep sending taxpayer money to a highly corrupt organization of pushers and pimps," [20]

Acting

Leahy has appeared in three Batman films: The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight and Batman & Robin.

External links

References

  1. ↑ "About Chairman Leahy.".
  2. ↑ "Sen. Patrick Leahy - Campaign Finance Summary.".
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 (2001) Official Congressional Directory. ISBN 9780160509834. 
  4. ↑ https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31767381
  5. ↑ Leahy Sworn in as State's Atty. (May 10, 1966).
  6. ↑ (2003) The Vermont Encyclopedia. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. ISBN 978-1-58465-086-7. 
  7. ↑ "Forty-Two Years a Senator: Has Leahy Served Long Enough?" (October 12, 2016).
  8. ↑ "Leahy, Paul Team Up To Stop Provisions Of The PATRIOT Act." (May 23, 2011).
  9. ↑ "Innocence Protection Act of 2002." (March 7, 2001).
  10. ↑ "Rand Paul revives mandatory sentencing reform bill." (February 4, 2015).
  11. ↑ "'Heller case established a fundamental individual right.' - Patrick Leahy".
  12. ↑ "Senate votes on 2009-S145." (Apr 2, 2009).
  13. ↑ "Senate votes on 2007-S321." (September 6, 2007).
  14. ↑ "Senate votes on 2013-SV103." (April 17, 2013).
  15. ↑ "Senate votes on 2005-S219." (July 29, 2005).
  16. ↑ "Leahy, presiding over Trump impeachment in Senate, vows to conduct trial 'with fairness to all'." (February 10, 2021).
  17. ↑ "John Roberts’ refusal to sit for Trump impeachment sparks constitutional concerns." (January 27, 2021).
  18. ↑ "TRUMP ACQUITTED! TOP 3 LIES FROM THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL" (February 15, 2021).
  19. ↑ Senate denies ACORN funding, Politico, September 14, 2009
  20. ↑ ALG Condemns 7 Senators,Politico Mafioso, September 16, 2009