January 14, 2011

Bye Bye, Silvio

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Now this is a corruption probe:

Silvio Berlusconi has been formally placed under investigation on suspicion of paying for sex with a 17-year old girl, according to a statement issued today by prosecutors in Milan.

He was further accused of abusing his position as Italy’s prime minister by bringing pressure to bear on the police to cover up his alleged relationship with the girl, who was working as a prostitute. The two alleged offences carry sentences totalling 15 years in jail.

I can hardly think of a politician more deserving of 15 years in the hole than Berlusconi. I keep thinking that it’s too bad Darrell Issa doesn’t live in Italy. He’d have some real meat to work with instead of having to continually try to manufacture idiocies against one of the most squeaky clean presidents of modern times.

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Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do. That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

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