ch: 2006

John Sweeney: Sweatshops in New York Worse Than Marianas

Republican Rep. John Sweeney, in a tough re-election fight against Dem Kirsten Gillibrand, is getting hit for his ties to convicted felon Jack Abramoff and a trip he took which violated Congressional rules:

U.S. Rep. John Sweeney may have violated congressional ethics rules by failing to reveal who paid for a trip he took to a Pacific island with a lobbyist hired by convicted Washington influence peddler Jack Abramoff. [...] The Saipan Chamber of Commerce says it paid for Sweeney’s visit, but Sweeney never reported any privately funded travel as House rules require. Those rules prohibit lobbyist-paid travel.

Why was Sweeney there? Among other things, to defend the Marianas sweatshops. Here’s a refresher from ABC News about the conditions that conservatives like Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff sought to protect from government protections:

BRIAN ROSS (VO) Put to work under often grueling conditions, the women are not free to change jobs because of the Saipan loophole. It’s something that would not be legal on the mainland. But under the same loophole in the law, a growing number of women are being brought into staff Saipan’s booming Garapan district, a seedy, sleazy place of nightclubs and karaoke bars, where the customers range from wealthy Japanese businessmen to American sailors to local government officials.

KATRINA (through translator) Once there was a customer that bit my breast. But the boss told us the customer is always right.

BRIAN ROSS (VO) Many of the women who work here are only teenagers. Many under age, like Katrina, not her real name, who was 14 when she was recruited from the Philippines.

KATRINA (through translator) It was my first time to dance naked, and I was ashamed.

BRIAN ROSS (VO) Katrina told federal investigators that she signed this official Saipan government affidavit, thinking she was going to be a waitress and ended up forced into live sex acts on stage.

Sweeney’s reaction? “Sweeney was quoted in the Saipan Tribune on Jan. 15 as saying reports of poor working conditions in the CNMI were overblown, and that he had seen worse sweatshops back home in New York.”

Amazing.