California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked Trump border czar Tom Homan over a new California law requiring ICE agents to be maskless, while Homan responded with a dismissive remark. The controversy is intertwined with allegations of Homan accepting $50,000 from FBI agents posing as business executives, leading to investigations into the Justice Department's handling of the case. Newsom's law and the allegations have sparked political tensions and responses from the White House and law enforcement.
The Justice Department closed an investigation into Tom Homan, a former border czar under Trump, who was recorded accepting $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents in 2024, amid allegations of potential bribery related to border security contracts, but the case was ultimately shut down by Trump administration officials.
Border czar Tom Homan was investigated by the DOJ for potential bribery related to contract awards, but authorities found no credible evidence of wrongdoing, and the investigation was closed. The White House dismissed the probe as politically motivated.
Argentina's President Javier Milei is embroiled in a major corruption scandal involving his sister Karina, who is accused of receiving kickbacks from government contracts related to disability medicine, with investigations and political repercussions intensifying ahead of upcoming elections.
Bribery allegations against Adani Group founder Gautam Adani highlight challenges in India's renewable energy sector, particularly in securing buyers for solar and wind power. Despite India's push to increase renewable capacity, state-owned power distribution companies are slow to adopt clean energy due to infrastructure and reliability concerns. The situation is exacerbated by changes in tender processes and a lack of state-guaranteed Power Purchase Agreements, leading to delays and potential financial difficulties for renewable projects.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and his wife face new obstruction of justice charges in addition to existing corruption charges, with prosecutors alleging that Menendez was aware of bribe payments made to his wife by businessmen. Menendez has maintained his innocence, stating that the payments were loans, and a trial is scheduled for May 6 in Manhattan federal court. The indictment also implicates businessman Wael Hana and alleges that Menendez helped a New Jersey businessman seek investment from a Qatari company with ties to the Middle Eastern country's government.
Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, was taken back into custody after being accused of lying about bribery allegations against President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, as well as having links to Russian intelligence. He faces charges of making false statements and creating false records. Prosecutors allege that Smirnov falsely claimed that executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid the Bidens $5 million each in 2015, a claim central to the Republican impeachment inquiry of President Biden. Smirnov's lawyers maintain his innocence, while prosecutors argue that he cannot be trusted to provide truthful information.
Hunter Biden's lawyers accused special counsel David Weiss of using discredited bribery allegations from an FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, to derail his plea deal. They requested additional information about the plea deal and discussions regarding Smirnov's tip. Smirnov, indicted for lying to the FBI about the Bidens' alleged business dealings, was released with conditions including GPS monitoring and surrendering his passports. Hunter Biden's attorneys also filed motions to dismiss tax charges, alleging prosecutorial misconduct and violation of his rights. The judge has scheduled a hearing for March 27 to hear the pretrial motions.
Senator Bob Menendez denied new bribery allegations involving Qatar, claiming "persecution" by the United States Attorney’s Office and urging his colleagues not to rush to judgment. He maintained his innocence and vowed not to resign, arguing that his advocacy for business in New Jersey was part of his senatorial duties. Menendez faces a second superseding indictment alleging he helped a developer obtain investment from a company linked to Qatar. He and his wife have pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and accepting bribes from a foreign government.
Berkshire Hathaway will not be allowed to use allegations of bribery against Jimmy Haslam, owner of the Pilot truck stop chain, in a dispute over accounting practices, according to a Delaware judge. The lawsuit claims that Berkshire used accounting changes to artificially depress the price it would have to pay for the Haslam family's remaining 20% stake in Pilot. The judge ruled that the bribery allegations do not have a direct connection to Pilot's claims and restricted Berkshire's defenses. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors have reportedly launched an investigation based on Berkshire's bribery allegations.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman paid expelled Rep. George Santos $343 for a Cameo video, in which Santos trolls embattled Senator Bob Menendez. Fetterman enlisted Santos' services to encourage Menendez, who is facing legal troubles over bribery allegations. Santos, who recently joined Cameo, charges $200 per video and describes himself as a "Former Congressional Icon!" and "Expelled member of Congress from New York." Fetterman's campaign office paid for the video, which was delivered in just 16 minutes. Menendez has denied the allegations, while Fetterman has been an outspoken critic and called for his resignation. Santos, despite his expulsion, expressed delight over the turn of events.
The Haslam family, including Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam, has refuted bribery allegations made by Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway. Both parties are accusing each other of manipulating Pilot truck stop chain's earnings to affect the price Berkshire would have to pay for the Haslams' remaining 20% stake in the company. The judge will decide whether Berkshire's lawsuit can be heard alongside a trial scheduled for January. Berkshire wants to prevent the Haslams from selling the rest of the company to Berkshire next year due to doubts about the accuracy of Pilot's 2023 earnings.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman has called for New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez to resign following bribery allegations, but other Democratic colleagues have been more cautious. While three Democratic senators criticized Menendez, they did not explicitly call for his resignation. The charges against Menendez include conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services fraud, and extortion. Menendez denies wrongdoing and plans to seek re-election next year. Some Democrats in his home state have called for his resignation, while others believe it is up to Menendez and his constituents to decide his future.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy suggested that the U.S. may be involved in the war in Ukraine due to alleged bribery involving President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. Ramaswamy criticized U.S. foreign policy in Ukraine, claiming that the $5 million payment from Ukrainian energy company Burisma to Hunter Biden was corrupt and may have influenced the U.S.'s stance towards Ukraine. The White House has denied any involvement by the president in his son's business dealings, and a former business associate of Hunter Biden testified that he had no knowledge of the president altering U.S. foreign policy to benefit his son.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy suggests that the U.S. may be involved in the war in Ukraine due to alleged bribery involving President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. Ramaswamy criticizes U.S. foreign policy in Ukraine and questions the $5 million payment from a foreign national to Joe Biden and his family member, which Republicans claim involved Hunter Biden and his position at Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The White House denies any involvement by the president in his son's business dealings. Despite polls showing divided public opinion, the Biden administration and Congress have provided billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022.
