All articles tagged with #political corruption
In Purcellville, Virginia, a clash between a growth-friendly faction and residents wary of rapid change has fractured the town. A recall targets four council members including the mayor, while lawsuits and felony charges accompany a broader fight over development and governance, sparking tense public meetings and a microcosm of national-style political divides.
South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol allegedly plotted to impose martial law to eliminate rivals and consolidate power, with investigations revealing plans to incite military provocations against North Korea and manipulate political institutions, leading to his impeachment and ongoing legal proceedings.
President Donald Trump announced he will pardon Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar, who was charged with accepting bribes and other crimes, claiming the charges were politically motivated. Cuellar, a moderate Democrat from Texas, maintains his innocence and recently filed for re-election. The case involves allegations of foreign influence and money laundering, but Trump has expressed support, suggesting Cuellar was targeted for speaking out on immigration issues. This is part of Trump's broader pattern of issuing pardons for various political and financial crimes.
Nepal's Gen Z protesters successfully brought down the government within 48 hours through mass protests that turned violent, resulting in 72 deaths and significant destruction, driven by anger over political corruption, inequality, and resource exploitation, marking a political awakening for Nepal's youth despite the heavy toll.
Former California Assembly Press Secretary Cynthia Moreno filed a lawsuit accusing Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas of retaliation, political corruption, and violating laws after she reported unethical conduct involving Rivas and his brother Rick, including misuse of funds and influence peddling, leading to her firing and allegations of broader illegal activities.
Ecuador's youngest mayor, 27-year-old Brigitte García, was found shot dead in a rental car along with her communications director, Jairo Loor, in what police believe to be a criminal action. The incident has prompted a national outcry, with former President Rafael Correa expressing disbelief and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Government vowing to use all force of the State to bring the perpetrators to justice. The country has been grappling with a surge in violence at the hands of armed gangs, leading to a state of emergency declaration in January. García, a member of the left-wing Citizen Revolution Party, had been working on a clean drinking water project for her city.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warns of the risk of not seizing former President Trump's assets as he faces a deadline to post a bond in his New York fraud case, emphasizing that all people should be treated equally under the law. Trump's lawyers claim it's "impossible" for him to secure the full appeals bond due to lack of cash, while Ocasio-Cortez points to the potential for political corruption and urges equal treatment under the law.
Two mayoral candidates in Maravatío, Mexico, were shot dead within hours of each other, raising concerns about the upcoming national elections being the most violent in the country's history. The killings are believed to be linked to organized crime, with drug cartels exerting influence over local politics. The violence has instilled fear and powerlessness among residents, leading to doubts about the effectiveness of voting and the impact on democracy at the local level.
Candidates running in Indonesia's regional legislative council elections are struggling with the high costs of campaigning, with some resorting to selling their kidneys to fund their political campaigns. Despite vote buying being illegal under Indonesian law, it remains pervasive, with candidates estimating they need significant amounts of money to secure votes. The high cost of campaigning has led some candidates to try crowdfunding, but with limited success. The practice of vote buying is attributed to the change in the voting system and the mentality of candidates wanting to win at any cost.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie taunts Donald Trump after the former president called for him to drop out of the Republican presidential race. Christie claims to be living "rent-free" in Trump's head and says Trump can't stand when someone credible criticizes him. Christie highlights his successful track record as a U.S. attorney and suggests that Trump should consider dropping out of the race due to his upcoming federal election interference trial. Despite polling behind other candidates, Trump continues to focus his attention on Christie, who was once a close ally but turned into a critic after Trump's presidency.
The Texas House of Representatives will vote on a resolution to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has been accused of constitutional bribery, obstruction of justice, disregard of official duty, and misapplication of public resources. The proceedings could take at least four hours, with opening and closing statements from the committee and time reserved for proponents and opponents of the resolution. Paxton has denied all allegations of misconduct.
JPMorgan Chase has alleged that Jeffrey Epstein paid school tuition for the children of the then-governor of the US Virgin Islands, John de Jongh Jr, and offered to fund his defense in a criminal case. Epstein also gave top officials in the territory money, advice, and favors as they looked the other way when he trafficked young women there. The allegations were made in a filing in US District Court in Manhattan as part of JPMorgan's defense of a civil lawsuit by the US Virgin Islands alleging the bank facilitated Epstein's sex trafficking of young women.
Pras Michél, a former member of the Fugees, is on trial for illegally funneling $2 million in stolen foreign money into a U.S. presidential campaign and scheming to quash an FBI investigation of the corrupt Malaysian financier who supplied the cash. Michél is accused of enlisting straw donors to contribute the $2 million in permissible increments to the Obama campaign, without the campaign knowing the money’s actual source. Michél has pleaded not guilty to a 12-count indictment accusing him of money laundering, campaign-finance violations, acting as an unregistered agent for foreign nationals, witness tampering and lying to banks.