All articles tagged with #public corruption
Dana Williamson, former chief of staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom, was indicted on federal public corruption charges including conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, following a three-year investigation.
Donald Trump issued pardons to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and aide Cade Cothren, who were convicted of public corruption charges, citing alleged over-prosecution by the Biden-era Justice Department. The pardons are part of a pattern of Trump granting clemency to political allies and figures convicted of public fraud, despite the minor nature of their offenses and the controversy surrounding their cases.
President Donald Trump pardoned former Tennessee House speaker Glen Casada and his aide Cade Cothren, citing over-prosecution for minor charges related to a scheme involving taxpayer-funded mailers, amidst a pattern of controversial clemencies targeting political allies and public figures.
The article discusses President Trump's recent pardons of various public officials convicted of corruption and financial crimes, highlighting a pattern of de-emphasizing public corruption cases during his administration and suggesting political motivations behind these decisions.
The FBI is reexamining three high-profile cases: the 2022 leak of the Supreme Court Dobbs decision, the undetonated pipe bombs near the DNC and RNC in 2021, and a cocaine find at the White House in 2023, aiming to revive investigations and gather new tips.
Elizabeth Gutfahr, former treasurer of Santa Cruz County, Arizona, pleaded guilty to embezzling over $38 million in county funds for personal use, including ranch renovations and car purchases. She admitted to transferring funds to personal accounts and using fake business accounts to conceal the theft. Gutfahr faces up to 35 years in prison and must pay restitution and federal taxes. Her plea highlights the Justice Department's focus on combating public corruption.
New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy signed a law limiting access to government records, sparking criticism from activists who fear it will enable public corruption. The law, aimed at modernizing the Open Public Records Act, allows more government discretion on information release and extends deadlines for fulfilling public records requests.
Former FirstEnergy Corp. CEO Charles Jones, former PUCO Chairman Samuel Randazzo, and former top lobbyist Michael Dowling were booked and released from Summit County Jail after posting 10 percent of $100,000 bond. They are to be arraigned on public corruption charges in Summit County Common Pleas Court. The charges stem from payments made to Randazzo to influence legislation involving a $1.3 billion bailout of nuclear plants. The indicted individuals deny the charges, with their attorneys stating that the allegations are false and not supported by credible evidence.
Three employees from the New York City Department of Health are accused of stealing a total of 131 gift cards worth $4,855, which were purchased with taxpayer money and intended for HIV-prevention programs. The workers, who were still on the city's payroll at the time of their arrest, allegedly used the gift cards for personal purchases, including pizza, iTunes, and Amazon. The employees have been charged with grand larceny and official misconduct, and if convicted, could face up to four years in prison.
Former Michigan House speaker, Rick Johnson, has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes as he led a state board with the power to decide which businesses got into the burgeoning marijuana market first. Johnson faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He is the most prominent figure charged so far in the largest public corruption case in the state capital in the last 30 years. Johnson received at least $110,200 in cash payments and other benefits from businesses seeking medical marijuana licenses and lobbyists who represented them.
Three members of the Omaha City Council have requested a resolution removing Vinny Palermo as vice president following his indictment in a federal conspiracy to defraud taxpayers and donors to the Latino Peace Officer's Association and Omaha’s Police Athletics for Community Engagement program. If passed, the council could chart a path to remove Palermo as vice president, although his term as a councilmember representing District 4 is through 2025. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has also called for Palermo's resignation.