All articles tagged with #public office
Kamala Harris announced she is taking a break from political office to travel and connect with Americans as a private citizen, citing the broken state of the political system. She discussed her upcoming memoir about her presidential campaign and her reflections on her political career during an interview with Stephen Colbert.
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder faces new charges in state court, including theft in office, aggravated theft, telecommunications fraud, money laundering, and tampering with records, which could permanently disqualify him from holding public office. The charges stem from a pay-to-play scandal involving Akron-based FirstEnergy and a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants. Householder is also accused of using $750,000 from his campaign account for his criminal defense and failing to accurately report his finances on ethics forms. He has been convicted in a federal racketeering conspiracy case and is appealing the conviction. Two former FirstEnergy executives and an ex-Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman have also been charged in connection with the scandal.
Michelle Mone, the businesswoman and member of the House of Lords, has apologized for lying about her involvement in a company that won £200m worth of contracts during the pandemic. Mone and her husband, Douglas Barrowman, banked around £65m in profit from the contracts. Despite the apology, Mone and Barrowman deflect blame onto others and deny any wrongdoing. However, their repeated lies should disqualify Mone from public office, and her attempts to suppress the truth through legal means are deeply concerning. The National Crime Agency is currently investigating allegations of fraud and bribery related to the contracts.
Former Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas has been sentenced to 42 months in prison by a federal judge for his involvement in a corruption scheme. Ridley-Thomas, who was convicted of seven felonies including bribery and conspiracy, had requested probation instead of prison time. The judge, however, emphasized the seriousness of public corruption and the need for consequences. Ridley-Thomas was fined $30,000 and will be subject to three years of supervised release. The conviction marks a significant downfall for a once-prominent figure in local politics known for advocating for civil rights and racial equity.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has no plans to run for public office, according to a company spokesperson. Dimon had fueled speculation about his political future last week when he said during an interview that pursuing a political career has crossed his mind. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman last week encouraged Dimon to run for president via tweet, describing him as a political centrist who is pro-business and pro-free enterprise.