Political Scandal News
Coverage of government scandals, corruption, and accountability. The Daily Signal reports on scandals with conservative analysis and commentary.
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Corruption in Brazil Starts at the Top
The former two-term president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, was sentenced July 12 to nearly 10 years in prison. It is the most dramatic chapter to date in the saga of public corruption scandals that has plunged South America’s largest country into political chaos. The crimes for which Lula was found guilty—including money…Charles Busch -
Why Conservatives Put Trust in Trey Gowdy as House’s Corruption Fighter
Conservative leaders say they’re confident the new chairman of a House of Representatives panel that targets corruption will dedicate himself to reviewing executive branch actions, including during the Obama administration. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., assumed the chairmanship of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee after his confirmation Tuesday. He takes the reins from Rep. Jason…Rachel del Guidice -
Senate Committee Launches New Clinton Corruption Investigation
Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has launched a new investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s effort to thwart a Bangladesh government corruption probe of Muhammad Yunus, a Clinton Foundation donor and close friend of the Clintons. The Iowa Republican’s effort is the first new official inquiry of Clinton since her…Richard Pollock -
Trump Fired a VA Official for Corruption. Then the VA Stepped in and Said Not So Fast.
A Department of Veterans Affairs manager fired for corruption the first day of President Donald Trump’s presidency—to rousing acclaim from veterans who heralded it as a sign of lasting reform—has been returned to work by VA officials after he filed a civil-service protections appeal. The return of the Puerto Rico hospital director is the latest example…Luke Rosiak -
What a Tea Party Leader Thinks of Lois Lerner’s Latest Move in Court
One tea party leader is still looking for answers from the IRS. Lawyers for Lois Lerner, who resigned under fire as a division chief at the Internal Revenue Service, argue that more details of her reported targeting of tea party groups should not be revealed because her safety is in danger. But Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of…Rachel del Guidice -
Before Lois Lerner Targeted the Tea Party, She Helped the Clinton Foundation
Six years before she became the central figure in the IRS’ illegal targeting of tea party tax-exemption applicants, Lois Lerner cleared the way for the Clinton Foundation’s transformation from building a presidential library to being a $2 billion global political influence peddling machine, according to documents obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation’s Investigative Group….Mark Tapscott -
House IT Scandal Figure Threatened Kidnappings of Stepmom’s Pakistani Kin
A former congressional information technology (IT) aide allegedly threatened to have his stepmother’s Pakistani relatives kidnapped if she talked to U.S. law enforcement authorities, according to court documents obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation’s (TheDCNF) Investigative Group. “Imran Awan threatened that he is very powerful and if I ever call the police again, [he] will ……Luke Rosiak -
Congressman Says Corruption in Washington Is ‘Worse Than You Think’
Corruption on Capitol Hill is “worse than you think,” Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., insists. “When you first get here, you think that you are in some sort of fairy-tale novel,” Buck said. “They wine and dine you and they show you just exactly what it’s like if you play the game. It’s a wonderful life.” Things…Rachel del Guidice -
From the Car Wash to the Butcher Shop, Corruption Permeates Brazil
For the past three years, a massive (and still unfolding) public corruption scandal known as “Operation “Car Wash” has rocked Brazil. The scandal includes allegations of widespread kickbacks and money laundering schemes connected to construction contracts with the state-owned Petrobras oil company. Now, the country is confronting another major embarrassment. According to The Wall Street Journal,…James M. Roberts -
IRS Policy That Allowed Targeting Is Still in Effect, Watchdog Finds
An obscure bureaucratic policy that allowed IRS officials to target conservative and tea party tax-exemption applicants during the 2010 and 2012 election campaigns is still in place, meaning the same abuses may be continuing, according to a nonprofit government watchdog. The federal tax agency’s policy requires IRS officials to stop processing tax-exempt applications that are “likely…Ethan Barton -
Maryland City Considers Sanctuary Status Amid Immigrant Rape Scandal
Rockville, Maryland, the city home to the recent immigrant high school rape scandal, is considering declaring itself a sanctuary city. Although Rockville police have had a longstanding policy neither to question suspected illegal immigrants about their immigration status, or to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, the city is now considering the process of formalizing that informal…Jonah Bennett -
How Local Citizens Can Take Up the Fight Against Public Corruption
We hear it all the time from politicians: They are finally going to stop the “waste, fraud, and abuse” in government. In states with more corruption, like Pennsylvania, New York, or Illinois, calls to clean up government are frequent as well. The problem is that these promises rarely come to fruition. This week—Sunshine Week—is a…Brandon Muir -
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Ukraine’s Former Top Spy Goes After a New Enemy: Corruption
KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine’s former top security official has gone from tracking down Russian spies to fighting what he perceives to be the country’s greatest threat—corruption. “The question is, are we going to survive or not?” Valentyn Nalyvaichenko told The Daily Signal from his offices in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Nalyvaichenko, 50, is the former head of the…Nolan Peterson -
The Slow March to Rooting Out Corruption in Guinea
Corruption in the small West African nation of Guinea is pervasive. Bribery is an everyday reality, and it is often the key to securing lucrative contracts and business licenses. It should come as no surprise, then, that the vast majority of Guineans live in poverty, despite the country being rich in natural resources. In the…James M. Roberts -
9 Controversies Obama Didn’t Mention When He Denied Any ‘Major Scandals’
President Barack Obama discarded eight years of controversies surrounding his administration, including the targeting of conservative groups, veterans lacking health care, the administration’s response to a terrorist attack weeks before the 2012 election, and a botched gun sting. During a Democratic fundraising event in San Diego Sunday, Obama attacked Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the former…Fred Lucas -
Fighting the Good Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria
The Heritage Foundation was on the road in West Africa carrying the message of economic freedom. One of our stops was Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos is the largest city in Africa (its metro area population exceeds 20 million) and Nigeria has the largest population (by some estimates nearly 180 million) among the 54 countries on that…James M. Roberts -
Obama Attends Final Economic Summit Amid Concerns of Cronyism, Corruption
President Barack Obama heads to China on Friday to participate in his final G-20 leaders summit—marking a legacy critics say has left America weaker on the global economic front. While still the world’s largest economy, the United States has experienced weak growth since the Great Recession because of policies that make America less competitive, said…Fred Lucas -
‘Bribery and Kickback Schemes’ Plague Syrian Relief Program Funded With Tax Dollars
U.S. tax dollars are going to relief agencies in Syria that are engaging in “bid-rigging and multiple bribery and kickback schemes” and the federal government has taken inadequate steps to prevent it, according to a recent audit. The fraud makes an already difficult task even tougher in getting needed aid to Syrians in a country…Fred Lucas -
House Conservatives Explain Latest IRS Chief Impeachment Push: ‘Leadership Has Been Too Timid to Go After Corruption’
The House Freedom Caucus has launched a pressure play against Republican leadership in an effort to force a vote on impeaching John Koskinen, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Before Congress skipped town Thursday for a seven-week recess, Reps. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., and John Fleming, R-La., filed a parliamentary measure known as a privileged resolution…Philip Wegmann