On July 31, 2002, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee LLC—a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation of New Orleans—completes its $180 million purchase of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant from Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation, a consortium of eight New England utilities that originally owned the …
Entergy CorporationVermont Yankee Nuclear Power CorporationVermont Public Service BoardVermont Department of Public ServiceVermont General Assembly+1 morenuclear-powervermont-yankeecorporate-regulationstate-federal-conflictentergy+3 more
On July 30, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act into law, calling it “the most far-reaching reforms of American business practices since the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt.” The legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support—423 to 3 in the House and 99 …
George W. BushPaul SarbanesMichael Oxleycorporate-fraudlegislationcorporate-accountabilityfinancial-regulationreform
The Bush administration establishes the Office of Global Communications (OGC) to ‘formulate and coordinate messages to foreign audiences,’ creating an unprecedented infrastructure for distributing daily talking points to reporters, television networks, U.S. embassies, and Congress. The …
Office of Global CommunicationsWhite House Iraq GroupGeorge W. BushTelevision Network Executivesreporters worldwide+2 moreoffice-global-communicationswhigdaily-talking-pointsglobal-messengermedia-coordination+3 more
On June 27, 2002, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris that Cleveland’s school voucher program did not violate the Establishment Clause, even though 96% of voucher students attended religious schools. The decision, authored by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, removed the …
Chief Justice William RehnquistJustice Sandra Day O'ConnorJustice Clarence ThomasInstitute for JusticeClint Bolick+1 moreeducationsupreme-courtvouchersreligious-schoolsestablishment-clause+1 more
On June 25, 2002, WorldCom, the second-largest telecommunications company in the United States, announced it would restate its financial statements after discovering $3.8 billion in fraudulent accounting entries. The company admitted that “certain transfers” from line cost expenses to …
Bernard EbbersCynthia CooperScott SullivanWorldComcorporate-fraudworldcomaccounting-fraudsecurities-fraudwhite-collar-crime
After a seven-week federal trial, Providence Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci Jr. is convicted on June 24, 2002, of one count of racketeering conspiracy as the culmination of Operation Plunder Dome, the FBI’s multi-year undercover investigation into systematic corruption within …
Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr.Federal Bureau of InvestigationU.S. Attorney's OfficeU.S. District Judge Ernest TorresProvidence City Governmentcorruptionracketeeringoperation-plunder-domerhode-islandmunicipal-corruption+3 more
On June 15, 2002, a federal jury convicted Arthur Andersen LLP of obstruction of justice for shredding thousands of Enron-related documents. The verdict effectively destroyed one of the world’s most prestigious accounting firms, eliminating 85,000 jobs globally and marking the last time a …
Arthur AndersenDepartment of Justicecorporate-fraudenronobstruction-of-justicearthur-andersencorporate-accountability
The Bush administration’s Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers jointly revise Clean Water Act regulations to classify mining debris and waste rock as “fill material” that can legally be dumped into streams and valleys. The rule change enables the coal …
George W. BushU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Army Corps of EngineersCoal Industryenvironmental-destructionregulatory-capturecoal-industryadministrative-corruptionclean-water-act+2 more
On March 14, 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment of Arthur Andersen LLP on one count of obstruction of justice for destroying “literally tons of paper documents and other electronic information” related to the Enron collapse. The indictment, handed down by a …
Arthur AndersenDepartment of JusticeMichael Chertoffcorporate-fraudenronobstruction-of-justicearthur-andersencriminal-prosecution
President Bush’s firing of two experienced Inspector Generals on Valentine’s Day 2002 represents systematic preparation for constitutional crisis operations by destroying independent oversight infrastructure necessary for WHIG’s subsequent systematic deception campaigns. The …
George W. BushLouise JordanRoberta GrossSean O'KeefeCongressinspector-generaloversight-destructionvalentines-day-massacrepolitical-interferenceconstitutional-crisis-preparation+4 more
Jack Abramoff orchestrated a complex lobbying scheme involving the Tigua tribe’s Speaking Rock Casino, first helping to lobby for its closure through Texas legislation, and then charging the tribe $4.2 million to allegedly reopen the casino. The case exemplifies Abramoff’s fraudulent …
Jack AbramoffMichael ScanlonTigua TribeRalph ReedTexas Legislatureabramofftigua-tribetexas-gamblingdouble-dealingfraud+1 more
On January 9, 2002, Arthur Andersen, one of the “Big Five” accounting firms, publicly admitted that its employees had destroyed “several tons” of Enron-related documents and deleted nearly 30,000 emails and computer files during October and November 2001. CEO Joseph Berardino …
Arthur AndersenJoseph BerardinoDavid Duncancorporate-fraudenronobstruction-of-justicearthur-andersenaccounting-fraud
On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) into law at Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio, with bipartisan fanfare that masked the legislation’s deeply destructive effects on public education. Co-sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy and …
President George W. BushSenator Ted KennedyRepresentative John BoehnerPearson EducationETS+1 moreeducationtestingprivatizationcorporate-capturebipartisan-consensus+1 more
The average price of insulin in the United States began a decade-long tripling from $231 per patient annually in 2002 to $762 in 2013, according to congressional hearing data—with some patients paying up to $900 per month for insulin products that cost $4.34 per milliliter in 2002 but reached $12.92 …
Eli LillyNovo NordiskSanofiCongressional Diabetes CaucusBig Pharmapharmaceutical-industrydrug-pricinghealthcaremonopolyinsulin-crisis+1 more
President Adolfo Rodriguez Saá announces Argentina’s default on its foreign debt obligations to the International Monetary Fund and private creditors—the largest sovereign default in world history at that time, exceeding $100 billion. The default comes three days after the fall of President …
Adolfo Rodriguez SaáInternational Monetary FundFernando de la RúaArgentine creditorsshock-doctrineimfausterityargentinadebt-default+2 more
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) under John Graham implemented new procedures requiring federal agencies to submit proposed regulations to corporate ‘stakeholder panels’ before internal government review. These panels, dominated by industry representatives, gained …
OIRAJohn GrahamCorporate Stakeholder PanelsFederal Agenciesoirainspector-general-firingssystematic-transformationrussell-voughtexecutive-power-expansion+9 more
Enron filed for bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, marking the largest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history at the time, with $63.4 billion in assets. The collapse revealed extensive corporate fraud orchestrated by CEO Kenneth Lay and President Jeffrey Skilling, who manipulated financial statements and …
EnronKenneth LayJeffrey SkillingDick CheneyGeorge W. Bushenronbankruptcycorporate-fraudcorruptionfinancial-crime+2 more
The Argentine government enacts emergency measures known as the ‘corralito’ (little corral), freezing bank accounts and limiting cash withdrawals to $250 per week, triggering the final stage of a devastating economic collapse driven by IMF-imposed austerity. The freeze comes after four …
International Monetary FundFernando de la RúaDomingo CavalloArgentine Central Bankshock-doctrineimfausterityargentinafinancial-crisis+2 more
The U.S. Department of Justice reaches a settlement with Microsoft on November 1, 2001, abandoning the structural breakup remedy ordered by Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson in favor of behavioral restrictions. The Bush administration DOJ, after taking office in January 2001, announces on September 6, …
U.S. Department of JusticeMicrosoft CorporationGeorge W. BushJohn AshcroftBill Gates+1 moreantitrusttech-monopolyregulatory-captureenforcement-failurecorporate-power+2 more
President Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act just 45 days after 9/11, following an unprecedented rushed legislative process that bypassed normal democratic deliberation. The 342-page bill was introduced October 23, passed the House 357-66 on October 24, and the Senate 98-1 on October 25, with only …
George W. BushRuss FeingoldTom DaschleJim SensenbrennerViet Dinhpatriot-actsurveillancecivil-libertiesrushed-legislationfeingold
On October 22, 2001, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced it was formally investigating Enron’s suspicious dealings with partnerships controlled by CFO Andrew Fastow, characterizing them as “some of the most opaque transactions with insiders ever seen.” Enron’s …
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)Andrew FastowKenneth Laycorporate-fraudenronsecinvestigationregulatory-enforcement
On October 16, 2001, Enron announced a $618 million quarterly loss, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s downfall. The loss was largely attributed to a one-time charge for terminating “certain structured finance arrangements” known as the Raptors, which were partnerships …
President George W. Bush authorized the NSA’s Stellar Wind warrantless domestic surveillance program, completely bypassing FISA court oversight in a fundamental alteration of constitutional checks and balances. The program allowed the NSA to collect phone metadata and internet communications …
George W. BushMichael HaydenNSADick CheneyDavid Addington+3 moresurveillancensastellar-windfisa-bypassconstitutional-crisis+3 more
In September 2001, AT&T established a secret partnership with the NSA to provide direct access to its internet backbone infrastructure, creating unprecedented mass surveillance capabilities that bypass traditional legal protections. This infrastructure enabled the systematic collection and …
Bush AdministrationAT&TNSAsurveillancetelecommunicationsnsacorporate-cooperationinternet-backbone+3 more
Following the September 11 attacks, President Bush authorizes the CIA to conduct “extraordinary rendition”—the extrajudicial kidnapping and transfer of terrorism suspects to foreign countries for detention and interrogation, often involving torture. CIA Director George Tenet and …
CIAGeorge W. BushGeorge TenetCofer Blacktortureciarenditionkidnappingwar-crimes+2 more
Oracle Corporation hired David W. Carney as Vice President of Information Assurance on September 4, 2001, just one week before the September 11 terrorist attacks, marking a significant deepening of Oracle’s relationship with the U.S. intelligence community. Carney retired after 32 years at the …
OracleDavid W. CarneyCIALarry Ellisonoracleciarevolving-doorintelligence-agenciesnational-security
The Argentine Congress passes the Zero Deficit Law under intense IMF pressure, delivering drastic cuts in public spending including 13% reductions in state salaries and pensions in a desperate attempt to satisfy creditors and maintain access to IMF loans. The law represents the culmination of four …
International Monetary FundFernando de la RúaDomingo CavalloArgentine Congressshock-doctrineimfausterityargentinastructural-adjustment+1 more
The Patients’ Bill of Rights, legislation that would have allowed patients to sue HMOs for denying medically necessary care, dies in Congress after the managed care industry spends over $60 million lobbying against it. Despite bipartisan support and public outrage over HMO denials that …
George W. BushHealth Insurance Association of AmericaAmerican Association of Health PlansJohn McCainEdward Kennedy+1 morehealthcaremanaged-carelobbyingregulatory-captureinsurance-industry+1 more
On June 7, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA) into law, enacting the first wave of the ‘Bush tax cuts’ that would add approximately $1.5 trillion to the national debt over the 2002-2011 decade, excluding interest. The …
George W. BushDick CheneyPaul O'NeillDennis HastertTrent Lott+3 moretax-policybush-administrationsupply-side-economicswealth-transferdeficit-spending+4 more
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians begins a contract with Capitol Campaign Strategies, led by Michael Scanlon, who worked closely with Jack Abramoff. The contract was part of a broader corrupt lobbying scheme where Abramoff and Scanlon systematically defrauded Native American tribes. Of the …
Mississippi Band of Choctaw IndiansMichael ScanlonCapitol Campaign StrategiesJack Abramoffchoctawmichael-scanlongimme-fivetribal-fraudkickbacks+2 more
President George W. Bush appointed James G. Roche as Secretary of the Air Force in 2001 despite—or perhaps because of—Roche’s 17-year career as a top executive at Northrop Grumman, one of the Air Force’s largest contractors, exemplifying the revolving door that enables defense industry …
James G. RocheNorthrop GrummanU.S. Air ForceDepartment of DefenseGeorge W. Bushrevolving doormilitary-industrial complexdefense contractorscorruptionconflicts of interest+1 more
The Bush administration releases the National Energy Policy, revealing extensive incorporation of Enron’s recommendations. Analysis shows the task force adopted “all or significant portions” of Enron’s recommendations in seven of eight policy areas, with at least 17 policies …
Dick CheneyGeorge W. BushEnronKenneth LayNational Energy Policy Development Group+1 moreenronenergy-policycorporate-captureregulatory-capturecorruption+1 more
The Bush administration releases the National Energy Policy report developed by Cheney’s Energy Task Force, containing 105 recommendations that overwhelmingly favor fossil fuel industries while giving minimal attention to renewable energy. The report recommends opening the Arctic National …
George W. BushDick CheneyNational Energy Policy Development GroupExxonMobilShell Oil+6 moreenergy-policycorporate-captureoil-industrycheney-task-forceregulatory-capture+3 more
On April 17, 2001, Enron CEO Kenneth Lay met with Vice President Dick Cheney and his National Energy Policy Development Group (Energy Task Force), presenting a three-page “wish list” of corporate energy policy recommendations. This meeting was one of at least six interactions between …
Kenneth LayDick CheneyEnronNational Energy Policy Development GroupGeorge W. Bush+1 moreenroncheneyenergy-task-forcecorporate-capturecorruption+2 more
On March 13, 2001, President George W. Bush announced the United States would not implement the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, signaling the beginning of a systematic rollback of environmental protections coordinated with fossil fuel industry lobbyists. The decision came just weeks after Vice …
George W. BushChristine Todd WhitmanDick CheneyAmerican Petroleum InstituteExxonMobil+2 moreenvironmentaleparegulatory-captureclimate-denialbush-administration+1 more
New revelations emerge that Hugh Rodham, Hillary Clinton’s brother, received $400,000 in payments for successfully lobbying President Clinton to grant a pardon to Almon Glenn Braswell, a businessman under investigation for money laundering, and a commutation for convicted drug trafficker …
Bill ClintonHillary ClintonRoger ClintonHugh RodhamAlmon Glenn Braswell+1 morepresidential-pardonscorruptioninfluence-peddlingaccountability
Vice President Dick Cheney initiated secret meetings of the National Energy Policy Development Group, systematically involving Enron executives like Kenneth Lay while excluding environmental groups. Between late January and April 2001, the task force held at least 40 meetings with energy industry …
Dick CheneyKenneth LayGeorge W. Bushenergy-policycorporate-capturecheneyenronregulatory-capture+1 more
Vice President Dick Cheney established the National Energy Policy Development Group conducting secret meetings with oil industry executives while excluding environmental groups. Between late January and April 2001, Cheney’s task force held at least 40 meetings with energy interests versus just …
Dick CheneyExxonMobilShell OilBP AmericaConoco+2 moreenergy-policycorporate-capturecheneyoil-industrysecrecy+1 more
Hours before leaving office, President Bill Clinton grants a controversial presidential pardon to Marc Rich, an international fugitive who fled to Switzerland in 1983 to avoid prosecution on 51 counts of tax fraud, racketeering, and illegal oil trading with Iran during the 1979-1980 hostage crisis. …
Bill ClintonMarc RichDenise RichHillary Clintonpresidential-pardonscorruptioncampaign-financepolitical-influenceaccountability
In one of his final acts as president, Bill Clinton implements the “Roadless Rule,” prohibiting road construction, timber harvest, and most commercial development on nearly 58 million acres of pristine national forest land—more than a quarter of the entire National Forest System. The …
Bill ClintonU.S. Forest ServiceTimber IndustryMining Industryenvironmentpublic-landsderegulationnatural-resourcesconservation+1 more
Purdue Pharma’s lucrative bonus system paid sales representatives an average of $71,500 in annual bonuses—more than their $55,000 base salary—with bonuses ranging from $15,000 to nearly $240,000. In 2001 alone, Purdue paid $40 million in sales incentive bonuses, systematically incentivizing …
President Bill Clinton signed the Commodity Futures Modernization Act (CFMA) into law on his last day before Christmas recess, completing the deregulation of the derivatives market that Brooksley Born had warned against two years earlier. The legislation, inserted into a 10,000-page authorization …
Bill ClintonLawrence SummersPhil GrammAlan GreenspanWall Street derivatives dealersderivativesderegulationcfmafinancial-crisiscredit-default-swaps+1 more
In the early evening of Friday, December 15, 2000, with Christmas recess only hours away and the presidential election still unresolved, the U.S. Senate rushes to pass an essential 11,000-page government reauthorization bill. Senator Phil Gramm of Texas inserts a complex 262-page amendment - the …
Phil GrammU.S. SenateU.S. House of RepresentativesBill ClintonEnron Corporationderivativescfmalegislative-corruptionenron-loopholelame-duck+2 more
The Supreme Court issued a controversial 5-4 decision in Bush v. Gore that effectively awarded Florida’s 25 electoral votes to Republican candidate George W. Bush, ensuring his victory over Al Gore. The unsigned per curiam decision reversed a Florida Supreme Court request for a selective …
George W. BushAl GoreWilliam RehnquistSandra Day O'ConnorClarence Thomas+4 morejudicial-capturesupreme-courtcorporate-influenceelection-interferenceconflict-of-interest+1 more
The Supreme Court grants George W. Bush’s request for an emergency stay to halt the Florida recount, with Justice Antonin Scalia arguing that counting votes would cause Bush “irreparable harm” by casting “a needless and unjustified cloud” over his legitimacy. This …
Antonin ScaliaSupreme Court Conservative MajorityWilliam RehnquistClarence ThomasSandra Day O'Connor+1 moresupreme-court-stayantonin-scaliairreparable-harmjudicial-partisanshipvote-counting-suppression+1 more
Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certifies George W. Bush as winner by 537 votes while simultaneously serving as co-chair of Bush’s Florida campaign, creating an unprecedented conflict of interest in American electoral administration. Harris rushed the certification process to …
Katherine HarrisGeorge W. BushJeb BushMac StipanovichFlorida Republican Partykatherine-harrisconflict-of-interestelection-certificationflorida-secretary-of-statepartisan-administration+1 more
On November 22, 2000, a mob of Republican operatives and staffers violently disrupted the Miami-Dade County canvassing board’s recount of votes from the disputed 2000 presidential election, successfully forcing officials to shut down the recount early. Roger Stone, Richard Nixon’s …
Former Secretary of State James Baker takes control of Bush’s Florida recount strategy, immediately positioning the campaign for Supreme Court intervention rather than focusing on local recounts. Baker’s decision to prioritize legal maneuvering over vote counting demonstrates coordinated …
James Baker IIIKatherine HarrisGeorge W. BushMac StipanovichTed Olson+1 morebush-v-goreelectoral-manipulationjames-bakerjudicial-strategysupreme-court-capture+1 more
President Bill Clinton signs the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000, granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status and ending the annual congressional review process that had existed since 1980 under Jackson-Vanik provisions. The House passed the legislation on May 24, 2000 and the …
Bill ClintonU.S. SenateU.S. House of RepresentativesChinese governmentCorporate Lobbies+1 morechinatrade-policywtopntrglobalization+3 more
By August 30, 2000, Clear Channel Communications completed its acquisition of AMFM Inc., creating a radio empire of 1,240 stations nationwide—representing a 30-fold increase from the 40 stations Clear Channel owned before the 1996 Telecommunications Act eliminated ownership caps. This unprecedented …
Clear Channel CommunicationsRush LimbaughAMFM Inc.Lowry MaysRepublican Partymedia-consolidationradio-monopolyconservative-mediatalk-radiopropaganda+3 more