Bloomberg investigation revealed Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao months after Binance’s infrastructure supported World Liberty Financial—the Trump family’s crypto venture—in deals that generated over $500 million for the Trump family. Binance provided critical technical …
BinanceChangpeng ZhaoDonald TrumpTrump FamilyWorld Liberty Financialbriberyconflicts-of-interestcorruptionkleptocracyself-dealing
Reports revealed that border czar Tom Homan was recorded by undercover FBI agents accepting $50,000 in cash on September 20, 2024, after indicating he could help win government contracts in a second Trump administration. The federal investigation launched in western Texas was abruptly terminated in …
Tom HomanPam BondiFBIEmil BoveDOJsystematic-corruptionobstruction-of-justicebriberydoj-weaponization
Rolling Stone reported that associates of convicted Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs offered mid-six-figure payments to Trump administration officials, political operatives, and lobbyists to secure a presidential pardon. The efforts began months before Trump’s inauguration and intensified after …
Sean CombsDonald TrumpNicole WestmorelandWhite Housesystematic-corruptionbriberyclemency-abusepay-to-play
Amazon agreed to pay $40 million for a documentary and limited series about Melania Trump, directed by Brett Ratner. The deal, far above market rates for similar content, came after Jeff Bezos met with Trump and as Amazon faced multiple federal investigations. The documentary, with Melania as an …
AmazonJeff BezosMelania TrumpDonald TrumpBrett Ratneramazonjeff-bezosmelania-trumpbriberyquid-pro-quo+4 more
On October 16, 2024, defense contractor RTX (formerly Raytheon) agreed to pay over $950 million to resolve Justice Department investigations into fraudulent billing schemes, foreign bribery, and export control violations spanning more than a decade. The settlement addressed three major criminal …
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Florida businessman Harry Sargeant III told federal prosecutors that associates of Rudy Giuliani approached him seeking a $2 million payment to secure presidential pardons for individuals under investigation, according to court filings unsealed in April 2021. The revelation provided direct evidence …
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny released a comprehensive investigation exposing a $1.35 billion palace complex allegedly owned by Vladimir Putin on the Black Sea. The investigation, titled ‘Putin’s Palace: History of World’s Largest Bribe,’ revealed a 17,691 square …
Vladimir PutinAlexei NavalnyArkady RotenbergBoris RotenbergGennady Timchenko+3 morecorruptionrussiaputinnavalnyinvestigation+4 more
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny released a detailed investigation exposing a lavish palace complex on the Black Sea allegedly built for Vladimir Putin. The investigation, titled ‘Putin’s Palace: History of World’s Largest Bribe,’ detailed a $1.35 billion estate …
Vladimir PutinAlexei NavalnyArkady RotenbergBoris RotenbergGennady Timchenko+1 morecorruptionrussiaputinnavalnyinvestigation+3 more
Heavily redacted federal court documents unsealed in December 2020 revealed the Department of Justice was investigating a “bribery-for-pardon” scheme in which individuals allegedly offered substantial political contributions in exchange for presidential pardons. The court filings, made …
Donald TrumpElliott BroidyLev ParnasRudy GiulianiPardonsCorruptionPay-to-PlayBriberyDOJ+1 more
President Trump abruptly reversed U.S. sanctions on Chinese telecom giant ZTE just days after China agreed to provide $500 million in loans to an Indonesian theme park featuring Trump properties. ZTE had been banned from buying U.S. components after violating sanctions on Iran and North Korea. Trump …
Donald TrumpZTE CorporationChinaTrump OrganizationIndonesiacorruptionchinanational-securityemoluments-clausebribery
Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted on 14 counts of fraud and conspiracy by a federal grand jury, making McDonnell the first Virginia governor to be indicted or convicted of a felony. The charges stemmed from their acceptance of more than $175,000 in gifts, …
Bob McDonnellMaureen McDonnellJonnie WilliamsCongressional CorruptionGubernatorial CorruptionRepublican PartyVirginiaBribery+2 more
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested at the governor’s home on federal corruption charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. The 76-page FBI affidavit revealed that Blagojevich was captured on …
Rod BlagojevichBarack ObamaPatrick FitzgeraldDonald TrumpGubernatorial CorruptionDemocratic PartyIllinoisBriberyWire Fraud+2 more
Representative Bob Ney (R-OH) pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and making false statements in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, becoming the first member of Congress convicted in the case. Ney admitted to receiving gifts including golf trips to Scotland, expensive meals, and …
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Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, exposing one of the largest congressional corruption scandals in modern U.S. history. Abramoff and partner Michael Scanlon defrauded Native American tribes of 5 million through inflated lobbying fees and secret kickbacks. The …
Jack AbramoffMichael ScanlonBob NeyTom DeLaySteven Griles+2 morecorruptionlobbyingabramoffcongressbribery+1 more
Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty in federal court in San Diego to conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. The decorated Vietnam War fighter ace admitted to accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors in exchange for …
Duke CunninghamMitchell WadeCarol LamDonald TrumpCongressional CorruptionDefense ContractorsBriberyRepublican PartyMilitary Contracts+2 more
FBI agents raided the home of Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-LA) in Northeast Washington and discovered $90,000 in cash hidden in his freezer, wrapped in aluminum foil in $10,000 increments and stuffed inside frozen-food containers. The serial numbers on the currency matched funds the FBI had provided …
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