Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released a comprehensive staff report revealing that President Donald Trump and his family earned more than $800 million from cryptocurrency ventures in the first half of 2025 alone, with total crypto holdings valued at up to $11.6 …
Jamie RaskinDonald TrumpTrump OrganizationTrump FamilyPaul Atkins+21 morecryptocurrencycorruptionself-dealingforeign-influenceemoluments+13 more
Donald Trump’s second inaugural fund received over $19 million from fossil fuel companies, including $2 million from Chevron and $1 million donations from ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Occidental Petroleum. These donations came after Trump promised oil executives at a Mar-a-Lago meeting …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationChevronExxonMobilConocoPhillips+1 moreregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsfossil-fuelscampaign-finance
He Tianying, a Chinese tech executive and delegate to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, purchased $3.7 million of Trump’s memecoin to secure a private dinner with the president, revealing deep constitutional concerns about foreign influence and presidential access …
Donald TrumpHe TianyingJustin SunAdam SchiffElizabeth Warrencryptogovernment-contractsforeign-influencecampaign-financeconstitutional-violation
Commissioner Allen Dickerson resigned on April 30, 2025, leaving the FEC with only three members and no quorum. Combined with Trump’s February firing of Ellen Weintraub and Sean Cooksey’s January resignation, the FEC cannot investigate complaints, conduct audits, levy fines, issue rules …
Federal Election Commission (FEC)Commissioner Allen Dickerson (resigned)Commissioner Ellen Weintraub (fired by Trump)Commissioner Sean Cooksey (resigned)Donald Trump+3 moreelection-oversightfec-quorumenforcement-shutdownregulatory-capturecampaign-finance
Elon Musk handed out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters at a rally in Green Bay, moments after the state Supreme Court declined to block his political spending. The event highlighted Musk’s significant financial intervention in a critical judicial election that could reshape …
Federal prosecutors in the Middle District of Tennessee withdrew from a criminal investigation into U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, with a Department of Justice attorney from Washington’s Public Integrity Section set to continue the case. The investigation originated from an FBI seizure of Ogles’ …
Andy OglesU.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of TennesseeDepartment of JusticeJohn P. TaddeiRob McGuire+4 moreregulatory-capturecampaign-financecongressional-investigationtrump-administrationpolitical-manipulation
In 2024, the healthcare sector spent $743.9 million on federal lobbying—$10 million less than 2023’s $745 million but maintaining its position as the largest lobbying sector in the United States for the 26th consecutive year. Pharmaceutical and health products companies led healthcare spending …
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of AmericaAmerican Medical AssociationAmerican Hospital AssociationPharmaceutical Care Management AssociationHealth insurance industry+1 morelobbyinghealthcarepharmaceutical-industrysystematic-corruptionregulatory-capture+1 more
Brennan Center for Justice documented record-breaking dark money spending of $1.9 billion in 2024 federal election cycle, nearly doubling previous record. Dark money groups contributed $1.3 billion to super PACs, more than prior two election cycles combined, often routed through shell companies to …
Dark money groupsFidelityCharles SchwabVanguardProject 2025 groups+1 moredark-moneycampaign-financeproject-2025electoral-corruptiondonor-advised-funds+1 more
Elon Musk established comprehensive political warfare operations through America PAC, combining financial, organizational, and information manipulation to support the Trump 2024 campaign. The PAC spent approximately $200 million, with Musk providing the vast majority of funds, to influence voter …
Trump campaign begins accepting cryptocurrency donations in May 2024, coinciding with courting crypto industry’s $238 million in election spending, marking strategic pivot to embrace digital assets.
Northrop Grumman spent $10.86 million on federal lobbying in 2023, employing 36 lobbyists of whom 29—a staggering 80.6 percent—had previously worked in government positions, exemplifying the revolving door between the Pentagon, Congress, and defense contractors that enables systematic corruption of …
A federal jury convicts Sam Bankman-Fried on all seven criminal counts including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering in what federal prosecutors describe as ‘one of the biggest financial frauds in American history.’ The conviction follows a …
Sam Bankman-FriedFTXAlameda ResearchU.S. Department of JusticeCaroline Ellison+1 morecorruptionfraudregulatory-capturetechcryptocurrency+3 more
In May 2023, Tennessee’s State Building Commission approved a three-year, $168 million contract renewal with CoreCivic to operate the South Central Correctional Facility, despite the private prison corporation’s documented record of inmate deaths, safety violations, and nearly $18 …
CoreCivicBill LeeTennessee Department of CorrectionTennessee State Building Commissionprivate-prisonscampaign-financegovernment-contractsregulatory-capturecorporate-corruption+1 more
The Arabella Advisors network, managing five nonprofit funds including the Sixteen Thirty Fund, raised $1.35 billion from anonymous donors in 2022, making it the dominant force in Democratic dark money operations. The Sixteen Thirty Fund alone spent $196 million on political causes including $66 …
Sam Bankman-Fried is arrested in the Bahamas at the request of U.S. prosecutors and charged with eight criminal counts including wire fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud, money laundering, and campaign finance law violations. The indictment alleges Bankman-Fried orchestrated a scheme to …
Sam Bankman-FriedFTXU.S. Department of JusticeSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)CFTC+1 morecorruptionfraudregulatory-capturetechcryptocurrency+3 more
FTX cryptocurrency exchange, Alameda Research, and over 100 affiliated entities file for bankruptcy following the exposure of systematic fraud by founder Sam Bankman-Fried. The collapse was triggered on November 2 when CoinDesk revealed that Alameda Research—FTX’s affiliated trading firm owned …
Sam Bankman-FriedFTXAlameda ResearchChangpeng ZhaoBinance+2 morecorruptionfraudregulatory-capturetechcryptocurrency+3 more
House January 6th Committee’s second hearing revealed Trump raised $250 million post-election through fraudulent “Official Election Defense Fund” that never existed. Committee found Trump’s team sent up to 25 fraudulent fundraising emails daily, raising $100 million in first …
Donald TrumpTrump CampaignSave America PACHouse January 6th CommitteeZoe Lofgren+1 morefraudcampaign-financekleptocracyjanuary-6-committeebig-lie+2 more
The FBI launched an investigation into Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over allegations that he orchestrated an illegal straw donor campaign finance scheme at his former company, New Breed Logistics. Former employees told the Washington Post that DeJoy pressured them to make political donations to …
Louis DeJoyFBICarolyn MaloneyJohn Sarbanescampaign financefbi investigationdejoyuspspolitical corruption+1 more
The Department of Health and Human Services launched a $300 million advertising campaign called “Defeating Despair” to promote the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response, with the effort conceived by political appointee Michael Caputo and timed to air before the November …
Michael CaputoDonald TrumpDennis QuaidCeCe WinansAlex Azarhatch actethics violationsabuse of officecampaign financecovid-19+3 more
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney and longtime fixer, pleaded guilty on November 29, 2018, to making false statements to Congress about the Trump Organization’s negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. This was Cohen’s second guilty plea in 2018 …
Michael CohenDonald TrumpDmitry PeskovRobert Muellermueller investigationtrump tower moscowcongressional liesmichael cohenrussia business dealings+1 more
New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood filed a comprehensive lawsuit against the Donald J. Trump Foundation, Donald Trump, and his three eldest children (Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka) alleging “persistently illegal conduct” spanning more than a decade. The lawsuit documented a …
Barbara UnderwoodDonald TrumpDonald Trump Jr.Eric TrumpIvanka Trump+1 moretrump foundationcharity fraudny attorney generalself-dealingcampaign finance+1 more
Trump-appointed Acting CFPB Director Mick Mulvaney effectively shuts down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s investigation into the Equifax data breach that exposed 147 million Americans to identity theft. After former Director Richard Cordray authorized a full-scale investigation in …
Mick MulvaneyConsumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)EquifaxDonald TrumpRichard Cordraycorruptionregulatory-capturecfpbtrump-administrationcorporate-impunity+2 more
Private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group saw their stock prices surge 100% and 98% respectively after donating nearly $2.8 million to Trump’s campaign and inauguration. Attorney General Jeff Sessions immediately reversed Obama’s order to phase out private prisons, declaring …
CoreCivicGEO GroupJeff SessionsDonald TrumpImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)+1 moreprivate-prisonspay-to-playimmigration-detentioncampaign-financecorruption
Donald Trump staged a campaign fundraiser in Des Moines, Iowa disguised as a charitable event, using the Trump Foundation in direct violation of federal tax law prohibiting 501(c)(3) charitable organizations from participating in political campaigns. The January 28, 2016 event occurred just days …
Donald TrumpTrump FoundationCorey Lewandowskitrump foundationcharity fraudcampaign financetax violationselection interference
Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that aggregate limits on total contributions an individual can make to federal candidates, parties, and PACs over a two-year election cycle violate the First Amendment. Chief Justice Roberts authored the majority opinion, joined by Justices Scalia, Kennedy, and Alito, with …
Supreme CourtChief Justice John RobertsShaun McCutcheonRepublican National CommitteeJustice Anthony Kennedy+5 morecampaign-financedark-moneysupreme-courtjudicial-capturecorporate-power+2 more
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issues its decision in SpeechNow.org v. FEC, creating what become known as “super PACs” by allowing unlimited contributions to independent expenditure committees. Building directly on the Supreme Court’s Citizens United logic from just two months …
SpeechNow.orgFECD.C. Circuit Court of Appealssuper-pacscampaign-financeregulatory-captureunlimited-contributionsindependent-expenditures
Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that corporations can spend unlimited amounts on elections through independent expenditures, enabling creation of Super PACs and dark money networks. The decision dramatically reshaped campaign finance, allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited funds on independent …
Supreme CourtCitizens UnitedFederal Election Commission (FEC)Justice Anthony KennedyJustice John Paul Stevensdark-moneycampaign-financesupreme-courtcorporate-powerfirst-amendment+1 more
At a December 2009 meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)’s Public Safety and Elections Task Force, Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce sits behind closed doors with executives from Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and lobbyists from the for-profit bail industry …
ALECCorrections Corporation of America (CCA)Russell PearceJan BrewerGEO Group+2 morealecprivate-prisonprison-industrial-compleximmigrationarizona+4 more
The House of Representatives voted on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (TARP), with senators who supported the $700 billion Wall Street bailout having received an average of $3,986,723 from the financial sector since 1989—39% more than bailout opponents who received an average of $1,671,029. …
Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship pours over $3 million into West Virginia’s 2004 judicial election to elect Brent Benjamin to the state Supreme Court of Appeals, successfully defeating incumbent justice Warren McGraw. Blankenship’s spending—equivalent to “a dollar for every West …
Don BlankenshipBrent BenjaminHugh CapertonMassey Energy CompanyWest Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals+1 morejudicial-corruptioncampaign-financeregulatory-capturecoal-industrypolitical-influence+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
George W. Bush formalized an unprecedented campaign bundling system where ‘Rangers’ raising 00,000+ and ‘Pioneers’ raising 00,000+ received federal appointments. In 2000, 241 Pioneers reached their goals, contributing to Bush raising 7 million in first 4 months. By 2004, the …
George W. BushKarl RoveMercer ReynoldsThomas ScullySam Fox+2 morecampaign-financepay-to-playappointmentsbundlingcorruption+1 more
President Bill Clinton signs the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (Financial Services Modernization Act) into law on November 12, 1999, repealing key provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 that separated commercial banking from investment banking and insurance. The Senate passes the final bill 90-8 on …
Phil GrammJim LeachThomas J. Bliley Jr.Bill ClintonRobert Rubin+4 morederegulationregulatory-captureneoliberalismbanking-deregulationfinancial-crisis-precursor+3 more
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Board of Directors approves the “Paycheck Protection Act” in May 1998, following unanimous endorsement by ALEC’s Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force. The model legislation prohibits employees in both public and …
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)Corporate donors (104 at $1M+)state Republican legislatorsScott Walkerlabor-suppressionalecunion-bustingcampaign-financepolitical-activity+3 more
Democratic fundraiser Johnny Chung receives $300,000 from Ji Shengde, the head of Chinese military intelligence, with instructions to funnel the money to help reelect President Clinton in 1996. Chung tells federal investigators that he passed on $35,000 of this money to the Democratic National …
Johnny ChungJi ShengdeBill ClintonDemocratic National CommitteeChinese Military Intelligencecampaign-financeforeign-interferenceelection-interferencechinaillegal-donations+1 more
Vice President Al Gore attends a fundraising luncheon at the Hsi Lai Buddhist temple in Hacienda Heights, California, organized by longtime Democratic fundraiser Maria Hsia and DNC fundraiser John Huang. The event raises $166,750 for the Democratic National Committee through illegal contributions …
Al GoreMaria HsiaJohn HuangDemocratic National Committeecampaign-financeillegal-donationspolitical-corruptionelection-interferencemoney-laundering
Documents revealed in February 1997 show that President Bill Clinton and top aides orchestrated a broad fundraising operation during his first term, explicitly using overnight stays in the White House Lincoln Bedroom and other perks to woo and reward major donors. President Clinton personally …
Bill ClintonDemocratic National CommitteeMajor Donorscampaign-financepolitical-corruptioninfluence-peddlingfundraising-scandalwhite-house
Justice Lewis Powell delivers majority opinion in First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti (435 U.S. 765), establishing for first time that corporations have First Amendment speech rights to influence ballot initiatives and political campaigns. Powell’s 5-4 decision strikes down Massachusetts …
Lewis F. Powell Jr.Supreme Court of the United StatesFirst National Bank of BostonFrancis X. Bellotti (Massachusetts Attorney General)Corporate Interestscorporate-speech-rightsfirst-amendmentbellotti-decisionpowell-memo-implementationcampaign-finance+1 more
Following the Buckley v. Valeo decision, corporations rapidly established Political Action Committees to influence elections. The number of corporate PACs grew from 89 in 1974 to 1,206 by 1980 - a 1,254% increase. This represented a systematic corporate mobilization to capture political influence, …
Corporate AmericaBusiness RoundtableChamber of CommerceFECcorporate-pacscampaign-financesystematic-corruptioninstitutional-capture
On January 30, 1976, the Supreme Court issued its landmark per curiam decision in Buckley v. Valeo, fundamentally transforming American campaign finance law by establishing that spending money on political campaigns constitutes protected speech under the First Amendment. The case challenged the …
Supreme CourtLewis F. Powell Jr.James BuckleyEugene McCarthyFrancis Valeo+1 morecampaign-financesupreme-courtinstitutional-capturejudicial-activism
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) commences operations with six commissioners appointed by President Gerald Ford, establishing the regulatory framework that will institutionalize and legitimize the explosion of corporate political action committees following the 1974 FECA amendments. Created as …
Federal Election Commission (FEC)President Gerald Fordfeccorporate-pacscampaign-financeregulatory-frameworkfeca
Congress enacts amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), legitimizing the role of corporations and business-related groups in federal elections and inadvertently triggering explosive growth in corporate political action committees that fundamentally shifts campaign finance in favor of …
U.S. CongressFederal Election Commission (FEC)campaign-financecorporate-pacsfecapowell-memopolitical-money
The Business-Industry Political Action Committee is founded in August 1963 as the first business political action committee, with initial funding and staff provided by the National Association of Manufacturers, establishing corporate infrastructure for direct political campaign contributions and …
Business-Industry Political Action CommitteeNational Association of ManufacturersBIPACpolitical-action-committeespaccampaign-financenamcorporate-political-spending+1 more
Congress overrides President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s veto to pass the Smith-Connally Act (War Labor Disputes Act), which prohibits unions from making contributions in federal elections and empowers the federal government to seize industries threatened by strikes. The legislation is hurriedly …
Howard W. SmithTom ConnallyFranklin D. RooseveltCongress of Industrial OrganizationsUnited Mine Workers+1 morelabor-suppressioncampaign-financepolitical-action-committeesunion-bustingcongressional-action+1 more
Montana voters approved the Corrupt Practices Act by ballot initiative with 76% support, establishing one of the nation’s strongest bans on corporate money in elections. The law responded directly to decades of systematic corruption by the “Copper Kings” - mining barons William A. …
Montana votersWilliam A. ClarkF. Augustus HeinzeMarcus DalyAnaconda Copper Mining Company+1 morecampaign-financeballot-initiativecorporate-corruptionpolitical-reformcopper-kings+2 more
William McKinley defeats William Jennings Bryan to win the presidency in what becomes a watershed moment in American campaign finance, powered by Republican National Committee Chairman Mark Hanna’s revolutionary systematic fundraising from corporations. The Ohio industrialist, shipping …
William McKinleyMark HannaStandard OilJohn D. RockefellerRepublican National Committee+1 moregilded-agecampaign-financecorruptioncorporate-powerelectoral-politics+1 more
At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 36-year-old former Nebraska Representative William Jennings Bryan delivers the electrifying “Cross of Gold” speech supporting “free silver” (bimetallism) against the gold standard, concluding with the famous peroration: …
William Jennings BryanDemocratic National ConventionPopulist PartyEastern banking interestsWestern farmers and minersgilded-agecampaign-financepopulismeconomic-policybimetallism
Grover Cleveland’s narrow victory over James G. Blaine in the 1884 presidential election occurs during a pivotal transition in American campaign finance, as the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 reduces party organizations’ reliance on government employee contributions and shifts the …
Grover ClevelandJames G. BlaineU.S. Congresscampaign-financecorporate-influencesystematic-corruptioninstitutional-capture