House Speaker Johnson Shuts Down Congress Early to Block Epstein Files Vote

House Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly sends Congress into early summer recess on July 23, 2025, specifically to prevent a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act discharge petition led by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA). The petition had gained bipartisan momentum …

Greene bought market dip before Trump paused tariffs, profiting from the rally

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene purchased $21,000 to $315,000 in stocks across 19 companies on April 8-9, 2025, just before and during President Trump’s surprise 90-day tariff pause. The market surge saw the S&P 500 rise 9.5% and Nasdaq jump 12.2%. Greene bought stocks in companies like Apple, …

Paul Pelosi Visa Stock Sale Controversy

Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sold 2,000 shares of Visa worth between $500,000 and $1 million on July 1, 2024. This transaction became controversial when the Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Visa on September 24, alleging monopolization of …

Warren Report Reveals 672 Pentagon and Congressional Officials Now Lobby for Defense Contractors

Senator Elizabeth Warren released a comprehensive report analyzing the defense contractor revolving door, identifying 672 cases where the top 20 defense contractors employed former government officials, military officers, members of Congress, and senior legislative staff. The analysis found that 91% …

Senators Burr and Loeffler Accused of Insider Trading After COVID-19 Briefings

Reports emerged that multiple U.S. Senators sold significant amounts of stock after attending classified briefings on the COVID-19 pandemic, but before the public understood the severity of the crisis and before markets crashed. On January 24, 2020, the Senate Committees on Health and Foreign …

2020 Congressional COVID Insider Trading Scandal Exposes Systemic Corruption

On February 13, 2020, several U.S. senators were investigated for potentially violating the STOCK Act by selling stock after receiving private briefings about the COVID-19 pandemic, but before the market crash on February 20, 2020. Senator Richard Burr and his wife sold between $628,000 and $1.72 …

Rep. Chris Collins Sentenced to 26 Months for Insider Trading From White House Lawn

Former U.S. Representative Chris Collins (R-NY) was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a $200,000 fine by Judge Vernon S. Broderick for insider trading and making false statements to the FBI. Collins, who was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald …

Rep. Duncan Hunter Pleads Guilty to Stealing Campaign Funds After Blaming Wife

U.S. Representative Duncan D. Hunter pleaded guilty in federal court in San Diego to one count of conspiracy to misuse campaign funds, admitting that he and his wife knowingly and willfully stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to maintain their lifestyle. The guilty plea …

Rep. Duncan Hunter and Wife Indicted for $250,000 Campaign Finance Fraud

U.S. Representative Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA) and his wife Margaret E. Hunter were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of California on 60 counts including wire fraud, falsifying records, campaign finance violations, and conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States. …

Rep. Chris Collins Indicted for Insider Trading Scheme at White House Picnic

Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), President Trump’s first congressional supporter, was indicted for an insider trading scheme involving Innate Immunotherapeutics, an Australian biotechnology company where he served on the board. On June 22, 2017, while attending a Congressional Picnic at the White …

Rep. Chris Collins Indicted for Insider Trading

Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), President Trump’s first congressional supporter, was charged with insider trading related to his position on the board of Australian biotechnology company Innate Immunotherapeutics. On June 22, 2017, while attending a Congressional Picnic at the White House, …

Agriculture Committee Captured by Agribusiness - $523M Lobbying Shapes Farm Bill

Systematic analysis of lobbying disclosure reports revealed that between 2019 and 2023, giant agribusinesses, food and agriculture industry associations, and special interest groups reported more than $523 million in federal lobby expenditures on disclosure reports listing “farm bill” as …

Devin Nunes Makes Secret Midnight White House Visit to View Intel, Then Briefs Trump Before Committee - Obstruction of Investigation

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes made a secret visit to the White House grounds on March 21, 2017—the night before he dramatically announced he had seen intelligence suggesting Trump associates were “incidentally collected” in surveillance. Nunes viewed classified …

Banking Committee Chairman Shelby Advocates for Financial CHOICE Act to Gut Dodd-Frank

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) became instrumental in advocating for the Financial CHOICE Act, legislation aimed at significantly restructuring financial regulation by repealing major parts of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Shelby, who had …

Dennis Hastert Sentenced to 15 Months, Judge Calls Him 'Serial Child Molester'

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine by U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin, who described him as a “serial child molester” during an emotional sentencing hearing. Though Hastert was only charged with …

Dennis Hastert Pleads Guilty to Federal Banking Violations

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of structuring bank withdrawals to evade reporting requirements, admitting he illegally withdrew approximately $1.7 million in cash from multiple bank accounts in amounts under $10,000 to avoid triggering mandatory bank …

Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Dennis Hastert Publicly Emerge

Sexual abuse allegations against former House Speaker Dennis Hastert became public when Jolene Reinboldt Burdge revealed on ABC News’ Good Morning America that her deceased brother, Steve Reinboldt, had told her in 1979 that he was sexually abused by Hastert throughout his four years at …

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted for Bank Fraud and Lying to FBI

A seven-page federal indictment was unsealed charging former House Speaker Dennis Hastert with structuring bank withdrawals to evade reporting requirements and making false statements to the FBI. Hastert, who served as the longest-serving Republican House Speaker in history (1999-2007) and was third …

Rep. Aaron Schock Resigns Amid Luxury Spending and Mileage Fraud Scandal

Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL), once considered one of the Republican Party’s rising stars, announced his resignation from Congress effective March 31, 2015, amid mounting allegations of misusing federal funds and campaign finance violations. The 33-year-old congressman, known for his camera-ready …

Congress Appropriates $120 Million for Unwanted Abrams Tanks for Third Consecutive Year Despite Army Opposition

Congress included $120 million for Abrams tank upgrades in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act, marking the third consecutive year lawmakers overrode Army leadership requests to suspend tank production—the first such production halt proposed since World War II. Representative Mike Turner …

Eric Cantor Joins Wall Street Investment Bank for $3.4M After House Leadership

Moelis & Company, a Wall Street investment bank, announced the appointment of former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) as vice chairman and managing director just two weeks after his congressional career ended. According to SEC filings, Cantor’s compensation package included a …

Ways and Means Chairman Proposes Carried Interest Reform That Private Equity Lobbying Defeats

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) released comprehensive tax reform draft legislation proposing to raise the tax on carried interest from 23.8% to 35%, effectively closing one of the most notorious tax loopholes benefiting private equity and hedge fund managers. Carried …

Max Baucus Confirmed as Ambassador After Healthcare Industry Staffers Become Lobbyists

The Senate confirmed former Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) as U.S. Ambassador to China by a vote of 96-0, ending his 36-year congressional career. Baucus had served as chairman and ranking member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, where he was the chief architect of the …

Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and Wife Indicted on Federal Corruption Charges

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, …

Citigroup Lobbyists Write 70 of 85 Lines in House Banking Deregulation Bill

Investigation revealed that Citigroup lobbyists drafted a House bill aimed at rolling back Dodd-Frank financial regulations, with 70 of the 85 lines in the final House legislation directly reflecting Citigroup’s recommendations. Two complete paragraphs were copied almost word-for-word from …

Congress Quietly Guts STOCK Act Online Disclosure Requirements

President Obama signed legislation that gutted key provisions of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, just one year after the law was passed with great fanfare to combat congressional insider trading. The amendment eliminated the requirement for creating a searchable, sortable …

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Pleads Guilty to $750,000 Campaign Fund Fraud

Former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and false statements, admitting he misused approximately $750,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses over several years. Jackson, the son of civil …

Congress Overrides Army to Fund $255 Million in Unwanted Abrams Tank Upgrades to Protect General Dynamics Ohio Plant

Congress approved $255 million to upgrade M1 Abrams tanks through 2014 despite explicit Army testimony that it had ceased ordering tanks and wanted to save billions by halting production to develop next-generation armor. The appropriation represented a direct override of military leadership by both …

STOCK Act Gains Momentum After 60 Minutes Exposes Congressional Insider Trading

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act gained explosive momentum after CBS’s 60 Minutes aired an investigation on November 13, 2011, revealing that several members of Congress allegedly used non-public information obtained through their official positions for personal …

Rep. Anthony Weiner Resigns After Sexting Scandal and Cover-Up

U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) announced his resignation from Congress effective June 23, 2011, after admitting he sent sexually explicit photos and messages to at least six women over three years through Twitter, Facebook, email, and phone—and then lied about it to the public and media. …

Judd Gregg Joins Goldman Sachs as International Advisor After Banking Committee Role

Goldman Sachs announced the appointment of former Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) as an international advisor to the firm, making him one of 17 such advisors providing strategic counsel to Goldman’s executives and clients. Gregg had served three terms in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011, serving as …

Chris Dodd Becomes Hollywood's Chief Lobbyist After Promising No Lobbying

Former Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) was named chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), becoming Hollywood’s chief lobbyist in Washington despite having “repeatedly and categorically” promised he would not work as a lobbyist after leaving the Senate. Dodd …

Evan Bayh Joins Apollo Global Management and Five Corporate Boards After Senate

Former Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) joined private equity giant Apollo Global Management as a senior adviser and McGuireWoods as a strategic advisor immediately after leaving the Senate in January 2011. Within months, Bayh also secured positions on five corporate boards: Marathon Petroleum, Berry …

Corporate-Funded Think Tanks Testify to Congress While Hiding Donor Conflicts of Interest

Analysis of congressional testimony revealed that think tanks funded by corporations and wealthy donors appeared as expert witnesses before congressional committees without disclosing their financial conflicts of interest. Between 2021-2024, 34% of think tank witnesses came from “dark …

Energy and Commerce Committee Members Receive $45M From Pharma During ACA Debate

Analysis of pharmaceutical industry campaign contributions from 1999-2018 revealed that the top 40 congressional recipients jointly received $45 million, with 39 serving on committees with health-related legislative jurisdiction—24 in senior positions. Of the top 20 House recipients, 17 served on …

Financial Services Committee Members Who Supported Bailout Received 39% More Wall Street Money

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. …

Senator Ted Stevens Indicted on Seven Felony Corruption Charges

U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), the longest-serving Republican senator in history and former President Pro Tempore, was indicted on seven felony counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms. The indictment alleged that Stevens knowingly failed to report receiving more than …

Trent Lott Resigns from Senate to Evade New Lobbying Ethics Law

Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), former Senate Majority Leader, abruptly resigned from the Senate effective 11:30 PM on December 18, 2007, explicitly timing his departure to avoid the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. The new ethics law, taking effect January 1, 2008, would have required a …

Honest Leadership Act Takes Effect But Fails to Slow Congressional Revolving Door

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act took full effect after President Bush signed it into law, implementing new ethics rules designed to slow the revolving door between Congress and lobbying firms. The law extended cooling-off periods from one to two years for senators and established a …

Rep. Duke Cunningham Pleads Guilty to $2.4 Million Bribery Scheme

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 …

Energy Committee Hearings Expose Oil Industry Climate Denial Campaign and Regulatory Capture

Documents revealed that Vice President Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force had met extensively with executives from major oil companies, though chief executives denied involvement when testifying before the Senate Energy and Commerce committees. The revelation exposed how the Energy and Commerce …

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay Indicted for Money Laundering and Conspiracy

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) was indicted by a Texas grand jury on one count of criminal conspiracy related to an alleged illegal campaign finance scheme. On October 3, a third grand jury indicted DeLay for the more serious offense of money laundering.

The charges stem from allegations …

Jack Abramoff Indicted for Wire Fraud in SunCruz Casinos Purchase

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and business partner Adam Kidan were indicted by a federal grand jury in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy related to their 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos, a fleet of Florida gambling boats. The indictment alleged that Abramoff and Kidan had …

FBI Finds $90,000 in Cash Hidden in Rep. William Jefferson's Freezer

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 …

Investigation Reveals $15M in Lobbyist-Funded Congressional Travel and Fact-Finding Junkets

Center for Public Integrity investigation revealed that from January 2000 through June 2005, lawmakers and aides accepted at least 90 trips worth approximately $145,000 from sponsors matching firms registered to lobby the federal government. Analysis of privately funded congressional travel showed …

Public Citizen Report Shows 43% of Lawmakers Leaving Congress Became Lobbyists

Public Citizen released “Congressional Revolving Doors: The Journey from Congress To K Street,” documenting that 43% of U.S. House and Senate lawmakers (86 out of 198) who left office between 1998 and 2004 became registered lobbyists. The report found that 50% of eligible departing …

Tom Daschle Joins Private Equity Firm and Lobbying After Senate Majority Leadership

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) joined InterMedia Advisors, a New York-based private equity firm, as a consultant and chairman of its executive advisory board just months after losing his 2004 reelection bid. Simultaneously, Daschle joined the law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird …

Dick Gephardt Founds Lobbying Firm After 28 Years as House Democratic Leader

Former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO) founded Gephardt Group, a consulting and lobbying firm, immediately after his three-decade political career ended with the expiration of his 14th congressional term on January 3, 2005. Gephardt established the Atlanta-based firm with his children, …

Billy Tauzin Joins PhRMA as CEO After Shepherding $200B Medicare Drug Bill

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) announced that former House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) would become its president and CEO, effective January 2005. The announcement came shortly after Tauzin’s retirement from Congress, where from 2001 …

Medicare Part D Passes After Pharmaceutical Industry Writes Price Negotiation Ban

The House of Representatives passed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act at 5:53 AM after an unprecedented 3-hour vote that House leaders held open for nearly three hours past the normal 15-minute voting period to secure enough votes. The legislation created Medicare …