Federal court releases approximately 900 pages of previously sealed documents from the Giuffre v. Maxwell case, revealing names of dozens of Epstein associates and new details about his network. The release includes depositions, emails, and court filings, though many documents remain heavily …
International NGOs and human rights organizations convened to establish a comprehensive, transnational documentation framework for tracking and resisting democratic backsliding. The protocol creates systematic methodologies for collecting, verifying, and rapidly disseminating evidence of …
International NGO AllianceHuman Rights WatchAmnesty InternationalUnited Nations Human Rights CouncilOffice of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)civil-society-resistancedocumentation-strategytransnational-organizinghuman-rights-monitoringinstitutional-accountability
On December 13, 2021, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robyn Moberly confirmed a joint Plan of Reorganization providing a $380 million settlement for sexual abuse survivors and enabling USA Gymnastics to emerge from bankruptcy after three years of proceedings. Over 90% of the more than 500 victims voted in …
USA GymnasticsRobyn MoberlyU.S. Olympic & Paralympic CommitteeSimone BilesAly Raisman+4 morebankruptcysettlementinstitutional-abusegymnasticsusoc-failures+2 more
The Federal Reserve announced comprehensive trading restrictions for senior officials following a major financial ethics scandal. In response to controversial trades by regional Fed bank presidents Robert Kaplan and Eric Rosengren during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fed imposed strict new rules …
Jerome PowellFederal Reserve BoardElizabeth WarrenRichard ClaridaRobert Kaplan+1 morefederal-reserveethics-policytrading-restrictionsjerome-powellregulatory-response+4 more
On May 16, 2018, Michigan State University agreed to pay $500 million to settle lawsuits brought by 332 survivors of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse—the largest settlement ever in a sexual misconduct case involving a university, surpassing Penn State’s $100+ million settlement with Jerry …
Michigan State UniversityLou Anna SimonJohn EnglerLarry NassarKathie Klages+1 moreinstitutional-abusemsu-failuresgymnasticssettlementcover-up+2 more
Facebook suspends Cambridge Analytica and parent company SCL from its platform following explosive revelations by whistleblower Christopher Wylie about systematic data harvesting affecting 87 million users. The suspension comes only after The Guardian and New York Times publish comprehensive exposés …
FacebookCambridge AnalyticaSCL GroupChristopher WylieThe Guardian+4 morefacebook-suspensionchristopher-wylie-whistleblowerregulatory-failureelectoral-manipulation-exposedinstitutional-accountability+3 more
Senator Harry S. Truman establishes the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program (Truman Committee) after witnessing widespread waste and profiteering in war production. Over the next four years, the committee will save an estimated $10-15 billion by uncovering fraud and …
Harry S. TrumanU.S. SenateDefense contractorswar-profiteeringcongressional-oversightdefense-industryinstitutional-accountability
Albert Fall entered the New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santa Fe to begin serving his one-year sentence for bribery, becoming the first presidential Cabinet member in American history imprisoned for felony crimes committed while in office. Driven by ambulance from El Paso due to poor health, Fall …
Albert Fallinstitutional-accountabilitypolitical-corruptioncriminal-prosecutionhistoric-precedent
Albert Fall, former Secretary of the Interior under President Warren Harding, was found guilty of accepting bribes from oil executive Edward Doheny and sentenced to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Fall became the first presidential Cabinet member in American history to be convicted of a …
Albert FallEdward Dohenypolitical-corruptioninstitutional-accountabilitycriminal-prosecutionhistoric-precedent
The Senate Committee on Public Lands and Surveys began formal public hearings on the Teapot Dome oil leases, led by Montana Democratic Senator Thomas Walsh. Republican leadership had assigned this junior minority member to chair the inquiry, expecting it to be futile. Walsh, a former prosecutor, …
Thomas WalshAlbert Fallcongressional-oversightpolitical-corruptioninstitutional-accountability
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
On February 4, 1887, President Grover Cleveland approved the Interstate Commerce Act, creating the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to oversee railroad industry conduct. This landmark legislation made railroads the first industry subject to federal regulation in American history, responding to …
U.S. CongressInterstate Commerce CommissionGranger MovementRailroad IndustryFarmers Allianceregulatory-frameworkdemocratic-resistanceinstitutional-accountabilitycorporate-regulation