President Trump signed a sweeping executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which mandates massive federal workforce reductions. The order requires agencies to hire only one new employee for every four who depart, with exemptions for military, …
Donald TrumpElon MuskTrump Administrationkleptocracyworkforce-reductionexecutive-orderinstitutional-capturemusk-influence
Elon Musk launched a strategic recruitment campaign targeting engineers from Palantir and SpaceX networks through Discord servers and online chat groups, seeking to build a team to cut federal spending by one-third. The recruitment effort focused on finding ‘hardcore engineers’ willing …
President Trump executed a coordinated mass firing of approximately 17 inspectors general across federal agencies on February 7, 2025, in an unprecedented action that effectively dismantled critical government oversight mechanisms. The purge targeted inspectors general conducting sensitive …
Donald TrumpElon MuskRobert StorchPhyllis FongSergio Gor+4 morekleptocracyoversight-obstructioninspector-general-purgeinstitutional-capturegovernment-accountability+2 more
On February 5, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the immediate dissolution of the KleptoCapture Task Force, a critical anti-corruption initiative established in 2022 to enforce sanctions on Russian oligarchs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The shutdown marks a significant …
Pam BondiDonald TrumpMerrick GarlandGary KalmanAaron Zelinsky+2 moreinstitutional-captureanti-corruptionkleptocracysanctionsrussia+2 more
Elon Musk’s companies have received $38 billion in total government support over 20 years including $18 billion in federal contracts over past decade, while Musk co-directs Department of Government Efficiency with authority over federal spending.
Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights division slashed from 550 to approximately 243 employees, leaving only 5 civil rights offices nationwide. Officials described this as making discrimination complaint resolution “virtually impossible.” Cuts part of Russell …
Department of EducationRussell Vought (OMB Director)Office for Civil Rightscivil-rightseducationinstitutional-destructiondiscriminationworkforce-reduction+2 more
Campaign Legal Center identifies 467 potential conflicts of interest requiring recusal across Trump appointees, compared to minimal conflicts in previous administrations, with ethics experts describing this as potentially ending government accountability.
Amazon significantly increased its advertising spending on X (formerly Twitter) in a major reversal, after largely boycotting the platform since 2023 due to concerns about hate speech and content moderation. This decision follows broader tech industry discussions about returning to the platform, …
Jeff BezosElon MuskAndy JassyDonald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracytech-industrymedia-advertisingplatform-dynamics
In a late-night move, President Donald Trump fired at least 17 Inspectors General from various federal agencies, raising significant concerns about government oversight and potential constitutional overreach. The mass dismissal targeted watchdogs from departments including State, Energy, Interior, …
Donald TrumpSergio GorSen. Chuck Grassleykleptocracyinstitutional-captureexecutive-overreach
President Trump pardoned approximately 1,500 January 6 defendants on his first day in office, including violent offenders who assaulted police officers. Pardoned Proud Boys leaders like Enrique Tarrio returned to public activism, with Joe Biggs describing their CPAC reception as “we’re …
Donald TrumpEnrique TarrioJoe BiggsProud BoysJanuary 6 defendantsjanuary-6presidential-pardonspolitical-violencenormalizationproud-boys+2 more
Trump assembled wealthiest administration in history with $450+ billion combined net worth, including 13 billionaires. Elon Musk alone worth $448 billion. Cabinet excluding Musk worth $13.8 billion vs Biden’s $118 million cabinet. Net worth exceeds GDP of 175 countries, representing government …
Trump launched a cryptocurrency memecoin right before his inauguration to make millions of dollars, then increased the value of those coins by signing executive orders making crypto a priority. He also launched a meme coin for Melania Trump.
Donald TrumpMelania Trumptrump-memecoincorruptiontrump-coinfinancial-conflictsmarket-manipulation+11 more
North Carolina’s SB 382, deceptively framed as “disaster relief,” transferred power to appoint State Board of Elections members from Democratic Governor Josh Stein to Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek, effective May 2025. Unprecedented power grab enacted after Democrats won …
North Carolina LegislatureJosh Stein (Governor-elect)Roy Cooper (Governor)Dave Boliek (State Auditor)power-grabelection-boardinstitutional-capturelame-ducknorth-carolina+2 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
U.S. Supreme Court allowed Virginia to purge over 1,600 voters within federally protected 90-day “quiet period” before 2024 election in 6-3 emergency decision, overturning lower court rulings in Beals v. Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights. Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive …
US Supreme CourtGlenn Youngkin (Governor)Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rightsvoter-purgesupreme-courtnvra-violationnaturalized-citizensvoter-suppression+2 more
Georgia State Election Board with Republican majority including Janelle King, Janice Johnston, and Rick Jeffares passed multiple illegal rules between July and September 2024 coordinated with Republican National Committee. Rules included hand-count ballot requirements, “reasonable …
Georgia State Election BoardJanelle KingJanice JohnstonRick JeffaresRepublican National Committee+1 moreelection-boardregulatory-captureelection-sabotagegeorgiaillegal-rules+2 more
January 6th Committee investigation found tech platforms systematically bent rules to avoid penalizing conservative content out of fear of political reprisals. Internal documents revealed Facebook maintained “white lists” exempting conservative accounts (Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., …
Twitter/XFacebook/MetaHouse January 6th CommitteeEric TrumpDonald Trump Jr.+2 moreplatform-captureconservative-biasregulatory-capturesocial-media-manipulationpolitical-favoritism+2 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
Attorney General Merrick Garland establishes Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement unit dedicated to enforcing sanctions and seizing assets of Russian kleptocrats following Ukraine invasion. The initiative represents a major expansion of US anti-corruption enforcement …
Merrick GarlandDepartment of JusticeTask Force KleptoCaptureKleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiativekleptocracysanctionsasset-recoverydojrussia+2 more
Attorney General Merrick Garland established Task Force KleptoCapture, an unprecedented interagency law enforcement unit dedicated to enforcing sanctions and seizing assets of Russian kleptocrats following the Ukraine invasion. The initiative represents a major expansion of US anti-corruption …
Merrick GarlandAndrew AdamsDepartment of JusticeFBIU.S. Secret Service+2 morekleptocracysanctionsasset-recoverydojrussia+3 more
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released the Pandora Papers, the largest offshore data leak in history, containing 11.9 million files from 14 financial services companies across multiple jurisdictions. The investigation exposed the secret offshore affairs of 35 …
International Consortium of Investigative JournalistsKing Abdullah II of JordanAndrej BabišSebastián PiñeraVolodymyr Zelensky+3 morecorruptionoffshore-financetax-avoidancepandora-paperskleptocracy+2 more
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released the Pandora Papers, the largest leak of offshore financial documents in history, exposing the secret wealth and tax avoidance schemes of world leaders, politicians, and billionaires. The 11.9 million documents from 14 …
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)King Abdullah II of JordanAndrej BabišVolodymyr ZelenskyyTony Blair+3 moreoffshoretax-avoidancecorruptionpandora-papersicij+4 more
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released the Pandora Papers, the largest leak of offshore financial documents in history, exposing the secret wealth and tax avoidance schemes of world leaders, politicians, and billionaires. The 11.9 million documents from 14 …
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)King Abdullah II of JordanAndrej BabišVolodymyr ZelenskyyTony Blair+3 moreoffshoretax-avoidancecorruptionpandora-papersicij+4 more
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
Environmental lawyer Jeffrey Clark attempted to use the Department of Justice to overturn the 2020 election by sending false fraud letters to swing states. Clark drafted a letter falsely claiming DOJ had identified ‘significant concerns’ about the election and urging Georgia to convene a …
Jeffrey ClarkDonald TrumpJeffrey RosenRichard DonoghueDepartment of Justiceconstitutional-crisisinstitutional-capturecoup-attemptjanuary-6kleptocracy+6 more
Malaysian authorities charged former Prime Minister Najib Razak with criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) sovereign wealth fund scandal. On July 4th, 2018, Najib appeared in the Kuala Lumpur High Court, pleading not guilty to …
Trump called White House Counsel Don McGahn at home and directed him to call Acting Attorney General and say Special Counsel had conflicts of interest and must be removed. McGahn refused, deciding he would resign rather than trigger what he viewed as potential “Saturday Night Massacre” …
Donald TrumpDon McGahnRod RosensteinRob Porterobstruction-of-justicemueller-investigationsaturday-night-massacrewitness-tamperingdocument-falsification+2 more
Trump fired FBI Director James Comey while under FBI investigation for Russian connections. Day after firing, Trump told Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Ambassador Kislyak in Oval Office that he had “faced great pressure because of Russia” which had been “taken off” by …
Donald TrumpJames ComeySergey LavrovSergey KislyakRod Rosensteinobstruction-of-justicereferee-neutralizationrussia-investigationfbiinstitutional-capture+1 more
Erik Prince, founder of military contractor Blackwater and brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, met with Putin ally Kirill Dmitriev in Seychelles to establish back channel between incoming Trump administration and Kremlin. George Nader told Dmitriev that Prince “is designated by Steve …
Erik PrinceKirill DmitrievGeorge NaderSteve BannonJared Kushner+1 morebackchannelprivatizationdiplomatic-bypassrussian-connectionsblackwater+1 more
Donald Trump Jr. accepted meeting at Trump Tower after being promised “official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary” as “part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump.” Meeting included Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, Rinat …
Donald Trump Jr.Jared KushnerPaul ManafortNatalia VeselnitskayaRinat Akhmetshin+2 moreforeign-interferencecampaign-finance-violationrussian-collusionobstructiondisinformation+1 more
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released the Panama Papers, a collection of 11.5 million leaked documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. The documents revealed how wealthy individuals and public officials used offshore shell companies to hide assets …
International Consortium of Investigative JournalistsMossack FonsecaVladimir PutinPetro PoroshenkoNawaz Sharif+3 morecorruptionoffshore-financemoney-launderingtax-evasionleaks+2 more
Trump personally signed Letter of Intent for Trump Tower Moscow project valued at over $1 billion while publicly denying Russian business dealings during campaign. Michael Cohen told Mueller investigators that Trump viewed his campaign as a significant “infomercial” for Trump-branded …
Donald TrumpMichael CohenFelix SaterVTB GroupYevgeny Dvoskin+1 moretrump-tower-moscowforeign-influencecampaign-financemonetizationrussian-connections+1 more
Between 2005 and 2024, the United States operated a two-tiered bankruptcy system that weaponized debt against students and working Americans while preserving bankruptcy as a strategic wealth-preservation tool for corporations and the wealthy—a defining example of 21st century American kleptocracy. …
Corinthian CollegesITT TechUniversity of PhoenixPurdue PharmaSackler Family+2 morebankruptcy-lawstudent-debtcorporate-fraudinequalitykleptocracy
President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan welcome Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos to the White House in September 1982, demonstrating strong support for the Philippine dictator despite his regime’s notorious corruption, extravagance, and brutality. The Reagans maintain a personal …
Ronald ReaganFerdinand MarcosImelda MarcosNancy Reaganforeign-policycorruptionkleptocracyhuman-rightsReagan-administration