The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) systematically developed individualized disinformation strategies to manipulate congressional skeptics of the Iraq War authorization, using fabricated intelligence reports, coordinated media messaging, and targeted pressure tactics to secure legislative support.
Karl RoveAndrew CardCondoleezza RiceDick CheneyMichael Gerson+1 morewhigcongressional-manipulationtargeted-deceptionlegislative-corruptioniraq-war+1 more
In the early evening of Friday, December 15, 2000, with Christmas recess only hours away and the presidential election still unresolved, the U.S. Senate rushes to pass an essential 11,000-page government reauthorization bill. Senator Phil Gramm of Texas inserts a complex 262-page amendment - the …
Phil GrammU.S. SenateU.S. House of RepresentativesBill ClintonEnron Corporationderivativescfmalegislative-corruptionenron-loopholelame-duck+2 more
The Amalgamated Copper Company (later Anaconda Copper Mining Company) executed an extraordinary act of corporate extortion by shutting down all mining operations across Montana, deliberately putting 15,000 workers out of work to force the state legislature to pass laws favorable to the company. This …
Amalgamated Copper CompanyAnaconda Copper Mining CompanyF. Augustus HeinzeJudge William ClancyGovernor Joseph Toole+1 morecorporate-powerinstitutional-captureeconomic-extortionlegislative-corruptioncorporate-personhood+2 more
Congress officially repeals the congressional portion of the Salary Grab Act on January 20, 1874, sustaining only the salary increases for the President and Supreme Court Justices. The repeal comes after months of intense public fury over the March 1873 legislation that doubled congressional …
U.S. CongressUlysses S. GrantElihu Washburnesystematic-corruptionlegislative-corruptiongilded-ageelite-impunity
Congress passes and President Franklin Pierce signs the Kansas-Nebraska Act, creating the territories of Kansas and Nebraska while repealing the Missouri Compromise’s prohibition on slavery north of the 36°30’ parallel. The Act, drafted by Democratic Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois, …
Stephen A. DouglasFranklin PierceU.S. CongressPro-slavery Border RuffiansFree-State settlerskansas-nebraska-actslavery-expansionpopular-sovereigntybleeding-kansaslegislative-corruption+1 more
Georgia Governor George Mathews signs the Yazoo Act, transferring 35 million acres in present-day Alabama and Mississippi to four land development companies for $500,000—approximately $0.014 per acre—in the largest land fraud perpetrated during the Federalist Era. Georgia’s Federalist U.S. …
Georgia LegislatureGovernor George MathewsSenator James GunnFour land development companiesland-speculationlegislative-corruptionbriberyelite-corruptionsystematic-corruption