Public Campaign Action Fund - corruption

All of a Crook Family

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:59:48 -0500

Sibling rivalry rears it's ugly head. Perhaps jealous of all the attention his indicted brother Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) was getting, Mose Jefferson has gone and gotten himself charged with bribing a school official into purchasing millions in equipment from a company Jefferson worked for. Interesting to note, as USA Today does, the millions in earmarks to the company that made the stuff Mr. Jefferson sold. What a small, small world.

Subcommittee Of His Peers

Katie Schlieper — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:06:49 -0500

On the heels of Rep. Rick Renzi's (R-AZ) indictment on 35 counts of conspiracy, fraud, money-laundering and much else the House has formed an ethics subcommittee to conduct its own investigation of the Congressman's dealings.

Renzi Indictment Frenzy

Katie Schlieper — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:50:43 -0500

Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) has just been indicted on 35 counts, including money laundering, wire fraud, and extortion stemming from a land deal wherein Renzi used his official capacity to get people to buy land from a partner, who then filtered some of the money back to Renzi -- there are also separate charges related to Renzi possibly embezzling money from a side business to fund his congressional campaigns. TPM Muckraker has the considerable muck.

Institute Change

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:06:35 -0500

Ray Metcalfe writes at the Alaska Report that the state is the victim of "institutionalized corruption" on the part of its legislators that has put money in the pockets of a few, at the expense of honest public servants. The Goodfellas poster mock-up is pretty funny.

Nice Try

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:38:18 -0500

Rep. William "Bank of My Freezer" Jefferson's (D-LA) attempt to get the bribery case against him thrown out has failed. While he could appeal the decision his trial is still set to go ahead, although it's February 25th start date might get pushed back. Jefferson attempted to argue that testimony in a grand jury hearing that produced indictments against him had made improper use of protected speech.

Dear John

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:28:32 -0500

Dear John,

It's over between us.

Love,
Congress

Finding a New Audience

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:19:37 -0500

Professors Susan Andrews and John Creed pen this op-ed for the Juneau Empire about the rash of corruption stories in Alaska and why they point the ways towards approving the Clean Elections ballot initiative for which signatures are currently being gathered.

Force for Change

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:12:32 -0500

Will public outrage over the bribery of public officials in Alaska result in an overhaul in oil and gas industry policy in the state? The Christian Science Monitor suggests that the relationship between the state and its dominant industry may get strained in the course of addressing the corruption inquiries that have already sent several Alaska lawmakers to jail.

Opposing Forces

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:51:56 -0500

With rumors circulating suggesting he may have traded legislative influence for personal favors and campaign contributions, Alaska's long-serving Senator Ted Stevens (R) will no doubt face a tougher-than-usual fight for re-election. Certainly he's drawn an interesting opponent in Ray Metcalfe, a former state legislator who's declared his candidacy in the Democratic primary. Metcalfe made his name as a source for the FBI on the investigation into the VECO bribery scandal.

Off Limits

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:49:52 -0500

An appellate court decision on the constitutionality of a search of Rep. William Jefferson's office in connection with a bribery investigation may significantly hamper investigations into other members of Congress. The court's ruling may prevent the future use of wiretapping, staff interviews, and office searches.