corruption – News Stories About corruption - Page 19

Jan 27, 2009 6:29 PM CST

Blago Tapes Captivate Senate

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich was hundreds of miles away, but his voice captivated the Illinois Senate today as impeachment prosecutors played FBI wiretaps of conversations in which he seems to demand campaign contributions in exchange for signing legislation. One person on the recordings assures Blagojevich that a horse-racing track owner "is...

FBI Agent Details Blago's Misdeeds in Trial's 2nd Day

Jan 27, 2009 12:05 PM CST

FBI Agent Details Blago's Misdeeds in Trial's 2nd Day

Guv says he hasn't ruled out suing Senate

(Newser) - Prosecutors walked FBI agent Daniel Cain through the affidavit detailing wiretapped conversations of Rod Blagojevich in the second day of the Illinois Senate’s impeachment trial against the governor, the Chicago Tribune reports. Cain confirmed comments attributed to Blagojevich taken from wiretapped conversations, including the governor’s attempt to sell...

Day 1 of
Blago Trial
Wraps Up

UPDATED

Jan 26, 2009 8:06 PM CST

Day 1 of Blago Trial Wraps Up

(Newser) - The first day of Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate has ended after testimony from only one witness, the Chicago Tribune reports. Former federal prosecutor John Scully described how agents built a criminal case against the governor, approving wiretaps and bugs after a rigorous vetting process. “...

In Case Pen Is No Mightier, Russian Journos Want Guns

Jan 26, 2009 4:15 PM CST

In Case Pen Is No Mightier, Russian Journos Want Guns

Novaya Gazeta 's work has earned it a grim legacy of dead reporters

(Newser) - The murders of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and reporter Anastasia Baburova last week are only the latest to strike the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, and show just how costly freedom of the press still is in Russia, Der Spiegel reports. Investigative reporters are likely to make so many enemies—from members of...

Illinois Senate Convenes
Blago Impeachment Trial

Jan 26, 2009 12:52 PM CST

Illinois Senate Convenes Blago Impeachment Trial

(Newser) - The Illinois Senate has convened a historic impeachment trial that will determine whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich is removed from office, the AP reports. Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald began the trial today by reminding senators that they face "a solemn and serious business." They will consider charges that the...

Blago Wanted Oprah for Senate

Jan 26, 2009 9:02 AM CST

Blago Wanted Oprah for Senate

Kicks off media blitz as his impeachment trial begins in Illinois

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich considered handing Barack Obama’s Senate seat to Oprah Winfrey, he told Good Morning America today in an appearance made while boycotting his impeachment trial, which starts today. "She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way to become president," Blagojevich...

Now Blago's Comparing
Himself to King

Jan 26, 2009 2:22 AM CST

Now Blago's Comparing Himself to King

Blagojevich sees himself as a martyr as impeachment trial begins

(Newser) - Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich considers himself in the same company as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi, reports the Chicago Tribune. With his impeachment trial in the Illinois state Senate set to begin today, Blagojevich, accused of plotting to sell President Obama's Senate seat, is amping up...

Blago Hires Drew Peterson's PR Firm, Plans Media Blitz

Jan 25, 2009 10:06 AM CST

Blago Hires Drew Peterson's PR Firm, Plans Media Blitz

(Newser) - This may not come as a big surprise, but you haven't heard the last of Rod Blagojevich. The soon-to-be-impeached Illinois governor has hired the same PR firm that represents none other than suspected wife-killer Drew Peterson, the Chicago Tribune reports. Tomorrow—the same day his Senate trial begins—Blagojevich plans...

Blago's Top Lawyer to Quit

Jan 24, 2009 7:10 AM CST

Blago's Top Lawyer to Quit

'I require clients to at least listen'

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich’s top lawyer in his criminal case is jumping ship, the Chicago Tribune reports. He told reporters as much in a statement just after a judge ruled that undercover Blago tapes could be passed to the state legislature. “I never require a client to do what I...

Ahead of Trial, Blago
Paints Himself as Victim

Jan 23, 2009 4:30 PM CST

Ahead of Trial, Blago Paints Himself as Victim

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich addressed his public again today, warning the citizens of Illinois that if he goes down they are all in danger, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blago likened his Senate impeachment trial, which he will boycott when it starts Monday, to a “hanging” and “a gross violation of...

Blagojevich: Arrest Was
My Family's Pearl Harbor

Jan 23, 2009 9:40 AM CST

Blagojevich: Arrest Was My Family's Pearl Harbor

Impeached governor plans to fight to the end, but won't appear at Senate trial

(Newser) - Say this for Rod Blagojevich: He doesn’t embarrass easily. In an interview yesterday with the AP, he compared his arrest to Pearl Harbor: “Dec. 9 to my family, to us, to me, is what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States. It was a complete surprise, completely...

Feds Raid Contractors
With Ties to Murtha

Jan 23, 2009 9:16 AM CST

Feds Raid Contractors With Ties to Murtha

Veteran Dem has steered $100M to probed company

(Newser) - Federal agents yesterday raided the offices and homes of two Pennsylvania defense contractors with strong ties to powerful Congressman John Murtha, Politico reports. The lawmaker has steered more than $100 million in federal contracts to the companies, and their employees have given more than $65,000 in contributions to Murtha....

Sen. Murkowski Asked Bush for Stevens Pardon

Jan 21, 2009 1:14 PM CST

Sen. Murkowski Asked Bush for Stevens Pardon

Friends say former senator would rather clear name through courts anyway

(Newser) - Sen. Lisa Murkowski asked President Bush to pardon former Alaska Republican colleague Ted Stevens, the Anchorage Daily News reports. But Stevens would rather fight his corruption conviction in court, friends say, because he felt a pardon would taint his legacy. Murkowski wrote that she did not want to see Stevens,...

How Blago Celebrated Inauguration

Jan 21, 2009 9:29 AM CST

How Blago Celebrated Inauguration

Ill. guv played hooky from impeachment, got fingerprinted

(Newser) - Yesterday was special for a certain Illinois politician—and not just the one you’re thinking of. While Barack Obama was being sworn in, Gov. Rod Blagojevich was getting his fingerprints taken, reports the Chicago Tribune. Blagojevich also failed to enter a plea in his state Senate impeachment trial; he’...

Pelosi Open to Prosecuting Bushies

Talk show ROUNDUP

Jan 18, 2009 11:50 AM CST

Pelosi Open to Prosecuting Bushies

Emanuel: Blago didn't imply anything shady in talks with me

(Newser) - Nancy Pelosi would consider prosecuting some Bush White House officials, she told Fox News Sunday, even though Barack Obama has signaled that he doesn't favor such a move. "We cannot let the politicizing of, for example, the Justice Department to go unreviewed," says the speaker of the House....

FBI Agent Got Cozy With Sources in Stevens Probe

Jan 15, 2009 11:42 AM CST

FBI Agent Got Cozy With Sources in Stevens Probe

Agent wore skirt in court to please source; others gave her husband a job, painting of dog

(Newser) - New details emerged yesterday in an ethics complaint against an FBI investigator in the corruption probe that took down former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the Anchorage Daily News reports, including allegations the female agent wore a skirt in court to please a source. Mary Beth Kepner is also alleged to...

Ill. House Impeaches Blagojevich—Yes, Again

Jan 14, 2009 2:39 PM CST

Ill. House Impeaches Blagojevich—Yes, Again

New class of lawmakers upholds decision, with governor's sister-in-law lone dissenter

(Newser) - The Illinois House voted today for the second time in less than a week to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Chicago Tribune reports. The newly sworn-in lawmakers voted 117-1 to uphold last Friday's decision, with the lone dissenting ballot cast by Chicago Democrat Deb Mell—the disgraced governor's sister-in-law. Today's...

Afghans Infuriated by
Gaping Wealth Divide

Jan 12, 2009 9:35 AM CST

Afghans Infuriated by Gaping Wealth Divide

Corruption fuels scattered elite class

(Newser) - Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world—but while many are forced to beg for change, scattered neighbors are living in mansions, having mysteriously accumulated vast wealth, the Washington Post reports. Stories of drug trafficking, smuggling, and abuse of international aid abound. “All the jobs and...

Court Reinstates Corruption Case Against Zuma

Jan 12, 2009 5:43 AM CST

Court Reinstates Corruption Case Against Zuma

Ahead of vote, would-be S. African prez faces 16 counts of fraud

(Newser) - Jacob Zuma, the leader of the African National Congress and the likely next president of South Africa, once again faces corruption charges after the country's top appeals court reinstated 16 counts of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion today. The court reversed a bombshell ruling from last September that threw...

Outgoing Chicago Dem Is Lone Nay in Blago Vote

Jan 9, 2009 3:09 PM CST

Outgoing Chicago Dem Is Lone Nay in Blago Vote

Milton Patterson won't say much beyond having 'gut feeling' about proceedings

(Newser) - The one nay vote in today’s Illinois House impeachment of Rod Blagojevich was from Chicago Democrat Milton Patterson, the Chicago Tribune reports. Patterson said he wasn’t defending the disgraced governor. “I went by my own gut feeling,” he said. The lone “present” vote belonged to...