The Epstein Investigation -
Pollution Science X
Author: Michael James Ross
Published: April 4th, 2025
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Chapter 1: Epstein, Human Trafficking & The JFK Assassination
Chapter 2: Human Trafficking in Florida & The Mistrial of Journalist Michael James Ross. Michael James Ross PollutionScience.com vs Collier County, Florida Government - (Corruption in Collier County, Florida, Human Trafficking & Government Kidnapping Rings)
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The following document will detail how the authorities in the government continue to cover-up the Jeffery Epstein documents, JFK documents, RFK and the tampered video and evidence of the illegal mistrial of the author of this book Michael James Ross. For more information on the illegal arrest and tampering with the video and audio evidence of the illegal arrest of author Michael James Ross visit Florida Kidnapping Rings Investigated or the section of this book in Chapter 2.
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April 4th, 2024
PollutionScience101Florida.blogspot.com
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FBI Deleting Evidence Linked To Jeffrey Epstein? New Whistleblower Claim
2-25-2025
An alleged whistleblower alleged that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 'systematically deleted' massive amounts of evidence tied to high-profile cases related to Jeffrey Epstein and internal operations against American citizens. The alleged move was aimed at obstructing investigations led by FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
The accusation was aired by podcaster Benny Johnson. FBI has not issued any comment on the allegation. President Donald Trump had promised to release highly classified files related to the assassination of former President John F Kennedy, Senator Robert F Kennedy, and Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., as well as classified documents tied to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has taken action to make the JFK and RFK files public but has not done so for the Epstein files.
On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that she is reviewing the Epstein Files herself and has “not yet” seen any major revelations from the closely guarded document. “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review. That’s been a directive by President Trump. I’m reviewing that,” Bondi told Fox News. Jeffrey Epstein, who has links with many highly influential people, died by suicide at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center in August 2019 while in federal custody awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges...
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/fbi-deleting-evidence-linked-to-jeffrey-epstein-new-whistleblower-claim/ar-AA1zMzCQ
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Florida Republican to Lead Task Force Focused on JFK Files, Epstein List
Feb 11, 2025
https://www.newsweek.com/anna-paulina-luna-task-force-jfk-files-epstein-list-2029645
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Jeffrey Epstein, JFK files: When will they be fully released?
Feb 28, 2025
FBI said it found 2,400 new records related to JFK's assassination
DOJ released hundreds of Epstein-related files to conservative influencers
AG Pam Bondi called on FBI to release 'full and complete' Epstein records
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/jeffrey-epstein-jfk-files-when-release/
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PEDO Act: Lawmaker moves to protect Epstein files, accuses 'certain FBI agents' of trying to destroy docs
February 27, 2025
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pedo-act-lawmaker-moves-protect-epstein-files-accuses-certain-fbi-agents-trying-destroy-docs
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Trump signs order to declassify files on JFK, RFK, and MLK Jr. assassinations
January 23, 2025
https://www.fox5ny.com/news/trump-executive-order-declassify-jfk-mlk-rfk-files
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FBI says it found 2,400 new JFK assassination records
February 12, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/jfk-fbi-trump-newly-discovered-files-0bd8ad5569f5fa3ed92b8ee9b795c9e7
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JFK FILES RELEASED: What's inside? | LiveNOW from FOX
Mar 18, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ1wD9c19K8
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The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection
https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk
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Released JFK files could be ‘embarrassing’ to CIA: Journalist
Jan 23, 2025
While campaigning, Trump frequently pledged to release the files
Assassination of JFK has long been a flashpoint for conspiracy theories
An investigative journalist says the release likely won’t stop them
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/released-jfk-files-cia-gerald-posner/
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JFK files reveal CIA officials ‘lied’ about awareness of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald: researcher
April 2025
https://nypost.com/2025/04/01/us-news/jfk-files-reveal-cia-officials-lied-about-surveillance-of-assassin-lee-harvey-oswald-researcher/
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Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens%27_Commission_to_Investigate_the_FBI
The
Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI was an activist group
operational in the US during the early 1970s. Their only known action
was breaking into a two-man Media, Pennsylvania, office of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and stealing over 1,000 classified
documents. They then mailed these documents anonymously to several US
newspapers to expose numerous illegal FBI operations which were
infringing on the First Amendment rights of American citizens. Most news
outlets initially refused to publish the information, saying it related
to ongoing operations and that disclosure might have threatened the
lives of agents or informants. However, The Washington Post, after
affirming the veracity of the files which the Commission sent them, ran a
front-page story on March 24, 1971, at which point other media
organizations followed suit.
"The complete collection of
political documents ripped off from the F.B.I. office in Media, Pa.,
March 8, 1971" was published for the first time as the March 1972 issue
of WIN Magazine, a journal associated with the War Resisters League. The
documents revealed the COINTELPRO operation, and led to the Church
Committee and the cessation of this operation by the FBI. Noam Chomsky
has stated:
According to its analysis of the documents in
this FBI office, 1 percent were devoted to organized crime, mostly
gambling; 30 percent were "manuals, routine forms, and similar
procedural matter"; 40 percent were devoted to political surveillance
and the like, including two cases involving right-wing groups, ten
concerning immigrants, and over 200 on left or liberal groups. Another
14 percent of the documents concerned draft resistance and "leaving the
military without government permission." The remainder [about 15
percent] concerned bank robberies, murder, rape, and interstate theft.
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WATCH: Film director Oliver Stone calls for new congressional investigation in hearing on release of JFK files
April 2025
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-film-director-oliver-stone-calls-for-new-congressional-investigation-in-hearing-on-release-of-jfk-files
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FBI File on Communist Infiltration-Motion Picture Industry (COMPIC) ALL EXCERPTS
December 8, 2013
https://archive.org/details/FBI_File_Communist_Infiltration_Motion_Picture_Industry_COMPIC_ALL_EXCERPTS/compic1a/
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How the FBI Destroyed the Careers of 41 Women in TV and Radio
https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/how-the-fbi-destroyed-the-careers-of-progressive-women/
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From KGB to FBI: The Great Spies Of The 20th Century
Dec 8, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiKzFHZqw-4
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Did J. Edgar Hoover Kill JFK?
Donald E. Wilkes Jr.University of Georgia School of Law
12-27-2017
Did J. Edgar Hoover Kill JFK?
By Donald E. Wilkes, Jr.
National Enquirer Conspiracy Theories
The tabloid newspaper National Enquirer cannot make up its mind about who was
responsible for the Nov. 22, 1963, assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
On Apr. 20, 2016, it published an article which referred to Lee Harvey Oswald as “the
man who murdered America’s 35th president,” and excitedly screamed it was Oswald
who “blew President John F. Kennedy’s brains out!” That article, “Ted Cruz’s Father
Linked to JFK Assassination,” infamously and falsely accused Texas U.S. Senator Ted
Cruz’s father of being a “pal” of Oswald.
Seven months later, on Dec. 19, 2016, the Enquirer published another article on the JFK
assassination, “Dying Castro Admits Killing JFK!” This article claimed that JFK had
been slain by a team of hired assassins sent to Dallas by Cuban communist dictator Fidel
Castro. The fatal shots, the article asserted, had been fired from the grassy knoll by a
named Cuban-born mercenary who eluded detection and made his way back to Cuba. As
for Lee Harvey Oswald, he had been “framed” and “was in fact a patsy!”
The December 2016 article obviously is wildly at odds with the April 2016 article but
makes no mention of it. And now the Enquirer has put out a third JFK assassination
article, which itself is wildly inconsistent with the first two articles but pretends they
never existed.
The headline on the front page of the Nov. 27, 2017, Enquirer is “J. EDGAR HOOVER
ORDERED JFK MURDER!,” referencing an article that begins on page 30 of the issue,
“Hoover Masterminded JFK Killing!”
J. Edgar Hoover was the Director of the FBI for 48 years, from 1924 until his death in
1972.
National Enquirer’s Accusations Against J. Edgar Hoover
The Nov. 27 Enquirer article makes these claims:
“Hoover ran the deep-cover conspiracy that killed President John F. Kennedy in Dallas,”
and the Enquirer “has obtained a shocking top-secret document that proves it!”
The document is a telex—a printed message transmitted via a teletype machine—
consisting of a memo authored by Hoover. The telex, “now in the possession of
the National Enquirer,” has “never before [been] seen.”
“According to an expert who’s spent decades investigating JFK’s murder, Hoover’s
memo proves the FBI czar led the plot to kill Kennedy.”
“The telex was sent [from FBI headquarters to FBI field offices across the nation] on
Nov. 17, 1963, at 1:45 a.m.” (This was the Sunday before the Friday assassination.)
The telex (which the article quotes in its entirety) warned of a “threat to assassinate
President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas Nov. 22-23, 1963…Bureau has determined that a
militant revolutionary group may attempt to assassinate President Kennedy on his
proposed trip to Dallas, Texas.” [Author’s note: In this and the following paragraph
numerous spelling and grammatical errors in the telex have been corrected.]
The telex directed all receiving offices to “immediately contact” informants and
determine “if [there was] any basis for the threat,” and instructed that the “Bureau
should be kept advised of all developments by teletype.”
According to the Enquirer’s assassination expert, the telex “proves [that] J. Edgar
Hoover “not only was part of a cabal to kill Kennedy but led it,” because, the expert
claims, “the telex was sent [by Hoover] to cover himself after the fact!”
The existence of the telex was first disclosed to persons outside the FBI in 1968, “by
William Walter, a former FBI agent in New Orleans.” The “night after JFK was shot,
[Walter] looked for the telex in the New Orleans field offices and found that it was
missing!” Then, after Walter discovered that the folder in which the telex had been filed
also had vanished, and proceeded to mention the telex to a superior, “he was
immediately fired by the FBI.”
Both the telex and the folder disappeared because Lee Harvey Oswald “was a
confidential informant for the FBI, [and] Hoover…didn’t want any reports kept that
might embarrass the FBI…”
Although the original telex is unavailable, we know its contents because Walter
“reproduced
https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1287&context=fac_pm
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JFK files: FBI anxious to 'convince public' about Oswald
27 October 2017
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41774066
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She 'let Jeffrey Epstein slide': Critics blast Trump's latest 'corrupt' Cabinet pick
November 21, 2024
https://www.rawstory.com/pam-bondi-2669969108/
Less than 24 hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) withdrew his name from consideration for Attorney General, President-Elect Donald Trump announced Gaetz's replacement for the nomination.
"I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States," Trump wrote via Truth Social.
A slew of legal experts and journalists quickly reacted to the news, many criticizing the president-elect's choice.
Conservative political commentator Rogan O'Handley, also known as DC Draino, from left, social media content creator Chaya Raichik and conservative political commentator Liz Wheeler hold up binders with a cover titled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1," with Jack Posobiec at the White House, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington.
Rochester Institute of Technology law professor David Cay Johnston commented: "Pam Bondi, Trump's new AG pick, is so corrupt. She took an illegal $25,000 campaign donation from the Trump Foundation. Bondi kept the money (!!!), given when -- as Florida AG -- she shut down her office's investigation of the utterly fraudulent Trump University."
Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell added: "Hi America. If you want to understand why Donald Trump likes Pam Bondi, know this: Complaints were filed about Trump U. in with attorneys general in two states. - NY's AG pursued and got a $25 million settlement - Trump gave Bondi $25k, and she did nothing."
Journalist Ken Klippenstein wrote: "Trump's new pick for AG, Pam Bondi, was a registered lobbyist for the government of Qatar"
Human Rights Campaign national press secretary Brandon Wolf replied: Two days after my best friends and 47 others were murdered at Pulse Nightclub, Pam Bondi tried to paint herself as a friend to the community. She hoped we’d forget that, just TWO years earlier, she said our freedom to marry would cause 'significant public harm.' We didn’t."
Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross replied: "The same Pam Bodi who let Jeffrey Epstein slide"
Long Island County, New York's Suffolk Young Democrats Chair Skyler Johnson commented: "Trump makes sure to point out that she was the first female Attorney General of Florida. I’m sorry - I thought acknowledging such things was an unforgivable sin, and proof someone was selected because of DEI? Are the rules different now?"
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FBI's New York Field Office Head resigns following accusations he withheld Epstein documents
Mar 3, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BdrjIJMuP8
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FBI withheld ‘thousands of pages’ of Jeffrey Epstein docs, Pam Bondi says — and she’s demanding they be turned over
Feb. 27, 2025
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed Thursday that “thousands of pages” of documents in the FBI’s investigation into the sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein were withheld from her.
And she’s demanding that they be turned over by Friday morning.
Bondi, 59, disclosed in a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel a tipster said that all but “approximately 200 pages of documents” were still being kept secret at the FBI’s office in New York — despite her repeated requests for the “full” Epstein files.
The initial batch included flight logs, phone numbers and the names of victims, but a source in the FBI’s New York office reached out and said that hundreds additional documents were not included...
Ogles, 53, wrote to Bondi on Wednesday, announcing that he was “drafting legislation entitle the Preventing Epstein Documentation Obliteration Act, or the PEDO Act” following “reports that certain FBI agents are allegedly attempting to destroy critical records.”
“Should you encounter any statutory barriers to the expeditious public release of Jeffrey Epstein’s client list or other pertinent information related to his activities — to include circumstances in which any such documentation is housed in other federal agencies — I stand ready to assist,” he said.
“Our constituents deserve nothing less than radical transparency in matters implicating the integrity of our justice system,” he added in the missive, which was first reported by Fox News.
A former FBI special agent had suggested the Epstein files could be among documents during a recent interview on the conservative influencer Benny Johnson’s podcast.
“There are FBI servers,” said ex-agent-turned-whistleblower Garret O’Boyle, “and people inside the FBI have been working night and day to destroy files on these servers.”
“No idea on what it is — I can only speculate — but you mentioned the Epstein list,” he added. “I’d imagine it’s cases like that.”
The FBI currently has hundreds of Epstein files available to the public on its website, but The Post previously scooped that the Justice Department was preparing to release 100 pages of the notorious criminal’s personal address book on Thursday, according to a source who reviewed the files.
Bondi had hinted on Fox News “Jesse Watters Primetime” that the DOJ was going to release “some Epstein information,” while adding the fact that details of the financier’s abuse of more than 250 victims “will make you sick.”
Conservative influencers were received at the White House and presented with “Phase 1” of the Epstein files release, emerging from the West Wing Thursday afternoon to brandish the binders at the press without immediately disclosing any details.
Ogles in his letter to Bondi also claimed a “decades-long obfuscation campaign” had withheld full details on investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
The effect of that “has clearly marginalized trust in our institutions and has contributed to all sorts of alternative theories and motivations regarding the deaths of these men,” he said.
Another Tennessee lawmaker has also pushed for the full release of the Epstein files.
“For years, my efforts to crack the Epstein trafficking ring wide open have been stonewalled by Democrats at every turn,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) posted Monday on X.
“This will change under [FBI Director Kash Patel]. I just sent him a letter asking for the complete & unredacted Epstein files.”
In his confirmation hearing, Patel committed to Blackburn that he would “do everything” to reveal the “full weight” of “what happened” in Epstein’s child sex trafficking ring.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
https://nypost.com/2025/02/27/us-news/fbi-withheld-thousands-of-pages-of-jeffrey-epstein-docs-bondi/
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Epstein files: Full list of names in disgraced financier’s contact book released by Pam Bondi
2/28/2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi released more than 100 pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein - though much of the information was already publicly available.
As part of President Donald Trump’s executive order demanding the government make documents related to cases of national interest public, Bondi said on Wednesday she would release “a lot of information” related to Epstein.
The latest instalment of the Epstein files included flight logs, a redacted contact book and an evidence list that made up part of the investigation into the disgraced financier.
Epstein, who died by suicide while in prison in 2019, spent decades running a scheme that allowed him and other people – including allegedly high-profile people – to sexually abuse children.
However, disappointment washed over people who have long believed there is a government cover-up conspiracy tied to the Epstein case when most of the information in the documents Bondi released, including names, had already been widely reported on.
Being named in the documents does not indicate wrongdoing related to Epstein or anyone else. The list of names includes alleged victims, accusers and people tangentially connected to Epstein who were pulled into the civil or criminal lawsuits against his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
For example, both former president Bill Clinton and Trump have been named in connection to Epstein because both traveled on Epstein’s private jet at one point in time. But neither has been formally accused of wrongdoing and deny any involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The names included in the documents previously released have been listed below.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking in connection to Epstein’s activities
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, second son of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Brother of King Charles III
Bill Clinton, former US president listed on flight logs
President Donald Trump listed on flight logs and in Epstein’s book
Marla Maples, the former wife of Donald Trump listed on flight logs
Tiffany Trump, the daughter of Marla Maples and Donald Trump listed on flight logs
Alan Dershowitz, prolific lawyer and media pundit who represented Epstein in 2006 listed on flight logs and in Epstein’s book
Jean Luc Brunel, French model agency boss and alleged Epstein co-conspirator who died in an apparent suicide while awaiting trial
Michael Jackson, famed musician known as the “King of Pop” named in Epstein’s book
Marvin Minksy, artificial intelligence pioneer listed on flight logs
Naomi Campbell, British model listed on flight logs
Courtney Love, American singer named in Epstein’s book
Mick Jagger, English musician and frontman of the The Rolling Stones named in Epstein’s book
Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico named in Epstein’s book
Glenn Dubin, an American hedge fund manager who was allegedly friends with Epstein listed on flight logs and named in Epstein’s book
Eva Andersson-Dubin, former Miss Sweden and wife of Glenn Dubin, who once dated Epstein listed on flight logs and named in Epstein’s book
Tom Pritzker, American tycoon and philanthropist listed on flight logs
Chris Tucker, American comedian and actor known for his role in the Rush Hour films named in Epstein’s book
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, former wife of Prince Andrew listed on flight logs
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services named in Epstein’s book
Mary Kennedy, the late wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named in Epstein’s book
Dana Burns listed on flight logs
Frédéric Fekkai, celebrity hairstylist listed on flight logs and named in Epstein’s book
Alexandra Fekkai, son of celebrity hairstylist listed on flight logs and named in Epstein’s book
Jo Jo Fontanella, Epstein’s butler listed on flight logs
Doug Band, longtime Bill Clinton aide who says he urged Clinton to cut ties with Epstein listed on flight logs
Virginia Giuffre, formerly known as Virginia Roberts, accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault
Eric Gany named in Epstein’s book
Sheridan Gibson-Butte listed on flight logs
Shelly Harrison listed on flight logs
Victoria Hazell listed on flight logs
Forest Sawyer listed on flight logs
Sarah Kellen, Epstein’s former assistant, named as an unindicted co-conspirator in his 2008 plea deal listed on flight logs
Adriana Mucinska, formerly Ross, Epstein’s former assistant, named as an unindicted co-conspirator in his 2008 plea deal listed on flight logs
Peter Marino, listed on flight logs
Nadia Marcinkova, alleged friend of Epstein’s, named as an unindicted co-conspirator in his 2008 plea deal listed on flight logs
David Mullen, listed on flight logs
Joe Pagano, listed on flight logs
Kristy Rodgers, listed on flight logs
Patsy Rodgers, listed on flight logs
Mark Epstein, brother of Jeffrey Epstein listed on flight logs
Emmy Taylor, Maxwell’s ex-personal assistant listed on flight logs
Brent Tindall, chef for Epstein listed on flight logs
Ed Tuttle, listed on flight logs
Les Wexner, founder of L Brands and a former business partner of Epstein, named in Epstein’s book
Abigail Wexner, wife of Les Wexner, named in Epstein’s book
Cresencia Valdez, listed on flight logs
Maritza Vasquez, former bookkeeper for Jean-Luc Brunel, listed on flight logs
Sharon Reynolds, listed on flight logs
Courtney Wild, listed on flight logs
Mark Zeff, New York decorator, named in Epstein’s book
Kelly Spamm, listed on flight logs
Alexandra Dixon, listed on flight logs
Ricardo Legoretta, Mexican designer, listed on flight logs
Bondi said in a statement that the first phase was intended to “shed light to Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability.”
The federal government had begun pursuing a case against Epstein after there was intense public scrutiny of the sweetheart deal he cut with state prosecutors in Florida in 2008, serving only 13 months in prison despite being accused of sexually abusing hundreds of underage girls and young women.
A similar case was pursued against Maxwell, his longtime girlfriend who helped him abuse children for decades. She was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other offenses in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The Justice Department also released a document entitled “Massuse list,” which was entirely redacted in order to protect the privacy of victims. They also released Epstein’s, already public, address book.
Despite the lacking information, Trump’s administration still made show out of the day, inviting a group of conservative influencers to the White House to hand them white binders that contained “Phase 1” of the Epstein Files.
The attorney general said more information would be released soon and accused the FBI field office in New York of withholding documents. She sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel requesting they hand over “the full and complete Epstein files” by Friday morning.
The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/crime/general/epstein-files-full-list-of-names-in-disgraced-financier-s-contact-book-released-by-pam-bondi/ar-AA1zZKtk
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These Celebrities Were Named in Jeffrey Epstein List
Jan 04, 2024
List of Celebrities Named in Epstein List
Cate Blanchett
Naomi Campbell
David Copperfield
Cameron Diaz
Leonardo DiCaprio
Stephen Hawking
Michael Jackson
Kevin Spacey
Bruce Willis
https://www.newsweek.com/jeffrey-epstein-list-celebrities-named-unsealed-ghislaine-maxwell-1857767
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Epstein files: Full list of names in disgraced financier’s contact book released by Pam Bondi
February 28, 2025
https://www.aol.com/dolly-partons-husband-carl-dean-004528339.html
Attorney General Pam Bondi released more than 100 pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein - though much of the information was already publicly available.
As part of President Donald Trump’s executive order demanding the government make documents related to cases of national interest public, Bondi said on Wednesday she would release “a lot of information” related to Epstein.
The latest instalment of the Epstein files included flight logs, a redacted contact book and an evidence list that made up part of the investigation into the disgraced financier.
Epstein, who died by suicide while in prison in 2019, spent decades running a scheme that allowed him and other people – including allegedly high-profile people – to sexually abuse children.
The names included in the documents previously released have been listed below.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking in connection to Epstein’s activities
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, second son of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Brother of King Charles III
Bill Clinton, former US president listed on flight logs
President Donald Trump listed on flight logs and in Epstein’s book
Marla Maples, the former wife of Donald Trump listed on flight logs
Tiffany Trump, the daughter of Marla Maples and Donald Trump listed on flight logs
Alan Dershowitz, prolific lawyer and media pundit who represented Epstein in 2006 listed on flight logs and in Epstein’s book
Jean Luc Brunel, French model agency boss and alleged Epstein co-conspirator who died in an apparent suicide while awaiting trial
Michael Jackson, famed musician known as the “King of Pop” named in Epstein’s book
Marvin Minksy, artificial intelligence pioneer listed on flight logs
Naomi Campbell, British model listed on flight logs
Courtney Love, American singer named in Epstein’s book
Mick Jagger, English musician and frontman of the The Rolling Stones named in Epstein’s book
Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico named in Epstein’s book
Glenn Dubin, an American hedge fund manager who was allegedly friends with Epstein listed on flight logs and named in Epstein’s book
Eva Andersson-Dubin, former Miss Sweden and wife of Glenn Dubin, who once dated Epstein listed on flight logs and named in Epstein’s book
Tom Pritzker, American tycoon and philanthropist listed on flight logs
Chris Tucker, American comedian and actor known for his role in the Rush Hour films named in Epstein’s book
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, former wife of Prince Andrew listed on flight logs
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services named in Epstein’s book
Mary Kennedy, the late wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named in Epstein’s book
Dana Burns listed on flight logs
Frédéric Fekkai, celebrity hairstylist listed on flight logs and named in Epstein’s book
Alexandra Fekkai, son of celebrity hairstylist listed on flight logs and named in Epstein’s book
Jo Jo Fontanella, Epstein’s butler listed on flight logs
Doug Band, longtime Bill Clinton aide who says he urged Clinton to cut ties with Epstein listed on flight logs
Virginia Giuffre, formerly known as Virginia Roberts, accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault
Eric Gany named in Epstein’s book
Sheridan Gibson-Butte listed on flight logs
Shelly Harrison listed on flight logs
Victoria Hazell listed on flight logs
Forest Sawyer listed on flight logs
Sarah Kellen, Epstein’s former assistant, named as an unindicted co-conspirator in his 2008 plea deal listed on flight logs
Adriana Mucinska, formerly Ross, Epstein’s former assistant, named as an unindicted co-conspirator in his 2008 plea deal listed on flight logs
Peter Marino, listed on flight logs
Nadia Marcinkova, alleged friend of Epstein’s, named as an unindicted co-conspirator in his 2008 plea deal listed on flight logs
David Mullen, listed on flight logs
Joe Pagano, listed on flight logs
Kristy Rodgers, listed on flight logs
Patsy Rodgers, listed on flight logs
Mark Epstein, brother of Jeffrey Epstein listed on flight logs
Emmy Taylor, Maxwell’s ex-personal assistant listed on flight logs
Brent Tindall, chef for Epstein listed on flight logs
Ed Tuttle, listed on flight logs
Les Wexner, founder of L Brands and a former business partner of Epstein, named in Epstein’s book
Abigail Wexner, wife of Les Wexner, named in Epstein’s book
Cresencia Valdez, listed on flight logs
Maritza Vasquez, former bookkeeper for Jean-Luc Brunel, listed on flight logs
Sharon Reynolds, listed on flight logs
Courtney Wild, listed on flight logs
Mark Zeff, New York decorator, named in Epstein’s book
Kelly Spamm, listed on flight logs
Alexandra Dixon, listed on flight logs
Ricardo Legoretta, Mexican designer, listed on flight logs
Bondi said in a statement that the first phase was intended to “shed light to Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability.”
The federal government had begun pursuing a case against Epstein after there was intense public scrutiny of the sweetheart deal he cut with state prosecutors in Florida in 2008, serving only 13 months in prison despite being accused of sexually abusing hundreds of underage girls and young women.
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Jeffrey Epstein List in Full as Dozens of Names Revealed
Jan 03, 2024
After weeks of speculation and anticipation, many of the names of former associates, employees, friends and victims of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been released.
The names were unsealed from a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, an alleged trafficking victim, against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend. Maxwell, 61, is serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was convicted in December 2021 of helping Epstein recruit and sexually abuse underage girls.
Many of those whose names appear in the documents released Wednesday aren't accused of wrongdoing or have been mentioned previously in legal proceedings or news accounts. The documents released Wednesday are not an Epstein "client list."
In December, U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska found no legal justification for continuing to withhold the names of as many as 175 individuals allegedly connected with Epstein, ordering the unsealing to begin from January 1.
Here are the contents of the documents released Wednesday in Giuffre v. Maxwell by the Southern District of New York
Nearly 90 names were included in the documents, with four redacted.
Ghislaine Maxwell
Virginia Lee Roberts Giuffre
Kathy Alexander
Miles Alexander
James Michael Austrich
Philip Barden
REDACTED
Cate Blanchett
David Boies
Laura Boothe
Evelyn Boulet
Rebecca Boylan
Joshua Bunner
Naomi Campbell
Carolyn Casey
Paul Cassell
Sharon Churcher
Bill Clinton
David Copperfield
Alexandra Cousteau
Cameron Diaz
Leonardo DiCaprio
Alan Dershowitz
Dr. Mona Devanesan
REDACTED
Bradley Edwards
Amanda Ellison
Cimberly Espinosa
Jeffrey Epstein
Annie Farmer
Marie Farmer
Alexandra Fekkai
Crystal Figueroa
Anthony Figueroa
Louis Freeh
Eric Gany
Meg Garvin
Sheridan Gibson-Butte
Robert Giuffre
Al Gore
Ross Gow
Fred Graff
Philip Guderyon
REDACTED
Shannon Harrison
Stephen Hawking
Victoria Hazel
Brittany Henderson
Brett Jaffe
Michael Jackson
Carol Roberts Kess
Dr. Karen Kutikoff
Peter Listerman
George Lucas
Tony Lyons
Bob Meister
Jamie A. Melanson
Lynn Miller
Marvin Minsky
REDACTED
David Mullen
Joe Pagano
Mary Paluga
J. Stanley Pottinger
Joseph Recarey
Michael Reiter
Jason Richards
Bill Richardson
Sky Roberts
Scott Rothstein
Forest Sawyer
Doug Schoetlle
Kevin Spacey
Cecilia Stein
Mark Tafoya
Brent Tindall
Kevin Thompson
Donald Trump
Ed Tuttle
Emma Vaghan
Kimberly Vaughan-Edwards
Cresenda Valdes
Anthony Valladares
Maritza Vazquez
Vicky Ward
Jarred Weisfeld
Courtney Wild
Bruce Willis
Daniel Wilson
Andrew Albert Christian Edwards, Duke of York
What to know about the release of this trove of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents
Preska's order on Dec. 18 noted that unsealing is justified due to "no interests that outweigh the presumption of access" to the documents.
Some portions of the records will remain confidential, including those identifying people who were children when they were sexually abused by Epstein, who took his own life in August 2019 in a federal prison in Manhattan as he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges.
Preska gave lawyers for each of the people named the opportunity to review the files before they were unsealed and argue in favor of keeping them out of public view.
One woman, "Doe 107," whose name appears in the records, has been given 30 more days to make arguments to the court as to why her name should stay redacted. On Wednesday, it was announced a second inquiry, by "Doe 110," is currently under review by the court.
The release of the documents has fueled misinformation this week.
After a crack by New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers made Tuesday on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show," social media users falsely claimed that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's name might appear in the documents.
Kimmel said in a response on X that he had never met Epstein and that Rodgers' "reckless words put my family in danger."
"Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court," Kimmel wrote.
A host of prominent figures have been linked to Epstein and Maxwell, including Prince Andrew and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
Giuffre alleges that Maxwell arranged for the then 17-year-old to have sex with Epstein and other prominent men, including Prince Andrew. The British royal has denied the allegations and settled with Giuffre out of court in February 2022.
Giuffre also alleges she was directed to have sex with former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, the late fashion and modeling director Jean-Luc Brunel, billionaire hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, and the then governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson.
Bloomberg reported in August 2019 that Richardson, who passed away in September 2023, said he had never met Giuffre. The outlet reported that he called the allegations "completely false" and said that during his limited interactions with Epstein, he had never seen him in the presence of underage girls.
In the same article, Mitchell told Bloomberg in a statement that the allegation is false. He said he never met, spoke with, or had contact with Giuffre, or knew of or suspected that Epstein had inappropriate conduct with underage girls.
Dubin and his wife, Eva, called the allegations "demonstrably false and defamatory." In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, also in August 2019, a spokeswoman added: "The Dubins have flight records and other evidence that definitively disprove that any such events occurred."
Clinton has maintained that he did not have any contact with Epstein after he was accused of sex crimes, and never visited his private island of Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands. There is no indication that the sealed records contain sign of any wrongdoing on Clinton's part.
A spokesperson for the former president previously reiterated his July 2019 statement to Newsweek.
"President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York," the statement said.
The statement confirmed Clinton had flown on Epstein's plane along with his staff and added, "He's not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little St. James island."
During Maxwell's 2021 trial, it was revealed that Trump had flown several times on Epstein's jet, dubbed the "Lolita Express," in the 1990s.
Read the Jeffrey Epstein documents in full below, or click here:
https://www.newsweek.com/jeffrey-epstein-list-full-dozens-names-revealed-1857103
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Pritzker family under fire as members are key players in Harvard, Epstein scandals
Jan. 4, 2024
https://nypost.com/2024/01/04/news/pritzker-power-family-under-fire-for-harvard-epstein-scandals/
Until recently, the most controversial members of Chicago’s ultra-rich and powerful Pritzker family were the billionaire Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker — a longtime Democratic activist and bail reform advocate — and his billionaire transgender cousin Jennifer, who’s funneled millions into universities, medical schools, gender clinics and nonprofits in support of “gender-affirming” medical care.
This week, however, they’ve been overshadowed by family members who are embroiled in two of the biggest news stories of the moment.
The governor’s sister Penny, 64, is front and center with the resignation Tuesday of Harvard president Claudine Gay over multiple instances of plagiarism. Penny has been, since February 2022, senior fellow of the Harvard Corporation — the governing board that recruited, hired and protected Gay in light of her scandals, including underplaying antisemitism at the school.
Meanwhile, cousin Thomas Pritzker is named in newly unsealed documents relating to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Pritzker family was ranked the country’s ninth-richest family in 2020.
They owe their wealth to Jay Pritzker (father of Thomas) who enrolled in the University of Chicago at 14, later graduated from Northwestern University Law School, and created the Hyatt Hotel chain, now a multi-national conglomerate, in 1957 at the age of 35.
Penny’s father, Donald, helped grow Hyatt, while his brother Robert (father of Jennifer) founded the international Marmon Group for autonomous manufacturing.
The three men are the grandsons of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants
Penny Pritzker, a billionaire in her own right who has donated $100 million to Harvard and is an alumna of the school, has come under fire because of her steadfast support of Gay — despite intense criticism over her statement to Congress addressing antisemitism last month, and what had been mounting questions about plagiarism.
“The Board Chair, Penny Pritzker, should resign along with the other members of the board who led the campaign to keep Claudine Gay, orchestrated the strategy to threaten the media, bypassed the process for evaluating plagiarism, and otherwise greatly contributed to the damage that has been done,” billionaire and former Harvard alum and donor Bill Ackman wrote on X this week.
https://nypost.com/2024/01/04/news/pritzker-power-family-under-fire-for-harvard-epstein-scandals/
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She 'let Jeffrey Epstein slide': Critics blast Trump's latest 'corrupt' Cabinet pick
November 21, 2024
Less than 24 hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) withdrew his name from consideration for Attorney General, President-Elect Donald Trump announced Gaetz's replacement for the nomination.
"I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States," Trump wrote via Truth Social.
A slew of legal experts and journalists quickly reacted to the news, many criticizing the president-elect's choice.
Rochester Institute of Technology law professor David Cay Johnston commented: "Pam Bondi, Trump's new AG pick, is so corrupt. She took an illegal $25,000 campaign donation from the Trump Foundation. Bondi kept the money (!!!), given when -- as Florida AG -- she shut down her office's investigation of the utterly fraudulent Trump University."
Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell added: "Hi America. If you want to understand why Donald Trump likes Pam Bondi, know this: Complaints were filed about Trump U. in with attorneys general in two states. - NY's AG pursued and got a $25 million settlement - Trump gave Bondi $25k, and she did nothing."
Journalist Ken Klippenstein wrote: "Trump's new pick for AG, Pam Bondi, was a registered lobbyist for the government of Qatar"
Human Rights Campaign national press secretary Brandon Wolf replied: Two days after my best friends and 47 others were murdered at Pulse Nightclub, Pam Bondi tried to paint herself as a friend to the community. She hoped we’d forget that, just TWO years earlier, she said our freedom to marry would cause 'significant public harm.' We didn’t."
Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross replied: "The same Pam Bodi who let Jeffrey Epstein slide"
Long Island County, New York's Suffolk Young Democrats Chair Skyler Johnson commented: "Trump makes sure to point out that she was the first female Attorney General of Florida. I’m sorry - I thought acknowledging such things was an unforgivable sin, and proof someone was selected because of DEI? Are the rules different now?"
https://www.rawstory.com/pam-bondi-2669969108/
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DOJ review finds Alex Acosta used ‘poor judgment’ in Jeffrey Epstein deal
November 12, 2020
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/12/politics/department-of-justice-alex-acosta-epstein/index.html
A Department of Justice review found that Alex Acosta, President Donald Trump’s former Labor secretary, exercised poor judgment when, as a US attorney in Florida, he gave sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein a non-prosecution agreement. But the review did not find that Acosta or other prosecutors engaged in professional misconduct.
The review from the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility also found that Acosta had used “poor judgment” when he failed to notify the girls and young women who alleged they were sexually abused by Epstein about the decision to not prosecute the multi-millionaire on federal charges.
Acosta resigned as Labor secretary in July 2019, less than a week after federal prosecutors in Manhattan unsealed an indictment charging Epstein with running a sex trafficking operation in which he sexually abused dozens of underaged girls in New York and Florida from 2002 to 2005. The new charges drew scrutiny of the Justice Department’s handling of an investigation a decade earlier when Acosta was US attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail in August 2019.
A Miami Herald investigation published in November 2018, which helped kickstart the New York inquiry, described the plea deal, negotiated by Acosta, as the “deal of a lifetime.”
In the 2007 deal, Epstein avoided federal charges and served only 13 months in state prison for state prostitution charges concerning his sexual involvement with underaged girls. The arrangement also protected “any potential co-conspirators of Epstein” and specifically named four women, whom victims alleged were involved in the sex-trafficking scheme.
According to the Herald, Acosta met privately and negotiated directly with one of Epstein’s lawyers, Jay Lefkowitz, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis – the law firm where Acosta was previously a partner. Ken Starr, another Kirkland attorney who investigated former President Bill Clinton, was also recruited for Epstein. One of those meetings was over breakfast at a Miami hotel.
After months of negotiating, Acosta’s office declined to prosecute Epstein on federal charges. A draft 60-count indictment was set aside and Epstein avoided all federal charges. According to the Herald, prosecutors had identified three dozen victims. The victims of his criminal acts were not notified of the deal until after it was inked.
The non-prosecution agreement has had a lasting effect beyond the Florida case. Epstein’s attorneys referenced it when they were defending against the New York charges. Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend who was indicted in July on multiple charges, including transporting underaged girls to engage in sex acts, said during her bail hearing that they intend to invoke the agreement as part of her defense. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty. The US attorney’s office in Manhattan has said it is not bound by that agreement.
The Department of Justice review concluded that Acosta’s decision fell within the “scope of his authority” and investigators “did not find evidence that his decision was based on corruption or other impermissible considerations, such as Epstein’s wealth, status, or associations.”
The review also concluded that Acosta’s “breakfast meeting” with Epstein’s attorney did not lead to the non-prosecution agreement, which had been negotiated earlier, or benefit Epstein. Citing contemporaneous records, the report concluded that prosecutors’ “concerns about legal issues, witness credibility, and the impact of a trial on the victims led them to prefer a pre-charge resolution and that Acosta’s concerns about the proper role of the federal government in prosecuting solicitation crimes resulted in his preference for a state-based resolution.”
Investigators, however, found that Acosta’s decision to sign a non-prosecution agreement was premature and made before “significant investigative steps were completed” and that the several terms in the agreement were “unusual and problematic.”
The review said by failing to inform victims of the Justice Department’s charging decision, Acosta “left victims uninformed about an important proceeding that resolved the federal investigation, an investigation about which the USAO had communicated with victims for months. It also ultimately created the misimpression that the Department intentionally sought to silence the victims.”
A federal court judge previously found that the Justice Department violated a crime victims’ rights law by failing to inform them of the non-prosecution deal. That decision was overturned earlier this year by a federal appeals court where one of the judges on the panel called the matter “a tale of national disgrace.”
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DeSantis is squeezing the sunshine out of Florida’s public records law, critics say
July 4, 2023
Ron DeSantis is the only Florida governor known to use “executive privilege” to keep records hidden, experts say, and recently signed a law barring release of his travel records.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/desantis-florida-public-records-transparency-rcna91364
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Florida officials in Jeffrey Epstein investigation cleared of wrongdoing
May 11, 2021
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered investigation in August 2019, just days before Epstein killed himself
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-officials-jeffrey-epstein-investigation-cleared-wrongdoing
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Judge Denies Access to Jeffrey Epstein Grand Jury Records: ‘It Sounds Like a Fishing Expedition’
Jan 8th, 2020
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/judge-denies-access-to-jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-records-it-sounds-like-a-fishing-expedition/
A Florida judge on Tuesday blocked investigators from gaining access to sealed grand jury records pertaining to since-deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Palm Beach County Chief Judge Krista Marx, a former Palm Beach County prosecutor, rejected the request made by special prosecutors from the State Attorney’s Office, who Governor Ron DeSantis (R) appointed to examine the initial investigation into Epstein and eventual sweetheart plea deal that included a very generous work-release program.
According to a report from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the special prosecutors wanted to know whether the 2006 Epstein grand jury heard any testimony as to whether police had evidence that several female minors were sexually assaulted by Epstein at his Palm Beach estate.
Former Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer’s office convened a grand jury that indicted Epstein only for soliciting prostitution, much to the dismay of former Palm Beach police chief Michael Reiter.
Reiter was, in fact, so unnerved by “extremely unusual and disappointing” treatment of the case that he asked Krischer by letter to remove himself from the case, and forwarded the evidence police gathered to the FBI. What happened after that is widely known.
Former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta’s office cut a deal with Epstein that immunized Epstein and co-conspirators from federal prosecution in Florida. Victims were not notified. Epstein went on to plead guilty to two state charges for soliciting prostitution of minors, had to register as a sex offender for life, and enjoyed extraordinary work-release privileges that a lawyer says Epstein abused.
Notably, Krischer blamed Acosta in July for letting Epstein off the hook.
Judge Marx worked as a Palm Beach County assistant state attorney from 1985-1999. This overlapped with Krischer’s tenure as state attorney. The judge ultimately wrote off the request to unseal grand jury documents as a “fishing expedition.”
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/judge-denies-access-to-jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-records-it-sounds-like-a-fishing-expedition/
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The real Jeffrey Epstein cover-up
JP Morgan massively and knowingly enabled Epstein’s child abuse network
You won’t hear any of this in the news, mainstream or alternative
Florida Judge Luis Delgado is the judge who said “no” to the cover up and ordered the Palm Beach grand jury transcripts available to the public.
Julie Brown did the original reporting.
The Miami Herald filed the lawsuit to get the documents released.
WallStreetonParade.com dug deep and exposed the ESSENTIAL role that JP Morgan played.
There are heroes in this world.
The dogs of the story:
Bill Clinton-appointed Judge Jed Rakoff who enabled the vast majority of evidence in the New York case against Epstein to be sealed and it still is.
Barry Krischer, Florida State attorney, who was supposed to be prosecuting the case, who let Epstein skate and commit ten more years of crimes.
Lead prosecutor on the case Lanna Belohlavek lied to the judge in the Palm Beach case when asked if all the victims had signed off on the original settlement. They most certainly had not.
All have been richly rewarded for their “service”.
Would you be surprised to learn that Krischer won the Palm Beach Anti-Defamation League’s “Jurisprudence Award” in 2018.
Look it up. You can’t make this stuff up.
The worst scumbags on this planet are very often US judges and prosecutors.
https://www.brasscheck.com/video/the-real-jeffrey-epstein-cover-up/
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Newly released Epstein transcripts: Florida prosecutors knew billionaire raped teen girls years before cutting deal
Jul 1, 2024
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/newly-released-epstein-transcript-florida-prosecutors-knew-billionaire-raped-teen-girls-years-before-cutting-deal
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida prosecutors heard graphic testimony about how the late millionaire and financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually assaulted teenage girls two years before they cut a plea deal, according to transcripts released Monday of the 2006 grand jury investigation.
The transcripts were at the center of a court battle for about a decade after media investigations into Epstein’s ties to the rich and the powerful seems to have allowed him to continue to rape and sex traffic teenagers without ever being sent to prison or serving a serious jail term.
The judge’s release of the approximately 150 pages came as a surprise as he had scheduled a hearing for next week on when and how to release them. Gov. Ron DeSantis had signed a bill in February allowing the release on Monday or any time thereafter that Circuit Judge Luis Delgado ordered.
The transcripts show that the grand jury heard testimony that Epstein, who was then in his 40s, had raped teenage girls as young as 14 at his Palm Beach mansion. The teenagers testified and told detectives they were also paid to find him more girls.
“The details in the record will be outrageous to decent people,” Delgado wrote in his order. “The testimony taken by the Grand Jury concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape — all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal.”
After the grand jury investigation, Epstein cut a deal with South Florida federal prosecutors in 2008 that allowed him to escape more severe federal charges and instead plead guilty to state charges of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution. It’s long been criticized as too lenient. He was sentenced to 1.5 years in the Palm Beach County jail system, followed by a year of house arrest. He was required to register as a sex offender.
That deal has been widely criticized as too lenient.
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Exhibit D
Giuffre
Vs.
Maxwell
5/02/2016
https://d.newsweek.com/en/file/468905/jeffrey-epstein-files-giuffre-v-maxwell-deposition.pdf
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Exhibit N
Virginia L. Giuffre
v.
Ghislaine Maxwell
Filed 1/03/2024
https://d.newsweek.com/en/file/468908/jeffrey-epstein-files-ghislaine-maxwells-disclosures-giuffre-v-maxwell.pdf
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Social Media Misinformation Erroneously Links Trump with Epstein's Newly Released Grand Jury Docs
July 13, 2024
Katie Phang dissects the social media misinformation surrounding the recently released grand jury records from Palm Beach County
https://www.msnbc.com/katie-phang/watch/social-media-misinformation-erroneously-links-trump-with-epstein-s-newly-released-grand-jury-docs-214805061640
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EXCLUSIVE: Family of Bill Clinton advisor who admitted Jeffrey Epstein into White House seven times has blocked release of files detailing the death scene after he was found hanging from a tree with a shotgun blast at a ranch 30 miles from his home
6 June 2022
Top Clinton advisor Mark Middleton died by suicide at the age of 59 on May 7, the Perry County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas confirmed
Middleton was President Bill Clinton's special advisor who admitted Jeffrey Epstein to the White House seven of the at least 17 times the pedophile visited
The married father-of-two, who lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, shot himself at the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, 30 miles away from his home
DailyMail.com can now reveal Middleton's father Larry and his widow Rhea are fighting to keep photos and 'other illustrative content' of his death sealed
The two filed for an injunction arguing that blocking the release of the footage would halt a proliferation of 'unsubstantiated conspiracy theories'
The lawsuit claims the family 'has been harassed by outlandish, hurtful, unsupported and offensive online articles' regarding Middleton and his death
Perry County Sheriff Scott Montgomery said Middleton was discovered hanging from a tree with a shotgun blast to his chest
After the petition was filed, Montgomery denied DailyMail.com's FOIA request for any of his paperwork on the case
The family of a top advisor to Bill Clinton who admitted Jeffrey Epstein to the White House multiple times during his presidency is pulling out all the stops to keep details of his mysterious death becoming public.
They have petitioned a judge to prevent pictures of Mark Middleton's death scene being released under the Freedom of Information Act.
And now the local Arkansas sheriff is interpreting that to mean he can't talk or release any details of Middleton's May 7 suicide.
'The investigation is still open. I can't say anything more,' Perry County Sheriff Scott Montgomery told DailyMail.com.
Middleton, who served as special assistant to President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, died at the age of 59, his family announced last month.
His death adds to the number of close associates of the former president and first lady who have died unexpectedly, many in small plane crashes. The phenomenon has led to a conspiracy theory called Clinton Body Count which even has its own Wikipedia page.
Middleton's family did not disclose the cause of death at the time but authorities later confirmed the former White House official took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot at an urban farm in Perryville, Arkansas.
In a lawsuit filed on May 23, the family admits Middleton committed suicide, and says they have 'a privacy interest' in preventing any 'photographs, videos, sketches (or) other illustrative content' from the death scene being released.
They claim it would lead to 'outlandish, hurtful, unsupported and offensive articles' being published online.
They argued that keeping the footage and files sealed would halt a proliferation of 'unsubstantiated conspiracy theories'.
A judge is due to hear the case on June 14.
After the petition was filed, Perry County Sheriff Scott Montgomery denied DailyMail.com's FOIA request for any of his paperwork on the case, which would include the police report and written files, even though they do not contain any graphic images.
Late last year, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed Middleton was among the Clinton advisors and aides who had let Epstein into the White House during the former president's first few years in office.
The late pedophile made at least 17 trips to the White House between 1993 and 1995, seven of which were authorized by Middleton.
The Clinton aide was also one of the many passengers to fly on Epstein's jet, known as the 'Lolita Express'.
Middleton's family last month confirmed he passed away on May 7 in a statement which did not reveal the cause of death.
It has since been confirmed that the former advisor, who lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, took his own life at the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, owned by an anti-poverty nonprofit called Heifer International, 30 miles away from his home.
Chris Cox Heifer, a spokesman for Heifer International, said that ranch workers found Middleton's car in the parking lot and notified the sheriff.
The body was found shortly afterwards.
Heifer told DailyMail.com: 'He wasn't invited to the property and staff became aware that he was there without authorization.
'We have not found any connection to Heifer.
'The ranch is well known in the area and it's possible that he could have attended something here but we couldn't' find any major links.
'The ranch hosts school groups for things like lambing so he could have attended one of those. It's a very unfortunate incident.'
In an interview with RadarOnline – before he decided to clam up – Sheriff Montgomery said Middleton was discovered hanging from a tree with a shotgun blast to his chest.
He reportedly used an extension cord as a noose and created makeshift gallows underneath the tree which appeared to be there as a failsafe in case the shotgun blast didn't kill him.
The married father-of-two, who ran an air conditioning business, did not leave a note, though he told his family he was 'depressed', Montgomery said.
'I don't know the man, and I don't why he picked our county or picked that location to commit suicide. To our knowledge, he had never been there before, and we have no record of him being there before.
'He died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the chest. He found a tree and he pulled a table over there, and he got on that table, and he took an extension cord and put it around a limb, put it around his neck and he shot himself in the chest with a shotgun.
'It was very evident that the shotgun worked because there was not a lot of blood or anything on the scene. You can tell the shotgun blast was on his chest, you can tell that because there is a hole in the chest and pellets came out the back of his back. It was definitely self-inflicted in our opinion'.
The injunction was filed two weeks after Middleton's death at the circuit court of Perry County by Rhea Middleton and Larry Middleton, Middleton's widow and father.
It states that they have a 'privacy interest in photographs, videos, sketches and other illustrative content depicting Mark Middleton's body or scene of Mr. Middleton's death' in the possession of the Perry County Sheriff and the county coroner.
The lawsuit states: 'Since Mr. Middleton's death, Mr. Middleton's family has been harassed by outlandish, hurtful, unsupported and offensive online articles regarding Mr. Middleton, his death and his family. These articles are scurrilous, baseless and malicious'.
Publishing images of Middleton's body would cause the family 'irreparable harm', they claim.
'This lawsuit seeks a declaration that any Media Content depicting Mr. Middleton's body or scene of Mr. Middleton's death should not be disclosed under the FOIA,' the documents state.
In an affidavit, Larry Middleton states that the reports about his son's death have been 'unsubstantiated conspiracy theories' which have caused 'unimaginable pain to myself and my family'.
He claims to have 'extreme fear and anxiety' at the prospect of further details being made public.
Larry Middleton writes: 'Once disclosed, my family will face inconceivable amounts of harassment, threats and pain from the inquiry and use of such content'.
The Middletons did not respond to DailyMail.com requests for comment.
Documents from Middleton's probate file show that he had $200,000 in assets, including $100,000 worth of property.
The lawsuit confirms that Middleton died by suicide, something that was not mentioned in the announcement of his death in a Facebook post – now deleted – for the family's air conditioning company, Middleton Heat & Air.
The family filed a petition for an injunction on May 23 seeking a declaration that any 'media content depicting Middleton's body' or the scene of his death should not be disclosed under the FOIA
The statement described him as an 'inspiring and dedicated leader, as well as a son, brother, husband, and father'.
The only potential hint at the cause of death was a request in Middleton's obituary asking for well wishers donate to a service that specializes in counseling and therapy linked to the New Life Church in Arkansas, in lieu of flowers.
Middleton's life in recent years was a world away from the political circles he ran in during the 1990s.
White House visitor logs previously reported by DailyMail.com showed that he appears as the authorizing official on seven of Epstein's White House visits, most of which were to the West Wing.
In addition to being a special assistant to the president, Middleton was also assistant to the chief of staff, Thomas F. 'Mack' McLarty.
Middleton left the White House in February 1995 and was accused of setting himself up as an international deal-maker, exactly the kind of person that would appeal to Epstein.
In 1996 an investigation by the White House found that Middleton had abused his access to impress business clients and he was barred from the executive mansion without senior approval.
Middleton denied the claims.
Several Clinton's former associates have died over the years in unexpected circumstances, including deputy White House counsel Vince Foster.
His 1993 death was ruled a suicide but sparked a slew of conspiracy theories about the involvement of the Clintons.
After Epstein hanged himself while awaiting trial in 2019 Donald Trump retweeted conspiracy theories that Clinton was involved.
Many others with links to Bill and Hillary Clinton have died in mysterious circumstances over the years. Wikipedia even has a page called Clinton Body Count which lists those people. Others whose deaths have been linked to the Clintons without foundation have been Seth Rich, the Democratic National Committee staffer who was murdered in 2016 with no culprit having been found.
THE CLINTON ASSOCIATES WHO HAVE DIED MYSTERIOUSLY
Several of Bill Clinton's former associates have died over the years under mysterious circumstances, sparking a conspiracy theory known as the Clinton Body Count.
There is even a Wikipedia page that outlines the conspiracy. It points the finger at Newsmax publisher Christopher Ruddy, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green and others for advancing the theory.
The manner of death is diverse. Many died in small plane crashes, others committed suicide, some were shot. One dropped a barbell on his neck while exercising.
The theory came to a head when Hillary Clinton was running for president in 2016 when five people died in a six-week span stretching from June 22 to August 2.
Former Clinton associate Larry Nichols, told DailyMail.com then: ‘I’m not saying the Clintons kill people. I’m saying a lot of people around the Clintons turn up dead.’
Several different lists have been drawn up. These are among those most frequently cited as possible victims. Now the name of Mark Middleton will be added to the body count lists.
Judi Gibbs, 32, January 3, 1986:
The one-time Penthouse Pet died alongside her lover Bill Puterburgh, 57, in an unexplained house fire in Fordyce, Arkansas. She was a high-class prostitute who used hotels and racetracks to pick up rich and powerful men and was known to have had an affair with then-Arkansas governor Bill Clinton who would fly her from her home town to Little Rock. Rumors of a compromising picture of the two of them were rife, but if it ever existed, it was probably destroyed in the fire. The families of both Gibbs and Puterburgh told DailyMail.com in 2016 they believe the fire was set deliberately.
Kevin Ives, 17, and Don Henry, 16, August 23, 1987:
The two teens were crushed by a train, in Alexander, Arkansas. Their deaths were ruled accidental, with the medical examiner saying they had fallen asleep on a railroad line after smoking marijuana, but a grand jury found they had been murdered before being placed on the tracks. They had allegedly stumbled on a plot to smuggle drugs and guns from an airport in Mena, Arkansas, that Gov. Bill Clinton was said to be involved in.
Victor Raiser, 53, July 30, 1992:
The second finance co-chair of Bill Clinton's presidential campaign was killed along with his son in a plane crash during a fishing vacation in Alaska. Conspiracy theorists believe the crash was deliberately caused. Campaign press secretary Dee Dee Myers called Raiser a major player in the organization.
Paul Tully, 48, September 25, 1992:
The Democratic strategist died of an apparent heart attack. A chain-smoking, heavy-drinking political consultant who weighed in at more than 320 lb. Tully died seven weeks before Clinton's first presidential election win. He had been political director of the DNC during Clinton's rise. Tully was on the left of the Democratic Party and usually worked for those who shared his views, however he agreed to work for Clinton because he was impressed with his oratory and thought he was the only Democrat who could beat President George Bush.
Paula Gober, 36, December 7, 1992:
Clinton's interpreter for the deaf for several years died in a single car accident. Gober had traveled with him while he was governor of Arkansas. Her vehicle overturned on a bend, throwing her 30 feet. There were no witnesses.
Vince Foster, 48, July 20, 1993:
The Arkansas lawyer committed suicide. President Clinton appointed Foster to deputy White House counsel when he became president in 1993. It didn't take long for Foster, 48, to realize he had made a terrible mistake by accepting the post. He hated the work and fell into a deep depression. Just six months into the job, his body was found in his car in Fort Marcy Park, Virginia, a gun in his hand and a suicide note torn into 27 pieces in the trunk. Conspiracy theorists believe he was murdered by the Clintons for knowing too much.
Stanley Heard, 47, September 10, 1993:
The Arkansas chiropractor died in a small plane crash. According to 1998 book 'A Profession of One's Own,' the doctor treated the Clinton family. Heard was asked by Bill Clinton to represent the practice as plans for 'Hillarycare' were being finalized. His attorney Steve Dickson, was flying him home from a healthcare meeting in Washington DC just eight months into the Clinton presidency. On the way to the capital from his home in Kansas, Dickson's small plane developed problems so he landed in St. Louis and rented another plane. That rented plane was the one that crashed in rural Virginia, killing both men.
Jerry Parks, 47, September 23, 1993:
The head of security for Bill Clinton's headquarters in Arkansas, was shot to death. As he drove home in West Little Rock, two men in a white Chevrolet pulled alongside his car and sprayed it with semi-automatic gunfire. As Parks's car stopped a man stepped out of the Chevy and shot him twice with a 9mm pistol and sped off. Despite there being several witnesses, no-one was ever arrested. The killing came two months after Parks had watched news of Vince Foster's death and allegedly told his son Gary 'I'm a dead man.' His wife Lois remarried and her second husband, Dr. David Millstein was stabbed to death in 2006.
Edward Willey Jr, 60, November 29, 1993:
The Clinton fundraiser was found dead in the Virginia woods. He was having serious money problems and his wife, a volunteer aide in the White House, agreed to ask Bill Clinton for a paid job. Their meeting ended when Clinton allegedly forced himself on her in the Oval Office, kissing her, fondling her breast and pushing her hand on to his genitals. Four years later Kathleen Willey wrote a book in which she put forward a theory that the Clintons may have had her husband murdered. She said after his death, a friend had told her that Ed had confided that he took briefcases full of cash to the Clintons' base in Little Rock, Arkansas during Bill's first presidential campaign.
Edward Willey Jr, 60, November 29, 1993:
The Clinton fundraiser was found dead in the Virginia woods. He was having serious money problems and his wife, a volunteer aide in the White House, agreed to ask Bill Clinton for a paid job. Their meeting ended when Clinton allegedly forced himself on her in the Oval Office, kissing her, fondling her breast and pushing her hand on to his genitals. Four years later Kathleen Willey wrote a book in which she put forward a theory that the Clintons may have had her husband murdered. She said after his death, a friend had told her that Ed had confided that he took briefcases full of cash to the Clintons' base in Little Rock, Arkansas during Bill's first presidential campaign.
Kathy Ferguson, 37, May 11, 1994:
The ex-wife of Arkansas State Trooper Danny Ferguson, who was named in a sexual harassment suit brought by Paula Jones against Bill Clinton. Ferguson died by gun suicide. She left a note blaming problems with her fiancé, Bill Shelton. A month later Shelton, upset about the suicide verdict, killed himself.
Ron Brown, 54, April 3, 1996:
The chair of the Democratic National Committee died in a plane crash in Croatia. He became head of the DNC during Bill Clinton's rise to the presidential nomination and was rewarded with the cabinet position. He was under a corruption investigation when his plane slammed into a mountainside. Doctors who examined his body found a circular wound on the top of his head which led to suspicions that he had died before the plane crashed, but that theory was later discounted. The crash was attributed to pilot error.
Charles Meissner, 56, April 3, 1996:
The assistant secretary for international trade died in the same plane crash as Brown. Meissner had been criticized for allegedly giving special security clearance to John Huang, who later pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges for violating campaign finance laws, in a case that enmeshed the Clinton administration.
Barbara Wise, 48, November 29, 1996:
Wise, who worked alongside Brown, Meissner and Huang in the Commerce Department was found dead at her desk on the day after Thanksgiving. Her death was originally classified as a homicide but police later said Wise, 48, who had a history of severe ill health, had died from natural causes. A local TV station initially quoted an unidentified police source as saying her body was partially nude and her office was locked, but those reports were also later denied.
Barbara Wise, 48, November 29, 1996:
Wise, who worked alongside Brown, Meissner and Huang in the Commerce Department was found dead at her desk on the day after Thanksgiving. Her death was originally classified as a homicide but police later said Wise, 48, who had a history of severe ill health, had died from natural causes. A local TV station initially quoted an unidentified police source as saying her body was partially nude and her office was locked, but those reports were also later denied.
Jim McDougal, 57, March 8, 1998:
McDougal and his wife Susan were involved in the Whitewater real estate scandal that rocked the Clinton administration. They and the Clintons had invested $203,000 to buy land in the Ozarks but the venture failed and McDougal was convicted of corruption for borrowing money from his Savings and Loan to cover the cost. He died of a heart attack while in federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas.
Linda Thompson, 56, May 10, 2009:
The founder of the American Justice Foundation and right-wing radio personality was the person who drew up the first list of deaths associated with people who had worked with Clinton in 1994. She died in St. Petersburg, Florida, when she took an overdose of medication prescribed for a gastric bypass surgery that she had had more than a decade earlier.
John Ashe, 61, June 22, 2016:
The Antiguan politician was pumping iron at his home in Dobbs Ferry, New York, when he dropped the weight on his neck. He died from 'traumatic asphyxiation. Ashe was about to stand trial in a corruption case for allegedly receiving $500,000 from billionaire real estate developer Ng Lap Seng. Ng was involved in a fundraising scandal and named in a 1998 Senate report for illegally funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to the DNC during Bill Clinton's presidency. 'During the trial, the prosecutors would have linked Ashe to the Clinton bagman Ng. It would have been very embarrassing. His death was conveniently timed,' The New York Post reported.
Seth Rich, 27, July 10, 2016:
The Operations Director for Voter Expansion for the DNC, was found murdered on in Washington, DC. He was shot in the back a block from his apartment at 4:20am. His killers have not been identified. Conspiracy theorists believe Rich may have been involved in the DNC email leak in 2016. His death initially appeared like a robbery gone wrong but his mother Mary Rich claims that nothing was taken from her son, who was found with two shots in his back. The mystery surrounding his death sparked a flurry of theories, including claims that he was on his way to speak to the FBI when he was shot.
Joe Montano, 47, July 25, 2016:
The former Democratic National Conference Chairman with in-depth knowledge of Hillary Clinton's campaign, died from what authorities say was a heart attack – the day that year's DNC opened.
Victor Thorn, 54, August 1, 2016: The journalist and strong critic of the couple died on his birthday. Thorn is said to have climbed a mountain near his State College, Pennsylvania, home before shooting himself to death. He wrote a trilogy of books on the Clintons, devoting one of the books to the number of their contacts who had mysteriously died.
Shawn Lucas, 38, August 2, 2016:
The lawyer who supported Bernie Sanders, was found dead on the bathroom floor of his Washington DC apartment. Just a month earlier he had attempted to serve papers on Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz in a fraud case that alleged the party had unfairly favored Hillary Clinton in the primaries over Sanders. A video of Lucas taking the papers to the DNC's Washington headquarters showed Lucas, who was said to have been a Sanders supporter, calling serving the papers 'the most gratifying thing I have ever done.'
Jeffrey Epstein, 66, August 10, 2019:
The convicted pedophile died in federal prison in Manhattan, apparently by hanging himself in his cell. He had attempted suicide three weeks earlier and was placed on suicide watch. A guard was supposed to look in on him every 30 minutes but fell asleep on the night of Epstein's death. Clinton had close ties to Epstein and had flown on his private plane to his private Caribbean island, but has always denied any involvement in his illicit activities.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10882101/Family-late-Clinton-advisor-Mark-Middleton-block-release-files-relating-suicide.html
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Survivors of sex trafficking face barriers in their search for justice
Feb 4, 2024
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/survivors-of-sex-trafficking-face-barriers-in-their-search-for-justice
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Where Is Epstein Island? Everything To Know About Little Saint James, Jeffrey Epstein's Private Island
Plus, all the celebrities who visited the island.
Jul 13, 2022
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a40603323/jeffrey-epstein-island/
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An unauthorized video of Jeffrey Epstein's private island gave us the best look yet at its mysterious 'temple' and creepy statues
Oct 31, 2019
Two men snuck onto Jeffrey Epstein's infamous private island with cameras and captured close-up footage of some of the property's most mysterious buildings.
Jeff Berwick and Luke Rudkowski, of Dollar Vigilante and We Are Change, posted the video to YouTube and said they were on the island for about 30 minutes before they spotted people in golf carts.
The video gives a close-up view of Epstein's notorious temple, which Insider's J.K. Trotter has previously reported was likely a music room.
The video shows that the temple's walls and doors are flat, but painted in a way that gives them an illusion of dimension.
The footage also showed Epstein's eclectic taste in art and home décor, revealing odd statues of apes, gargoyle-like sculptures, a massive sundial, and an armchair that appeared to be made of animal horns and hide.
Berwick and Rudkowski conceded their actions likely broke the law, but that they tried to "make sure we weren't doing too many illegal things all at once."
https://www.businessinsider.com/video-jeffrey-epstein-private-island-temple-2019-10?op=1
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Jeffrey Epstein and the doomed dome: Pedophile Island goes quiet as owner awaits sex trafficking charges while new photos show the golden top to mysterious temple is gone
28 July 2019
The golden dome that formally sat atop Jeffrey Epstein's temple on Little St James is gone in recent photos
A local told DailyMail.com that it went missing around the time that Hurricane Irma hit the island in 2017
It is believed that Epstein had removed the dome prior to the Category 5 storm making landfall
The temple has been of great interest to members of the QAnon community, who had been talking about the island long before Epstein's current arrest
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7294665/Jeffrey-Epstein-doomed-dome-Pedophile-Islands-mysterious-temple-lost-golden-dome.html
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Fake doors and secret underground lairs discovered at Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘Paedo Island’
November 1, 2019
Shocking new vision from the private island of suspected sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has shown fake doors and frightening statues.
https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/fake-doors-and-secret-underground-lairs-discovered-at-jeffrey-epsteins-paedo-island/news-story/80350b1d5365d5ac90f3983365e3da39
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{Many question if the Temple on Epstein's Island was meant to look like Solomon's Temple, or if this was a pantheon type temple}.
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King Solomon's Temple Investigation Marathon
https://solomonstempleinvestigation.blogspot.com
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Epstein's temple was likely inspired after a Mamluk Public Bath
Looking at the architecture it has extremely close characteristics of Hammam Yalbugha in Syria. Either directly inspired by Yalbugha or just (Mamluk)public bath houses in general, people can't deny the similarities.
Hammam(Public Bath)
Epstein's temple also has other noticeable characteristics, such as the dome is similar to the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem. Which could give some type of religious significance.
The temple is also laced in bright blue and white stripes which could also resemble a traditional Turkish hammam towel.
Epstein's original design for the temple was actually more of an octagon (plans for 3,500 sq. ft building), which would be a perfect style to host a public bath pool, but this never surfaced as far as we can tell. It's quite possible that the octagon shaped room(that would be ideal for building a hammam) is underground. Something of this nature could be built to host dozens of naked girls in a public bath environment. Epstein's predatory process also revolved around massages going sexual which is something that can easily tie into public baths.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Epstein/comments/nv1y9g/epsteins_temple_was_likely_inspired_after_a/?rdt=48475
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For Jeffrey Epstein, one island hideaway wasn’t enough. How he stealthily acquired a second
October 01, 2019
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article235224877.html
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Financier buys Jeffrey Epstein's private islands, with plans to create a resort
May 4, 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/04/1173956903/jeffrey-epstein-island-sold-st-james
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Is Crime Going Down, Or Have Democrat-Run Cities Just Given Up On Reporting It?
February 16, 2023
Even while gangs increasingly mug, carjack, and gun people down on the streets of many major cities, fentanyl poisoning deaths take 100,000 American lives, and mass murder incidents happen with unsettling regularity, perceptions of crime are highly influenced by partisanship. Gallup finds that when a Democrat is president, Republicans see crime as more of a problem than do Democrats, with the reverse happening when a Republican is in the White House.
Competing narratives and poor information plague the national discussion over public safety. This makes it difficult to reach a political consensus on what should be done. Even as Gallup’s polling shows the belief that “crime is increasing locally is now at the highest point,” it notes, “In absolute terms, Americans have for decades exhibited a marked tendency to say that crime is increasing rather than decreasing, year in and year out.”
https://thefederalist.com/2023/02/16/is-crime-going-down-or-have-democrat-run-cities-just-given-up-on-reporting-it/
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Admission Of Failure? Democratic Cities Stop Reporting Crime Stats To FBI
Jun 11, 2024
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/admission-failure-democratic-cities-stop-reporting-crimes-stats-fbi
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Cities nationwide not reporting crime data to FBI
Jun 15, 2022
(NewsNation) — In America’s heartland, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska are among the states with dozens of cities not reporting their data, according to data analysis by The Marshall Project.
Although the NYPD is listed as one of the law enforcement agencies accused of not reporting its 2021 crime data to the FBI, criminologists say the NYPD still has a very good idea of what’s happening crime-wise in New York City because of its own sophisticated system of tracking crime.
But the FBI says the only way it can truly assess how bad crime is nationwide is through law enforcement agencies’ full cooperation.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/cities-nationwide-not-reporting-crime-data-to-fbi/
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The FBI's new crime report is in, but it's incomplete
October 5, 2022
Crime is a huge topic in elections this November, and the FBI has now entered the chat. It has just released the Crime in the Nation report for 2021. But the bureau switched the way it collects crime data this year, and many police departments did not get on board. Los Angeles and New York City did not report to the FBI. In fact, only 63% of the country's police departments submitted anything, and some of the data that was submitted was incomplete. Weihua Li of The Marshall Project has been poring over the FBI's findings...
https://www.npr.org/2022/10/05/1127047811/the-fbis-new-crime-report-is-in-but-its-incomplete
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Bad data from the FBI mislead about crime
April 5, 2024
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/2953562/bad-data-from-the-fbi-mislead-about-crime/
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Swedish police ‘covered up migrant sex assaults'
12/01/2016
Swedish police on Monday ordered an investigation into allegations that officers covered up accusations of sexual assault by mostly migrant youths at a music festival in Stockholm, a scandal that drew criticism from the prime minister.
There were 38 reports of rape and sexual assault filed after the We Are Sthlm festival in 2014 and 2015, according to police, in a case that mirrors the assaults on New Year's Eve in the German city of Cologne.
The allegations were first made public in a report by the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, citing internal police memos.
"We certainly should have publicly released this information, no doubt. Why it did not happen we simply do not know," police spokesman Varg Gyllander told AFP Monday.
Dagens Nyheter reported that as many as 50 Afghan refugees were suspected of the attacks, but the police did not cofirm this number.
Documents sent by police to AFP detail allegations of 17 sexual assaults and one rape during the 2014 music festival, and 19 sexual assaults and one rape in 2015.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven on Monday was critical of the police and their handling of the incident...
https://www.france24.com/en/20160112-swedish-police-covered-music-festival-sex-assault-allegations
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Sweden 'covering up' migrant rape and violent crime for the sake of 'humanitarianism'
Feb 20, 2017
OFFICIALS in the Swedish government have been accused of "covering up" migrant rape and refugee violence for the sake of appearing politically correct.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/768980/Sweden-cover-up-migrant-rape-violent-crime
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German Media Covering Up Rapes Committed by Muslim Migrants
9/22/2015
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3340188/posts
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Germany pledges to protect refugees after reported rape case
March 16, 2022
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-crime-germany-migration-135f0b5517568f696a561e0862f4326e
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Thousands Protest As Russian Govt Accuses Germany Of Covering Up Migrant Rape Of 13 Year Old Russian Girl
27 Jan 2016
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2016/01/27/russian-government-accused-german-authorities-of-migrant-crime-coverup-after-elleged-gang-rape-of-13-year-old-russian-citizen/
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UK’s Liberal Gov’t Is Imploding As Mass Rape Scandal Roils Country
1-7-2025
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/uk-s-liberal-gov-t-is-imploding-as-mass-rape-scandal-roils-country/ar-AA1xaXoz
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The child rape scandal dominating UK politics after Musk criticism
January 6, 2025
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/child-rape-scandal-dominating-uk-politics-after-musk-criticism-2025-01-06/
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British grooming gang scandal and cover-up exposes racial fault lines
January 13, 2025
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/3283224/british-grooming-gang-scandal-cover-up-exposes-racial-fault-lines/
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UK gov't covers up rape of hundreds of girls
May 1, 2024
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/497953/UK-gov-t-covers-up-rape-of-hundreds-of-girls
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The grooming gangs scandal, explained
January 25, 2025
The government has come under fire for refusing to hold a national inquiry into the abuse of young girls by networks of men
Reports of young girls being groomed by gangs of men, largely of Pakistani heritage, first began to emerge in 2002, when the then-Labour MP Ann Cryer warned that it was happening in her Yorkshire constituency of Keighley.
In 2010, a group of five men who had committed sexual offences against girls aged 12 to 16 were convicted in Rotherham in South Yorkshire. The Times then launched a long investigation, exposing not only the shocking extent of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, but also of a wider pattern of horrendous abuses of young girls by organised networks of men, predominantly British-Pakistani.
The story began to gain wider traction. In recent years, child-grooming gangs have been jailed in more than a dozen other English towns, mostly in the north of England and the Midlands: notably Rochdale, Oldham and Telford, but also Bristol, Oxford, Huddersfield, Halifax and Banbury, among others.
https://theweek.com/crime/the-grooming-gangs-scandal-explained
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Elon Musk Joins Calls for Rotherham Sex Abuse Scandal Inquiry
Jan 03, 2025
https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-rotherham-sex-abuse-scandal-rape-gang-2009295
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How the grooming gangs scandal was covered up
08 January 2025
The child victims of rape were denied justice and protection from the state to preserve the image of a successful multicultural society
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/04/grooming-gangs-scandal-cover-up-oldham-telford-rotherham/
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Former French spy chief sentenced to prison in influence-peddling trial
Bernard Squarcini was accused of using his security contacts for his own gain, including by obtaining confidential information for luxury giant LVMH. He plans to appeal.
March 7, 2025
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/03/07/former-french-spy-chief-sentenced-to-four-years-in-influence-peddling-trial_6738915_7.html
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France’s Ex-Intelligence Chief Convicted in Influence Peddling Trial Involving LVMH
March 7, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/world/europe/france-intelligence-lvmh-chief.html
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Albany police, lawmakers face cover-up speculations in undocumented immigrant's rape case
June 27th 2024
Albany, NY (WRGB) — Police and Democratic lawmakers in Albany are being accused, without evidence, of covering up the rape of a teenager in Albany, suggesting the news of the arrest was kept under wraps after learning the suspect is an undocumented immigrant...
https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/police-accused-of-cover-up-in-undocumented-immigrants-rape-case-in-albany-sakir-akkan
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See if Police in Your State Reported Crime Data to the FBI
08.03.2023
Nearly one-third of law enforcement agencies are missing from the FBI’s 2022 crime statistics. Use our tables to check on your state and local agencies.
By Weihua Li, Andrew Rodriguez Calderón,
For the 2024 election season, we've updated this reporting to cover the latest changes — and debates — around crime stats.
In 2022, 31% of the 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the U.S. failed to report crime data to the FBI's national database after transitioning to a new data collection system, according to the latest statistics from the FBI. Participation has improved since 2021 when almost 40% of the agencies were missing. The Marshall Project continues to follow the real-world consequences of the gaps.
In Florida 8% of law enforcement agencies reported crime data to the FBI, and 5% reported a full year of crime data in 2022.
49 out of 633 law enforcement agencies in Florida successfully submitted data to the FBI through the National Incident-Based Reporting System in 2022. The agencies that reported any crime stats represent roughly 1 in 5 people in the state.
49 states and the District of Columbia had higher reporting rates than Florida.
In Florida, the law enforcement agency with the largest jurisdiction that did not report 12 months of crime data to the FBI is the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which did not report any data in 2022. According to the FBI, 1 million people live under its jurisdiction, which represent 5% of people living in the state.
In New York 24% of law enforcement agencies reported crime data to the FBI, and 16% reported a full year of crime data in 2022.
141 out of 583 law enforcement agencies in New York successfully submitted data to the FBI through the National Incident-Based Reporting System in 2022. The agencies that reported any crime stats represent roughly 1 in 5 people in the state.
In California 49% of law enforcement agencies reported crime data to the FBI, and 27% reported a full year of crime data in 2022.
356 out of 721 law enforcement agencies in California successfully submitted data to the FBI through the National Incident-Based Reporting System in 2022. The agencies that reported any crime stats represent roughly 2 in 5 people in the state.
44 states and the District of Columbia had higher reporting rates than California.
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2022/08/15/see-if-police-in-your-state-reported-crime-data-to-the-fbi
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Manipulating the truth? Millions of crimes are not included in FBI yearly reports
2025-01-17
Understanding crime numbers and rates in America isn’t easy. Per FBI data, crime is down. Per the USDOJ’s National Crime Victimization Survey, violent crime increases are at record highs...
https://lawenforcementtoday.com/millions-of-crimes-are-not-included-in-fbi-yearly-reports
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Crime stats disappear from public view amid LAPD records system overhaul
June 7, 2024
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-07/lapd-crime-stats-disappear-records-overhaul
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Incomplete Data: One-Third of American Cities No Longer Report Crime Statistics to the FBI
August 10, 2023
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/incomplete-data-one-third-of-american-cities-no-longer-report-crime-statistics-to-the-fbi/
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FBI quietly revises crime statistics and reveals rise in violent crime
October 16, 2024
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3192168/fbi-revise-crime-statistics-reveal-rise-violent-crime/
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FBI quietly revised 2022 crime data to show violent offenses rose rather than dropped
Oct. 16, 2024
https://nypost.com/2024/10/16/us-news/fbi-quietly-revised-2022-crime-data-to-show-violent-offenses-rose-rather-than-dropped/
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Trump's canceling of 50 security clearances is unprecedented and partisan, experts say
Jan 25, 2025
The move is meant to please Trump voters and punish perceived enemies, and it is “the most politically saturated security action since the Oppenheimer case in the 1950s."
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trumps-canceling-scores-security-clearances-unprecedented-rcna189245
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Trump revokes security clearances of former intelligence officials
Jan 21, 2025
WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday revoking the security clearances of 50 former intelligence officials, most of whom Republicans have accused of coordinating with Joe Biden's 2020 White House campaign to discredit reporting on Hunter Biden's emails in the closing weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign.
All but one of the former intelligence officials signed a 2020 letter that said the public release of emails that reportedly belonged to Hunter Biden had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation." Trump also revoked the clearance of his former national security adviser, John Bolton, who became a vocal critic of the Republican president after he left the administration.
The letter signers Trump targeted include former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, an intelligence official who worked for Republican and Democratic administrations; former CIA Director Michael Hayden, who led the department under former President George W. Bush; his successor in Barack Obama's administration, Leon Panetta; and John Brennan, who held the role for much of Obama's second term.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/01/21/trump-security-clearance-intelligence-officials/77836191007/
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Epstein & the Israeli financial mafia
The elephant in the living room the media won’t touch
This is the BEST reporting we’ve found on Epstein.
It’s similar to Whitney Webb’s reporting, but much more focused, detailed and in depth.
In addition to the salacious aspects of his criminal life, Epstein was a bag man for a major Israeli-Saudi-US intelligence network that specializes in epic large scale corruption…
Wall Street fraud, driving the US into no-win wars, theft of US government resources, financing the global drug trade and more, and a lot more.
Camouflaged – otherwise it would be interfered with – this is the fundraiser for Ryan’s current research project to Ireland and the UK.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/lucky-and-samurai-go-to-ireland-and-maybe-britain#/
YouTube routinely takes down Ryan’s videos. This is a complete, uncensored collection of Ryan Dawson’s videos
Ryan’s website: https://www.ancreport.com
Click here for the complete interview
Ryan Dawson on cutting off oil from China, drug profits as the source of intelligence agency slush funds, and Israeli-interests as the real US motivations for war.
https://www.brasscheck.com/video/epstein-the-israeli-financial-mafia/
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The relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Jewish philanthropist Leslie Wexner, explained
August 13, 2019
The megadonor is not being investigated for wrongdoing, but his ties with the convicted sex offender are bedeviling the Jewish community.
(JTA) — One of the most befuddling questions surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein saga is why Leslie Wexner, a billionaire entrepreneur, entrusted all of his money to Epstein, a secretive financier with no college degree.
For those immersed in the Jewish world, there’s an added question: How did Wexner — a prominent philanthropist seen as a champion of Jewish learning and ethical teaching, whose foundation has trained waves of rabbis, Jewish professionals and volunteer board leaders — end up so enmeshed and enamored with a future convicted sex offender and alleged sex trafficker?
Is Wexner connected to the sex abuse accusations against Epstein? Has the philanthropist been accused of any wrongdoing? Does any of this taint Wexner’s legacy or the beneficiaries of his many programs?
Since the Epstein sex scandal resurfaced this year, these questions have dogged Wexner, the owner of Victoria’s Secret who at one point was Epstein’s only known financial client. Wexner was very close with Epstein and trusted him as a money manager and legal representative.
Who is Leslie Wexner?
He’s an 81-year-old Jewish billionaire who lives in the Columbus, Ohio, area. Wexner made his fortune by founding The Limited, a women’s clothing brand, in 1963.
Wexner has since expanded his apparel empire to include other brands, like Bath & Body Works, Pink and, most notably, Victoria’s Secret, a once-obscure lingerie store that he turned into an empire. It’s all now under the umbrella of his company, L Brands. He is the longest-running CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
He also ventured into real estate, developing the posh community of New Albany, Ohio, where Wexner lives in a 60,000-square-foot mansion. According to Forbes, he’s worth $4.6 billion.
So has anyone implicated Wexner in Epstein’s crimes? And what does this have to do with Alan Dershowitz?
Wexner’s name has been dragged into an ongoing legal battle between Alan Dershowitz and one of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, and her lawyers.
Dershowitz had his own personal and professional relationship with Epstein. They were close (Dershowitz has said he loved talking with Epstein and would show him drafts of his books) and the high-profile lawyer has helped represent Epstein. Epstein once brought Dershowitz to one of Wexner’s parties — as, Dershowitz says, an “intellectual gift” to Wexner.
Two of Epstein’s alleged victims, including Giuffre, have accused Dershowitz of sexual assault, which he denies. Dershowitz claims that the accusations against him were part of a plot by one of Giuffre’s attorneys, David Boies, to extort money from Wexner.
According to a report in the Miami Herald, another of Giuffre’s lawyers, Stanley Pottinger, submitted an affidavit saying his client said that under Epstein’s direction, she had sex with both Dershowitz and Wexner.
But New York magazine reported that “Boies had three conversations with Wexner’s lawyers in 2015, after which the allegations were quietly dropped.” Boies asserted in an affidavit that “no settlement demand was ever made, or even discussed.”
Some of Epstein’s alleged abuse occurred at the Manhattan townhouse once owned by Wexner, where Epstein lived. Another Epstein accuser, Maria Farmer, said Epstein hired her to work on a mural at Wexner’s home in Ohio in the summer of 1996, and assaulted her there. In an affidavit, she asserted that “Wexner’s security staff refused to let me leave the property” and that she was held against her will for approximately 12 hours.
Farmer said that after returning to New York, she filed a report with the police and the FBI.
Farmer’s affidavit does not suggest Wexner himself was involved with or knew about the incident.
Federal authorities thus far have not implicated Wexner in Epstein’s crimes, according to Bloomberg, but prosecutors are still investigating which if any of Epstein’s business associates were involved with his alleged crimes. In a statement posted in July, Wexner insisted (in all caps) that “I was NEVER aware of the illegal activity charged in the indictment.”
The Wexner Foundation has not given interviews about the scandal and declined to speak to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about the matter. JTA has asked the foundation specifically about the allegations by Farmer and Giuffre, and also has reached out to Guiffre’s lawyers, including Pottinger, for comment.
According to The Times, Epstein also falsely represented himself as a talent scout for Victoria’s Secret, then used that identity to meet women whom he assaulted.
L Brands’ stock price has dropped as the Epstein scandal has unfolded...
https://www.jta.org/2019/08/13/united-states/the-relationship-between-jeffrey-epstein-and-jewish-philanthropist-leslie-wexner-explained
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Alan Dershowitz Cannot Stop Talking Accused of a slew of terrible things, the defense has no intention of resting.
July 19, 2019
One morning in July, days after his onetime client Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on sex-trafficking charges, the famed attorney Alan Dershowitz was reminiscing as he drove the winding roads of Martha’s Vineyard. “I first came here to defend Ted Kennedy,” he said. “I got a call: ‘The senator has driven off a bridge.’” A woman drowned; the powerful man escaped serious consequences. Dershowitz liked the island and has been coming back for 50 years. He turned his old Volvo station wagon onto an unpaved road leading into the woods, and brought the conversation to his personal crisis. Of all of the many men on the long list of socialites, billionaires, and politicians associated with Epstein, the shadowy financier with a predilection for underage girls, perhaps no name had been tarnished as seriously as Dershowitz’s. As Epstein’s lawyer, he had helped him to thwart prosecutors; as his houseguest, he was accused of enthusiastically joining in Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse.
“It’s a horrible thing to be accused like this,” Dershowitz said as the gravel crunched beneath his tires. In the proceedings of a federal civil lawsuit brought by two women, Dershowitz has called the allegations “vicious lies.” In combative media appearances, he has alleged he was the target of a complex extortion plot, coordinated by the lawyer of his accusers, the equally renowned attorney David Boies. “I know the truth,” Dershowitz told me. “I know that I am a victim of a serious crime, a crime of perjury.” For years, the legal saga had been mostly ignored outside the tabloids. Then Epstein’s shocking arrest jolted it to life. Now, Dershowitz was howling into a whirlwind, trying to prove to the world that he hadn’t done the indefensible.
Dershowitz led me into his summer house, which is crowded with art — vintage political posters in the stairwell, Roy Lichtenstein over the couch — and mementos of his life in the courtroom and at Harvard University, where he was a professor at the Law School until he retired a few years ago. In the sunny dining room, which looked out on the pool, a large stack of spreadsheets was waiting on the table. They were a detailed breakdown, Dershowitz said, of his whereabouts and activities during the years his primary accuser, a former member of Epstein’s entourage named Virginia Giuffre, says that Dershowitz had sex with her when she was a teenager in New York, Palm Beach, and other locales. “Every single one of those days is accounted for,” he said. On August 1, 1999, for instance, the spreadsheets say he stayed on the Vineyard and had a meeting with a certain “Prince Bandar.” (Dershowitz later clarified it wasn’t the famous Saudi prince.)
After a few minutes, Dershowitz’s wife, Carolyn Cohen, a neuropsychologist, and his grown son, Elon, a film producer, joined us at the table. For the next few hours, Dershowitz presented his defense, with Cohen acting as his co-counsel, handing him papers. “I want to be as much a part of it as I can be,” Cohen said, “because first of all, it makes me feel less helpless. I think it’s so outrageous.” From time to time, Dershowitz would step out of the room to call his lawyer. He told me that the next day he was scheduled to have a long phone call with the New Yorker writer Connie Bruck, who was nearing the end of a yearlong investigative profile. “The story is designed to destroy my career,” Dershowitz said. It was quite possible, however, that the deed had already been done.
Dershowitz, now 80, is his generation’s answer to Clarence Darrow, the legendary “Attorney for the Damned.” He was nice to have on your side if you were innocent, but his real specialty was representing the despicably guilty. During his heyday, which coincided with the golden era of the celebrity lawyer, he was a recognizable face — bookish glasses, mustache, big red bushy hair — in the middle of countless front-page crimes stories. He represented the junk-bond king Michael Milken, the biggest crook on Wall Street in the 1980s. He was part of the “dream team” of attorneys that defended O.J. Simpson. When I visited his downstairs bathroom, I noticed it was decorated with cheeky photos: he and Leona Helmsley on the cover of this magazine; O.J. breaking free on the gridiron; the accused wife-poisoner Claus von Bülow, grinning in medieval-style stocks. (His victory in the von Bülow case was made into a film, Reversal of Fortune, which was co-produced by Elon.)
Dershowitz no longer resembles the man he was when he was younger. The mustache is gone, his hair is now gray and close-cropped. Under personal attack, his trademark zeal has veered into something more uncontrolled — a feral defensiveness. A few days after our meeting, he would publish an online essay preemptively attacking Bruck’s unpublished article and accusing New Yorker editor David Remnick of ordering up a “hit piece” aimed at “silencing my defense of President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the State of Israel.” (Remnick declined to comment.) He has been perhaps inadvisably willing to talk, and talk, and talk, answering every request for comment (including mine). Dershowitz portrays the women accusing him as mere money-hungry instruments of his nefarious — male — enemies. It is not a strategy that makes him appear particularly sympathetic, and he knows that, but he really can’t seem to help himself.
“The new standard is that sexual offenses are so heinous that even innocence is not a defense,” Dershowitz said. “I’m not supposed to say she’s lying because that’s a political sin. But there’s never been a case of greater proof of innocence.”
As for Boies, the supposed mastermind of his misery, Dershowitz is intent on fighting a reputational battle to the death. Last night, on Fox News, he accused his nemesis of having “an enormous amount of chutzpah to attack me and challenge my perfect, perfect sex life.” He declared his faithfulness to his wife, before proclaiming: “I challenge David Boies to say under oath he’s only had sex with one woman.” (Boies told me: “This is simply more evidence of how desperate Mr. Dershowitz is to distract attention from the evidence of his misconduct...”)
I first met Dershowitz last year, when I was working on a profile article about Boies, one of the few attorneys in America who can match his level of public prominence. Boies had had a long and illustrious career in the courtroom — he argued the antitrust case against Microsoft and Al Gore’s side of Bush v. Gore — and a history of taking on worthy causes, like gay marriage, but he was at the nadir of his own scandal over the revelation of his role in covering up the alleged abuses of his longtime client Harvey Weinstein. While he was down, Dershowitz was up, or at least on TV a lot, reveling in his contrarian position on the Russia investigation and visiting the White House to discuss legal strategy with Donald Trump. I knew that Boies and Dershowitz were embroiled in some weird litigation over the Epstein case. A feud between two of the most well-known names of a legal generation — at 78, Boies is two years younger — seemed like ripe material.
When I asked about Boies, Dershowitz invited me right over to his Manhattan apartment, where he described an improbable-sounding conspiracy with Boies at its center. “He’s not a lawyer,” he said. “He’s an extortionist.” The story seemed contorted and impossible to confirm, and I didn’t write about it. But in recent months, Dershowitz has managed to thrust it into public view.
According to Dershowitz’s theory, Giuffre’s allegations were never meant to stand up in court. He argues he was merely a “stalking horse,” meant to provide an embarrassing example to another man: the billionaire Leslie Wexner, whom he had heard Giuffre had also accused. “The decision to name me publicly,” Dershowitz alleges in a recent court filing, “was calculated to send the following message to Wexner: If you don’t want to have happen to you what happened to Alan Dershowitz, you should settle the complaint against you, even though the statute of limitations has long expired.”
At least some portions of his theory have turned out to be true. Although Dershowitz didn’t come to know it until much later, Boies was involved in the Epstein litigation as early as June 2014, six months before Giuffre filed her affidavit in the Doe case. Giuffre’s lawyers asserted that Epstein “lent out” their client to his powerful friends, and they wanted to bring in a heavy hitter. Boies met with Giuffre that July, and decided to represent her for free, with an understanding that his firm might later receive a contingency fee in the event of a financial settlement. He claims, however, that he did not press her to name the other men she was accusing of abuse.
One of Giuffre’s lawyers, Stanley Pottinger, says in an affidavit, that that fall they developed information that Leslie Wexner “was alleged to have had sex with one or more of Mr. Epstein’s girls, including Ms. Giuffre.” He says he informed Boies to make sure this did not present a conflict for his law firm. Boies replied that he knew Wexner only socially, and said his firm would investigate. That December, one of his partners wrote a letter to Wexner, “regarding possible claims against him.” The same month, Giuffre’s other lawyers, down in Florida, publicly filed the affidavit naming Dershowitz.
“It’s exactly the same time,” Dershowitz said. “That cannot be a coincidence.”
The allegations against Wexner were handled more discreetly than those about Dershowitz. Boies had three conversations with Wexner’s lawyers in 2015, after which the allegations were quietly dropped. But Boies has asserted in an affidavit that “no settlement demand was ever made, or even discussed.” Dershowitz asserts that if no money was exchanged, it must be because Giuffre’s allegations were disproved. Neither Wexner’s lawyer nor Boies would comment on the discussions. After Epstein’s arrest, Wexner wrote in a memo to his company employees that he “was NEVER aware of the illegal activity charged in the indictment.” In a legal filing, Dershowitz says that Wexner’s wife and lawyer told him that they viewed the approach from Boies as a “shakedown.”
Boies says that because the motion accusing Dershowitz was made by other lawyers, Edwards and Cassell, he wasn’t even aware that Giuffre was making the claim. Pottinger has said he only told Boies when the motion was filed. “When I informed Mr. Boies,” Pottinger says in his affidavit, “he told me that while he was aware of Mr. Dershowitz’s reputation for running naked on beaches in Martha’s Vineyard and hitting on students and girlfriends of students, he was disappointed to learn of his involvement with someone as young as Virginia.” When I read this sentence to Dershowitz he gave an amused look to his wife and admitted that he has occasionally gone skinny-dipping at a nude beach near his house. But he denied the part about hitting on students.
It seems inconceivable that Boies, a litigator known for his piercing powers of perception, would have been unaware of one of his client’s most explosive claims, and his co-counsels’ plans to detonate them in public. On the other hand, he points out an obvious logical flaw in Dershowitz’s shakedown theory. “What in the world would lead someone to use Alan Dershowitz as a stalking horse, for heaven’s sake?” Boies said. Whatever else he may be, Dershowitz is no one’s idea of a patsy.
“Boies never targeted Dershowitz,” Pottinger told me. “There’s no way that these two giants would take on each other gratuitously.” He says that Boies questioned the strategy of naming the media-friendly lawyer, saying the inevitable controversy would distract attention from the real quarry, Epstein, and the big issue, human trafficking.
Sure enough, after the affidavit was filed, Dershowitz went on CNN and the Today show, where he attacked Giuffre and predicted her “unethical” lawyers would be disbarred. The “worldwide media rampage,” as Edwards and Cassell later described it, opened the way for the next round of litigation: the defamation cases. Court proceedings are legally privileged, meaning Dershowitz could not sue Giuffre for what she claimed in her affidavit, but his media appearances enjoyed no such immunity. In 2015, citing his comments on TV, Edwards and Cassell sued him for defamation in Florida state court. He suspects that was part of the plan all along.
“They expect me to remain silent in the face of an accusation like that?” Dershowitz said. “It’s a sleazy tactic. That’s the Boies tactic.”
At the time the defamation suit was filed, though, Dershowitz still wasn’t aware that Boies was his opponent. After his Today appearance, he even received a supportive email from a lawyer in the firm of Boies Schiller Flexner, with whom he had worked in the past. “Thank you for your kind words,” Dershowitz wrote back. “I would love your help.” The lawyer, who claims he was unaware of the boss’s role, said he would be willing to represent him in the defamation case. Dershowitz discussed the lawsuit with him and sent along a memo that he describes as “the whole strategy of my defense.” Soon after, the lawyer wrote back, saying the firm had informed him of a conflict, “the nature of which we are not at liberty to discuss.” It wasn’t until later that Dershowitz discovered Boies was representing his accuser. He would file four separate bar complaints, claiming Boies and his firm acted unethically. None of them have resulted in sanctions.
The defamation case gave Giuffre’s attorneys a chance to gather evidence, including Dershowitz’s sworn testimony in a series of depositions. Giuffre claimed to have had sex with Dershowitz on Epstein’s private plane. The lawyers turned up flight manifests that showed the lawyer sometimes flew on it, although there was no record of him and Giuffre on the plane together. They cited testimony from former household employees who said they saw him around when Epstein had girls over to give massages. Dershowitz claimed that, because of the layout of the Palm Beach compound, he was unaware of what Epstein did in his private quarters and admits to receiving just one massage himself, from an older Russian woman named Olga. He has said he kept his underwear on and didn’t enjoy it, a claim met with derision most everywhere except within his family. Elon recalled that years ago, a rough masseuse gave his father a shoulder injury.
“He always, always brings it up, and says, ‘I hate massages,’” Elon said.
By the spring of 2015, as media interest receded, Dershowitz attempted to put his dispute with Giuffre to rest. He reached out to Boies via an attorney named David Stone, who had worked with both of them in the past. They had a series of meetings where Dershowitz tried to convince Boies that he had been wrongly accused. He proposed to show Boies the spreadsheets listing his whereabouts, Stone says in an affidavit, and suggested that Giuffre might be confusing him with another Epstein friend. That fall, he began surreptitiously taping his phone calls with Boies. He has played snippets of the calls for me and other reporters, but they are difficult to interpret out of context. Throughout the process, Stone says, Boies made noncommittal comments that Dershowitz appeared to read too much into, as he held out hope for a retraction.
“Let’s keep trying. We are not THAT far apart,” Dershowitz wrote in a December 2015 email to Boies. He suggested that Giuffre issue a statement reading: “The events at issue occurred approximately 15 years ago when I was a teenager. Although I believed then and continued to believe that AD was the person with whom I had sex, recent developments raise the possibility that this may be a case of mistaken identification.”
Boies was not interested. He claims he told Dershowitz in late 2015 that the firm was “increasingly uncovering evidence” that undermined his denials, including inconsistencies in his travel records. In 2016, the Florida defamation case ended with an undisclosed financial settlement and a joint statement in which Edwards and Cassell said that “it was a mistake to have filed sexual misconduct accusations against Dershowitz.” (The lawyers, who declined to comment, clarified in a subsequent legal filing that they feel their mistake was merely “tactical.”) But Boies was pressing forward with a second defamation lawsuit, between Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell, whom she had alleged was also “heavily involved in the illegal sex.”
The Maxwell case allowed Boies to amass an enormous volume of evidence about the activities of Epstein and his associates. He also turned up a second Dershowitz accuser, a former model named Sarah Ransome. She has alleged in a sworn statement that when she was in her 20s, she performed numerous sexual favors for Epstein and had a threesome with another woman and Dershowitz at the New York mansion.
“You meet David Boies, magically you remember that you had sex with Alan Dershowitz,” Dershowitz said bitterly. As an 80-year-old academic, he said some of the stories — threesomes, airplane trysts, group sex in Epstein’s limousine — sounded “so phantasmological.” He recognizes that the #MeToo movement has surfaced numerous accounts of preposterous-sounding sexual misbehavior by prominent and respected men, and almost all of them have turned out to be true. But he swears he is different.
“Mine is the only case, singular, the only one, where I never met the people,” Dershowitz said. “There’s no evidence we’ve ever met, no evidence we were ever in the same place at the same time, ever.” He has sued to unseal evidence filed in the Maxwell defamation case that he predicts will prove damaging to his accusers’ credibility. The record contains emails, he said, from Ransome to a New York Post reporter, in which she purports to possess sex tapes of Hillary Clinton, Richard Branson, and Donald Trump. There are also emails between Giuffre and a tabloid journalist, he said, in which she appears to shape her story to make it more salable as a book. Dershowitz also stresses that there appears to be a discrepancy in Giuffre’s accounts of her age at the time she worked at Mar-a-Lago, meaning she may have been as old as 17 when she met Epstein, which may make a legal distinction, if not a moral one. Constantly, he calls Giuffre a “liar” and worse. Counterpunching is his style as a defense attorney, but his vehemence often turns ugly.
“As a psychologist,” Cohen interjected during one harangue, “one thing that Alan and I have talked about is that people with that kind of horrific background where they really had to resort to their own resources to survive, they learn how to be manipulative.”
“I understand the phenomenon,” Dershowitz replied. “But I’m not going to let somebody get away with falsely accusing me of a horrendous crime, just because I may have some sympathy with what she went through. Maybe she should have some sympathy with what she’s putting me through.”
Boies said that his clients would not be available for comment, but he told me the accusations will withstand Dershowitz’s assaults. “There is no one who ever talked to Virginia Giuffre who does not believe that she is a credible witness,” Boies said. Much of the evidentiary record in the Maxwell defamation case, which was settled in 2016 for an undisclosed sum, is expected to become public soon, after a federal appeals court sided with Dershowitz and others who argued for overturning a sealing order.
Besides the documents that Dershowitz predicts will exonerate him, the record includes much testimony and evidence from Giuffre and supporting witnesses. “Mr. Dershowitz’s misconduct, and his lies about it, are documented in sworn affidavits, sworn depositions, and contemporaneous documents,” Boies said. “I can understand why Mr. Dershowitz wants to distract attention from the facts by talking about me.”
Earlier this year, Boies’s firm filed yet another defamation lawsuit on Giuffre’s behalf, this one against Dershowitz directly. Dershowitz vows to fight it until he is vindicated or he dies. “I’m not going to be made whole until David Boies is imprisoned, disbarred, and discredited,” he said. “I will only be made whole when the world understands that this was a completely made up story for money. Nothing short of that will satisfy me.”
“It is clear to me,” Boies replies, “that Mr. Dershowitz will never be made whole.”
Toward the end of our morning on the Vineyard, Dershowitz stepped out of the room to have yet another crisis-management call with his lawyer. I took the opportunity to ask Cohen how she hoped to see the case between her husband and his accusers resolved.
“My hope, my greatest dream, would be for this to be revealed as really a sinister plot by Boies, and that he gets what’s due to him, and Alan gets totally exonerated,” she said. “And the #MeToo movement pulls back some and becomes a more reasonable, due process-oriented, valuable movement. This alerts us to the dangers of being too fanatical.” The balance of presumption, she said, had tilted too far.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/alan-dershowitz-jeffrey-epstein-case.html
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Links between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein detailed in JPMorgan report
Jun 20 2023
Emails indicate then UK business secretary stayed at New York house while disgraced financier was in prison
https://www.ft.com/content/07238b43-48e6-4e7b-96d2-d50a4ada4646
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Ex-Barclays CEO Staley didn’t mislead UK watchdog about Epstein, lawyer says
March 3, 2025
Former Barclays boss Jes Staley did not mislead the UK’s financial watchdog over his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, Staley’s lawyers said on Monday at the start of a London court case in which the former banker seeks to restore his reputation.
Staley appeared in court flanked by his lawyers as his appeal against the Financial Conduct Authority’s intention to ban him from working in the UK finance industry indefinitely, and fine him 1.8 million pounds ($2.3 million), began at London’s Upper Tribunal.
The 68-year-old will next week be cross-examined over his relationship with Epstein, whose 2019 arrest for sex trafficking minors and subsequent death in custody brought scrutiny on the late financier’s many high-profile associates...
https://nypost.com/2025/03/03/business/ex-jpmorgan-exec-jes-staley-claims-he-didnt-mislead-uk-watchdog-about-ties-to-epstein/
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Accused Sex Trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s Political Connections: A Guide
July 9, 2019
From Donald Trump to Alan Dershowitz, billionaire Jeffrey Epstein is connected to some of the most powerful men in the country — but what did they know?
Following massive public outrage over the details of the plea agreement, the White House attempted to distance the president from Epstein by denying the two had a social relationship, and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders vowed that the administration would be looking into the details of the arrangement Acosta made with Epstein. But court documents from a civil suit filed by one of Epstein’s accusers, a woman named Virginia Giuffre, allege that Giuffre was recruited by Maxwell to have sex with Epstein and his high-powered friends when she was just 15 and employed as a towel girl at Mar-a-Lago. Bradley Edwards, a legal representative for many of Epstein’s accusers in civil court, has also alleged that Epstein was banned from Mar-a-Lago after he was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl at a club, though neither Mar-a-Lago nor the Trump Administration have confirmed this. As for Acosta, he still remains employed by the White House...
Donald Trump
The most notable person to be associated with Jeffrey Epstein is President Donald Trump, who was photographed with Epstein at Mar-a-Lago in 1997 and again in 2000 with wife Melania and Epstein’s partner, British media mogul heir Ghislaine Maxwell. In fact, in the aforementioned 2002 New York Magazine profile of Epstein, Trump crowed about his friend and touted his fondness for younger women: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump said at the time. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”
Most recently, the Trump administration drew intense scrutiny when the Miami Herald reported on the allegations against Epstein, identifying nearly 80 women and girls who had accused him of sexual abuse. It also reported on a plea agreement the then-Florida U.S. attorney (now-U.S. labor secretary) Alexander Acosta secretly made with Epstein nearly 11 years ago, when Epstein was hit with prostitution charges. In exchange for pleading guilty to charges of solicitation of a minor in 2007, Epstein was required to serve a paltry 13 months in prison — a sentence he in part served out in the comfort of his cushy Palm Beach office on a work-release agreement he made with Acosta.
Following massive public outrage over the details of the plea agreement, the White House attempted to distance the president from Epstein by denying the two had a social relationship, and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders vowed that the administration would be looking into the details of the arrangement Acosta made with Epstein. But court documents from a civil suit filed by one of Epstein’s accusers, a woman named Virginia Giuffre, allege that Giuffre was recruited by Maxwell to have sex with Epstein and his high-powered friends when she was just 15 and employed as a towel girl at Mar-a-Lago. Bradley Edwards, a legal representative for many of Epstein’s accusers in civil court, has also alleged that Epstein was banned from Mar-a-Lago after he was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl at a club, though neither Mar-a-Lago nor the Trump Administration have confirmed this. As for Acosta, he still remains employed by the White House.
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton has long been an associate of Epstein.
In addition to Trump, one of the most high-powered political figures linked to Epstein is former President Bill Clinton, who reportedly appeared 26 times on flight manifests for Epstein’s private Boeing 747 between 2001 and 2003. In 2002, according to flight records, Epstein, Clinton, and actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker flew on his private jet on a trip to Africa. In addition to allegedly taking multiple trips on Epstein’s private plane, Clinton was also a recipient of Epstein’s financial largesse, with the hedge fund manager making repeated donations to the Clinton Foundation. In a statement to New York Magazine in 2002, Clinton referred to Epstein as “a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science.” However, in a statement to the magazine this week, he claimed that he was only on the plane four times — all for official Clinton Foundation business — and denied any knowledge of Epstein’s “terrible crimes… which he pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York.”
Alan Dershowitz
Alan Dershowitz (right) represented Jeffrey Epstein in 2007.
The high-powered attorney and former member of O.J. Simpson’s defense team represented Epstein in the 2007 case against him and helped broker his plea agreement — which, notably, provided immunity to all “potential co-conspirators.” Dershowitz was also explicitly named in Giuffre’s civil suit, with the lawsuit alleging that the 80-year-old lawyer “was Epstein’s attorney, close friend, and co-conspirator. Dershowitz was also a participant in sex trafficking, including as one of the men to whom Epstein lent out Plaintiff for sex.” A second alleged Epstein victim, a woman named Sarah Ransome, also named Dershowitz in a civil suit against Epstein and his partner Maxwell, alleging that she was instructed by Maxwell and Epstein to have sex with Dershowitz. Dershowitz has repeatedly and publicly denied the allegations, calling Giuffre and Ransome “liars,” prompting Giuffre to file a defamation lawsuit against him back in April.
Woody Allen
Woody Allen stood by his friend Epstein following earlier allegations.
Allen was a guest at a party Epstein threw for Prince Andrew in 2010; he also was named in a 2011 Daily Beast story as one of a handful of celebrity friends who stood by Epstein following his sexual abuse conviction, including George Stephanopolous, Katie Couric, and Chelsea Handler. Allen was photographed strolling Madison Avenue with his wife Soon-Yi and Epstein in 2013.
Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew has been a longtime friend of Epstein.
The Duke of York — who recently appeared in a photo with President Trump during the latter’s tour of Buckingham Palace — was a longtime friend of Epstein’s. The two were seen partying together in St. Tropez and Thailand, among other locations, and Andrew was even photographed meeting with Epstein in Central Park shortly after his release from prison. Of Epstein’s famous former cronies, Prince Andrew has arguably been the most directly implicated in the criminal allegations against Epstein. According to Giuffre’s civil suit, she was instructed by Epstein to have three sexual encounters on three separate occasions with Prince Andrew at Epstein’s home in New York, in Maxwell’s London home, and on Epstein’s estate on Little Saint James as part of an “orgy with numerous other under-aged girls.” Buckingham Palace forcefully denied the allegations, telling the Guardian “the allegations made are false and without any foundation.” But the Duke of York’s friendship with Epstein apparently so tarnished his reputation that in 2011, Prince Andrew was removed from his post as a U.K. trade representative to the United States following the negative media reports.
Mort Zuckerman
Mort Zuckerman went into business with Epstein — but that association quickly ended.
The media mogul and owner and publisher of the U.S. News and World Report partnered with Epstein to spend up to $25 million to fund the first issue of the gossip publication Radar in 2004. According to a 2006 Gawker report, news of the sexual abuse allegations against Epstein led the powerful magnate to rapidly disassociate himself from Epstein and shut down the first incarnation of the publication a mere 14 months after its inception in 2005.
Leslie Wexner
The chairman of Limited Brands, the company that owns lingerie store Victoria’s Secret, Wexner was one of Epstein’s hedge-fund clients, as well as the former owner of the opulent townhouse at 9 East 71st Street (valued at $77 million) which Epstein purchased, and where he is alleged to have committed many of the crimes outlined in the indictment. Epstein also formerly served as a trustee for the charitable Wexner Foundation. In a recent statement to Forbes, a spokesperson for Wexner said, “Mr. Wexner severed ties with Mr. Epstein more than a decade ago.”
Lawrence Krauss
Lawrence Krauss defended Epstein — then faced his own misconduct allegation.
As a philanthropist, Epstein aligned himself with many prominent scientists and leading thinkers, including Lawrence Krauss, a prominent theoretical physicist, bestselling author, and so-called “celebrity scientist” who directed a program on the origins of life that Epstein funded. Krauss gave a glowing quote in defense of his benefactor to the Daily Beast following Epstein’s brief incarceration. “If anything, the unfortunate period he suffered has caused him to really think about what he wants to do with his money and his time, and support knowledge,” Krauss told the Daily Beast in 2011. “Jeffrey has surrounded himself with beautiful women and young women but they’re not as young as the ones that were claimed. As a scientist I always judge things on empirical evidence and he always has women ages 19 to 23 around him, but I’ve never seen anything else, so as a scientist, my presumption is that whatever the problems were I would believe him over other people.” Coincidentally, Krauss himself was put on paid leave by Arizona State University after facing his own sexual misconduct allegations in 2018; an ASU investigation found sufficient evidence that Krauss had violated its sexual harassment policies. Though he denied the claims, he retired shortly thereafter.
Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Starr became a household name when he investigated the sexual relationship between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.
In addition to Alan Dershowitz, attorney Kenneth Starr — yes, that Ken Starr — also defended Epstein in 2007 and reportedly played a “significant part” in helping to secure his plea agreement, according to Dershowitz. Also according to Dershowitz, the lawyer who investigated the Monica Lewinsky scandal was recruited to help Epstein because “Starr had experience in investigating sex investigations. He had experience as the solicitor general and as a judge. He had all the bases covered,” he told the Daily Beast in 2015. Along with Dershowitz, Starr was also listed as a recipient of emails from Florida prosecutors discussing withholding the terms of the plea agreement from Epstein’s alleged victims.
Lawrence A. Summers
Former Harvard President Larry Summers has had a close relationship with Epstein.
Former Harvard president and secretary of the treasury Larry Summers boasted a close relationship with Epstein: the two served on multiple foreign relations advisory panels together, and their friendship was detailed at length in a glowing Harvard Crimson profile of Epstein, who had just donated $30 million to the university. Summers and other former Harvard officials who had close ties to Epstein declined to comment for a 2018 follow-up piece on Epstein following the publication of the Miami Herald report.
Bill Barr
Bill Barr has said he would recuse himself and not be involved with a case against Epstein.
Attorney General Bill Barr and Epstein go way back: back in the early 1970s, Barr’s father hired Epstein to work as a physics and math teacher at the elite Manhattan private school Dalton, despite the fact that Epstein did not have a college degree. Following Epstein’s arrest, former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi hinted that Barr could “attempt to interfere” with the prosecution of the case, though this would be unlikely given the “obvious” link between the two men. During his confirmation hearings, Barr himself said he would likely recuse himself from any involvement with the Epstein case, as he previously served as counsel for the law firm Kirkland and Ellis, which also represented Epstein in negotiating the terms of his 2007 plea agreement. But in an essay for the Daily Beast, former federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah expressed concern that Barr wouldn’t keep his word in this regard: “while it pains me to say this, given Barr’s conduct in the past acting more as a defense attorney for Trump than an overseer of justice, I am concerned that Barr might interfere if he thought that Epstein might implicate Trump, who was friends with Epstein,” she wrote.
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Towers Financial Corporation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towers_Financial_Corporation
Towers Financial Corporation was a debt collection agency based in Manhattan in New York City. Between 1988 and 1993, Towers Financial ran a Ponzi scheme that was the largest financial fraud in American history prior to Bernie Madoff's being uncovered.
History
The company, founded in the early 1970s in downtown Manhattan and incorporated in Delaware, was a debt collection agency that paid a penny on the dollar for loans that sellers viewed as worthless, focusing on debts that people owed to hospitals, banks, and phone companies. Steven Hoffenberg was its founder, CEO, President, and Chairman.
Hoffenberg hired Jeffrey Epstein in 1987 to help with the Towers Financial Corporation. Hoffenberg set Epstein up in offices in the Villard Houses in Manhattan, and paid him $25,000 ($69,000 in current dollar terms) per month for his consulting work. They unsuccessfully tried to take over Pan Am in a corporate raid with Towers Financial as their raiding vessel. Their bid failed, in part because of the 1988 terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, which ultimately contributed to the airline's bankruptcy. A similar unsuccessful bid in 1988 was made to take over Emery Air Freight Corp.
Between 1988 and 1993, Towers Financial raised over $400 million by selling bonds and promissory notes to investors, luring them in using false financial statements. Hoffenberg and his associates then used the money they had raised to pay operating costs, repay earlier investors, and to pay themselves. Hoffenberg began using Towers Financial funds to pay for a lavish lifestyle that included a Locust Valley, Long Island mansion, homes on Sutton Place in Manhattan and in Florida, and a number of cars and planes. The Ponzi scheme was the largest financial fraud in American history prior to Bernie Madoff's being uncovered.
In February 1993, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged that the company, while fraudulently reporting a profit of $13 million ($30,000,000 in current dollar terms) for the four years ended June 30, 1991, actually lost $137 million ($316,000,000 in current dollar terms). In March 1993, Towers Financial filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Hoffenberg pleaded guilty in April 1995 to five criminal charges, cheating thousands of investors out of $462 million, surrendered to the FBI in Manhattan, and was arraigned and released on bail. He was sentenced in 1997 by federal judge Robert W. Sweet to 20 years in prison, and was released in 2013, after serving 18 years. He was also sentenced to pay restitution of $462 million ($905,000,000 in current dollar terms) and a $1 million fine.
Towers Financial executives Mitchell Brater (Vice Chairman) and Michael Rosoff (chief legal officer) were handed prison sentences of seven to nine years, and Rosoff was disbarred. Epstein was not charged. In July 2019, Hoffenberg claimed that Epstein was his "uncharged co-conspirator" in the ponzi scheme.
Hoffenberg stated that he didn't turn in evidence against Epstein, mentioning Epstein "had traction with" the United States Department of Justice, and outlined further, "You cannot grasp the magnitude of [Epstein's] controlling effect."
An understanding of the apparently unprecedented type of relationship between Hoffenberg and Epstein is very likely a key prerequisite in reaching a proper understanding of the Towers Financial scheme. Hoffenberg gives Epstein the dominant role by far. He stated that Epstein "had a detailed plan" to turn Towers Financial "into a financial powerhouse of funding money products around the world", and to do so "illegally".
Hoffenberg also related how Epstein further planned to use his building network of rich clients and associates in a "political influence campaign ... for his own personal, financial gain." In part this involved targeting more easily manipulated clients to be defrauded, also those unlikely to report their victimhood to the authorities, for particular reasons, should they discover the fraud.
One mode of operation involved clients' assets purchased for them by Epstein being presented as grossly more valuable than in reality, whilst Hoffenberg described that Epstein was simultaneously cheating very large sums of money for himself. Amidst and within the Towers Financial criminal dealings, Hoffenberg described Epstein as the "mastermind" behind the fraud of an insurance bond scheme and the "technician" of a Wall Street stock manipulation scheme.
In 2020 Hoffenberg added some corroboration to evidence published in a 2019 book indicating that Epstein was a top-level spy for Mossad. Over three decades after the Towers Financial scandal and six years after his prison release Hoffenberg suggested an overall intelligence aspect to Epstein. He paints a picture of Epstein's long-term ability to avoid justice, stating this was enabled by being "needed by the CIA or the FBI for intelligence, because he was manipulating the American intelligence for the overseas organizations". Jeffrey Epstein's apparent capacity to frustrate the law's probe has come to be seen in retrospect as central in his profile since his Towers Financial years, indeed rather definitive.
In 2007–08 Epstein faced a serious portfolio of charges on statutory rape and sex trafficking, although Florida Southern Attorney General Alexander Acosta agreed to a Federal Non-Prosecution Agreement, thereby reducing all charges to a single instance of solicitation of a girl under 18. This simultaneously shut down an FBI investigation into more victims and conspiring and associated powerful perpetrators of sex crimes.
In mid-2021, confirmation of some of Hoffenberg's statements was given. Former high-ranking Israeli intelligence officer Ari Ben-Menashe imparted his own, old knowledge Epstein had "started working with Israeli Intelligence... collecting secrets" (year or era not given). Whatever the relevance of this might be to Epstein's special position with US authorities, meanwhile further commentators again speculated that Epstein's unknown modes of involvement with intelligence went beyond one agency or country.
Epstein's perceived exemption from justice seemingly continues after his death, as described by Hoffenberg. The 2007–08 Non-Prosecution Agreement was retained on appeal in 2020. Effectively, at least for the moment this preserves the block, preventing future investigation into circumstances, people and organisations surrounding Epstein in those earlier charges.
Although appealed further later in 2020 to an en banc hearing, in April 2021 Epstein's ongoing, posthumous arrangement of immunity from prosecution for sex-trafficking was upheld as beyond challenge, in a majority 6-4 verdict. Recalling decades of Epstein's past and particularly the Towers Financial scandal, the victim's lawyers Cassell and Edwards commented on the "disturbing" decision: "It allows wealthy and powerful defendants (like Epstein) to orchestrate special deals without crime victims having any involvement by negotiating with prosecutors before charges are ever filed. That is not something most defendants can do." The victim's legal team has indicated the intent to appeal further to the Supreme Court.
Whilst Hoffenberg stated that he was "double-crossed" by Epstein over the Towers Ponzi scheme, he emphasised he has no "axe to grind" against Epstein but instead a "story to tell ... something to explain" over Epstein, about "his mindset, the profile, how Epstein saw things, and how he played the chess board". Hoffenberg characterised Epstein, "You’re talking about a sociopath who was only interested in advancing himself monetarily, and every component of his existence was at the destruction of other people. His only interest was how to use other people, their wealth, and their access, in order to advance himself. He destroyed everybody in his path."
In 2020, a year after his alleged suicide while on detention in a Manhattan prison on new sex trafficking charges involving minors, Epstein was described as having had a "major role" in the Towers Financial Ponzi scheme. It was reported by journalist Vicky Ward that Epstein was "pivotal" in designing how the scheme worked. In mid-2020 the American documentary mini-series Surviving Jeffrey Epstein claimed that Epstein was "at the absolute centre of the operation".
It was reported in late August 2022 Steve Hoffenberg passed away at his home in Derby, Connecticut, around two or more weeks after having contracted coronavirus, his body discovered August 23. The body was found in a decomposed state, thought to be of around a week's progression, such that visual identification wasn't possible. A cause of death was not known by the stage of a preliminary autopsy in late August, when authorities believed no suspicious circumstances were involved.
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Sen. Dick Durbin, who blocked the release of the Epstein flight logs, is leading the charge to block the confirmation of Kash Patel to the FBI. Patel has promised to release the Epstein files.
2-6-2025
https://worldnews.whatfinger.com/2025/02/06/corrupt-low-life-sen-dick-durbin-who-blocked-the-release-of-the-epstein-flight-logs-is-leading-the-charge-to-block-the-confirmation-of-kash-patel-to-the-fbi-patel-has-promised-to-release-the-epste/
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Jeffrey Epstein operated a vast sex-trafficking network of underage girls who recruited other victims, prosecutors say
July 8, 2019
https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/08/us/jeffrey-epstein-monday-court-appearance/index.html
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The pressure on a prosecutor: How Epstein’s wealth and power steered Acosta toward lenient deal
July 12, 2019
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/the-pressure-on-a-prosecutor-how-epsteins-wealth-and-power-steered-acosta-toward-lenient-deal/2019/07/12/2a7bdd08-a421-11e9-bd56-eac6bb02d01d_story.html
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Alex Acosta, prosecutor forever marked by slap on wrist for billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, sent 6 South Florida politicians to prison for corruption
July 10, 2019
Alex Acosta’s four years as the top federal prosecutor in South Florida are indelibly marked by the lenient deal he gave billionaire Jeffrey Epstein on charges of molesting and trafficking teenage girls.
Cases he oversaw that sent six important South Florida elected officials to prison for corruption — rocking the halls of government in Broward and Palm Beach counties — will now go down as little more than asterisks in Acosta’s career.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2019/07/10/alex-acosta-prosecutor-forever-marked-by-slap-on-wrist-for-billionaire-jeffrey-epstein-sent-6-south-florida-politicians-to-prison-for-corruption/
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BREAKING: Judiciary Chair Durbin Blocks Senator Blackburn’s Request To Subpoena Sotomayor Staff, Epstein Flight Logs
November 30, 2023
After launching an assault on the Supreme Court’s legitimacy, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin blocked Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) from bringing forward her request for subpoenas, including for Justice Sotomayor’s staff and Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs:
“This is a sad day in the history of the prestigious Judiciary Committee and further underscores the Left’s two tiers of justice crusade. Senate Democrats have long been trying to undermine the Supreme Court and Justice Clarence Thomas, but want to ignore Justice Sotomayor allegedly using her taxpayer-funded staff to coordinate speaking engagements in exchange for selling and promoting thousands of her books. They also don’t want to have a conversation about the estate of Jeffrey Epstein to find out the names of every person who participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s human trafficking ring.” – Senator Blackburn
https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2023/11/news/breaking-judiciary-chair-durbin-blocks-senator-blackburn-s-request-to-subpoena-sotomayor-staff-epstein-flight-logs
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The release of Jeffrey Epstein records will have to wait, a judge rules
March 1, 2024
https://www.wusf.org/courts-law/2024-03-01/release-jeffrey-epstein-records-will-have-to-wait-judge-rules
It came hours after Gov. DeSantis signed a bill that allowed for grand jury testimony to be released. It could still become available after July 1.
Hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to allow the release of grand jury testimony about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a Palm Beach County circuit judge Thursday denied a public records request for the documents — but laid out a blueprint for how the information could be available after the new law takes effect July 1.
The bill, which lawmakers passed this month, is aimed at making available records presented to a Palm Beach County grand jury in 2006 about an investigation into Epstein, a wealthy financier who allegedly sexually abused young women at his Palm Beach mansion. Through a deal approved by prosecutors in 2007, Epstein sidestepped federal charges and agreed to plead guilty to two state prostitution charges, including procuring a minor for sex.
The Palm Beach Post’s parent company, CA Florida Holdings LLC, in 2019 filed a lawsuit against Palm Beach County officials seeking access to evidence, testimony and reports presented to the grand jury.
The new law, signed Thursday morning by DeSantis at the Palm Beach police department, expands an exception to a prohibition on the disclosure of testimony or evidence received by grand juries.
An order issued later Thursday by Circuit Judge Luis Delgado denied the Post’s records request, but detailed how he could reconsider the issue after the new law formally takes effect this summer.
The records request “involves a matter of public interest” in a number of ways, Delgado wrote in a five-page order.
“The criminal prosecutions of the most infamous pedophile in American history began in Palm Beach County — with much controversy. For almost 20 years, the story of how Jeffrey Epstein victimized some of Palm Beach County’s most vulnerable has been the subject of much outrage and has at times diminished the public perception of the criminal justice system. On or after July 1, 2024, the Court will entertain a motion for reconsideration as to how to weigh this as a factor,” the order said.
The judge also noted that “Epstein is indeed infamous and is widely reported to have cavorted with politicians, billionaires, and even British Royalty. It is understandable that given those reports the public has a great curiosity about what was widely reported by news agency (sic) as ‘special treatment’ regarding his prosecution. This matter is clearly the subject of public interest.”
Grand jury testimony “concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to criminal — all of it sexually deviant and disgusting,” Delgado wrote, adding that he would “entertain a motion for reconsideration as to how to weigh this as a factor” on or after July 1.
During Thursday’s bill-signing ceremony, DeSantis said providing the records “is not a huge undertaking” and should not take long.
“So I don’t think it should take forever and a day. I think the legal hurdles will be cleared. And look, when you’re dealing with grand-jury material, there’s a lot of sensitivity with that, even for the custodian of it. … Well, now we’ve cleared the road for this, so this should be something that happens very quickly, and hopefully we get more answers,” DeSantis, an attorney, said.
A woman who accompanied DeSantis at Thursday’s event, identified as an Epstein victim named “Haley,” asked DeSantis whether “any information in those documents” would be filtered or if they would be released “as is, protecting the victims.”
DeSantis said it is possible that “a judge could order certain things redacted” but that the new law “is structured in a way where that’s disfavored. … But I think, by and large, it’s erring on the side of disclosure.”
Delgado’s ruling gave a variety of reasons for denying the records request under current law, saying he and two previous judges on the case had to weigh factors to determine whether releasing the records “would further justice.”
“The release of the records will not further justice as our law currently prescribes,” the judge wrote.
Delgado pointed to legal precedents establishing standards that courts must consider when determining whether to release grand-jury documents.
“It is clear there is no nexus between those findings and furthering justice. This court cannot weigh those factors in a way that ‘will further justice,’” he wrote.
As an example of factors that Delgado weighed in evaluating the Post’s request, the judge said courts must consider the reason the disclosure is being sought.
“This is sought to ‘further justice’ but how this furthers justice is thread-bare, disjointed and poorly articulated. The argument presented is premised on the First Amendment (freedom of the press) and an exception of furthering justice. The courts are not seeking to limit the freedom of the press, but the press is not entitled to any greater access than the public merely because they are the press,” Delgado wrote.
Another issue involved how long ago the grand-jury proceedings took place, which Delgado noted were “remote in time.”
But the time lapse doesn’t help, according to the judge.
“If anything, after reviewing the material the overwhelming majority of the substance has been previously reported by the media or made the subject of documentaries,” he wrote.
Delgado noted that the request was made by “a newspaper of record in our county” that many people in the region rely on for information. The judge said he will also take that issue into consideration after July 1.
In addition, Delgado said Epstein’s Aug. 10, 2019, death at a New York prison “under controversial and ‘newsworthy’ circumstances’” also “adds to the public interest” and would be another factor the court could consider when the new law takes effect.
Senate bill sponsor Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, said Delgado’s order illustrated why the law needed changes.
“We knew that we had to make the law clear, so the judge would feel comfortable releasing the records if the judge so chooses,” Polsky, an attorney, told The News Service of Florida. “So because the bill becomes effective July 1, the judge's order makes clear that the plaintiff should seek the materials again after the bill becomes law. And then this way, he would feel like he's legally allowed to release the record. So I think it just showed why we needed the bill.”
Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts Joe Abruzzo, a former state senator, called the new law “a victory for full transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case.”
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FBI Stuns Nation: Pam Bondi’s Epstein Docs Blocked, Cover-Up?
February 28, 2025
https://countylocalnews.com/2025/02/28/fbi-stuns-nation-pam-bondis-epstein-docs-blocked-cover-up/
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Bondi points the finger at FBI after promised Epstein document release flops
February 27, 2025
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article301104524.html
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Bondi demands FBI give her missing Epstein documents
February 28, 2025
(The Daily Signal) – Attorney General Pam Bondi is demanding that FBI Director Kash Patel turn over additional documents related to the activities of human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, after social media influencers received some documents related to his case Thursday.
Saying she had requested “the full and complete files related to Jeffrey Epstein,” Bondi alleged in a letter to Patel dated Feb. 27 that she had learned she had not received all the files.
“Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein,” Bondi wrote, reported Fox News.
“By 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, February 28, the FBI will deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office, including all records, documents, audio and video recordings, and materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and his clients, regardless of how such information was obtained,” the former Florida attorney general added. “There will be no withholdings or limitations to my or your access.”
Bondi’s letter comes the same day a group of social media influencers received government documents related to Epstein.
Liz Wheeler, an author and host of “The Liz Wheeler Show,” posted on X that there was “nothing juicy in the 200 pages, just flight logs & a Rolodex of phone numbers. No ‘smoking gun.’” Bondi, she said, “smelled a rat.”
Wheeler blamed the “deep state” for withholding information about Epstein that Bondi had requested.
“[B]e very, very angry that deep state agents in the swamp at the SDNY are at this very moment defying President [Donald] Trump & AG Bondi & you who voted him into office, lying, and hiding the truth about Jeffrey Epstein because they don’t want their own corruption & weaponization of govt exposed,” she posted. “That’s the story.”
Patel posted on X that the “FBI is entering a new era,” one where there “will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned.”
“If records have been hidden, we will uncover them,” he added.
Pictures of social influencers leaving the White House midday with binders entitled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” quickly caused confusion on social media.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican who chairs a new oversight subcommittee committed to declassifying documents, criticized the delayed and limited release on X, writing, “I nor the task force were given or reviewed the Epstein documents being released today… A NY Post story just revealed that the documents will simply be Epstein’s phonebook.”
“THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!” she added.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, likewise expressed his confusion with the release.
“If the Epstein files are out, where do we find them? … What’s the difference between ‘phase 1’ and ‘phase 2?’” wrote Lee on X.
Mike Cernovich, a writer and social media personality who received one of the binders, said, “Yes. I can confirm this. AG Pam Bondi released what she had in her possession for the sake of transparency. Unfortunately some bad actors within SDNY and the FBI NYC field office with held documents. AG Bondi is working on this tirelessly.”
Cernovich later wrote in a cryptic post, “We got the binder at noon. SDNY and FBI held back the real information and AG Bondi directed Kash Patel to start kicking ass. AG Bondi handed what she had.”
Rogan O’Handley, another social media influencer who was also at the White House to receive a binder, posted a similar message.
“AG Bondi recently learned that thousands of Epstein Files are being secretly held in the SDNY FBI Office. She has demanded they be delivered to her by 8 AM tomorrow,” wrote O’Handley.
He later briefly started a livestream, in which he flipped through the pages of the binder, showing flight logs of Epstein’s plane.
“I don’t know what of this is new, but I know there’s a lot more evidence that is being secretly held at the Southern District of New York,” he said.
Epstein died by what was ruled a suicide in a New York City jail cell in 2019.
https://readlion.com/bondi-demands-fbi-give-her-missing-epstein-documents/
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Jeffrey Epstein contact names revealed in unsealed documents. Here are key takeaways from the files.
January 9, 2024
Documents that include the names of more than 100 people connected to Jeffrey Epstein, including business associates and accusers, among others, have now been made public, following a federal judge's December ruling that the information be unsealed.
More than 900 pages of mostly unredacted documents were released Wednesday, Jan. 3. A second batch of documents was released Thursday, Jan. 4, a third batch the day after that and still more in the days that followed.
Much of the information has been previously reported, and many of those whose names are mentioned are not accused of any wrongdoing.
Though the unsealed court documents don't contain an actual list of associates, the names were expected to include some that also appeared on the flight logs of Epstein's private jet, nicknamed the "Lolita Express," which he often used to fly to his private island in the Caribbean. Those manifests and other documents, such as his private calendar, had previously been made public, including as part of legal proceedings or public records requests. Many of those who had business or social ties with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, have denied any misconduct or involvement in his activities.
The release of the names stems from a now-settled defamation lawsuit brought in 2015 by Virginia Giuffre, who accused British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell of enabling her abuse by Epstein.
Maxwell was found guilty by a New York jury in 2021 on conspiracy and trafficking charges related to Epstein, her longtime friend and sometime romantic partner, and her role for a decade in the abuse of underage girls.
What is in the Jeffrey Epstein-related court documents?
Court documents list 184 "J. Does," starting at J. Doe #3 through J. Doe #187. Some names are repeated twice. A small number are the names of minors or sexual assault victims, which the judge specified won't be released.
According to a court record released Jan. 3, documents for two Does — 107 and 110 — will not be immediately released. One was granted an extension until Jan. 22 for her appeal about the release and the other's appeal is still under review.
In many cases, the names in the documents "really are of innocent people. It's people who may have been employed, it's people who may have gone to dinner or to a cocktail party at Jeffrey Epstein's home," said CBS News legal analyst Rikki Klieman. "It is not necessarily naming people who have engaged in actions that were anything like the deplorable actions of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell."
One of the documents released Thursday includes a lengthy list of names of people Giuffre's attorneys wanted to depose in her lawsuit against Maxwell.
The documents released by the court mention some well-known figures whose contacts with Epstein have been reported in the past, such as Britain's Prince Andrew. The prince settled a lawsuit in 2022 with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him and Epstein of abusing her as a teen, an accusation Andrew denied. In a court filing at the time, his attorneys said, "Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others."
A deposition from Johanna Sjoberg in the suit includes previous accusations alleging she was groped by Prince Andrew in 2001, when she was 21. BBC News reports Buckingham Palace previously called her allegations "categorically untrue." The newly released documents include questions to Maxwell about Sjoberg.
Bill Clinton, also among the people whose names appear in the documents, had allegedly been described by Epstein as "a good friend," one Epstein accuser recounted in 2019. The former president's name had also appeared on manifests for the private jet, on which he said he had taken four trips "in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation." He has not been accused of wrongdoing. A spokesperson told CBS News it's been nearly 20 years since Clinton last had contact with Epstein, and referred CBS News to a 2019 statement denying Clinton had any knowledge of what he called Epstein's "terrible crimes."
Clinton's name also came up in Sjoberg's deposition. She did not accuse him of any wrongdoing, but said that Epstein told her "one time that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls."
In another of the documents, Maxwell testifies that Clinton never had a meal on Epstein's island and that she does not know how many times Clinton flew on Epstein's plane.
In the filing, Maxwell's team attempts to debunk an article by journalist Sharon Churcher of the Daily Mail, who described a dinner on Epstein's Little St. James island allegedly attended by Clinton "shortly after he left office." Maxwell's team claims, "Former FBI Director Louis Freeh submitted a report wherein he concluded that President Clinton 'did not, in fact travel to, nor was he present on, Little St. James Island between January 1, 2001 and January 1, 2003'," and goes on to say Secret Service assigned to the former president would have been required to file travel logs.
Also named in the documents is Sarah Kellen, a former Epstein employee who has been accused by one adult victim of knowingly scheduling her flights and appointments with the financier and Maxwell.
Kellen's spokesperson had said in a 2020 statement to CBS News that Kellen scheduled those appointments at the direction of Epstein and Maxwell, and was herself "sexually" and "psychologically" abused by Epstein "for years." The statement noted Kellen "deeply regrets that she had any part in it."
What happened in the Jeffrey Epstein case?
Epstein was accused of sexually assaulting numerous teenage girls, some of them as young as 14 years old, according to prosecutors. Over many years, he allegedly exploited a vast network of underage girls for sex at his homes in Manhattan; Palm Beach, Florida; and his private island near St. Thomas.
Epstein had pleaded not guilty to charges brought in 2019 by federal prosecutors in New York of sex trafficking conspiracy and one count of sex trafficking with underage girls. His death in prison before facing trial was ruled a suicide.
Epstein had cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida in 2008, reaching a non-prosecution agreement on allegations he sexually abused underage girls, in return for pleading guilty to lesser state charges and serving 13 months in jail, much of the time on work release. He also had to pay settlements to victims and register as a sex offender.
That agreement, which had not been disclosed to his victims, was under investigation at the time of his death.
Among the documents released Thursday is a 2016 deposition from Joseph Recarey, a former detective with the Palm Beach Police Department who led the investigation into allegations against Epstein of sex abuse and trafficking that culminated in the 2008 plea deal.
In the deposition, Recarey states that he interviewed around 30 girls who were either asked to or gave massages at Epstein's home.
"When they went to perform a massage, it was for sexual gratification," Recarey testified. And of the 30-33 young women he interviewed, he said, only one, whom he described as "older," had massage experience, and "the majority were under" 18. Some told him they were recruited with the prospect of becoming a model for Victoria's Secret, Recarey said. He also said the young women told him they were offered money to recruit more girls. The 18-page released deposition has large gaps where pages were not included...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-list-names-released-unsealed-documents/
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Here are all the politicians Jeffrey Epstein, the money manager arrested on charges of sex trafficking, has donated to
Jul 11, 2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1
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Delegate Stacey Plaskett, who represents the US Virgin Islands in the House of Representatives, accepted donations from Epstein after he registered as a sex offender.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#delegate-stacey-plaskett-who-represents-the-us-virgin-islands-in-the-house-of-representatives-accepted-donations-from-epstein-after-he-registered-as-a-sex-offender-1
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Epstein sent $10,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in October, only to have the money returned to him three days later.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#delegate-stacey-plaskett-who-represents-the-us-virgin-islands-in-the-house-of-representatives-accepted-donations-from-epstein-after-he-registered-as-a-sex-offender-1
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Epstein gave so much to Gwendolyn Beck, an independent running for Congress from Connecticut in 2014, that he violated the Federal Election Commission's individual contribution limit.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-gave-so-much-to-gwendolyn-beck-an-independent-running-for-congress-from-connecticut-in-2014-that-he-violated-the-federal-election-commissions-individual-contribution-limit-3
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Epstein donated $50,000 to former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer in 2006.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-donated-50000-to-former-new-york-gov-eliot-spitzer-in-2006-4
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John Kerry received $4,000 from Epstein between 1991 and 2002.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#john-kerry-received-4000-from-epstein-between-1991-and-2002-5
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Retired Sen. Chris Dodd returned a $1,000 donation from Epstein in 2006.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#retired-sen-chris-dodd-returned-a-1000-donation-from-epstein-in-2006-6
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Epstein donated a total of $7,000 to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-donated-a-total-of-7000-to-senate-minority-leader-chuck-schumer-7
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Former President George H.W. Bush received $1,000 from Epstein.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#former-president-george-hw-bush-received-1000-from-epstein-8
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Epstein also donated $2,000 to support Bill Clinton in 1992 — who defeated Bush.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-also-donated-2000-to-support-bill-clinton-in-1992-who-defeated-bush-9
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But in the 1996 election, Epstein supported Clinton's opponent, Bob Dole. Epstein donated $1,250 to Dole.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#but-in-the-1996-election-epstein-supported-clintons-opponent-bob-dole-epstein-donated-1250-to-dole-10
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Epstein also tried to donate more than $4,000 to former Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat from New Mexico, but Bingaman returned some of it.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-also-tried-to-donate-more-than-4000-to-former-sen-jeff-bingaman-a-democrat-from-new-mexico-but-bingaman-returned-some-of-it-11
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Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent from Connecticut, received $3,000 from Epstein.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#former-sen-joe-lieberman-a-democrat-turned-independent-from-connecticut-received-3000-from-epstein-12
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Former Sen. Tom McMillen, a Democrat from Maryland, received $3,000 from Epstein.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#former-sen-tom-mcmillen-a-democrat-from-maryland-received-3000-from-epstein-13
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Retired Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, a New York Republican, received $2,000 from Epstein.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#retired-sen-alfonse-damato-a-new-york-republican-received-2000-from-epstein-14
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The New Mexico Democrat John J. Kelly received $2,000 from Epstein for his unsuccessful congressional bid.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#the-new-mexico-democrat-john-j-kelly-received-2000-from-epstein-for-his-unsuccessful-congressional-bid-15
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Epstein gave former US Rep. Rick Lazio, a Republican from New York's second district, $2,000.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-gave-former-us-rep-rick-lazio-a-republican-from-new-yorks-second-district-2000-16
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Epstein gave $2,000 to former US Rep. Wayne Owens, a Utah Democrat, in 1990.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-gave-2000-to-former-us-rep-wayne-owens-a-utah-democrat-in-1990-17
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Epstein donated $1,000 to Bob Packwood in 1991.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-donated-1000-to-bob-packwood-in-1991-18
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Epstein donated $2,000 to the Delaware Democrat Charles Oberly III for his unsuccessful Senate bid in 1994.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-donated-2000-to-the-delaware-democrat-charles-oberly-iii-for-his-unsuccessful-senate-bid-in-1994-19
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Epstein donated $500 to former Sen. Timothy Wirth, a Democrat from Colorado, in 1991.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-donated-500-to-former-sen-timothy-wirth-a-democrat-from-colorado-in-1991-20
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Former New York Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat, received $2,000 from Epstein in 1998.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#former-new-york-sen-daniel-patrick-moynihan-a-democrat-received-2000-from-epstein-in-1998-21
______________
Former Sen. Mark Pryor, a Democrat from Arkansas, received $1,000 from Epstein in 2002.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#former-sen-mark-pryor-a-democrat-from-arkansas-received-1000-from-epstein-in-2002-22
______________
Epstein donated $1,000 to Eugene Watts, a Republican member of the Ohio state Senate, in 1993.
2019
https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7?op=1#epstein-donated-1000-to-eugene-watts-a-republican-member-of-the-ohio-state-senate-in-1993-23
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Political Corruption is Helping Florida Become a White Collar Criminal Haven
April 28, 2021
Political corruption is an ancient development, one of those adages that still rings true.
Now, thanks to a slow, cancerous spread of corruption, Florida is becoming a haven for white-collar tax evaders and corrupt public officials who are all betting they can evade scrutiny for years. In many cases, they are right.
The development of political corruption in Florida is primarily ignored by snowbirds, new residents, retirees, partygoers, and people who just want to fish or take in the sun. But behind the scenes, the state is setting some new low points in its pattern of becoming the home to some very unsavory white-collar criminals who are attracted here by the low taxes, lax state scrutiny, and an increasingly compliant number of public officials who will look the other way when the right incentives present themselves.
Here are some examples of the state’s political corruption, as reported by the exceptional reporting in Florida Bulldog:
Serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein worked out a plea deal with South Florida federal prosecutors that was so outrageous it set a new nadir in public corruption involving federal officials in Miami-Dade County. The Florida Bulldog said, “Jeffrey Epstein’s cushy federal deal was the only one of its kind in South Florida for at least three decades.”
‘Probable cause’ found that Broward Commissioner Tim Ryan failed to disclose more than $1 million in income from cities his law firm represents.
Broward Schools Superintendent, General Counsel indicted on corruption charges by a statewide grand jury.
FBI investigating Broward Sheriff Tony for suspected bid-rigging, kickbacks in bleeding control kits deal.
The Tallahassee First District Court of Appeal ruled in the second week of April that a 2018 victims’ privacy law applies to police officers. If the Florida Supreme Court reviews the opinion and agrees, the public would never be allowed to see or hear any evidence of criminal police behavior.
According to the Florida Bulldog, “The FBI is investigating Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony for suspected bid-rigging, fraud, and kickbacks stemming from BSO’s 2019 purchase of hundreds of bleeding control stations from a South Carolina company where Tony worked before becoming sheriff.”
Forget about the separation of church and state. The Gainesville Sun reports: “The Florida legislature is considering spending more than $110 million in the next fiscal year on vouchers for 15,000 students to attend private and religious schools. The numbers would rise in subsequent years based on increases in the student population.” This is just a payoff to charter schools, many Christian schools with modest credential standards.
Then, there is the pathetic case of Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a Trump buddy, who the Justice Department is investigating about his alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old. Even his fellow House Republicans are staying away from him on this issue; a clear indication that they know more about the allegations than they say in public.
More Bad News About Political Corruption
This news about political corruption charges is just from a few recent issues of the Florida Bulldog, so the list is much longer. But suppose you connect these allegations with the news that Trump has made Florida his official state of residence, a recent home purchase by Sean Hannity, and a slew of hedge fund and private equity executives. In that case, you have a nexus for some like-minded white-collar tax evaders who will continue to contribute to a corrupt Florida legislature that is already proven that it willfully disregards the will of the electorate.
Take the Florida referendums that passed and were publicly disregarded or emasculated. This happened with the referendum to restore voting rights to persons convicted of felonies and a referendum to decriminalize cannabis and make it more readily available.
In both cases, Republicans in the Florida legislature did all they could to block or delay the implementation of these public votes.
In the case of restoring the voting right to felons, The Guardian newspaper summarized this anti-democratic move by Florida Republicans like this:
“In 2018,…64.5% of Floridians had voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to end the policy. More than 5.1 million people – more than voted for Ron DeSantis, the Republican elected governor that evening – were in favor of the measure. The referendum – often referred to as Amendment 4 – was one of the most dramatic amendments to the right to vote in US history since the 1965 Voting Rights Act. But over a year and a half after Amendment 4 went into effect, hundreds of thousands remain blocked from voting.”
In short, the Republicans ignored the will of the people. The same is true of the cannabis decriminalization referendum initially held in 2016, which received a favorable vote of 60%. But Republican legislators undercut voters’ intent. Voters approved medical marijuana in 2016, but lawmakers banned smoking it and were losing a court battle over that interference until it was eventually signed into law.
Republican Obstructionism Encourages Political Corruption
Newcomers to Florida didn’t realize it was the third state to join the Confederacy in January 1861. If you move to Florida from New York, Massachusetts, or Illinois, you should remember that it is a Southern state. This means it has bought into the great lie that the Southern states that lost the Civil War were involved in a “just cause.” That mass self-deception is still evident today.
What the Florida Bulldog and other media report about corruption in Florida are not new. From 2000 to 2010, Florida was the worst state in the union, with the most federal public corruption convictions. A news item from Integrity Florida found that from 2003 to 2013, Florida had 622 convictions, behind California and Texas, which had much larger populations.
A 2015 study by the Harvard Law School’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics found that Florida hit a trifecta of corruption in:
Illegal corruption is “moderately common” in Florida’s executive branch.
Illegal corruption is “very common” in the state’s legislative branch.
No state has a high ranking of unlawful corruption in its judiciary.
According to a 2019 report from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Miami was the fifth most corrupt city in the US. A 2021 study that looked at data from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine the number of public corruption convictions per 10,000 residents in all 50 states found that Florida ranked 42nd out of 50 states.
Birds of a Feather
With Trump in Palm Beach, similar high-flyers that benefit from tax loopholes, mainly carried interest, and receive federal subsidies are also moving to Florida. The Wall Street Journal reports that David Tepper, Paul Tudor Jones, and Barry Sternlicht (all hedge fund moguls) are among the prominent transplants who have pulled up roots in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut in recent years for Florida” along with financier Carl Icahn.
The big reason is taxes. For average people, a significant reason to move to Florida is affordability, but for the ultra-rich, it is to get the exemption for estate taxes, not income taxes. Trump’s cohorts are professional tax cheats. They spend millions to evade paying millions more in taxes.
Now, the Trump, DeSantis regime, and its Florida Republican legislature are working overtime to make it homier for the top 1% to feel safe here. Public protests are being outlawed, the police will monitor large gatherings, and as shown above, the legislature has even made it possible to hide the criminal behavior of Florida cops. It is now legal to drive your car into a group of protestors and not be charged with anything. This means the death-cult Republicans in the Florida legislature have made hit-and-run legal. The state also benefits from a low-information electorate.
So, is Florida the new home to white-collar criminals?
You bet it is.
And the snowbirds, retirees, and party-goers don’t even notice what’s happening.
https://theprogressiveinvestor.org/political-corruption-is-helping-florida-is-become-a-white-collar-criminal-haven/
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Miami Commissioner Díaz de la Portilla Arrested on Corruption Charges
September 15, 2023
City of Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla is facing multiple felony counts arising from a corruption investigation spearheaded by Florida state law enforcement.
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-commissioner-alex-diaz-de-la-portilla-arrested-on-bribery-charge-17834395
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Corruption Charges Dropped Against Ex-Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla
November 20, 2024
In September 2023, the former commissioner was arrested on charges bribery and money laundering.
More than a year after ex-Miami commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla and lobbyist William Riley Jr. were arrested in an alleged bribery scheme connected to a downtown project backed by Miami's favorite anti-vax couple, David and Leila Centner, prosecutors have dropped the criminal charges against them.
In September 2023, Díaz de la Portilla and Riley were arrested and accused of funneling thousands of dollars from the Centners into political committees controlled by the commissioner in exchange for pushing through a $10 million sports facility for the couple's school, the Centner Academy.
Both men faced felony charges of bribery, money laundering, and unlawful compensation. In the wake of the corruption charges, Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Díaz de la Portilla from his commission seat. The former commissioner pleaded not guilty in the case and steadfastly maintained his innocence. Riley likewise entered a not-guilty plea.
On Wednesday (November 20), Broward County State Attorney Harold Pryor, who took over the case after the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office requested the investigation be reassigned to avoid a conflict of interest, announced that the charges would be dropped.
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/charges-dropped-against-ex-miami-commissioner-alex-diaz-de-la-portilla-21821687
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DeSantis is squeezing the sunshine out of Florida’s public records law, critics say
July 4, 2023
Ron DeSantis is the only Florida governor known to use “executive privilege” to keep records hidden, experts say, and recently signed a law barring release of his travel records.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/desantis-florida-public-records-transparency-rcna91364
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Ron DeSantis Accused of 'Public Corruption' by Former GOP Lawmaker
Apr 22, 2023
https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-accused-public-corruption-former-gop-lawmaker-1796077
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How private prisons backdoor big donations to Ron DeSantis
Nov 06, 2022
The GEO Group, which just won a lucrative contract extension from Florida, is one of the biggest donors to an organization pumping millions into the Ron DeSantis re-election campaign.
https://jasongarcia.substack.com/p/how-private-prisons-backdoor-big
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New oversight of private prisons in FL begins
Oct 24, 2023
When private prisons began operating nearly 30 years ago in Florida, they were one of the few systems in the nation to place oversight outside of the usual state corrections administration.
Now, after a damning audit released a year ago showing failures in oversight, the Department of Corrections has taken over the oversight of seven private prisons. The move began this month following legislation passed in the spring and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The transition means that the state’s Department of Management Services (DMS) will no longer be overseeing those seven private prisons.
Of the 85,145 inmates now in prisons in Florida, slightly more than 10,000 are housed in those seven private facilities, according to Department of Corrections Deputy Secretary Richard Comerford, who spoke before the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee last week.
The impetus for transferring the oversight to the FDC stems from a June 2022 Florida Auditor General audit of the DMS which found seven areas of deficiencies, including bureau monitoring of private correctional facility staffing.
That means the facilities needed enhancements to ensure that appropriate and qualified staff were assigned to provide for and maintain the security, control, custody and supervision of inmates.
There are three private prison providers that run the state’s seven private prisons: CoreCivic of Tennessee LLC, GEO Group Inc. and Management and Training Corporation (MTC)...
https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/florida/new-oversight-of-private-prisons-in-fl-begins/article_2eeb4008-71c8-11ee-be4a-b756b8c7e984.html
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Cops and Lawmakers Exposed in Massive $800m Private Prison Bribery Conspiracy
Feb 12, 2017
Mississippi sued 10 people and 15 corporations this week to recoup more than $800 million in state money lost in a seven-year prison bribery scandal.
Defendant corporations include The GEO Group; Mississippi Correctional Management; Global Tel*Link Corporation; Health Assurance LLC; and Keefe Commissary Network LLC.
https://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-watch/private-prison-bribery-conspiracy
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DeSantis Laughs at Building State Prison Near Disney
Apr 17, 2023
https://www.newsweek.com/desantis-laughs-building-state-prison-near-disney-1794892
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DeSantis Threatens To Turn Disney Borderland Into State Prison, Plus Other 'Endless' Options
04/18/23
KEY POINTS
The governor said the board may consider selling Disney World utilities to a private entity
DeSantis said he's not allowing Disney to 'have its own government'
The Republican previously floated the possibility of hiking Disney's taxes
https://www.ibtimes.com/desantis-threatens-turn-disney-borderland-state-prison-plus-other-endless-options-3686854
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NEWS: DeSantis-Appointed Board Accuses Disney of Bribery
December 6, 2023
https://allears.net/2023/12/06/desantis-appointed-board-accuses-disney-of-bribery/
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Ron DeSantis Spent $1.5M on Private Jets as Cash Dries Up, Filing Reveals
Oct 16, 2023
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spent about $1.5 million on private jets over a three-month period during his 2024 presidential campaign, even as his White House bid faces financial difficulties.
DeSantis, who is considered Donald Trump's main rival in the GOP primary, but massively trails the former president in the polls, was found to have forked out vast sums on private travel as his campaign spent almost as much as it brought in, according to third-quarter financial filings on Sunday.
As noted by Politico, while DeSantis' campaign did travel on commercial flights, it also spent $1.5 million on private jets during the last quarter. The campaign paid the sum to at least six private jets providers: Advanced Aviation Team and Avion Aviation, Empyreal Jet, IsraJets, N2024D LLC, and Silver Air Private Jets. The Washington Post reported that most of the private plane flights stopped in July and August, with only an Israjets charge showing up in September.
Many of the plane trips were going back and forth to Iowa, the crucial first-in-the-nation primary caucus state where the DeSantis team appears to be pinning all its hopes on a positive result in January in order to give him a much needed boost for the 2024 bid.
https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-private-jets-campaign-finance-2024-1834883
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Who’s Paying For All of Ron DeSantis’s Private Flights?
May 20, 2023
For a guy with a reported net worth of just over $300,000, the Florida Governor sure travels in style.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/05/ron-desantis-florida-private-travel-donors
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Ron DeSantis just accepted $100K from the GEO Group, a controversial Florida-based private prison giant
Aug 17, 2018
A political action committee supporting Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis just got a $100,000 from the GEO Group, a Florida-based private prison giant known for numerous human rights investigations.
According to public records, on Aug. 15 the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC accepted $50,000 from GEO Group, Inc. and another $50,000 from the company's CEO, George C. Zoley.
The GEO Group, which is headquartered in Boca Raton and is the second largest private prison group in the country, was an early supporter of the DeSantis campaign. Records show they also gave the congressman another $50,000 back in March of 2017.
https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/ron-desantis-just-accepted-100k-from-the-geo-group-a-controversial-florida-based-private-prison-giant-17272961
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DeSantis Accused of Committing Bribery in Order to run for President
August 9, 2023
FORT LAUDERDALE—Veteran Republican political operative Roger Stone sat down with The Floridian this week and accused Governor Ron DeSantis of bribery while discussing the 2024 Republican presidential primary election.
Stone, who is a longtime advisor and friend to former President Donald Trump, believes that President Trump will continue to run for president regardless of the “indictments being thrown at him” or if he finds himself in prison.
Stone went on to say that Governor DeSantis has committed bribery for recently changing the “Resign to Run” state statute that required anyone looking to run for higher office to first resign from the office they currently hold.
“I think they have bigger problems such as Bribery. Bribery is a problem. Florida State law says you cannot hold state office and run for federal office without resigning the state office,” said Stone, suggesting that Gov. DeSantis and House Speaker Paul Renner need to be hauled in front of a grand jury.
“That law was changed and days later Ron transferred $1 million to a new PAC that is controlled by the speaker of the house. That's a bribe. The US attorney in Tallahassee needs to get Ron and the Speaker in front of a grand jury and whatever other staffers were involved in that, and ask some hard questions,” added Stone.
Stone also made mention of Iowa’s most prominent evangelical, Bob Vander Plaat, who appears to favor DeSantis over the rest of the field of 2024 GOP presidential candidates and may endorse him in the coming months.
The veteran strategist accuses DeSantis of paying a bribe to Vander Plaats after the Governor’s Never Back Down PAC cut an “Independent Expenditure” to Vander Plaats’s “The Family Leader” foundation.
Stone’s claim that the Never Back Down PAC gave Vander Plaat the $50,000 was first discovered by conservative journalist and former congressional candidates Laura Loomer.
According to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), the expenditure made to Vander Plaat's "The Family Leader Foundation" was made in support of "Ron DeSantis."
Vander Plaats recently traveled to Tallahassee and had lunch with the DeSantis’s in the Governor’s Mansion.
“I think Ron overpaid. This guy can't deliver anything. He gave a $50,000 contribution to his nonprofit. Like we're stupid. It's a bribe. it's called bribery— play-to-pay politics,” added Stone before accusing DeSantis of ripping off Floridians who donated to his reelection campaign.
DeSantis’s campaign is in the midst of a complete “reboot,” as donors and supporters continue to question its viability.
The first Republican presidential debate will be held on August 17th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Former President Trump is not expected to attend.
https://floridianpress.com/2023/08/desantis-accused-of-committing-bribery-in-order-to-run-for-president/
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Donald Trump Celebrates Ron DeSantis' 'Soon' Demise
Oct 10, 2023
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-celebrates-ron-desantis-soon-demise-1833497
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DeSantis presents a clear and present danger to Black Floridians
Feb 25, 2025
https://www.miamitimesonline.com/opinion/desantis-presents-a-clear-and-present-danger-to-black-floridians/article_1b85ed62-f2d5-11ef-babb-df4613e25eda.html
The misshapen world that Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Leonard Leo, and other MAGA extremists are attempting to cement into every aspect of American life is deeply rooted in racism, sexism, and ethnonationalism.
As governor, DeSantis has arrogantly manipulated the instruments of political and legislative power not just to deride and disparage African Americans, but also to disassemble Florida’s relationship with the Black population while propagating lies about white European victimhood.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida (ACLU) notes that “throughout his tenure, this governor has used the power of his office to subjugate and control the lives of Black people in Florida. The administration of Gov. DeSantis has demonstrated a disdain for Black people and their lives in Florida. His actions as governor demonstrate that under his governance, the lives of Black people are expendable.”
DeSantis sows distrust of Black people in ways not seen so blatantly since the Jim Crow era.
As the ACLU’s Joey Francilus explains: “Black people in Florida are endangered by the whims of this same governor who, using the levers of his power, greatly diminished the last citizen-led Amendment 4 campaign to expand voting rights to nearly a million formerly incarcerated Floridians. This is the same governor who chilled Black protesters in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.”
Francilus adds that DeSantis is “the same governor who used his power to eliminate a Black-access congressional district in North Florida. This is the same governor who removed the only Black woman state prosecutor from office, replacing her with an acolyte. This is the same governor who sought to censor Black history in classrooms and called slavery ‘beneficial’ for Black people.”
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Sneaks, shredders and saboteurs: your FBI is apparently hard at work
Mar 03, 2025
So, what if you worked at the FBI and you got a memo from DOGE asking for five things you did this week?
https://govmikehuckabee.substack.com/p/sneaks-shredders-and-saboteurs-your
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FBI has gone rogue..
Mar 1, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GtCKqTaZTA
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Ex-CIA Spy Reveals Why Trump Is Revoking Security Clearances
Feb 27, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIRsmcshh_0
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FBI chief exposed as a secret transvestite: Peter Pringle reports from New York on new allegations that J Edgar Hoover attended orgies, wearing a fluffy black dress to one, and was blackmailed into protecting the Mafia
06 February 1993
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/fbi-chief-exposed-as-a-secret-transvestite-peter-pringle-reports-from-new-york-on-new-allegations-that-j-edgar-hoover-attended-orgies-wearing-a-fluffy-black-dress-to-one-and-was-blackmailed-into-protecting-the-mafia-1471376.html
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The Truth About J. Edgar Hoover’s “Cross-Dressing”
February 9, 2018
The story of J. Edgar Hoover dressing in women’s clothing is part of American myth. But does this story tell us more about Hoover or about the nature of gossip?
https://daily.jstor.org/the-truth-about-j-edgar-hoovers-cross-dressing/
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J. Edgar Hoover: Gay or Just a Man Who Has Sex With Men?
November 14, 2011
Nov. 16, 2011 -- J. Edgar Hoover led a deeply repressed sexual life, living with his mother until he was 40, awkwardly rejecting the attention of women and pouring his emotional, and at times, physical attention on his handsome deputy at the FBI, according to the new movie, "J. Edgar," directed by Clint Eastwood.
Clint Eastwood film leaves question of homosexuality ambiguous.
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/edgar-hoover-sex-men-homosexual/story?id=14948447
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How Hoover Took Down the Klan
November 20, 2022
The FBI’s successful campaign against white supremacists is also a cautionary tale.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/11/bi-ku-klux-klan-j-edgar-hoover-lyndon-johnson/672194/
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Trump targets prominent Democratic-linked law firm
03/06/2025
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order targeting Perkins Coie, a prominent Seattle-based law firm that regularly represents Democratic and liberal groups.
The executive order suspends security clearances for employees of the law firm, which has long provided legal work for the Democratic National Committee, other Democratic entities and Democratic campaigns, including Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/06/trump-security-clearance-steele-dossier-025203
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Trump Tightens Grip on FBI and Justice Department
March 7, 2025
FBI Director Kash Patel’s early requests at agency included how to securely contact the Oval Office
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-fbi-doj-control-84785a0e
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‘Fire Everyone’: Trump’s favorite FBI Agent Dan Bongino, leads a purge of America’s law enforcement
March 7, 2025
New York Times Justice Department Reporter Glenn Thrush joins Nicolle Wallace to discuss the purge happening at the national top law enforcement agency, the FBI, which has seen the forced resignation of the top agent in New York James Dennehy, being pushed out by the new leaders of the FBI, Kash Patel and Dan Bongino.
https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/watch/-fire-everyone-trump-s-favorite-fbi-agent-dan-bongino-leads-a-purge-of-america-s-law-enforcement-233814085606
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In Vietnam, Henry Kissinger was worse than a fraud
12/02/23
Americans had fallen for a gambit worked out by a former Harvard professor with roots deep in pre-World War II Europe, who had never lived or worked in Asia, did not appreciate what the United States had sacrificed for Vietnam, and had his eyes only on China, with which he was already negotiating and from which in later years he earned mega-millions in investment and consulting fees.
To say that Henry Kissinger was a fraud would be too charitable. Rather, he betrayed not only the Americans and South Vietnamese who had fought and died in the Vietnam War but also the people of Vietnam, about 2 million of whom fled before the victors from the North could round up all those whom it regarded as “traitors” and kill or imprison them. As it was, the North Vietnamese sent several hundred thousand to the infamous “reeducation camps,” from which many never returned.
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4338279-in-vietnam-henry-kissinger-was-worse-than-a-fraud/
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Military Greatness Betrayed
Reprinted with permission from The New American, April 21, 1986
https://jbs.org/vietnam/military-greatness-betrayed/
Liberal historians praise President Harry S. Truman for courage and honesty, but he did not exhibit these traits of character when he sacked General of the Army Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander in the Far East.
President Truman ordered General MacArthur’s removal 35 years ago this month, on April 11, 1951. The General, then in Tokyo, first learned that he had been fired when told by a military aide who had heard it on a news broadcast.
Even William Manchester, in his less than flattering book AmericanCaesar: Douglas MacArthur, recorded that Truman was not content with cashiering a legendary military commander; he wanted to make certain MacArthur did not have a chance to resign. “Because he insisted that MacArthur be fired,” wrote Manchester, “instead of permitting him to retire gracefully, millions questioned the President’s motives. The deed seemed punitive, even indecent, and it violated all the traditions which the General cherished. The unceremonious, peremptory dismissal denied him the right to deliver a farewell address to his troops, to counsel [his successor General], to speak to the Japanese people, or to discuss the forthcoming peace treaty with any Nipponese officials.”
Douglas MacArthur became the first general officer in American history to be relieved of his command on the charge of insubordination without a hearing or formal charges. To have followed established precedent would have given the General a public forum in which to express his criticism of the Truman Administration’s foreign policy in Asia.
Behind the cowardly political conduct of the President was the influence of his advisors: Defense Secretary George C. Marshall, Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Assistant Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, and Undersecretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Dean Rusk. Marshall, Acheson and Rusk had played a pivotal role in the surrender of mainland China to the Communists prior to 1950. And Harriman had been a key advisor to President Franklin Roosevelt at the February 1945 Yalta Conference that surrendered Eastern Europe to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
All four men pressured Truman to fire MacArthur on the pretext that he was insubordinate. In reality, at the time of his firing, MacArthur was close to demonstrating that the Red Chinese army could be beaten on the battlefield.
T.R. Fehrenbach, in his 1963 book This Kind of War, pointed out that six weeks after MacArthur was fired, U.S. and allied forces killed 65,000 Red Chinese and North Korean troops in the so-called May Massacre at No Name Line, in eastern Korea. According to Fehrenbach, the battle changed the course of the war overnight in favor of the U.S. and its allies.
“The Chinese had now completely lost the initiative; worse, they had been hurt almost beyond recovery,” he added. A month later the Communists agreed to truce talks that would drag on for two years, the period when the bulk of U.S. and allied casualties were experienced.
Prior to his firing, General MacArthur had argued that Red Chinese intervention in the Korean War in late 1950 represented an opportunity to reverse Communist gains in Asia. After the General’s death, Howard Handleman of U.S.News & World Reportrevealed in April 1964 the substance of first-person interviews he had had prior to MacArthur’s being fired. Handleman reported that, unlike the leaders of the Truman Administration, the General saw an opportunity to defeat the Red Chinese military power in Korea by destroying its primitive industrial and military bases from the air. His brilliant and swift destruction of the North Korean army was, according to Handleman, the first step in a wide-ranging strategy intended to undo the U.S. sellout of China to the Communists.
Handleman wrote:
MacArthur felt, after the Chinese entered the war, that Korea was the right place and that moment was the right time to strike at China — a major source of Communist power in the world. Washington … did not agree.
So strongly did the General feel that his strategy was right, Washington’s dangerously wrong, that he put his career on the block. His closest aides insist that General MacArthur knew the risk he was running when he came out against the policy of the Truman administration.
In World War II and in Korea, MacArthur had his military judgment tested in twenty major campaigns. He won one victory after another. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had feared he would fail with his September 1950 Inchon invasion plan — the stroke that turned the tide of the Korean War — supported the firing by President Truman at a time when MacArthur’s troops were within weeks of demonstrating that the Red Chinese army could be beaten militarily.
“It is my own personal opinion,” General MacArthur told a congressional committee shortly after his firing, “that the greatest political mistake we made in a hundred years in the Pacific was in allowing the Communists to grow in power in China. I believe we will pay for it, for a century.”
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Who Has the U.S. Government Betrayed?
October 12, 2023
In the aftermath of Hamas' horrific attack on Israel last weekend, and the barbaric kidnappings, torture and slaughter of hundreds of civilians, Jews across the world are asking hard questions about who they can truly count on.
Author and podcaster Liel Leibovitz penned a scathing essay in the online publication Tablet, laying much of the blame for the attack at the feet of the U.S. government. In "America's Betrayal of Israel," Leibovitz both condemns U.S. foreign policy and criticizes what he views as Israel's foolhardy reliance upon America as an ally.
Leibovitz starts by slamming the $6 billion that the Biden administration released to Iran, the largest state sponsor of terror in the Middle East, if not the world. Iran's financial support of Hamas is undisputed; this administration's flaccid protests to the contrary, money given to Iran is money in the bank accounts of Islamic terrorist organizations everywhere. (Leibovitz doesn't mention that Biden chose to announce release of the funds on Sept. 11, the 22nd anniversary of the worse terrorist attack on U.S. soil; if the largesse to Iran was a betrayal of Israel, the timing was a deliberate kick in the teeth to Americans themselves.)
Second, Leibovitz references the recent revelations that Iranian spies infiltrated the U.S. intelligence apparatus and have been pushing our government to do Iran's bidding for years (with a notable hiatus during the Trump administration). These shocking facts came to light only days before the deadly Hamas attacks; it will be months or years before we know the extent of the damage, if indeed it is even possible to ascertain.
Leibovitz acknowledges that Joe Biden and his puppet regime are only continuing what Barack Obama started during his presidency: a policy of appeasing and empowering Iran, and of denying the deleterious effects it would have on Israel or the wider Middle East. It was Obama who pushed through the "Iran Deal" in 2015 that not only lifted sanctions on Iran and gave them nearly $2 billion in "pallets of cash," but effectively permitted the regime to pursue its nuclear weapons program by attaching "conditions" that were wholly specious, unverifiable and/or explicitly temporary.
Leibovitz looks back at the decisions of the past two Democrat administrations, and makes his closing argument:
"When you champion Iran; when you send it and its proxies money; when you reward Palestinian violence; when you go out of your way to portray Bibi [Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister] as a dangerous fascist; when you finance and champion his opponents, contributing to further instability and unrest; when you hand over U.S. intelligence keys to Iranian agents; when you have your spokespeople declare it 'disinformation' for people to connect obvious dots; when you do all of this, you know what's going to happen. You mean for it to happen."
America has abandoned other allies to whom we had earlier promised our support: the Afghans fighting to overthrow the Taliban were overrun when we unceremoniously left Afghanistan (leaving tens of billions of dollars in military equipment, materiel and ammunition to fall into enemy hands, by the way); the South Vietnamese fighting against communist encroachment during the Vietnam War; the Cubans fighting communist dictator Fidel Castro, who we left unaided at the Bay of Pigs.
Now Israel.
But why should anyone be surprised that a country will break its promises to foreign allies when it callously disregards its obligations to its own citizens? Consider what we have observed our government do over the past few years:
-- Illegally spying on Americans and spending millions of taxpayer dollars on a "collusion" investigation they knew was fraudulent.
-- Lying about the origins of a virus that caused a global pandemic.
-- Forcing experimental "vaccines" on an unsuspecting public.
-- Working with broadcast, print and social media to censor anyone trying to get out the truth about the virus, risks of the mRNA shots, and safe alternative drug treatment protocols.
-- Locking down the entire economy, but allowing "protests" that turned into riots, burning, looting and carnage.
-- Allowing violent crime and theft to run rampant and unpunished, but attacking pro-life pastors and parents objecting to pornography in schools as "domestic terrorists."
-- Prosecuting the current president's chief political rival with frivolous and transparently false accusations of crimes, while ignoring and suppressing evidence of actual corruption by the president himself and his family.
-- Lying to Americans about a "secure" border, while allowing millions upon millions of unvetted people to enter the country illegally, most of whom are now military-age males, and many of whom come from countries actively hostile to the U.S.
In the wake of Israel's retaliation, the threats are coming now, thick and fast. The head of Hamas has called for a global jihad and attacks against Israel, Jews and those who support them, everywhere they can be found. How many people inclined to follow those orders have made their way to the United States because of our government's deliberate neglect of its most basic responsibilities?
With only minor edits, Leibovitz' accusations sound like ominous warnings of what Americans could find ourselves saying in the not-too-distant future:
"When you fail to punish violence; when you go out of your way to portray Donald Trump as a dangerous fascist and millions of Americans as "the enemy" in need of "formal deprogramming"; when you weaponize law enforcement against people with different political views; when you champion lawless rioters, contributing to further instability and unrest; when you fund dangerous research and then have your spokespeople declare it 'disinformation' for people to connect obvious dots on important matters of public health; when you allow millions of foreign men into the country without any background checks or safeguards against malevolent intentions; when you do all of this, you know what's going to happen. You mean for it to happen."
Are we being betrayed by our own government?
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2023/10/12/who_has_the_us_government_betrayed_149887.html
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Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POWs in Vietnam
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54160878-kiss-the-boys-goodbye
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Kissinger's Betrayal: How America Lost the Vietnam War
May 22, 2023
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/87674207-kissinger-s-betrayal
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How Did Pat Tillman Die? Inside The Tragic Demise That The U.S. Military Tried To Cover Up
April 11, 2022
https://allthatsinteresting.com/pat-tillman-death
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Afghanistan betrayal: The Biden legacy
August 17, 2021
President's debacle leaves behind many
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/17/afghanistan-betrayal-the-biden-legacy/
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Military Dishonors
September 07, 2010
The Tillman Story isn’t the story you were told.
https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-12445-military-dishonors.html
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Doctors Blast RFK Jr After Vaccine Chief Forced Out: 'Gutting of Expertise'
Mar 29, 2025
https://www.newsweek.com/doctors-blast-rfk-jr-after-vaccine-chief-forced-out-2052514
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Doctor Drops Bombshell on Covid ‘Vaccine’ Deaths, Blows Tucker Carlson’s Mind
April 3, 2025
https://slaynews.com/news/doctor-drops-bombshell-covid-vaccine-deaths-blows-tucker-carlsons-mind/
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FDA tells Johnson & Johnson to toss 60 million Covid vaccine doses
The doses were produced at a plant in Baltimore that was previously found to have contamination issues.
June 11, 2021
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-tells-johnson-johnson-toss-60-million-covid-vaccine-doses-n1270521
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Moderna Recall Notification of Lot #000190A
April 8, 2022
https://investors.modernatx.com/Statements--Perspectives/Statements--Perspectives-Details/2022/Moderna-Recall-Notification-of-Lot-000190A/default.aspx
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AstraZeneca vaccine withdrawn after fatal blood clot revelation
May 8, 2024
AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria Covid vaccine has been withdrawn globally, a year after it was discontinued in Australia.
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/astrazeneca-vaccine-withdrawn-after-fatal-blood-clot-revelation/news-story/b94023cfa237c74b26fc329855c6b51a
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AstraZeneca withdraws Covid vaccine worldwide after admitting jab can cause rare blood clot
5/07/2024
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/astrazeneca-withdraws-covid-vaccine-worldwide-after-admitting-jab-can-cause-rare-blood-clot/ar-BB1lZszR
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Moderna Vaccine Recall Over Stainless Steel Contamination Caused by 'Human Error'
Oct 01, 2021
https://www.newsweek.com/moderna-vaccine-recall-contamination-stainless-steel-human-error-takeda-covid-1634598
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Moderna to recall COVID-19 doses in Japan after stainless steel contaminants found
September 1, 2021
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/japan-finds-stainless-steel-particles-suspended-doses-moderna-vaccine-2021-09-01/
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J&J’s COVID vaccine is dead in the US; FDA revokes authorization
The withdrawal leaves the two mRNA vaccines and the Novavax protein subunit vaccine.
Jun 6, 2023
https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/06/j-fda-revokes-authorization/
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Access to Higher Education for Minority Students – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2006
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center/press-releases/2006/05/expanding-access-to-higher-education
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The Gates Scholarship For Minorities
2017
The Gates Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship awarded to exceptional high school seniors planning to attend college full time. Applicants must be minorities, including African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American.
https://www.scholarshipsonline.org/2017/09/the-gates-scholarship.html#google_vignette
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Scholarship Program Continues To Remove Barriers to Higher Education for Minority Students
2007
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Ideas/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2007/05/Scholarship-Program-Continues-To-Remove-Barriers-to-Higher-Education-for-Minority-Students
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Black Lives Matter Radio Show
2021
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-black-lives-matter-radio-s-92139312/
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How the Chinese Communist Party is Destroying Texas
By Kenny Webster
Aug 26, 2022
This podcast is unavailable or has been deleted.
https://ktrh.iheart.com/featured/the-pursuit-of-happiness/content/2022-08-26-how-the-chinese-communist-party-is-destroying-texas/
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Gov. Greg Abbott takes action against Chinese government operatives in Texas with new executive order
November 20, 2024
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/gov-abbott-executive-order-targets-chinese-government-operatives-in-texas/
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CBS Rejects Trump, Then Airs CCP-Backed Temu Ads During Super Bowl
February 12, 2024
https://www.outkick.com/analysis/cbs-rejects-trump-then-airs-ccp-backed-temu-ads-during-super-bowl
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CBS News helped Chinese Communist Party with ‘propaganda trip,’ ‘puff piece,’ Sen. Rubio says
Chinese government planned and arranged a reporting trip for CBS News
January 31, 2024
https://www.foxnews.com/media/cbs-news-helped-chinese-communist-party-propaganda-trip-puff-piece-sen-rubio-says
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CBS: The Communist Broadcasting System
2017
https://perrywolff.info/2017/03/21/cbs-the-communist-broadcasting-system/
For a short time I had two offices, one at the Museum, the other at the CBS building. I was in an office next door to a man who never said hello and was constantly on the phone. His voice was low.
The Cold War was overheated with threats of nuclear exchanges. Undercover, as a United Nations force, America was at war with North Korea—a country itself under the cover of Communist China.
CBS was under attack by anti-communist forces. The networks were accused of harboring communists, and of including Marxist tenets in both drama and news.
There were two sets of accusers, the government and the private sector. The government’s investigators included the House Un-American Activities Committee and the staff of Joseph McCarthy, a Senator from Wisconsin, in his second term of office.
McCarthy was investigating us and we were investigating him. His first term had been undistinguished. He had taken a bribe from Pepsi Cola to lead the fight for continued government regulation of sugar prices. McCarthy successfully kept the government ceiling on the price of sugar. His dalliance was so embarrassingly blatant that his fellow senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, and Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois sarcastically dubbed him the “Pepsi-Cola Kid.” At the time I knew nothing of this. Decades later, when I interviewed Frank Stanton for the oral history section of Columbia University I learned the details of Stanton’s back channel connections in the Senate. The president of the corporation had talked to Nelson and Dirksen.
Because of the scandal and the approaching campaign for re-election, Senator McCarthy consulted with his closest advisers, including a priest who suggested that he begin a campaign to rid the government of communists. The more he thought about it, the more he saw the hunt for subversives was a sure-fire issue.
In his second term he went from obscurity to notoriety.
The rise and fall of McCarthy is a story often told, but in a small way it touched me personally. As part of the Senator’s inquiry he sent his researchers into the Overseas Library Program, a program run by the government that sent some thirty thousand books to foreign libraries. The Senators minions found communist propaganda and books written by subversive “anti-anti-communists” A few hundred books were eliminated, and some were burned.
The same Overseas Library Program circulated free books to the soldiers fighting in Korea. One was a reprint of my novel The Friend. It was in soft cover, but the dimensions were reversed; the normal horizontal and vertical dimensions were twisted so that the book could slip more easily into a soldier’s back pocket. Crown Publishers told me they had printed ten thousand copies and were back-ordered. They had changed the title to ATTACK and added on the cover “HE FIRED LOW TO BREAK BONES AND SPILL GUTS!!!” It did no good to argue that the quotation appeared nowhere in the book. Also, there would be no royalty since the novel was given free to the armed forces. Crown also told me the book was under government review.
My personal nuisance was minor compared to CBS’s problem. One threat to its revenue came early from two supermarket operators in Syracuse New York who stocked groceries from General Foods and General Mills. The operators went to these companies and told them they would not buy their goods if the food giants continued to sponsor programs containing reds or fellow travelers on the networks. (The programs they underwrote were mostly soap operas.) A number of radio and television stations affiliated with the company applauded the men from Syracuse.
Because broadcasters had to defend their business and their profits, CBS did two things: It required everyone to sign a loyalty oath—and the quiet man in the office next to mine was hired to make a list of writers and people who must not be hired.
It was called the Blacklist. It ruined many lives and careers.
The Truman Administration invented something called a loyalty oath. The government required that its employees sign a paper stating more or less they had never been communists and they were not members of the Communist Party of the United States. If they lied they could not be sent to prison, only fired.
What was good enough for the employees of the Federal Government was good enough for CBS News. Ed Murrow signed it, and so did the rest of the news division. The American Bar association, the American Medical Association and the National Education Association had instituted their own loyalty tests as well.
For some reason the paper had not been given to me.
The oath was something detestable, but it was in the open. The next step was done secretly.
There were so many attackers that compiling of the blacklist was a problem. Stanton and Paley found a solution. If there were a basic list of Communists (and one accessible to McCarthy) it had to be the one kept by the FBI in Quantico. J. Edgar Hoover had compiled the list (and also one on McCarthy’s drunkenness and homosexuality.)
CBS got access to the FBI’s blacklisting document by shrewd capitalistic enterprise. It hired away the man in charge of the names compiled by the FBI. He was the man in the office next door to me, recently a high official at Quantico. The producers of the shows would submit cast and writing credits to him, and he would get on the phone to his former employees. If the name passed the government, CBS was allowed to employ the actor or writer. If it didn’t the person was not hired. Nobody could have a more damning list than the FBI, and CBS bought it.
Other networks paid more attention to the credits than to the program. If CBS gave on-screen name credit, the other broadcasters could use the cleared talent.
I was in the men’s room with him when the man next door finally talked to me. “Wolff, somehow we never got a signed loyalty oath from you.”
“Since Murrow signed it, I’ll sign it too.”
A pause.
“My younger brother was killed. I found his name listed in that book you wrote. That regimental history.”
“Really? What was his name?”
He told me, but I didn’t remember.
“You don’t have to sign the loyalty oath. Not after what you and he went through. You’re loyal.”
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Attorney General Knudsen urges CBS to drop Super Bowl ads from Chinese retailer
February 10, 2024
https://www.dojmt.gov/attorney-general-knudsen-urges-cbs-to-drop-super-bowl-ads-from-chinese-retailer/
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Pandemics & propaganda: How Chinese state media creates and propagates CCP coronavirus narratives
June 8, 2020
To gain insight into how Chinese state media is communicating about the coronavirus pandemic to the outside world, we analyzed a collection of posts from their English-language presence on Facebook. We observed three recurring behaviors: sharing positive stories and promoting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) pandemic response, rewriting recent history in a manner favorable to the CCP as the coronavirus pandemic evolved, and using targeted ads to spread preferred messages. Although spin is not unique to state actors, paid ad campaigns to promote government-run state media pages containing misinformation and conspiracies are problematic. Our findings suggest that platforms should implement clearer disclosure of state-sponsored communications at a minimum, and consider refusing paid posts from such entities.
https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/pandemics-propaganda-how-chinese-state-media-creates-and-propagates-ccp-coronavirus-narratives/
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China’s Long Tentacles Extend Deep Into American Media
Mar 31, 2020
The companies that own our major networks all do business in China. And that's just the beginning.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/chinas-long-tentacles-extend-deep-into-american-media/
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Chinese Government Influence on the U.S. Media Landscape
Written Testimony by Sarah Cook
Senior Research Analyst for East Asia, Freedom House
Testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Hearing on China’s Information Controls, Global Media Influence, and Cyber
Warfare Strategy
May 4, 2017
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Sarah%20Cook%20May%204th%202017%20USCC%20testimony.pdf
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Embarrassing: CBS journalists advocate against free speech
02/19/25
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5151133-cbs-news-biased-media-walter-cronkite/
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Jeffrey Epstein’s cushy federal deal was the only one of its kind in South Florida for at least three decades
April 26, 2021
The
Sticky sweet deal that lawyers for serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
worked out with South Florida federal prosecutors veered so far off the
beaten path, it blazed a path of its own.
Over the last 29 years,
three non-prosecution agreements (NPAs), the kind of deal Epstein got,
went to big companies in the Southern District of Florida, according to a
list compiled by the University of Virginia and Duke law schools.
But
since no company executive was accused of anything close to Epstein’s
level of depravity, his deal appears to be one of a kind. His informal
criminal enterprise that preyed upon teenage girls had no name to
include in the law schools’ “corporate prosecution registry.”
https://www.floridabulldog.org/2021/04/jeffrey-epstein-cushy-federal-deal-one-of-a-kind/
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Newly released transcripts show Florida prosecutors knew of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse two years prior to lenient plea deal
July 2, 2024
In short:
Florida
prosecutors knew about Jeffrey Epstein's sexual assaults on teenage
girls two years before they agreed to a lenient plea deal, as revealed
by newly released grand jury transcripts from 2006.
Despite
testimony from teenage victims, Epstein avoided severe federal charges
and received a light sentence, allowing him to continue his criminal
activities for over a decade, protected by his connections to powerful
individuals.
What's next?
Florida grand jury transcripts are usually kept secret forever, but a new bill created an exemption for cases like Epstein's.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-02/judge-orders-surprise-jeffrey-epstein-transcript-release-/104049516
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Florida Prosecutors Knew Epstein Raped Teenage Girls 2 Years Before Cutting Deal, Transcript Shows
July 1, 2024
A
Florida judge has released transcripts detailing 2006 grand jury
testimony that accused the late millionaire and financier Jeffrey
Epstein of sexually assaulting numerous underage teenage girls at his
Palm Beach mansion
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida/articles/2024-07-01/judge-calls-jeffrey-epstein-most-infamous-pedophile-in-american-history-as-he-releases-transcripts
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EXCLUSIVE:
FBI Wins Legal Fight to Keep its Files on Jeffrey Epstein Secret;
Government 'Is Covering its Tracks,' Claims Lawyer Seeking Their Release
6-27-2024
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/exclusive-fbi-wins-legal-fight-to-keep-its-files-on-jeffrey-epstein-secret-government-is-covering-its-tracks-claims-lawyer-seeking-their-release/ar-BB1oZUBL
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Jeffrey Epstein victims sue FBI, allege coverup
February 14, 2024
https://www.reuters.com/legal/jeffrey-epstein-victims-sue-fbi-allege-coverup-2024-02-14/
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23 of Jeffrey Epstein’s Accusers Finally Got Their Day in Court. Here’s What They Said
August 27, 2019
https://time.com/5662688/jeffrey-epstein-accusers-court/
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Human trafficking laws were supposed to help women. Victims’ stories say otherwise.
2023
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2023/01/19/human-trafficking-laws-enforcement-impact-victim-experience/10392339002/
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Florida attorney general pushes state to be more aggressive with feds over human trafficking
June 18, 2024
Attorney General Ashley Moody says federal government to blame for prevalence of trafficking
Florida
Attorney General Ashley Moody is touting the take-down of a human
trafficking ring by a new statewide strike force. Moody blames the
federal government for the prevalence of trafficking and is pushing
Florida to be more aggressive.
“Human trafficking is an atrocious crime.”
Moody is known for her passionate opposition to human trafficking.
“And
certainly, in the last few years with the wide-open border and the lack
of enforcement of the rule of law as it pertains to the border, this
has been an even greater challenge,” she said.
On Thursday, Moody
announced the bust of a trafficking ring in the Tampa Bay area and the
rescue of 10 of its victims. She also announced the new Florida Human
Trafficking Strike Team, which is helping local law enforcement already.
Their latest arrest was Lina Payne, who is accused of recruiting women
from South America with promises of jobs, then forcing them into sex
work to pay off their travel debts, often under threats of violence.
Florida
has ranked among the states with the highest incidents of human
trafficking for at least a decade, according to calls made to the
national human trafficking hotline. But Moody is unhappy with that
hotline, and so she’s established a state hotline that reports directly
to Florida law enforcement. Moody is critical of Catherine Chen, who
leads the national hotline under a grant from the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
“Unfortunately, within the last couple
of years, under this administration, the new executive director has
decided to stop forwarding those tips directly to law enforcement,"
Moody said. "And as you can imagine, in Florida, we work cooperatively
with and support the efforts of the men and women of law enforcement.”
The
national hotline has been in existence for 17 years and has served
75,000 victims and survivors on a 24/7 basis. According to Chen, they
report about 30 percent of their cases to law enforcement.
Those
include all cases involving the abuse, neglect or trafficking of a
minor, which are reported to child welfare as well as to law
enforcement… cases involving violence or the imminent threat of harm or
death…if an adult victim of trafficking asks them to call…or if an adult
victim asks someone else to call for them.
Chen says the other
70 percent of their callers are usually seeking services, and often call
several times before they ask. And callers often don’t want law
enforcement involved. The reason hotline staff puts those decisions in
the hands of callers…
“…is the loss of power and autonomy," said
Chen. "It’s the loss of the ability to make your own decisions. And it’s
the loss of the ability to control your circumstances.”
Chen
says many victims are in relationships with their traffickers, even
share children with them. And many traffickers know where the loved ones
of their victims live, and threaten to harm them.
“What we are
trying our best to do is to rebuild trust and to rebuild agency as fast
as we can," Chen said. "And to help that person – who knows what is the
safest for them, who knows all the different dimensions of what they
have to deal with – make the choices that are right for them.”
Now
Florida has a new state hotline, 855-FLA-SAFE, so that people can
report directly to law enforcement. The Florida House of Representatives
voted unanimously for the bill that created it, and Gov. Ron. DeSantis
signed it into law last month. Actually, the function of reporting human
trafficking was added to an already-established hotline that also
reports food stamp fraud and gasoline pump fraud.
Moody urges the
public to call in tips to law enforcement if they suspect trafficking,
even if it’s something they aren’t sure is significant…
“…and
they’ll call, and we can solve a cold case. Whether it’s a change of
consciousness or they have a feeling it’s more than they initially
thought – call! It’s not going to be any skin off our back to run it
down.”
Moody says with those tips, law enforcement agencies often
can review reports of suspected trafficking and put plans in place to
rescue victims.
***
Florida’s trafficking hotline number is (855) 352-7233. The National Human Trafficking Hotline number is (888) 373-7888.
https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2024-06-18/human-trafficking-ashley-moody-florida-attorney-general-pushes-state-more-aggressive-feds
______________
Florida Ranks Third in Human Trafficking, But Can't Prosecute Many Cases
2013
https://www.wlrn.org/news/2013-08-15/florida-ranks-third-in-human-trafficking-but-cant-prosecute-many-cases
______________
I survived Epstein and Maxwell’s sex ring. Then the gaslighting began.
July 19, 2022
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/19/i-survived-jeffrey-epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-sex-trafficking-ring/
______________
Ann Coulter: The Great Epstein Cover-up, Part I
5 Jan 2022
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2022/01/05/ann-coulter-the-great-epstein-cover-up-part-i/
______________
New records detail how Epstein levereged connections to the wealthy, powerful to abuse girls
Jan 5, 2024
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/new-records-detail-how-epstein-levereged-connections-to-the-wealthy-powerful-to-abuse-girls
______________
JP Morgan settles Epstein lawsuits with US Virgin Islands and Jes Staley
26 September 2023
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66925934
______________
Ethics complaint filed against Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann
2021
https://winknews.com/2021/05/19/ethics-complaint-filed-against-naples-mayor-teresa-heitmann/
An
ethics complaint filed against the mayor of Naples is alleging
corruption at City Hall, including a child prostitution ring, involving
high-ranking leaders in Naples and Collier County.
The complaint
was written by Brian Dye, the director of technology services for the
City of Naples, to the Florida Commission on Ethics with a date of
Monday, May 17.
The 7-page complaint alleges that Mayor Teresa
Heitmann abused her position and office, directed Dye to break Sunshine
Laws and destroy public records and used her position for personal
gain...
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office referred it to the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement because through the complaint
Sheriff Kevin Rambosk learned Heitmann had accused Rambosk of running a
child prostitution ring at the Naples Municipal Airport with former
Naples Mayor Bill Barnett.
According to the complaint, the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Heitmann’s actions “were not
criminal enough to warrant their attention as the most they could
prosecute her for was a second-degree misdemeanor.”
They told Dye to take his concerns to the Florida Commission on Ethics.
As
for the allegations made against Rambosk, the sheriff said: “The
allegations made by Mayor Heitmann against me are untrue, irresponsible,
unethical and defamatory. These allegations made by a sitting elected
leader are outrageous...”
______________
$100 million lawsuit: Over 20 Collier County hotels, motels accountable for sex trafficking
February 6, 2020
A
new lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages for two victims claims the
owners of nearly two dozen Collier County hotels and motels are
responsible for sex trafficking on their premises.
Along some of
the busiest and public roads in Collier County, a new 87-page lawsuit
claims there is a dark side we need to shine a light on.
https://winknews.com/2020/02/06/100-million-lawsuit-over-20-collier-county-hotels-motels-accountable-for-sex-trafficking/
______________
Lawsuit claims sex trafficking took place in more than 20 Collier County hotels
2023
COLLIER
COUNTY — A new lawsuit, just filed in Collier County, shows a sex
trafficking ring was operating in more than 20 different hotels for
years.
Now, the victims are suing the hotel chains for $100
million in damages for not doing something about it. The brands named in
the lawsuit include Best Western, La Quinta, Fairfield Inn, and Gulf
Coast Inn.
“Our position is, basically, the hotels turned a blind
eye. They knew, or they should have known, but it was an economic
factor for them. These hotel rooms were being rented out,” said attorney
Sharon Hanlon, who is representing the victims.
She said the hotels are at fault because the signs were unmistakable.
“Male
traffickers were paying for the room with cash, and they would do it
day by day, because they never knew when they were going to be raided on
by the cops or anything,” said Hanlon.
And the lawsuit shows, in some cases, staff at the hotels didn’t just allow abuse, they joined in.
https://naplesshelter.org/lawsuit-claims-sex-trafficking-took-place-in-more-than-20-collier-county-hotels/
______________
See the list of hotels and motels named in a Collier County sex trafficking lawsuit
Feb 6, 2020
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2020/02/06/list-collier-hotels-and-motels-named-sex-trafficking-lawsuit/4669494002/
______________
Lawsuit: Jeffrey Epstein raped woman in Naples hotel room and threatened to feed her to gators
March 31, 2021
https://winknews.com/2021/03/31/lawsuit-jeffrey-epstein-raped-woman-in-naples-hotel-room-and-threatened-to-feed-her-to-gators/
______________
Lawsuit alleges woman was raped at Naples hotel by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2008
March 31, 2021
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/03/31/lawsuit-florida-woman-raped-naples-hotel-epstein-ghislaine-maxwell/4826267001/
______________
Judge Tossed Right To Sue Rape Victim – Florida Attorneys Still Pursue Her, Threaten Arrest
March 23, 2019
https://thewashingtonstandard.com/judge-tossed-right-to-sue-rape-victim-florida-attorneys-still-pursue-her-threaten-arrest/
______________
Innocence Sold: Florida Hotels Have Stacked Up Thousands of Violations of a 2019 sex-trafficking law. But no one has been fined.
11/20/2022
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2022/11/20/innocence-sold-florida-hotels-have-stacked-up-thousands-of-violations-of-a-2019-sex-trafficking-law-but-not-one-has-been-fined/
______________
Human traffickers profit off Southwest Florida hotel rooms
July 4, 2023
https://winknews.com/2023/07/04/swfl-hotel-rooms-human-trafficking/
______________
Florida prosecutors knew Epstein raped teenage girls 2 years before cutting deal, transcript shows
July 1, 2024
https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-transcript-florida-b5dce49bdd9bcbce2969107919ddc2d0
______________
Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to low security federal prison in Florida
July 25, 2022
https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/25/us/ghislaine-maxwell-prison-transfer/index.html
______________
‘Rampant’ sexual abuse epidemic at Florida prison holding Ghislaine Maxwell, report says
25 April 2023
US Senate report found abuse at federal prisons and lack of accountability
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/ghislaine-maxwell-florida-prison-abuse-b2326698.html
______________
Florida's public list of sex buyers removed from state website after 3 years
Jan 10, 2024
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/floridas-public-list-of-sex-buyers-removed-from-state-website-after-3-years
______________
The New York Times, Bill Gates Met With Jeffrey Epstein Many Times, Despite His Past, Oct. 12, 2019
January 4, 2024
The Guardian, Prince Andrew, Clinton, Hawking: what do the Epstein documents say about key people?, Jan. 5, 2024
CNN, Jeffrey Epstein documents unsealed, naming Prince Andrew and former President Clinton, Jan. 3, 2024
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/feb/01/instagram-posts/we-fact-checked-a-years-old-epstein-list-with-166/
______________
Innocence Sold: Florida's Foster System Provides dangerous Sex Traffickers With Easy Access to Vulnerable Children
11-27-2022
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2022/11/27/innocence-sold-floridas-foster-system-provides-dangerous-sex-traffickers-with-easy-access-to-vulnerable-children/
______________
Human trafficking bust: Teacher, coaches among 228 arrested in Polk County
March 5, 2024
https://www.fox13news.com/news/human-trafficking-bust-teacher-coaches-among-228-arrested-in-polk-county
______________
Human traffickers, smugglers use this Florida highway the most, according to FHP (I-75)
February 10, 2022
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/02/10/which-florida-highways-are-human-traffickers-smugglers-caught-using-the-most/
______________
Human trafficking in Florida continues to be a problem (includes multimedia content)
October 28, 2022
https://caplinnews.fiu.edu/human-trafficking-in-florida-continues-to-be-a-problem/
______________
Albany police, lawmakers face cover-up speculations in undocumented immigrant's rape case
June 27th 2024
Albany, NY (WRGB) — Police and Democratic lawmakers in Albany are being accused, without evidence, of covering up the rape of a teenager in Albany, suggesting the news of the arrest was kept under wraps after learning the suspect is an undocumented immigrant...
https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/police-accused-of-cover-up-in-undocumented-immigrants-rape-case-in-albany-sakir-akkan
______________
Swedish police ‘covered up migrant sex assaults'
12/01/2016
Swedish police on Monday ordered an investigation into allegations that officers covered up accusations of sexual assault by mostly migrant youths at a music festival in Stockholm, a scandal that drew criticism from the prime minister.
There were 38 reports of rape and sexual assault filed after the We Are Sthlm festival in 2014 and 2015, according to police, in a case that mirrors the assaults on New Year's Eve in the German city of Cologne.
The allegations were first made public in a report by the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, citing internal police memos.
"We certainly should have publicly released this information, no doubt. Why it did not happen we simply do not know," police spokesman Varg Gyllander told AFP Monday.
Dagens Nyheter reported that as many as 50 Afghan refugees were suspected of the attacks, but the police did not cofirm this number.
Documents sent by police to AFP detail allegations of 17 sexual assaults and one rape during the 2014 music festival, and 19 sexual assaults and one rape in 2015.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven on Monday was critical of the police and their handling of the incident...
https://www.france24.com/en/20160112-swedish-police-covered-music-festival-sex-assault-allegations
______________
Sweden 'covering up' migrant rape and violent crime for the sake of 'humanitarianism'
Feb 20, 2017
OFFICIALS in the Swedish government have been accused of "covering up" migrant rape and refugee violence for the sake of appearing politically correct.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/768980/Sweden-cover-up-migrant-rape-violent-crime
______________
German Media Covering Up Rapes Committed by Muslim Migrants
9/22/2015
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3340188/posts
______________
Germany pledges to protect refugees after reported rape case
March 16, 2022
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-crime-germany-migration-135f0b5517568f696a561e0862f4326e
______________
Thousands Protest As Russian Govt Accuses Germany Of Covering Up Migrant Rape Of 13 Year Old Russian Girl
27 Jan 2016
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2016/01/27/russian-government-accused-german-authorities-of-migrant-crime-coverup-after-elleged-gang-rape-of-13-year-old-russian-citizen/
______________
UK’s Liberal Gov’t Is Imploding As Mass Rape Scandal Roils Country
1-7-2025
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/uk-s-liberal-gov-t-is-imploding-as-mass-rape-scandal-roils-country/ar-AA1xaXoz
______________
The child rape scandal dominating UK politics after Musk criticism
January 6, 2025
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/child-rape-scandal-dominating-uk-politics-after-musk-criticism-2025-01-06/
______________
British grooming gang scandal and cover-up exposes racial fault lines
January 13, 2025
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/3283224/british-grooming-gang-scandal-cover-up-exposes-racial-fault-lines/
______________
UK gov't covers up rape of hundreds of girls
May 1, 2024
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/497953/UK-gov-t-covers-up-rape-of-hundreds-of-girls
______________
The grooming gangs scandal, explained
January 25, 2025
The government has come under fire for refusing to hold a national inquiry into the abuse of young girls by networks of men
Reports of young girls being groomed by gangs of men, largely of Pakistani heritage, first began to emerge in 2002, when the then-Labour MP Ann Cryer warned that it was happening in her Yorkshire constituency of Keighley.
In 2010, a group of five men who had committed sexual offences against girls aged 12 to 16 were convicted in Rotherham in South Yorkshire. The Times then launched a long investigation, exposing not only the shocking extent of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, but also of a wider pattern of horrendous abuses of young girls by organised networks of men, predominantly British-Pakistani.
The story began to gain wider traction. In recent years, child-grooming gangs have been jailed in more than a dozen other English towns, mostly in the north of England and the Midlands: notably Rochdale, Oldham and Telford, but also Bristol, Oxford, Huddersfield, Halifax and Banbury, among others.
https://theweek.com/crime/the-grooming-gangs-scandal-explained
______________
Elon Musk Joins Calls for Rotherham Sex Abuse Scandal Inquiry
Jan 03, 2025
https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-rotherham-sex-abuse-scandal-rape-gang-2009295
______________
How the grooming gangs scandal was covered up
08 January 2025
The child victims of rape were denied justice and protection from the state to preserve the image of a successful multicultural society
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/04/grooming-gangs-scandal-cover-up-oldham-telford-rotherham/
______________
Former French spy chief sentenced to prison in influence-peddling trial
Bernard Squarcini was accused of using his security contacts for his own gain, including by obtaining confidential information for luxury giant LVMH. He plans to appeal.
March 7, 2025
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/03/07/former-french-spy-chief-sentenced-to-four-years-in-influence-peddling-trial_6738915_7.html
______________
France’s Ex-Intelligence Chief Convicted in Influence Peddling Trial Involving LVMH
March 7, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/world/europe/france-intelligence-lvmh-chief.html
______________
Human Trafficking and Smuggling in Tampa Bay, Florida: Processes, Policies and Procedures
2015
https://commons.erau.edu/mcnair/vol2/iss1/5/
______________
SWFL group ran human trafficking ring up, authorities say
March 06, 2015
A
routine traffic stop by a Collier County sheriff’s deputy unraveled one
of the largest human trafficking rings in Southwest Florida, leading to
the arrests of 15 men and women Friday.
During a 2013 traffic
stop, a deputy identified a woman as a potential victim. Detectives
began an investigation and eventually identified a half-dozen women
who’d been trafficked across the state and pimped out to as many as 45
people per day.
Each of the six victims had been illegally
smuggled into the country after being promised legal jobs and reunions
with their families. Once in the U.S., however, the women — who were in
their 20s and 30s — were forced to work as commercial sex slaves,
according to officials.
https://archive.naplesnews.com/news/crime/swfl-group-ran-human-trafficking-ring-up-authorities-say-ep-974148610-335578971.html/
______________
WINK News: Collier County human trafficking victim tells her story to help others
https://naplesshelter.org/wink-news-collier-county-human-trafficking-victim-tells-her-story-to-help-others/
______________
Engaging the community, Collier Sheriff fights to end human trafficking
2019
https://winknews.com/2019/05/29/engaging-the-community-collier-sheriff-fights-to-end-human-trafficking/
______________
Lawsuit against Collier County Sheriff's Office alleges wrongful arrest, battery, retaliation
Aug 2020
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2020/08/05/wrongful-arrest-lawsuit-filed-against-collier-county-sheriffs-office/3298736001/
______________
25 arrested by task force for human trafficking involving 37 victims
September 21, 2023
The Southwest Florida Intercept Task Force arrested 25 people for children and human trafficking.
According
to Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, there were 37 victims
connected to the arrests and the youngest was only 2 years old.
“The
most horrific was a 2-year-old toddler who was placed on a dating site,
a dating app, advertising the toddler for sex,” said Rambosk. “There’s
no real words to explain that. We just need to look. We rescued the
victim, and we arrested the perpetrator. That’s what this whole program
is about.”
https://winknews.com/2023/09/21/children-human-trafficking-25-arrests-37-victims/
______________
2 men arrested in Collier County human trafficking operation
2016
https://winknews.com/2016/01/11/2-men-arrested-in-collier-county-human-trafficking-operation/
______________
Human trafficking data has a home in St. Pete
June 6, 2023
She
added that discerning those links would aid local and state law
enforcement interventions. It would also provide a better understanding
of trafficking rates, when people are most likely to become victims and
how often they move to other locations or remain trapped in one spot.
Wagers
noted that numerous state agencies work to combat human and sex
trafficking and support victims. Those collect data alongside police
departments and the state tip line.
She said the hotline is
currently a primary information source. However, there are no follow-up
investigations to ensure that someone is a trafficking victim or if
multiple people reported the same person.
“So now, someone who
wasn’t even a human trafficking victim gets counted twice,” Wagers
explained. “Then there are other ones where no one ever calls, but they
do come into the system and are appropriately labeled as a human
trafficking survivor victim.”
She elaborated that the anonymous,
national tip line information that places Florida as the third-worst
state for trafficking is not “awful.” Wagers said it is just one data
point and difficult to verify.
While there is no state ranking
for the region, officials consider Tampa Bay a “hotbed.” Wagers said
that is due to the area’s unique characteristics making it favorable for
successful criminal or legitimate enterprises.
“If you had to
quickly and efficiently move goods, you need access to certain things,”
she added. “One is a port, and an international airport and
freeways. Where you see these concentrations of human trafficking tips,
they are in states – and then cities within the states – that have a
couple of those features.
https://stpetecatalyst.com/human-trafficking-data-has-a-home-in-st-pete/
______________
Miami Is a Hot Spot for Human Trafficking
March 07, 2024
Florida
ranks third in the country in human trafficking cases according to the
National Human Trafficking Hotline, with Miami-Dade County having the
most reported cases in the state. As a result, local law enforcement
authorities, including the state attorney's office, are focusing their
efforts on addressing the crisis. Statistics are currently showing that
Miami is the number 5 city for human trafficking in the United States. Miami
International Airport is claimed to be a hub for human trafficking
cases because of the heavy domestic and international travel.
https://www.dmtlaw.com/blog/miami-is-a-hot-spot-for-human-trafficking/
______________
Naples mayor says complaint against her meant to sabotage reputation
May 26, 2021
An
ethics complaint by City IT Director Brian Dye against the mayor in the
City of Naples has brought forward serious accusations. It brought up
allegations of corruption and child prostitution involving high-ranking
leaders in Naples and Collier County.
We sat down with Mayor Teresa Heitmann who told us the complaint doesn’t look like something the IT director would write.
Heitmann believes the IT director was put up to it and she says a seven-page complaint is meant to sabotage her reputation.
“It’s shocking and impurely accusations that have potentially now harmed important relationships with the city,” Heitmann said.
The
complaint claims Heitmann accused the former mayor and Sheriff Kevin
Rambosk of running a child sex ring out of Naples Airport.
https://winknews.com/2021/05/26/naples-mayor-says-complaint-against-her-meant-to-sabotage-reputation/
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Slavery in our midst: Luncheon at yacht club spotlights human trafficking
January 24, 2018
The amazing thing is, slavery is happening today, in 2018, and all around us in our own community.
We
tend to think of slavery or human trafficking as something from long
ago or taking place in faraway lands. But as a group at the Naples
Sailing & Yacht Club found out on Jan. 19, though, it is happening
in this century, right here in Collier County.
Naples Community Church hosted the presentation to boost awareness of human trafficking, in recognition that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The approximately 110 attending the luncheon heard from two people who are intimately involved in dealing with the problem, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and Linda Oberhaus, CEO of the Shelter for Abused Women and Children.
Human trafficking can involve forced labor, often agricultural; domestic
servitude in the trafficker’s or another home; and sex trafficking,
Rambosk and Oberhaus told the gathering, taking turns and “tag-teaming”
the presentation. Because such a high percentage of the human
trafficking, especially that which ordinary citizens are likely to come
across in our area, is sex trafficking, that was the focus of most of
the discussion.
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/communities/collier-citizen/2018/01/24/slavery-our-midst-luncheon-yacht-club-spotlights-human-trafficking/1061985001/
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Former Naples customs officer admits to stealing almost $19,000 cash from passengers
June 19, 2024
A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who worked out of the Naples Airport admitted to stealing cash from passengers.
According to the plea agreement, 43-year-old William Timothy said he stole from at least 17 people totaling nearly $19,000.
https://winknews.com/2024/06/19/customs-officer-stealing/
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Police: Former Collier cop asked teenage girls for nude pictures
Dec. 11, 2019
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/police-former-collier-cop-asked-teenage-girls-for-nude-pictures/
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Collier County KEVIN RAMBOSK Declares It's Good To Be KING!
2014
https://aquakiki.wordpress.com/2014/09/25/collier-county-kevin-rambosk-declares-its-good-to-be-king/
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Sheriff candidate files ethics complaint against Rambosk
June 27, 2008
For
the second time in three months, a candidate for Collier County sheriff
filed a complaint with a state commission accusing fellow candidate
Kevin Rambosk of violating state statutes.
Collier County
businessman Vinny Angiolillo, the owner of Class Act Limousine in North
Naples, filed a complaint this week, this time with the Florida
Elections Commission.
In the complaint, Angiolillo, who once
compared the Sheriff's Office to a criminal gang, alleges that both
Rambosk and the Sheriff's Office "wantonly disrupted" his political
campaign and caused "irreversible damage" to his campaign and
reputation.
Sheriff Don Hunter called the complaint "enormously
misleading." Rambosk, an executive officer with the Sheriff's Office,
called it "politically motivated, irresponsible and malicious."
Angiolillo
said he mailed the complaint on Thursday and confirmed its receipt on
Friday. However, Kevin Smith, an investigator with the commission, said
he could neither confirm nor deny receipt of the document due to
commission policies...
https://archive.naplesnews.com/news/politics/elections/sheriff-candidate-files-ethics-complaint-against-rambosk-ep-401493839-344468672.html
______________
Crash leads to human smuggling arrest in Naples
Apr 07, 2022
https://www.fox4now.com/collier-county/crash-leads-to-human-trafficking-arrest-in-naples
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Serenity Walk Park filled with sex offenders
February 23, 2024
A family-friendly place is filled with sex offenders, drugs and vandalism.
That’s the picture painted by public complaints, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
In a single two-day time period, CCSO has made five different indecent exposure arrests at Serenity Walk Park in Naples.
In one case, an undercover deputy said he was groped...
https://winknews.com/2024/02/23/serenity-walk-park-sex-offenders/
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Inside Miracle Village, Florida's Isolated Community of Sex Offenders
2015
In
January of 2013, photographer Sofia Valiente took residency at Miracle
Village, an isolated community that houses convicted sex offenders in
Florida.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/jmbzz7/inside-miracle-village-379
______________
The village where half the population are sex offenders
July 2013
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23063492
______________
By the numbers: Florida had third-highest human trafficking rate in 2019
Sep 22, 2020
https://www.wfla.com/news/by-the-numbers/by-the-numbers-human-trafficking-in-florida/
______________
The Jeffrey Epstein case shows the problem with Florida’s grand jury secrecy
3-20-2024
Florida
and other states should stop relying so heavily on grand jury secrecy
in general — as secrecy is never good for public trust.
https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2024/03/20/jeffrey-epstein-case-shows-problem-with-floridas-grand-jury-secrecy/
______________
A timeline of the Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell scandal
June 28, 2022
https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-timeline-b9f15710fabb72e8581c71e94acf513e
______________
Bill Gates and Matt Gaetz Reveal the Shallow, Dangerous Truth About the American War on Sex Trafficking
May 20, 2021
https://newrepublic.com/article/162451/bill-gates-matt-gaetz-jeffrey-epstein-sex-trafficking
There’s
no great conspiracy at play in the crises unfolding around the
philanthropist and the congressman—just the banal myopias of power.
There
is almost no schadenfreude in the Matt Gaetz downfall. The latest
chapter unfolded Monday, with the Florida congressman’s ostensibly
now-former wingman, Joel Greenberg, pleading guilty to sex trafficking a
minor and promising his cooperation in a federal investigation
reportedly involving Gaetz himself. During the proceedings, a plane
flying near the Orlando courthouse dragged a banner reading, “Tick Tock
Matt Gaetz.”
The vast majority of men facing federal sex
trafficking charges in the United States do not hold such political
power. Nor do they wield the kind of brute influence once wielded by
someone like Jeffrey Epstein, who courted billionaires and
philanthropists and sometimes men who were both. Microsoft co-founder
Bill Gates was apparently one of them, a relationship that may have even
been a factor in his recently announced divorce. As in the example of
Gaetz, the alleged sex trafficker Gates met with repeatedly was hiding
in plain sight.
The Epstein and Greenberg cases bear little
resemblance to the pop crime depiction of a sex trafficking ring, a fact
that may (rather belatedly) help unwind the influence of a
two-decades-long war on sex trafficking fueled by salacious myths and
racialized caricatures. And contra QAnon and centuries of associated sex
slavery panic, there is no nefarious elite cabal orchestrating a great
sex trafficking cover-up. The Gates and Gaetz stories may expose a more
uncomfortable truth: The people who associate with such high-profile men
accused of or involved in sex trafficking may see no disconnect between
those relationships and their own claims to be fighting sex
trafficking.
When Gates was being entertained by Epstein at the
financier’s Manhattan townhouse, several years had passed since a sex
trafficking investigation resulted in Epstein’s very publicly pleading
guilty to charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution. “Gulliver’s
playfulness had unintended consequences,” Epstein told The New York
Times a few months before his brief incarceration, likening himself to
the narrator of Jonathan Swift’s novel, all in the course of being
interviewed on his own private island. “That is what happens with
wealth. There are unexpected burdens as well as benefits.” It was a
“burden”that meets the federal definition of sex trafficking. Since
then, the Department of Justice has charged many more men who were
alleged to have solicited commercial sex with the crime of sex
trafficking. In 2019, according to the Human Trafficking Institute, 103
people faced sex trafficking charges for soliciting sex—about 10 percent
of all federal trafficking defendants.
Both Greenberg and
Epstein appear to have explicitly cultivated relationships with powerful
people both to enrich themselves and as cover. Just before Trump left
office, Greenberg pressed Trump associate Roger Stone for a preemptive
pardon. “They know he paid me to pay the girls and that he and I both
had sex with the girl who was underage,” Greenberg wrote Stone. (This
was some months before Gaetz’s connection to the Greenberg sex
trafficking investigation was first reported.)
Greenberg had
reason to believe this could work; Trump had elevated Gaetz as something
like an heir and so would be personally invested in protecting that
investment in his own political future. Trump also talked a big (and
unfounded) game about being the toughest president on trafficking,
something Greenberg apparently did not perceive to be an obstacle. In
fact, the more Trump touted his anti–sex trafficking initiatives, the
more he seemed to alienate the anti-trafficking movement, a rare and
early indication that this kind of professed “commitment” to fighting
sex trafficking was empty and damaging.
Epstein, meanwhile,
according to the Times, met multiple times at his townhouse with staff
of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private charitable
organization in the world; he also pitched the foundation on a
“multibillion-dollar charitable fund—an arrangement that had the
potential to generate enormous fees”—for himself, along with the
attendant good publicity.
Over the years, the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation had poured millions of dollars into anti–sex
trafficking groups, among many other causes, including $5 million to the
evangelical group International Justice Mission, which is perhaps most
known for conducting dramatic brothel raids in Southeast Asia. At the
time, international sex workers’ rights groups condemned the grant and
IJM, but nearly no one else drew attention to the traumatic arrests and
threats of deportations alleged by sex workers whose workplaces were
raided. Nick Kristof, an influential mouthpiece for anti–sex trafficking
groups, including IJM, celebrated the raids, a bit predictably. Such
efforts were lauded again in his 2015 column titled “Bill and Melinda
Gates’ Pillow Talk,” which according to Kristof includes items like “the
utility of empowering women.” Why wouldn’t Epstein want in on that
brand association?
______________
Feds’ raid on Diddy’s Miami Beach mansions goes into the night in sex-trafficking probe
March 26, 2024
The
raid came weeks after a lawsuit alleged that Diddy was the leader of a
“widespread and dangerous criminal sex trafficking organization.”
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article287081310.html
______________
Rays’ Wander Franco faces additional charge of human trafficking
July 10th, 2024
The
star shortstop could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the
latest charge. Wednesday, he was shifted to MLB’s restricted list and is
no longer getting paid.
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2024/07/10/wander-franco-human-trafficking-sexual-abuse-exploitation-charges-dominican-prosecutors/
______________
Average human trafficking victims in SWFL, 15-year-old girls
February 1, 2024
https://winknews.com/2024/02/01/human-trafficking-victims-swfl-girls/
______________
Florida Sex Money Murder Gang Dismantled
Apr 13, 2022
https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/florida-sex-money-murder-gang-dismantled
______________
WINK News: Human trafficking in Southwest Florida
https://naplesshelter.org/wink-trafficking/
______________
Human trafficking continues to be a growing problem in Florida
2020
https://www.wfla.com/news/human-trafficking-continues-to-be-a-growing-problem-in-florida/
______________
U.S. Marshals Find 200 Missing Children Across the Nation During Operation We Will Find You 2
Jul 08, 2024
https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2024/07/08/news/us-marshals-find-200-missing-children-across-the-nation-during-operation-we-will-find-you-2/123618.html
______________
Global Government Kidnapping Rings Investigated (Humboldt County, CA) - (Author: Michael James Ross)
January 2nd, 2017
Governmentkidnappingrings.blogspot.com
______________
{It is my job to inform the public if an organisation ever tried to bribe or intimidate my media agency in order to stop my news reports, we have stated that our media would tell the public if this ever happened. It is our duty to inform the people that the government officials in Naples, Florida (Collier County, Florida) are trying to silence our scientific reports. These officials in Collier County, Florida are behind one of the biggest human trafficking rings in the nation. The District Attorneys of the 20th District Court in Naples, Florida (Collier County, Florida) were behind covering up these human smuggling rings. We want Judge Elizabeth Krier, Judge Kyle Cohen Judge John Mcgowan, Amira D. Fox, Nicole Santini and Rhiannon Gomes of the 20th District Court to be arrested for tampering with evidence}.
______________
Feds bust ‘modern-day slavery’ ring amid new immigration enforcement effort
Dec. 9, 2021
At
least 100 immigrant workers were freed from conditions in which at
least two died, another was repeatedly raped, and others were kidnapped
and threatened with death.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/feds-bust-modern-day-slavery-ring-new-effort-immigration-enforcement-rcna8273
______________
Florida sheriff blasts border policies after 21 charged in sex trafficking ring
Sheriff Judd: Illegal foreign nationals used DHS papers to fly to major cities for free
Mar 7, 2024
https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_e83ba45e-dce3-11ee-b509-a75f0b01c4cf.html
______________
Massachusetts seeks human trafficking probe targeting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over migrants
Sep 18, 2022
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/18/massachusetts-human-trafficking-probe-desantis-migrants/10419960002/
______________
ICE busts significant sex trafficking ring operating from Florida to North Carolina
January 16, 2013
SAVANNAH,
Ga. — Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced
the results of a lengthy investigation, called Operation Dark Night,
into a sex trafficking ring operating in Florida, Georgia and the
Carolinas. The investigation, which was led by ICE's Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI), led to a takedown yesterday in which authorities
made 13 criminal arrests and 44 administrative arrests tied to the
investigation, as well as the rescue of as many as 11 victims.
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-busts-significant-sex-trafficking-ring-operating-florida-north-carolina
______________
Proposal to ban free prison labor introduced for 2022 Florida legislative session
2022
https://humantraffickingsearch.org/resource/proposal-to-ban-free-prison-labor-introduced-for-2022-florida-legislative-session/
______________
Government complicit in migrant child trafficking: Whistleblower
7-9-2024
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/government-complicit-in-migrant-child-trafficking-whistleblower/ar-BB1pHEXu
______________
Human trafficking in Florida
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_Florida
Human
trafficking in Florida is the illegal trade of human beings for sexual
exploitation or forced labor as it occurs in the state of Florida. After
California and New York, Florida has the most human trafficking cases
in the United States. Florida has had cases of sex trafficking, domestic
servitude, and forced labor.
Florida has a large agricultural
economy and a large immigrant population, which has made it a prime
environment for forced labor, particularly in the tomato industry. Also
Florida's tourism industry has also helped make the state a prime target
for human traffickers. Concerted efforts have led to the freeing of
thousands of slaves in recent years. The National Human Trafficking
Resource Center reported receiving 1,518 calls and emails in 2015 about
human trafficking in Florida.
Anti-trafficking laws and policies
The
United States Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence
Protection Act in 2000, which not only criminalizes human trafficking
but aims to support its victims.[5] In 2002, the Florida Department of
Children and Families Office of Refugee Resettlement began a project to
explore how Florida could implement this new law.
Statewide Council on Human Trafficking
The
Florida Legislature started the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking,
which will spend two years developing policy recommendations for
curbing human trafficking by prosecuting offenders and providing
services to victims.[6] The council includes fifteen members, including
prosecutors, legislators, health experts, social services experts, and
former Attorney General Pam Bondi as Chair.
The council will work
toward creating recommendations for certifying safe homes for victims
of human trafficking and for prosecuting traffickers who participate in
the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of
persons through coercion.
Florida farmworkers
Federal
Civil Rights officials have prosecuted five slavery operations
involving over 1,000 workers in Florida's fields since 1997. In November
2002, Ramiro Ramos, his brother Juan, and their cousin Jose Luis,
sub-contractors of a farm in Immokalee, Florida, were charged ten—twelve
years each for holding migrant workers in involuntary servitude.[9] The
human trafficking ring was uncovered by the Coalition of Immokalee
Workers, a local organization that focuses on human rights of the
Mexican and Central American immigrants in the region who are exploited
for cheap or unpaid labor.
______________
History of slavery in Florida
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_Florida
Slavery
in Florida occurred among indigenous tribes and during Spanish rule.
Florida's purchase by the United States from Spain in 1819 (effective
1821) was primarily a measure to strengthen the system of slavery on
Southern plantations, by denying potential runaways the formerly safe
haven of Florida. Florida became a slave state, seceded, and passed laws
to exile or enslave free blacks. Even after abolition, forced labor
continued.
Few enslaved Africans were imported into Florida from
Cuba in the period of Spanish colonial rule, as there was little for
them to do—no mines, no plantations. Starting in 1687, slaves escaping
from English colonies to the north were freed when they reached Florida
and accepted Catholic baptism. Black slavery in the region was widely
established after Florida came under British then American control.
Slavery in Florida was theoretically abolished by the 1863 Emancipation
Proclamation issued by President Lincoln, though as the state was then
part of the Confederacy this had little immediate effect.
Slavery
in Florida did not end abruptly on one specific day. As news arrived of
the end of the Civil War and the collapse of the Confederacy in the
spring of 1865, slavery unofficially ended, as there were no more slave
catchers or other authority to enforce the peculiar institution. Newly
emancipated African Americans departed their plantations, often in
search of relatives who were separated from their family. The end of
slavery was made formal by the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment
in December 1865. Some of the characteristics of slavery, such as
inability to leave an abusive situation, continued under sharecropping,
convict leasing, and vagrancy laws. In the 20th and 21st centuries,
conditions approximating slavery are found among marginal immigrant
populations, especially migrant farm workers and trafficked sex workers.
The Florida Slavery Memorial is planned.
Slavery before arrival of the Europeans
Enslavement
predates the period of European colonization and was practiced by
various indigenous peoples. Florida had some of the first African slaves
in what is now the United States in 1526, as well as the first
emancipation of escaping slaves in 1687 and the first settlement of free
blacks in 1735.
Human trafficking in the 20th and 21st centuries
Main article: Human trafficking in Florida
After
California and New York, Florida has the most human trafficking cases
in the United States. Florida has had cases of sex trafficking, domestic
servitude, and forced labor.
Florida has a large agricultural
economy and a large immigrant population, which has made it a prime
environment for forced labor, particularly in the tomato industry.
Concerted efforts have led to the freeing of thousands of slaves in
recent years. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center reported
receiving 1,518 calls and emails in 2015 about human trafficking in
Florida.
______________
Florida sheriff to Congress after illegal immigrants nabbed in human trafficking probe: 'Shame on all of them'
March 5, 2024
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said: 'The politicians are politicking while the victims are being victimized'
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-sheriff-congress-illegal-immigrants-nabbed-human-trafficking-probe-shame-all-them
______________
Indicted head of Haitian kidnapping ring freed
2015
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article18827622.html
______________
Increase in sextortion cases causes FBI to issue major warning
January 18, 2024
The problem with sextortion is getting so bad that the FBI has issued a major warning.
Sextortion
is a form of exploitation where victims, including children and teens,
are coerced into sharing explicit photos or videos of themselves. The
predator will use the images to blackmail the target with threats to
publicly expose the material.
“Sextortion is something that we’ve
seen blow up and double and triple in the last couple of years,” said
Lt. Wade Williams with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office...
https://winknews.com/2024/01/18/increase-sextortion-cases-causes-fbi-issue-major-warning/
______________
DANGER – SEXtortion Scandal Rocks Florida
https://aquakiki.wordpress.com/tag/collier-county/
______________
John Ring Jr., a Tampa politico with ties to the mayor and members of city council, pleads not guilty in sex offender case
Apr 11, 2023
The
State Attorney filed a 'request to seal' Ring's warrant because of
'potential evidence suggesting public corruption within the City of
Tampa...'
https://www.cltampa.com/news/john-ring-jr-a-tampa-politico-with-ties-to-the-mayor-and-members-of-city-council-pleads-not-guilty-in-sex-offender-case-15447849
______________
Opa-locka Police accused of massive corruption
2011
State
authorities are probing what could be the most significant police
corruption case in years in perpetually troubled Opa-locka.
According
to city memos obtained by Miami New Times and confirmed by City Manager
Clarance Patterson, officers have told internal investigators that city
cops:
• had sex with arrested offenders "in lieu of moving
forward to prosecution, eventually unarresting the individuals and
discarding the police report";
• stole property from the station;
• ordered lower-ranking officers to release arrested suspects and discard the reports, which would violate state law;
• improperly transported liquor in police vehicles for private parties;
• horsed around with Tasers on the job;
• slept on duty.
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/opa-locka-police-accused-of-massive-corruption-6381216
______________
Florida police officers entangled in widespread sex scandal
2013
LAKELAND,
Fla. – Authorities are investigating a widespread sex scandal involving
nearly a dozen police officers in one Florida city after a civilian
crime analyst detailed trysts with the men in police and fire stations,
patrol cars, motels and even in a parking lot after a memorial service
for a slain officer.
Sue Eberle, 37, has told officials that she
had consensual and sometimes coerced sex with the officers and a
firefighter, and that she once was propositioned by a city worker in
Lakeland.
Eberle's accounts of the liaisons were largely
corroborated by her sexual partners and others within the police
department, and published in a graphic, 59-page report written in an
incredulous tone by the county's top prosecutor. It said the
department's problems investigating crimes might be caused by some
high-ranking officers being more interested in having sex with Eberle
than doing their jobs.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-police-officers-entangled-in-widespread-sex-scandal
______________
Top 10 Worst Prisons in Florida State
April 8, 2023
4. Lowell Correctional Institution (Ocala)
Lowell
Correctional Institution is Florida’s largest women’s prison and has
been the subject of numerous lawsuits and investigations. In 2015, an
investigation found that guards were sexually abusing inmates and
trading favors for sex. The prison has also been criticized for its
overcrowding, poor medical care, and lack of educational programs.
https://theprisondirect.com/top-10-worst-prisons-in-florida-state/
______________
DOJ Launches Investigation into Abuse at Florida Women’s Prison
Loaded on Jan. 8, 2019
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2019/jan/8/doj-launches-investigation-abuse-florida-womens-prison/
______________
Florida's unsafe prisons
2-3-2015
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/opinion/2015/02/04/floridas-unsafe-prisons/29296705007/
______________
Rothstein Exposé Details Sex, Murder, and Corruption Behind Florida's Largest Ponzi Scheme
2013
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanmaglich/2013/01/21/rothstein-expose-details-sex-murder-and-corruption-behind-floridas-largest-ponzi-scheme/?sh=499e5f4f683e
______________
Seminole County judge absent from work amid misconduct allegations, chief judge says
2015
https://www.wesh.com/article/seminole-county-judge-absent-from-work-amid-misconduct-allegations-chief-judge-says-1/4442237
______________
Tallahassee corruption probe turns attention to judges: sources
2021
The
public corruption investigation that has gripped Tallahassee for the
last three years has expanded, according to law enforcement sources
close to the investigation.
Now, it has wrapped its tendrils around state courts in North Central and Northwest Florida.
It
isn’t clear which judges have caught investigators’ eyes, but there is
certainly some overlap with the investigation that snared Scott Maddox, a
former Tallahassee City Commissioner.
While judicial misconduct
is typically investigated by Florida’s Judicial Qualifications
Committee, the fact that federal investigators are now looking into
cases in Tallahassee means the fallout from the ongoing public
corruption investigation is far from over.
A hint on who may be
in the crosshairs: one of the Leon County judges who was supposed to
oversee Maddox’s disbarment was pulled from the case with no real
explanation.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/451536-tallahassee-corruption-probe-turns-attention-to-judges-sources-say/
______________
WESH 2 investigates 'bad judges' in Central Florida
2015
The misconduct allegations are of everything from election law violations to bad behavior on and off the bench
WESH 2 examined the best ways to weed out the “bad judges” in Florida.
Click here to watch this report
There are 62 disciplinary cases against Florida judges since 2001; 18 of those cases stem from Central Florida.
"I
think I tried almost every kind of case that you can imagine." said
retired judge OH "Bill" Eaton, who has 42 years of experience in law,
including 24 years as a local circuit judge and two years as chief
judge.
"There are some people on that list that I would have
predicted would be on that list at one time or another… simply because
of qualifications," Eaton said.
"I think Central Florida's
relatively high numbers right now are an anomaly. I don't think that's
the norm,” Gray Robinson attorney Mayanne Downs said.
Downs is
also a former Florida Bar president and is currently on Florida’s
Judicial Qualifications Commission, which investigates misconduct by
state judges.
https://www.wesh.com/article/wesh-2-investigates-bad-judges-in-central-florida-1/4442238
______________
Indictments Shock Florida Town, Inured to Vice Reports
March 20, 1978
LAKE
CITY, Fla.—Corruption was way of life for so long in Lake City that the
community began to lose sight of the difference between fixing a
speeding ticket and letting criminals escape justice for a once.
That
is one view offered to explain why a Federal investigation of local
racketeering has led to the indictment of several prominent citizens,
including two of the four circuit judges in Florida's Third Judicial
District, on charges that a conspiracy existed to operate gambling,
prostitution and a drug ring, in addition to putting a price tag on
justice in the courtroom.
This small city 25 miles south of the
Georgia border was shocked by the indictments, but at least some of the
surprise seemed to be not so much that vice and corruption flourished in
Lake City but that the powerful had been brought to justice.
In fact, there was very little moral out. rage expressed.
https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/20/archives/indictments-shock-florida-town-inured-to-vice-reports-judge-invited.html
______________
Southern District Florida Courts; A Haven for Bribery, Corruption and Impeachment Proceedings against Sitting Federal Judges
November 19, 2020
It’s
no surprise, Texas and Florida lead the way when it comes to the
handful of impeachments against Federal Judges, as archived in the
history of the United States of America.
https://lawsintexas.com/southern-district-florida-courts-a-haven-for-bribery-corruption-and-impeachment-proceedings-against-sitting-federal-judges/
_____________
Corrupt Florida Justice and Judges
March 26, 2009
ATTENTION: COURT/POLITICAL EDITORS
COURT REFORMER ANDY MARTIN HAS LONG RECORD OF FILING SUCCESSFUL COMPLAINTS AGAINST FLORIDA JUDGES
(FORT
LAUDERDALE)(March 25, 2007) Chicago-based Internet journalist,
broadcaster and media critic Andy Martin has a long history of
successfully filing judicial complaints and legal proceedings against
Florida judges. Martin founded the Campaign Court Reform (CCR) in 1989
and has served as Founding Executive Director since then.
The CCR
receives reports nationally and attempts to point the spotlight on
judicial arrogance, corruption and abuse of power. Martin began his
career as a judicial reformer while a law student at the University of
Illinois, as a small part of a team that exposed bank stock bribes on
the Illinois Supreme Court and led to the removal of two judges, Roy
Solfisburg and Ray Klingbiel, see Illinois Supreme Court Docket No.
39798.
This week Martin filed judicial misconduct complaints
against Broward County Chief Judge Dale Ross and Circuit Judge Larry
Korda.
"We have been asked for a list of Florida judges against
whom I successfully filed judicial misconduct complaints or legal
proceedings," Martin noted. "We had to dig into our morgue because our
computerized records do not go back that far. Nevertheless, we have
assembled a pretty complete list. It may not be complete but it is
awesome...
https://corruptfloridajusticeandjudges.blogspot.com/
_____________
Book Release: People v Money- Corruption Scandal Rocks the Florida Court System
2019
https://www.kjnewswire.com/4536/book-release-people-v-money-corruption-scandal-rocks-florida-court-system
_____________
Corrupt justice: what happens when judges' bias taints a case?
2015
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/18/judge-bias-corrupts-court-cases
_____________
Fraud on the Court as a Basis for Dismissal with Prejudice or Default: An Old Remedy Has New Teeth
February 2004
https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/fraud-on-the-court-as-a-basis-for-dismissal-with-prejudice-or-default-an-old-remedy-has-new-teeth/
_____________
FLORIDA JUDGES THAT CORRUPTLY UNDERMINE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND THE RULE OF LAW
SADLY,
FLORIDA JUDGES have been exempt from the same level of scrutiny as our
politicians and the Media, but there are increasingly more pervasive
attacks on judicial integrity. Abuses of power, corruption, lack of
accountability, secrecy, and impunity from prosecution are eroding
public trust and confidence in the judicial system.
As judges and
public servants, the above individuals took an Oath of Office to uphold
and protect the U.S. and Florida Constitutions; to honor the Code of
Judicial Conduct, to uphold the Separation of Powers Doctrine, and to
respect the constitutional rights and civil liberties of all Floridians.
By ruling unconstitutional the Constitution and laws that are the
source of their authority, these corrupt judges automatically deprived
themselves of their own authority to rule.
For their corrupt,
racist, unconstitutional misconduct, Broward Circuit Court Judge Dale
Cohen, Monroe Circuit Court Judge Luis Garcia, Palm Beach Circuit Court
Judge Diana Lewis, and Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Sarah I. Zabel,
need to be removed from the bench by the Florida Judicial Qualifications
Commission (JQC) and disbarred by the Florida Bar. They have forever
disgraced their office and will live in this ignominious Wall of Shame.
Don’t be afraid. PREPARE YOUR COMPLAINT AGAINST THESE CORRUPT JUDGES USING THIS OFFICIAL JQC COMPLAINT FORM here:
http://floridajqc.com/images/JQCComplaintForm.pdf
https://floridademocraticleague.com/wall-of-shame/unethical-judges/
____________
5 Florida Judges Reprimanded in $500 Million Child Welfare Agency Conflict
September 6, 2019
https://www.coreysdigs.com/law-order/5-florida-judges-reprimanded-in-500-million-child-welfare-agency-conflict/
____________
Florida court consolidation idea rejected by committee amid criticism move was power grab
Nov 2023
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2023/11/03/idea-to-consolidate-floridas-judicial-circuits-is-rejected/71441977007/
_____________
Florida Corruption Investigation...
2009
https://disgustedwiththesystem.blogspot.com/2009/10/florida-corruption-investigation.html
_____________
2 Judges Guilty in Florida Corruption Inquiry
1993
https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/28/us/2-judges-guilty-in-florida-corruption-inquiry.html
_____________
CORRUPT FLORIDA JUDGES
CORRUPT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Corrupt Judge Art E. McNeil
Corrupt Judge Catherine M. Catlin
Corrupt Judge Cheryl K. Thomas
Corrupt Judge Jennifer X. Gabbard
Corrupt Judge Richard A. Weis
Corrupt Judge William F. Jung
CORRUPT PALM BEACH COUNTY
Corrupt Judge Martin Colin
CORRUPT TAMPA JUDGES
Corrupt Judge Daryl M. Manning
Corrupt Judge Jack St. Arnold
https://courtvictim.com/abusers/judges/florida/
_____________
4 Florida Judges Are Indicted In Federal Corruption Inquiry
1991
https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/25/us/4-florida-judges-are-indicted-in-federal-corruption-inquiry.html
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Fight for Fair and Impartial Courts in Florida and the Right to Speak Out About Corruption
July 9, 2023
https://www.change.org/p/fight-for-fair-and-impartial-courts-in-florida-and-the-right-to-speak-out-about-corruption
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Corruption probe becomes issue in Osceola Clerk of Court race
2020
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/355583-corruption-probe-becomes-issue-in-osceola-clerk-of-court-race/
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Investigation Finds That Florida’s Court-Appointed Guardianship System Is Corrupt
2019
https://www.gierachlaw.com/investigation-finds-that-floridas-court-appointed-guardianship-system-is-corrupt/
_____________
Florida Grand Jury - Stop the Corruption in the Florida Courts
https://floridagrandjury.blogspot.com/
_____________
'A startling situation': Public Defender's Office struggling to keep attorneys
2023
LEE
COUNTY, Fla. — Southwest Florida is feeling the impact of a nationwide
issue: an attorney shortage. The Public Defender's Office for the 20th
Judicial District spoke with Fox 4 about the retention problems, and how
this could impact you.
Every day, someone accused of a crime
sits inside of a courtroom. If they cannot afford a lawyer, they can be
appointed a public defender. However, finding the lawyers to do that is a
problem in some areas.
The 20th Judicial District represents
Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties with 60% of the
cases starting in Lee County. The office is run by Kathy Smith, the
public defender.
She manages 141 employees; 80 are attorneys. She
says it's not hard to convince people to work in Florida, but there are
still some roadblocks.
"My big issue is retention of those people," Smith said. "This is a tough job."
The
retention issue is something we're seeing across the country. Smith
says the reason behind the problem in her office comes back to money...
https://www.fox4now.com/news/local-news/lee-county/a-startling-situation-public-defenders-office-struggling-to-keep-attorneys
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Under the gun of a new discipline rule, Florida lawyers had better keep judges happy…or else
2021
Judges
who want to punish lawyers for any reason now have a superpower that
can derail careers, courtesy of the Florida Bar and the Florida Supreme
Court.
A new rule effective in December grants judges far greater
authority over lawyer discipline. The high court signed off on the
recommendation from Bar leaders in an Oct. 21 opinion.
Florida lawyers who oppose the judicial oversight rule — privately, fearing retaliation — call it a power grab...
https://www.floridabulldog.org/2021/10/under-new-discipline-rule-florida-lawyers-better-keep-judges-happy-or-else/
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‘It’s really a mess’: Bexar County DA hampered by SAPD, BCSO mishandling of evidence and communication issues
December 15, 2021
DA blames volume of video evidence, technology and process issues for lapses
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/12/15/its-really-a-mess-bexar-county-da-hampered-by-sapd-bcso-mishandling-of-evidence-and-communication-issues/
_____________
Trials for former Lynn Haven mayor, city attorney pushed to May
2021
Anderson
and Albritton were indicted in August 2020 on more than 60 criminal
counts linked to a scandal involving the theft of $5 million in
Hurricane Michael debris removal funds. The counts include "conspiring
to commit wire fraud and honest service fraud, substantive counts of
wire fraud, honest service fraud and theft concerning federal programs,"
a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice said.
https://www.newsherald.com/story/news/2021/02/04/former-bay-county-florida-mayor-corruption-trial-moved-may/4392301001/
_____________
Federal corruption trial of North Florida lawyer underway in Jacksonville
Jun. 6, 2022
JACKSONVILLE,
Fla. (WCTV) - The federal corruption trial of North Florida lawyer
Marion Michael O’Steen is now underway in Jacksonville.
O’Steen was arrested and accused of a bribery and extortion scheme with former Third Circuit State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister.
Siegmeister
plead guilty in February and is listed as a witness in O’Steen’s trial
by both the prosecution and defense, according to federal court records.
O’Steen
is accused of making deals with Siegmeister to reduce the charges or
sentences of his clients. The February 2021 indictment says in one case,
O’Steen bought one of Siegmeister’s Braford bulls and in another case
asked a client to pay tens of thousands of dollars to make a gambling
charge “go away completely.”
https://www.wctv.tv/2022/06/06/federal-corruption-trial-north-florida-lawyer-underway-jacksonville/
_____________
Miami attorneys bankrolled DEA bribery scheme, federal prosecutors say
Jan 23, 2024
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/miami-attorneys-bankrolled-dea-bribery-scheme-federal-prosecutors-say
_____________
Jury Convicts Federal Agent of Witness Tampering and Obstructing Justice
August 29, 2023
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/jury-convicts-federal-agent-witness-tampering-and-obstructing-justice
_____________
Sheriff's office did not investigate deputy whose statements did not match surveillance
Sep 2019
Public
records show the Collier County Sheriff's Office failed to conduct a
formal investigation into the actions and statements of a deputy at the
heart of a federal lawsuit alleging unlawful arrest and excessive use of
force...
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2019/09/20/collier-county-sheriffs-office-never-investigated-deputy-whose-statements-did-not-match-surveillance/2338818001/
_____________
ALLEGATIONS OF SELECTIVE PROSECUTION: THE EROSION OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR FEDERAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
2007
https://archive.org/details/gov.gpo.fdsys.CHRG-110hhrg38507
______________
Judge had ties to mob drug dealer
Jan. 28, 1992
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/01/28/judge-had-ties-to-mob-drug-dealer/
______________
Former City of Miami Police Officer Sentenced to
Over 11 Years in Prison for Attempted Cocaine Trafficking and Attempted
Hobbs Act Extortion
July 2, 2024
MIAMI – Frenel Cenat, a former police officer with the City of Miami
Police Department (MPD) was sentenced today to 135 months in prison, to
be followed by 5 years of supervised release, by Senior U.S. District
Judge James I. Cohn in Fort Lauderdale. Cenat previously pled guilty to
attempted Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and
attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges
arose from the use of his police position and authority, and his
unmarked MPD-issued vehicle and equipment to conduct two illegal traffic
stops to steal what he believed were drug proceeds and seven kilograms
of cocaine from the drivers.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/former-city-miami-police-officer-sentenced-over-11-years-prison-attempted-cocaine
______________
Ex-deputy suspected in disappearances of two Collier men responds to lawsuit
Oct 3, 2018
The
former deputy suspected in the disappearances of two Collier County men
has responded to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against him.
Steven
Calkins, a former Collier County Sheriff's Office corporal, is thought
to be the last person to see Felipe Santos and Terrance Williams alive
before they disappeared in October 2003 and January 2004, respectively.
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2018/10/03/former-deputy-suspected-disappearances-two-collier-men-responds-lawsuit/1507942002/
______________
Immokalee community wants Collier County Deputies held responsible for death of Nicolas Morales
February 21, 2021
https://winknews.com/2021/02/21/immokalee-community-wants-collier-county-deputies-held-responsible-for-death-of-nicolas-morales/
______________
Former LCSO deputies discuss corruption allegations with FBI
December 22, 2017
Former Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are communicating with the FBI about corruption allegations.
Documents from the Freeh report titled “Appendix A” and “Appendix B” were first released to the News-Press in October.
The
documents showed that members of the Fort Myers Police Department and
at least one LCSO deputy were implicated with corruption, foul internal
affairs investigations, and assisting alleged dealers in a drug
trafficking ring, which was known to kill witnesses, all with near
impunity.
https://winknews.com/2017/12/22/former-lcso-deputies-discuss-corruption-allegations-fbi/
______________
Caught on bodycam: FBI agent chasing Florida corruption complaint ends up locked in patrol car
May 13, 2022
https://news.yahoo.com/caught-bodycam-fbi-agent-chasing-194814636.html
______________
FBI informant talks of his role in cracking Palm Bay corruption case
2019
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2019/07/26/fbi-informant-talks-his-role-cracking-palm-bay-corruption-case/1616077001/
______________
Report: Moonlighting ex-Collier official lobbied for county vendor in 'apparent' conflict of interest
July 17, 2023
Sean
Callahan was quietly fired in January of 2022 after county staff
discovered he was secretly working as a lobbyist for a powerful
Washington D.C. lobbying firm — a moonlighting job that violated county
policies, ethical guidelines, and anti-fraud measures.
Now a new
report by the county’s Office of the Inspector General reveals that one
of Callahan's undisclosed lobbyist clients, Jacobs Solutions, is a
long-time vendor for Collier County.
The OIG report, which was
exclusively obtained by the Florida Center for Government Accountability
(FLCGA), found that Callahan was in “apparent” violation of the
county's conflict of interest policy when Jacobs Engineering and
CH2MHill, both subsidiaries of Jacob Solutions, became his clients.
Notably, these companies were appearing before the Board of Collier
County at the time with county purchase orders totaling $4.5 million.
https://news.wgcu.org/government-politics/2023-07-17/report-moonlighting-ex-collier-official-lobbied-for-county-vendor-in-apparent-conflict-of-interest
______________
Ethics, public corruption conference slated in Naples
2023
Forum of interest to attorneys, elected officials, journalists and the public
The motto of the City of Naples is “Ethics above all else.”
In
August 2020, voters in the City of Naples approved a referendum
establishing a Commission on Ethics and Governmental Integrity. This
independent commission is charged with, among other things, providing
ethics education and training for city employees, elected officials and
lobbyists and enforcing the city’s ethics code which includes “lobbyist
registration, reporting and regulation.” The code extends to elected
officials and employees and, in some instances, to third parties who
transact business with the city.
Ethics in government? Who could
possibly be against ethics in government? It may surprise you to learn
that the road leading to the creation of the Naples Commission on Ethics
and Governmental Integrity was a rocky one. Way back in 2016, a
then-City Council member voted on a proposed development in the city.
Subsequently,
it was discovered that this particular council person might have
engaged in a conflict of interest. Because there was no local agency to
enforce the then-existing ethics code in the city, a complaint was filed
in Tallahassee with the State Ethics Commission. (Ultimately, no
probable cause was found in the complaint). It was then that former City
Councilwoman Linda Penniman proposed the formation of a local
government ethics commission. The majority of the City Council at the
time rejected the idea.
A group of concerned citizens formed a
political action committee called Ethics Naples and began collecting
signatures to place a charter amendment on the ballot. The city fought
their efforts to get the referendum on the ballot. Who could be against
ethics in government? The city lost in court at the trial level,
appealed that decision and lost the appeal as well. By that time, it was
2020 and the composition of the Council had changed. Ray Christman, who
was a member of Ethics Naples, was elected to Council and the four
incumbents who opposed the ethics commission were swept out of office.
This led to the August referendum where 62% of the citizens of Naples voted to approve the creation of the ethics commission.
In November 2020, the first five volunteer members of the commission were appointed...
https://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2023/03/12/ethics-public-corruption-conference-slated-in-naples/69987379007/
______________
Florida’s Path to Ethics Reform
2020
https://www.integrityflorida.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Floridas-Path-to-Ethics-Reform-final.pdf
______________
Naples leaders reject Collier ethics commission
2017
Naples
leaders rejected a proposal Tuesday for an independent ethics watchdog
to oversee conduct from city and county government officials.
“I’d
say it’s dead in the water,” Collier County Commissioner Penny Taylor
said about her suggested countywide commission on ethics.
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2017/03/07/naples-council-rejects-ethics-collier-county-commission/98851246/
______________
Naples ethics commission to self-start investigations based on informal complaints
2021
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/government/2021/07/12/naples-ethics-commission-votes-self-start-investigations/7617285002/
______________
Naples officials: PAC declined way to resolve dispute over ethics panel
2018
A
referendum aiming to establish a Naples ethics commission will not
appear on the August ballot due to a legal battle between the city and
the PAC behind the referendum, but court documents show city officials
offered to expedite the process in May and the PAC declined.
The
city's dispute with the PAC, called Ethics Naples, could cost taxpayers
$40,000 if a special election is called for the referendum, a county
official said.
“We've been bending over backwards to try to
expedite the process,” Assistant City Manager Roger Reinke said. "Ethics
Naples has refused the city's offer to mutually expedite the hearing on
the matter."
In fact, Ethics Naples leaders "have done
everything they can to avoid having the courts examine whether the
petition is legal before having it placed on the ballot,” City Attorney
Jim Fox wrote in a June 15 email to the City Council.
Councilors
voted May 2 to let a judge decide whether the referendum, which would
establish an ethics commission if approved, would appear before voters.
The
next day, Fox recommended both parties agree to waive discovery and
expedite the summary-judgment briefing, which would have put the case
before a judge by the end of the month.
However, Ethics Naples
did not agree and instead filed an emergency petition in the Florida 2nd
District Court of Appeal, which transferred the case back to the 20th
Judicial Circuit.
Ethics Naples then filed another emergency
petition with Collier Circuit Judge James Shenko, even though the city's
original case already was pending in front of Collier Circuit Judge
Hugh Hayes. When Shenko realized that, he dismissed the emergency
petition.
"This clear attempt to forum shop ... was frivolous
and merely delayed resolving the dispute," the city wrote in response
to the PAC's emergency motion.
"If Ethics Naples truly
believed that this dispute was an emergency, then it should have ...
agreed to the expedited litigation.
"Instead, Ethics Naples
has spent almost a month shopping for a judge other than Judge Hayes and
doing everything it can to delay and avoid the constitutional
question."
Ray Christman, executive director of Ethics Naples,
said the PAC thought the emergency petitions were the most appropriate
action, given the city's approach to the case.
"The core issue as
far as we're concerned is the ministerial duty of the council to put
the issue on the ballot," Christman said.
"Had their (request for
declaratory judgment) been focused on that issue and only that issue,
we would have responded quickly and it's possible it would have been
done in time for the August election," he said.
Instead, the city's complaint focuses on more than a dozen alleged flaws with the referendum's language.
Ethics Naples has described that as a "piecemeal attack," and the PAC filed a request Tuesday to dismiss the city's complaint.
"The
city took an 'everything but the kitchen sink' approach in their
filing, which we thought was simply trying to distract the court from
what the issue really is," Christman said. "Those are matters to be
dealt with after the referendum is on the ballot."
More:Naples Council votes to have judge decide legality of ethics referendum
More:Commentary: Let Naples residents vote on ethics reform
But
that wouldn't be fair to voters, Reinke said. He compared the situation
to someone trying to push a referendum to segregate the city's drinking
fountains.
“Just because they got enough petition signatures,
does that mean we should put it on the ballot, even though it’s patently
illegal? Of course not,” he said. “This is the same idea, and if the
voters pass an illegal law, they’ll have the expectation that it’ll
somehow become legal.”
Although the council has until June 29 to
submit the referendum question to the county to place it on the Aug. 28
primary election ballot, a judge won't hear the case in time to meet
that deadline.
That means that if a judge decides the referendum
is legal, the city would have to host a special election, costing
$35,000 to $40,000, according to Trish Robertson, a spokeswoman for the
Collier County supervisor of elections.
More:Proposal for Naples ethics panel draws enough signatures for ballot spot
More:PAC aims at August ballot for referendum on creating Naples ethics panel
According
to City Attorney Bob Pritt, one of the more questionable aspects of the
referendum is a requirement that any proposed amendment to the city's
ethics code by the ethics commission would become law unless five or
more City Council members vote against it.
The proposed
referendum states two of the five ethics commission members would be
appointed by the state attorney and the public defender for the 20th
Judicial Circuit, which includes Collier County. Pritt has said they
might have conflicts of interest if an ethics violation becomes a
criminal case.
Either party has the right to appeal the judge's
decision, Pritt said, so the case could end up back in the Florida 2nd
District Court of Appeal. It also could end up going before the Florida
Supreme Court or even the U.S. Supreme Court, although that's unlikely,
Pritt said.
Judge Hayes is scheduled to hear the case Aug. 21.
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/government/2018/06/21/ethics-naples-pac-declined-expedite-ethics-referendum-naples/709720002/
______________
Judge won't look at Naples ethics panel question in time for ballot spot
2018
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/government/2018/06/15/naples-ethics-referendum-not-august-ballot/693868002/
______________
Ethics PAC fights back against Naples Council to get referendum on August ballot
2018
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/government/2018/05/18/ethics-pac-fights-naples-city-council-get-referendum-august-ballot/622440002/
______________
Commentary: Let Naples residents vote on ethics reform
2018
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/opinion/2018/05/13/naples-city-council-lawsuit-ethics-reform-petition-voters-ballot/599232002/
______________
Corrosive” Florida Senate bill will hide public corruption rather than expose it, ethics expert says
February 2, 2024
https://news.wgcu.org/government-politics/2024-02-02/corrosive-florida-senate-bill-will-hide-public-corruption-rather-than-expose-it-ethics-expert-says
______________
Florida ethics overhaul will leave corruption unchecked, watchdog groups warn
3-19-2024
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/19/florida-ethics-overhaul-will-leave-corruption-unchecked-watchdog-groups-warn/
______________
Florida Senate bill restricts ethics probes, opening the door to more public corruption
Feb 7, 2024
Bill
moving through the Florida Legislature removes the reins on corruption
and fraud. Reliable public information, including news media
investigations, would now fall in the category of "hearsay."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/florida-senate-bill-restricts-ethics-probes-opening-the-door-to-more-public-corruption/ar-BB1hWcf6
______________
Collier growth had seamy side
2001
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/11/04/collier-growth-had-seamy-side/
______________
Collier County employee resigns amid fraud investigation
June 19, 2015
COLLIER
COUNTY, Fla.- WINK News has learned the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement is investigating allegations of fraud in Collier County
Government.
New documents show supervisor, JR Gorentz admits to
county leaders he modified back up documentation for the invoices. This
has to do with a job involving the company, BQ Concrete...
https://winknews.com/2015/06/19/collier-county-employee-resigns-amid-fraud-investigation/
______________
Naples Vice Mayor Mike McCabe set to resign over new Florida financial disclosure rules
2023
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2023/12/20/naples-vice-mayor-resigning-after-new-state-financial-disclosure-rules/71987002007/
______________
What is Form 6? Here's why so many elected city officials are abruptly resigning across Florida
2023
You
might be excused for wondering if a strange disease that only affects
local government officials is suddenly sweeping across the state.
Most of the North Palm Beach Village Council have resigned, including
the mayor, and Eagle Lake barely avoided losing a quorum.
The Naples vice mayor announced his resignation on Dec. 31.
Dunnellon’s mayor and a council member stepped down.
Four out of the five St. Pete Beach city council members resigned.
The mayors in Cedar Key and Williston announced their departures.
At least eight elected officials in Pinellas County have left office or plan to, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Two Daytona Beach Shores city commissioners bailed, as have one in Fort
Myers Beach. one in Jacksonville Beach, one in Bradenton Beach and two
in Bartow.
Four of the five McIntosh Town Council members, two
city council members in Orange City, one in Sanibel and a town
commissioner in Longboat Key are gone.
The Town of Reddick lost the entire town council and the mayor.
Why are so many small-town elected officials across Florida abruptly resigning?
Among
the other new laws that took effect on Jan. 1, they had to reveal their
finances in detail for the first time. A change to the Ethics
Commission laws requires city and municipal elected officials to fill
out something called Form 6, the same disclosure form that state and
county elected officials have had to fill out for years. So would new
candidates for office, which could frighten some people away from
representing their communities.
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/12/21/florida-elected-mayors-council-members-resigning-before-form-6-financial-disclosures/71982196007/
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We’re #1 {In Public Corruption}
June 21, 2012
https://naples.floridaweekly.com/articles/were-1-in-public-corruption/
NUMBER ONE.
In sports, it’s usually cause for celebration. In sales, in earnings, in awards or accolades, ditto.
But
in public corruption, the number-one ranking serves both as cause for
despair and as a wake-up call to people who elect or appoint public
servants. Their question should become, “Why, and how can we fix it?”
Now
Florida, once the pioneer and preeminent champion of open government,
has taken the number-one ranking for government corruption in the United
States, ahead of California, Texas and New York, each of which contains
a larger population.
Florida’s middle district, which includes
Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties and stretches from south of Naples
northward to the Georgia line, has played a significant role in spawning
government corruption. Here, Florida Weekly offers a glimpse of that
history in Southwest Florida, and the men and women who shaped it,
dating back about three decades.
Ironically, that’s roughly the
lifespan of the Sunshine State’s pioneering openrecords laws — laws
making public the actions of elected and appointed government officials.
“It’s
been (45 years) since Florida put in place government in the sunshine,
and we once held the leading position in the country and maybe the world
for giving the public the tools to hold government accountable,” says
Dan Krassner, executive director of the nonprofit watchdog group
Integrity Florida. “But that’s changed. Since that law was enacted, the
legislature has weakened it with more than 1,000 exemptions, which shows
Florida is moving in the wrong direction.”
Convictions of corrupt public officials show the same thing, perhaps.
Using
numbers from a U.S. Department of Justice report detailing a decade of
wrongdoing from 2001 to 2010, mostly in local government, Integrity
Florida reported that federal prosecutors convicted 781 men and women
for corruption and fraud, most of them working in local government.
In the Middle District, according to the report, there were 220 federal convictions alone.
That’s
not all. The Florida Commission on Ethics, a relatively toothless arm
of state government that cannot undertake investigations of officials
unless complaints are filed formally first, and can only levy fines of
up to $10,000, has done business in the region as well, says Cary
Stillman, a spokeswoman.
In the last five years, 30 complaints of
ethics violations by government officials were filed in Lee, 13 in
Collier and six in Charlotte County. Of those, there were four total
violations and three probable cause rulings, in which the Ethics
Commission took no further action.
Neither officials for the U.S.
Attorney’s office in the middle district or the state’s Ethics
Commission were able to provide names and descriptions of the federal
convictions or ethics violations by press time. But a glimpse at the
past and the present suggests that even if history doesn’t repeat
itself, its patterns and the tendencies of men and women who create it
anew, do.
Among other things, the numbers of convictions and
violations likely demonstrate that the more things change, the more they
remain the same.
Which is why history may prove the best teacher.
When corruption meant death, drugs
Within
the lifetimes of the oldest men and women who live in the region,
corruption could mean blood and an early 20th century version of
slavery, not just financial misbehavior. Across the South, including in
Southwest Florida, conscript labor camps created a widely accepted form
of official corruption unequaled since.
In an era before
open-government laws, black males and some poor whites were regularly
arrested on trumped up charges and used as conscript labor in turpentine
camps — lumber camps where pines were cut and processed for turpentine.
They led brutal lives, too frequently dying in the camps and being
buried in nameless graves from El Jobean to Babcock Ranch in Charlotte
County, and points south, historians report.
The perpetrators were never charged with any crimes, and authorities were well paid to provide the conscripts.
Almost everything official was done differently in those days.
Travelers
found dead along roads or trails, for example, were sometimes simply
disposed of in unmarked roadside holes, a solution that required no
inquests, no paperwork, and almost no trouble or public expense.
“It
was a fairly common custom,” recalled Vernon Peeples, the Charlotte
County historian and former state legislator, in a conversation with
Florida Weekly last year.
“If somebody was found dead, they’d
have a coroner’s jury, and men from the coroner’s jury would go out and
find the body and ask themselves if anybody recognized it. If no one
recognized the body, it was buried on the spot by the side of the road.”
For
decades, officials also used the poll tax to control votes, effectively
preventing many blacks and some poor whites who couldn’t afford to pay
it from entering the voting booth.
But Bartow native and United
States Sen. Spessard L. Holland brought that corrupt exercise to a halt
by sponsoring the 24th Amendment to the Constitution in 1964, which
prohibited the poll tax. By 1966 it had become law in all 50 states.
As
Florida grew and the population of the region began to swell beginning
in the 1960s, people began to pay more attention to official corruption.
Still,
it wasn’t always white-collar crime. During the famous drug busts in
Everglades City in 1983, for example, about 80 percent of the town’s
male population found itself behind bars for helping transport “square
grouper” — bales of marijuana. Nobody, including local officials, seemed
to care that since the 1970s many residents had been illegally taking
in hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in drug money until
the arrests, which were part of President Ronald Reagan’s war on drugs.
Then everything changed except white-collar corruption in local government.
______________
Florida most corrupt? Not necessarily so, study says
6/17/2012
https://archive.naplesnews.com/news/state/florida-most-corrupt-not-necessarily-so-study-says-ep-388651567-342496342.html
Known
more for its sunny beaches and magical theme parks, Florida is getting
attention this month for a less flattering reason: corruption.
Florida
leads the nation in federal corruption convictions, according to a
report released in early June by the non-profit watchdog group Integrity
Florida.
From 2000 to 2010, Florida had 781 such convictions,
which include violations like misuse of public money, vote buying and
conflict of interest crimes. But that number, which comes from
Department of Justice data analyzed by Integrity Florida, doesn't tell
the full story, some say.
When considering population, Florida
ranked 19th in the country for corruption convictions, according to a
University of Illinois in Chicago study released this year that crunched
data from 1976 to 2010. And some say the high number of convictions
could be the result of the state's Sunshine Law — one of the most
expansive open records laws in the nation — or prosecutors who are
aggressive in ethics violation cases.
The University of Illinois
study found Florida had 0.94 public corruption convictions per 10,000
population between 1976 and 2010, good for 19th in the country. The
District of Columbia led the nation with 16.70 convictions per 10,000
population, followed by Louisiana with 2.00 and Mississippi with 1.89.
Jim
Nowlan, who co-authored the University of Illinois study, said there
are limitations to any data set measuring corruption. For instance, his
data accounts for factors like population and growth, but can't measure
qualitative factors like the amount of resources the U.S. Attorney's
Office had in pursuing the corruption cases.
"In one period of
time, the U.S. Attorney for several districts in Florida might be very
aggressive, or non-aggressive, for public corruption convictions,"
Nowlan said. "What I'm getting at is, you don't want to read too much
into this or parse it too finely. ... None of it is perfect."
Sen.
Garrett Richter, R-Naples, said Florida's large population — it's the
country's fourth most populous state — means it often is at the top of
national statistics. And the state's open records laws could help expose
corruption, thereby bumping up the ranking, he said.
"Florida's
Sunshine Laws are leading the nation for transparency and public
access," Richter said. "For example, I don't know of any other state
that has a program like Sunburst where any citizen can read every email
from their governor and his top staff."
Although public
corruption cases typically are expensive and time-intensive, they remain
"paramount as one of the priorities in a democratic society," said
Robert O'Neill, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
"Prosecutors
here tend to be pretty vigilant," he said. "Law enforcement tends to
work these types of cases, and I think the courts are tough on them when
they're brought before them."
Dan Krassner, an author of
Integrity Florida's analysis, said his organization accepts those
factors as possible explanations for Florida's high ranking but he
remains concerned about the gross number of convictions.
Imagine
if Florida led the country in murder convictions, he said. Although that
could indicate good sleuthing by law enforcement, "that would still be a
problem for our state's reputation, and an issue policy makers would
want to address."
The Middle District of Florida, which includes
Collier and Lee counties, had 248 federal corruption convictions in the
11-year period analyzed by Integrity Florida. But getting numbers
specific to Southwest Florida is difficult, in part because the Middle
District includes large cities like Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa.
The
most notable corruption scandal in recent Collier County history was
the Stadium Naples case, in which 10 local public officials and
businessmen were found guilty of swapping bribes to help get a proposed
$100 million golf stadium built in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Since
then, Collier amended its ethics code, which now requires officials to
report all gifts, even though Florida law doesn't require disclosures
for gifts less than $100. Collier County Judge Mike Carr, who helped
draft the changes as a state ethics committeeman, said he believes
corruption is cyclical and is far less rampant today than it has been
historically.
"Ten years ago, Collier County was at the sipping
cup of corruption; now, I think it's as honest as any place on earth,"
he said.
Around the same as the Stadium Naples scandal came to
light, a two-year internal investigation by the Collier County Sheriff's
Office found two deputies in the Immokalee district were abusing their
badge. Jim Sanders pleaded guilty in 2001 to taking money from gambling
tables at illegal Immokalee gaming houses in exchange for not making
arrests or shutting the gambling businesses down.
A federal judge
found his colleague, Glendell Edison, guilty of distributing $500,000
worth of cocaine and taking payouts from drug dealers in exchange for
protecting them from arrest. Edison later pleaded guilty to state
charges saying he once saw three children tied up behind a meat slicer
at an Immokalee store, but took more than $4,000 from the boys' parents
in exchange for not reporting the abuse.
The case built by
internal affairs investigators helped secure the indictments against the
men. Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said the role of the internal affairs bureau
remains important today.
"Any complaint, no matter the level or
severity, is intaken by the agency," he said. "We want people to know
that we are open to both compliments and complaints, and that we'll
follow it through to a resolution."
Carr, the Collier County
judge, said new countywide regulations have birthed a "different
climate" where officials are more aware of habits that could become
corrupt.
"There's a saying that 'All that is necessary for evil
to triumph is for good men to do nothing.' That saying is as true now as
it was then," Carr said. "Corruption doesn't say, 'I'm corruption, and
welcome me.' It sneaks up on you with good ol' boys,
we're-just-trying-to-be-nice, we're friends.
"If people know that you've got someone looking over your shoulder, it makes it easier to stay honest."
______________
Collier commissioners rush deeply flawed ordinance
2023
https://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2023/04/23/collier-commissioners-rush-deeply-flawed-ordinance/70131637007/
______________
Neil Clark, lobbyist named in $60 million Ohio bribery probe, found dead in Florida
March 16, 2021
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Editor's Note: The above video aired on February 22, 2021
A prominent Ohio lobbyist who had been charged in a federal corruption case has been found dead in Florida.
Authorities
in Collier County, Florida confirmed to 3News' Columbus sister station
10TV News Tuesday that they are investigating the death of prominent
Ohio lobbyist, Neil Clark.
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/ohio/neil-clark-lobbyist-named-60-million-ohio-bribery-probe-found-dead-florida/95-58fc40d3-6e4d-4049-8ee5-2bc72629c31e
______________
Lighthouse Project - History: Stadium Naples was biggest public corruption scandal in local history
4/2/2012
https://archive.naplesnews.com/special/lighthouse/lighthouse-project---history-stadium-naples-was-biggest-public-corruption-scandal-in-local-history-e-342577612.html
ESPN
founder Bill Rasmussen unveiled plans for a first-of-its-kind golf
stadium in 1996, an ambitious, $100 million project to be located
northeast of the city of Naples. The facility, to include luxury
skyboxes and 12,000 seats surrounding the course's 18th hole, would be
called Stadium Naples. But the stadium was never built. Plans fell apart
under controversy and public outrage when a Naples Daily News
investigation revealed in 1997 that an elected official, then Collier
County Commissioner John Norris, had negotiated for a stake in Stadium
Naples estimated at $7.5 million before casting votes to benefit his
developer partners and the stadium.
The controversy would only
grow from there. Following the urging of residents and the local
Republican Party, then Gov. Jeb Bush ordered a detailed investigation
into the matter, as well as the assignment of a special prosecutor.
What
resulted was the largest corruption case in Collier's history, netting
charges against 10 people: four public officials, five business leaders
and an attorney. For more than six years, investigations into the
project, which was attempted a second time with now defunct Naples-based
brokerage company A.S. Goldmen & Co., continued.
The case
was sprawling and complicated. Eventually, the public would learn that
A.S. Goldmen & Co. had manipulated a number of small company stocks,
including Stadium Naples partner Millennium Sports Management, in what
state and federal securities regulators dubbed one of the nation's most
notorious boiler rooms. It would learn that David Mobley, the financier
whose Maricopa Investments backed Stadium Naples and The Strand, was
cheating investors of millions, pumping their money into his posh
lifestyle and failed businesses and charities.
'People were
closing their eyes; the whole society was rupturing with corruption,'
Mike Carr, a Collier County judge who was then a Republican state
committeeman and leading voice in calls for an outside investigation,
said of the time.
'Roads weren't being built. Developments that
shouldn't have been built were being built. Zoning decisions were not
based on merit but who was being paid off; taxes weren't being collected
on fancy golf clubs. The saying around here was, 'To get along, you go
along.' It was a cesspool.'
'We've been amazed at the
institutionalized corruption we've been seeing,' special prosecutor
Michael Von Zamft said in October 2001, when prosecutors unveiled
sweeping new corruption charges and the last five arrests.
Prosecutors
charged the 10 Stadium Naples co-defendants with conspiring to deprive
the citizens of Collier County of the honest services of public
officials by swapping financial incentives for votes and influence
favorable to their projects.
Although initially only Norris was
in the spotlight for wrongful dealings with developers, it was later
revealed that other county officials had also accepted gifts and favors
from them.
'Crooks are like cockroaches and the sunlight makes
them run,' Carr said. Once the first hints of corruption began coming
out, he said, the rest followed.
Then Commissioner Tim
Constantine, the public learned in 2000, received a discount on his
wedding reception at a country club and a $100,000 business loan from
the Stadium Naples developer. The loan wasn't repaid.
It learned
Neil Dorrill handed out pay raises to key county employees days before
leaving his job as county manager in 1997 to become president of the
first Stadium Naples development partnership.
Tim Hancock,
another county commissioner at the time, admitted to taking more than 40
free golf games from lobbyists while in office.
Several years
would pass before the case ended in January 2004 with the last remaining
defendant, Norris, striking a deal with prosecutors.
The defendants were dealt varying sentences, ranging from community service to house arrest and thousands of dollars in fines.
The
case led to changes at the state and local level. Ethics ordinances
were passed by both city and county government. And the Florida
Legislature amended state law, stiffening penalties for public
corruption.
Commissioner Fred Coyle, who was a city council
member when the city's ordinance was adopted, said the new rules help
sensitize elected officials to how the public perceives their
interaction with developers. The ordinances closed the loopholes and
prohibit officials from engaging in activities that could even be viewed
as unethical.
'We probably overreact in some cases,' Coyle said. 'We are probably overly cautious and that's not bad.'
Carr
said although 'there's more money here (and) you're going to get more
crooks gravitating toward money,' he believes the area's elected
officials to be honest and he is proud of that. The county, Carr said,
has to continue to maintain integrity and take the stance that
corruption is unacceptable.
'If we keep in mind what's happened before, we can make new mistakes,' he said. 'We don't have to make the old ones.'
______________
The History of the Florida Everglades Is a History of Crime and Mystery
2022
https://crimereads.com/the-history-of-the-florida-everglades-is-a-history-of-crime-and-mystery/
______________
Governor's call to investigate public corruption includes Lee, Collier counties
2009
The
government corruption probe Gov. Charlie Crist asked the Florida
Supreme Court for this week could pry into courthouses in Lee County and
Collier counties.
Southwest Florida is familiar with public
corruption. Investigations, indictments and prison terms have taken down
county commissioners in both counties, though it's believed recent
high-profile arrests in Broward and Palm Beach counties more likely
spurred the governor's request.
Stadium Naples was the largest
public corruption case in Collier history. It was rooted in ESPN founder
Bill Rasmussen's plans for a $100 million golf stadium in North Naples,
a scheme that involved three county commissioners, a former county
manager, three developers, a convicted hedge fund manager and a real
estate attorney.
https://archive.naplesnews.com/news/crime/governors-call-to-investigate-public-corruption-includes-lee-collier-counties-ep-396719078-343629412.html
______________
Ex-Collier commissioner gets probation
2003
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2003/06/22/ex-collier-commissioner-gets-probation/28754169007/
______________
Police chief among 160 people arrested in Florida sex sting
Polk County sheriff’s office say they dismantled a major human trafficking organisation
10 September 2022
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/florida-sex-sting-human-trafficking-b2164395.html
______________
Retired Cook County judge among over 100 arrested in Florida human trafficking sting
March 17, 2022
POLK
COUNTY, Fla. (WLS) -- A retired Cook County judge was among over 100
people arrested in a human trafficking investigation in Florida.
Daniel Peters, 66, of Palos Hills, is charged with soliciting a prostitute.
Polk
County Sheriff Grady Judd said Peters told authorities he was a retired
judge in the Cook County 4th Sub Circuit and a special assistant for
legal affairs at the Cook County Sheriff's Office in Illinois.
Peters was arrested during a six-day undercover human trafficking operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
The Cook County Sheriff's Office said Peters is no longer on the bench or in county government.
According
to the Polk County officials, detectives identified prostitutes who
posted online advertisements, as well as the "johns" communicating with
them online, with "the intent to identify and free any victims who were
being forced into prostitution, or anyone participating in the
trafficking of victims.
Investigators said they also identified
and investigated adults who engaged in online sexually charged
conversations with those they believed to be children, netting four
arrests.
Undercover detectives communicated online with the
suspects and arranged for a meetup at a location where they were
arrested after their arrival.
Sheriff Judd said the oldest person
arrested was 67-year old Derek Collins, who showed up to the residence
drinking Ensure, the youngest was a 17-year old male. Both were arrested
for soliciting for a prostitute.
https://abc7chicago.com/cook-county-judge-daniel-peters-palos-hills-human-trafficking/11656728/
______________
Teacher, nurse among 123 arrested during Hillsborough County human trafficking operation that rescued 28: HCSO
January 11, 2024
TAMPA,
Fla. - More than 120 people have been arrested and 28 victims have been
saved following a 90-day human trafficking operation in Hillsborough
County, according to the sheriff's office.
For the past 90
days, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s Human Trafficking Squad
conducted a number of investigations under the name Operation Renewed
Hope.
According to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister,
detectives conducted a number of undercover streetwalker and hotel/motel
operations along with online chats, in which undercover investigators
posed a minors available for sex. The sheriff added that they also posed
as guardians selling children for sex.
Sheriff Chronister said
he chose to conduct the operation over the holidays when children are
out of school and more likely to be online.
https://www.fox13news.com/news/over-120-arrested-in-hillsborough-county-human-trafficking-operation-hcso
______________
A Florida Psychologist Befriended a Teen. Then She Allegedly Tried to Traffic the Girl, Police Say
8-21-2024
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/a-florida-psychologist-befriended-a-teen-then-she-allegedly-tried-to-traffic-the-girl-police-say/ar-AA1pcCrm
______________
WATCH IT: Brave dad fights off man accused of attempting to kidnap child from Miami Beach store
February 8, 2024
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/watch-it-brave-dad-fights-off-man-accused-of-attempting-to-kidnap-child-from-miami-beach-store/
______________
Video shows Hillsborough kidnapping victim escape captor after months of abuse: 'I need help'
April 4, 2024
https://www.fox13news.com/news/video-shows-hillsborough-kidnapping-victim-escape-captor-after-months-of-abuse-i-need-help
______________
FBI finds 200 sex trafficking victims, 59 missing children in two-week sweep
Aug 1, 2023
The
nationwide operation also identified or arrested 126 suspects of child
sexual exploitation and human trafficking and 68 suspected traffickers.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-finds-200-sex-trafficking-victims-59-missing-children-two-week-swe-rcna97580
______________
10 Victims Freed From Human Trafficking Ring In Florida
6/15/2024
Florida
Attorney General Ashley Moody Thursday announced the successful rescue
of 10 victims of human trafficking and the formation of a new statewide
strike team dedicated to combating this heinous crime.
The
announcement was made at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's
Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center, where Moody highlighted the
critical need for increased efforts to address human trafficking in the
state.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/10-victims-freed-from-human-trafficking-ring-in-florida/ar-BB1ohsvE
______________
Kidnapped Florida Women Saved by Alert Hotel Workers: ‘They Were Told They Weren’t Going to Be Allowed to Leave’
11/3/2023
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/kidnapped-florida-women-saved-by-alert-hotel-workers-they-were-told-they-weren-t-going-to-be-allowed-to-leave/ar-AA1jmElC
______________
Florida sheriff: Military, teacher included in those apprehended in massive human trafficking bust
21 of 228 arrested were in country illegally, Sheriff Judd says
A
massive human trafficking bust in Florida resulted in 228 arrests,
including members of the U.S. military and a teacher, authorities said
Tuesday.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said 150 suspects, or
johns, were arrested along with 66 prostitutes and 12 others in the
multi-agency operation dubbed Operation March Sadness 2024. Among the
suspects were a schoolteacher, coaches and active-duty military members,
among other professions.
Of the 228 individuals arrested, 21 were in the country illegally.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-sheriff-military-teacher-included-those-apprehended-massive-human-trafficking-bust
______________
102 Suspects Arrested In Polk Human Trafficking Operation
Oct 28, 2021
A
teen was rescued in a six-day sex sting operation by the Polk County
Sheriff's Office that netted over a 100 people, authorities said.
https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/102-suspects-apprehended-polk-human-trafficking-operation
______________
Polk County human-trafficking bust nets 228 arrests
March 05, 2024
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/nearly-230-arrested-13-human-trafficking-victims-identified-polk-county-sheriff-says/C6KKVKM4WFDB5MF4QD2ASBNB2U/
______________
Tallahassee sex trafficking investigation leads to more than 170 arrests
November 17, 2020
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/383951-tallahassee-sex-trafficking-investigation-leads-to-more-than-170-arrests/
______________
Florida law enforcement makes record number of arrests during human trafficking operation
8-20-2024
Florida law enforcement officials arrested 148 people and recovered seven victims during a human trafficking sting called "Operation Summer Shield."
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said during a press conference Tuesday the goal of the operation was to prevent children from becoming victims of human trafficking during the summer, when they're out of school and spending more time on the internet.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/florida-law-enforcement-makes-record-number-of-arrests-during-human-trafficking-operation/ar-AA1p99cd
______________
More than 150 people arrested in Florida sex sting, Georgia cop resigns
Among
those arrested in the sex sting were two Disney employees, a state
corrections officer, several teachers and a deputy police chief from
Georgia
September 10, 2022
https://www.foxnews.com/us/more-than-150-people-arrested-florida-sex-sting-georgia-cop-resigns
______________
3 Disney workers, school athletic director among 219 arrested in Florida human trafficking sting
Sep. 28, 2023
https://nypost.com/2023/09/28/disney-workers-among-200-arrested-in-fl-human-trafficking-sting/
______________
Disney Employees, Judge Among 108 Arrested in Fla. Sting Operation Aiming to Catch Traffickers, Predators
March 16, 2022
https://people.com/crime/disney-employees-judge-among-108-arrested-in-florida-sting-operation-aiming-to-catch-traffickers-predators/
______________
How Bohemian Grove changed Disney History
https://www.reddit.com/r/bohemiangrove/comments/rnuner/how_bohemian_grove_changed_disney_history/
______________
A Tiny Tourist Island Off the Coast of Florida Is a Human Smuggling Hub
October 21, 2022
https://www.vice.com/en/article/bimini-bahamas-human-smuggling/
BIMINI,
Bahamas — The captain landed his small boat under cover of night on the
shore of Bimini, the tiny, 9-square-mile island that is part of the
Bahamas. Four men boarded, and the captain guided them with his
flashlight. As soon as they were seated, the light went off, pitching
them into darkness. The boat pushed off into the open sea, heading west
to Miami. They would be there in an hour and a half. The moonless night
meant they would be invisible to the Border Patrol vessels and Coast
Guard drones patrolling the Florida coast.
A few miles away,
tourists at the Resorts World luxury complex were oblivious to the human
smuggling taking place under their noses. Yet the two booming
industries rely on each other.
On weekends and holidays,
thousands of young Floridians pour onto the tiny island to collect their
colored wristbands, ready to enjoy the Bahamas’ low drinking age of 18.
That Sunday night, the DJ flew in from Miami, and as college students
partied on one end of the island, it provided the perfect distraction
for the migrants to set off undetected.
The number of
undocumented migrants trying to enter the U.S. by sea has exploded in
the past year, and Bimini is at the heart of that illicit flow of
humans. Since Oct. 1, 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard has caught 5,392 Cubans
trying to cross to the United States, a sixfold increase from the
previous year. Over the same period, it also stopped 7,173 Haitians at
sea, five times more than the year before.
The smuggling routes
are well established, with towns like Port-au-Paix in Haiti and Mariel
in Cuba serving as key departure points. But the post-COVID era has made
people more desperate. In the past year, large-scale persecution of
opponents to the Cuban regime, food shortages, and an economic crisis
exacerbated by the pandemic pushed more Cubans to flee, while a
political crisis combined with spiking gang violence pushed people out
of Haiti. The backlog of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border and the
growing complexities around entering via land have all contributed to a
massive rise in migrants desperate enough to attempt the journey to the
U.S. by boat.
Some are crossing the Pacific from Mexico to
California on the West Coast, but most use an old and treacherous route
through the Florida Straits. In July this year, 17 Haitian migrants
drowned off Nassau when their boat capsized; 25 more were rescued. In
September, 17 Cuban migrants went missing and four survived when their
boat sank off Key West, and in August another two migrants died and 15
went missing when their boat capsized off Key West. The list goes on.
But
Bimini is a route famous for getting migrants successfully to Florida.
Situated only 52 miles from the Florida coast, it’s the shortest route
as the crow flies.
Migrants from Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican
Republic come by chartered boat to the Bahamas, then work to earn enough
money to afford the second leg of the journey to the U.S., for which
smugglers charge around $5,000. Many of the island’s 2,000 residents
benefit from this illegal trade. Restaurants feed them and residents
house them.
Just 52 miles from the Florida coast, the tiny
island of Bimini is the shortest route as the crow flies to reach the
U.S from the Bahamas.
Waiting migrants leave when their
smugglers judge that the time is right in waters that are patrolled by
both the U.S. Coast Guard and the Bahamas Defense Force. But neither has
a fleet large enough to detect every boat. “If you use a light, then
they can see you, and if you use the GPS, they can still see you off of a
satellite. They can track you down,” said Miles (not his real name), a
smuggler who’s been taking migrants to Florida for over 20 years, told
VICE World News. Smugglers are first and foremost experienced navigators
with years at sea, people who can orient themselves off a compass alone
or by looking at the stars on clear nights.
On the other
side, there’s usually a spotter who makes sure the coast is clear for
landing. “That person is already paid just to sit there and if something
fucked-up looks like it is going to happen, they give you a call,”
Miles told us. “Sometimes it’s a woman, sometimes it’s a guy, sometimes a
woman with her kid.”
Another way
But there’s
another, more deluxe, way to get smuggled out of Bimini: on the boats
bringing the American tourists to and from the party island. The route
between Bimini and Miami sees hundreds of pleasure boats, yachts, and
jet-skis on the water during weekends and holidays.
“When you
look at the overall volume of boat traffic that’s crossing the Florida
Straits from Bimini to the U.S. and back and forth on any given weekend,
it’s easy to blend in with that traffic,” said Capt. Benjamin Golightly
of the U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District.
Smugglers even use
yachts that look like American tourist boats to evade suspicion, while
hiding migrants below deck, Miles said. “White people, they’re spending
like 12 grand, 16 grand, sometimes almost 20 grand per person,” he
explained. At that cost, well-heeded migrants expect a bespoke service.
“When you get to that level, you’re not just dropping off; somebody has
to be there to pick them up [from the dropoff point in Florida],” he
said.
This type of smuggling deal is popular with more well-off
migrants from Asia or Russia, according to people we spoke with in the
smuggling business. “You have to be funded to do these things, so other
people in the U.S. buy the boats,” said a smuggler who asked us to call
him Jay. He said he helps organize voyages, as well as feed and hide
migrants in Bimini until the captain gives him a departure point and
time.
The Bahamian authorities
It’s difficult to measure the level of collusion between the Bahamian authorities and the traffickers. Smugglers and human rights advocates told VICE World News that members of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, Bahamas’ military, are paid to turn a blind eye. One Haitian smuggler operating in Nassau, the capital, who was in charge of shuttling migrants arriving from the airport to different embarkation points on behalf of a Haitian smuggling network, said his organization pays the Defense Force a cut for each migrant. Two human rights advocates told us that smugglers sometimes conspire with local authorities to abandon migrants on cayes, or small islands, letting the migrants believe they’ve made it to the U.S. Then the defense forces scoop them up.
The Bahamian economy is largely dependent on tourism for its survival, and any negative news can severely hurt. Several VICE World News requests for interviews with members of the government and the Bahamian Defense Forces went unanswered.
But once in a while, the government feels forced to act on incidents too important to ignore.
In January, a migrant boat capsized a few miles off the coast of Bimini on its way to Florida. The images of the lone survivor, a Colombian man, made headlines across the U.S. Five bodies were found by rescue teams, but 40 were believed to be on board.
For months afterwards, the smuggling business on the island ground to a halt. “There was too much heat,” said Jay. For him, Bimini has fallen victim to its own success. Less-experienced, aspiring smugglers on the islands get in on the business with more rudimentary operations, overloading boats to make more money per trip, which then capsize and draw attention.
For smugglers, death by drowning is bad for business, but the risk comes with the journey. “I’m pretty sure everybody who goes in the boat has heard some really fucked-up story about somebody dying, the boat flipping over, et cetera,” Miles told us. “But you still want to go, right? So by you accepting that, accept the fact that that shit can happen to you, too.”
Trafficking, whether people or drugs, has been part of Bimini’s ecosystem for generations because of its proximity to the U.S. The smuggling trade is passed down through generations who started off smuggling cocaine before the human trafficking business took off.
Everyone in the smuggling trade VICE World News spoke to on the island had another job: fishermen, mechanics, and service-industry workers catering to the American tourists who flock to the island on weekends and holidays.
But smuggling provides too much easy money for it to ever stop, said Miles. “As long as you get the money, you do what you got to do.”
______________
Matt Gaetz Is Said to Face Justice Dept. Inquiry Over Sex With an Underage Girl
March 30, 2021
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/us/politics/matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-investigation.html
______________
The Justice Department's sex trafficking investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz seems stalled, attorneys say
Oct 8, 2022
The sex-crimes probe federal officials launched against Gaetz has been hampered by one major issue, experts say: the perceived credibility of key witnesses.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/justice-departments-sex-trafficking-investigation-rep-matt-gaetz-seems-rcna49229
______________
‘The Monsters Are the Men’: Inside a Thriving Sex Trafficking Trade in Florida
Feb. 23, 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/23/us/robert-kraft-trafficking-florida.html
______________
Suspect Wanted, Others Charged in Separate Miami-Dade Human Trafficking Busts
April 20, 2022
https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/suspect-wanted-others-charged-in-separate-miami-dade-human-trafficking-busts/2740846/
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Massive human trafficking operation busted in Florida with more than 120 arrests
2024
Undercover
stings in Florida resulted in the arrest of more than 120 people -
including a teacher, nurse, basketball coach, and even a person employed
by a spiritual organization - as part of a sweeping operation targeting
human trafficking.
Fox13 reported the investigations were part
of Operation Renewed Hope, a 90-day human trafficking operation under
which 123 individuals were arrested, and 28 victims were saved.
In
a press conference aired on Fox13, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad
Chronister said investigators targeted this crime through a
"multipronged approach" by conducting several undercover prostitution
stings and hotel/motel operations.
The sheriff added that
undercover investigators posed as minors available for sex via online
chats, as well as posing as guardians selling children for sex.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/massive-human-trafficking-operation-busted-in-florida-with-more-than-120-arrests/ar-AA1mPbjY
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WATCH LIVE: Sheriff Grady Judd speaks about human-trafficking bust that netted 228 arrests
2024
Polk
County Sheriff Grady Judd is giving an update after hundreds of people
were arrested during a human trafficking investigation.
Officials said “Operations March Sadness 2024″ led to the arrest of 228 people, including 21 who are in the country illegally.
Deputies said the eight-day-long multi-agency undercover investigation was focused on human trafficking.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/watch-live-sheriff-grady-judd-speaks-about-human-trafficking-bust-that-netted-228-arrests/ar-BB1jmRjT
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Florida sting targeting child sex exploitation finds nearly 40% of arrestees in US illegally
August 2, 2023
Operation Cross County XIII was a nationwide operation and located 59 missing minors
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/florida-child-sex-trafficking-operation-finds-40-percent-arrestees-us-illegally
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Leader of Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison, Ordered to Pay Over $14 Million in Restitution
September 27, 2022
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/leader-sex-trafficking-ring-sentenced-60-years-federal-prison-ordered-pay-over-14
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2 Alachua County men among 9 accused of paying for sex with girl
2019
https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/crime/2019/05/17/2-alachua-county-men-accused-of-paying-for-sex-with-girl/5131062007/
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What's Going On with Child Trafficking and Why Doesn't It Get News Coverage?
Oct 15, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnFnyC3v0zU
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FBI charges Franklin County Sheriff's Office official in Florida child sexual abuse case
Jun 2, 2023
https://roanoke.com/news/local/crime-courts/fbi-charges-franklin-county-sheriffs-office-official-in-florida-child-sexual-abuse-case/article_9bb01d2c-01a1-11ee-8777-3356cf15bac1.html
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10/08
Rambosk's Deputy Forced ORAL SEX On YOUNG BOY in NAPLES MALL Restroom!
Collier Malls NOTSO Safe For KIDS! Deputy Goes Unpunished In CORRUPT
COLLIER COUNTY System
2014
https://aquakiki.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/new-1008-rambosks-deputy-forced-oral-sex-on-young-boy-in-naples-mall-restroom-collier-malls-notso-safe-for-kids-deputy-goes-unpunished-in-corrupt-collier-county-system/
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Charges filed after union corruption investigation at Port Tampa Bay
2018
https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/charges-filed-after-union-corruption-investigation-at-port-tampa-bay/
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Court documents hint at ‘public corruption’ within city of Tampa
2023
The documents relate to the arrest of John Ring, aka Gio Fucarino, friend to many.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa/2023/05/06/court-documents-hint-public-corruption-within-city-tampa/
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Tampa Indicts Six in Classic Waterfront Corruption Case
2021
https://maritime-executive.com/article/tampa-indicts-six-in-classic-waterfront-corruption-case
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North Florida U.S. attorney reports 19 corruption cases over past year
Sep. 16, 2020
https://www.wctv.tv/2020/09/16/north-florida-us-attorney-reports-19-corruption-cases-over-past-year/
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Northern Florida District Public Corruption Cases 2019 - 2020
https://www.scribd.com/document/476294986/Northern-Florida-District-Public-Corruption-Cases-2019-2020
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Public corruption dominates conversation among Miami commission candidates
2023
https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2023-10-04/miami-commission-election-corruption-candidates
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Miami-Dade advocates want legislators to pass laws going after corrupt associations
2023
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/03/03/miami-dade-state-attorney-wants-legislators-to-pass-laws-going-after-corrupt-associations/
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Federal Corruption Probe Leads To 29 Indicted In Panhandle
November 17, 2019
A
federal grand jury has indicted more than two dozen people in the
Panhandle accused of illegally pocketing drought assistance money.
The alleged co-conspirators listed in the indictment include:
• Jeremiah Joe Rolling, 43, of Westville, Florida; Investigator – Office of the State Public Defender
• Jordan Ryan Hicks, 36, of Ponce De Leon, Florida; Former Florida Department of Corrections Officer
• James Stacey Paul, 46, of Bonifay, Florida; Public Works - City of Bonifay, Florida
• Kyle Martin Hudson, 39, of Westville, Florida; Former Holmes County Clerk of Court
• Danyel Michelle Witt, 44, of Bonifay, Florida; Clerk – United States Postal Service
• Sheryl Day Gillman, 52, of Bonifay, Florida; Secretary - Florida Farm Bureau
• Shyloe Rose Sachse, 40, of Bonifay, Florida; Former Corrections Officer
• Tillman Douglas Mears, 30, of Bonifay, Florida; Public Works - City of Bonifay, Florida
• Dwayne Frazier White, 49, of Bonifay, Florida Former City of Bonifay Police Officer
https://news.wgcu.org/2019-11-17/federal-corruption-probe-leads-to-29-indicted-in-panhandle
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Ongoing corruption investigation in Bay County continues
Aug 5, 2021
https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/bay-county/ongoing-corruption-investigation-in-bay-county-continues/
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Florida - Corruption Capital of America
"Florida has become the corruption capital of America," said Dan Krassner, the executive director of a watchdog group, Integrity Florida, citing statistics going back to 1976 and the "significant number of public officials arrested this year and last."
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
One of America’s weirdest congressional districts has just been trashed by the Florida Supreme Court
The Washington Post
By Michael E. Miller and Nick Kirkpatrick
July 10, 2015
Destroyed records. Shadowy projects with names like "Sputnik" and "Frankenstein." And a college student whose identity was stolen to provide cover for political operatives.
Welcome to Florida, where the tentacles of gerrymandering are as tightly coiled around the statehouse as an invasive Burmese python.
Take Florida’s infamous 5th Congressional District, for example. It runs from near Jacksonville in the north, hooks east for a few miles, then west for a few miles, narrows to the width of an interstate highway for a while, cuts west all the way over to Gainesville, then swivels back east and southeast, finally arriving at Orlando, a distance of about 140 miles, sweeping in black neighborhoods along the way in order to create a "minority-majority" district.
It’s been described by a federal judge as "visually not compact," "bizarrely shaped" and defying "traditional political boundaries" with what critics called "finger like extensions," "narrow and bizarrely shaped tentacles" and "hook-like shapes." It resembles no known species or geometric form. It does look an awful lot like the Potomac River from the air, however.
The 5th was recently ranked by The Washington Post’s Christopher Ingraham as one of "America’s most gerrymandered" congressional districts.
After a five-year battle over the Sunshine State’s shadowy election system, however, all this could finally be changing.
The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state legislature must redraw at least eight congressional districts, including the 5th, that had been gerrymandered to favor the GOP.
Writing for the majority, Justice Barbara Pariente said the court affirmed "the trial court’s factual findings and ultimate determination that the redistricting process and resulting map were ‘taint(ed)’ by unconstitutional intent to favor the Republican Party and incumbents."
But Pariente’s decision went much further than the trial court’s, slamming political consultants and politicians for their secrecy — including deleted e-mails — and essentially arguing that the state legislature could no longer be trusted to draw its own districts.
The Supreme Court gave Florida legislators 100 days to hold a special session to draw a new congressional map, and instructed a lower court to implement a review of the resulting districts. more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Arrests of 3 Mayors Reinforce Florida’s Notoriety as a Hothouse for Corruption
The New York Times
By NICK MADIGAN
September 1, 2013
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Even by Florida standards, the arrests of three suburban Miami mayors on corruption charges within a month were a source of dismay, if not exactly a surprise.
On Wednesday, Steven C. Bateman, 58, the mayor of Homestead, was arrested. He is accused of accepting under-the-table payments from a health care company that sought to build a clinic in town, the state attorney’s office for Miami-Dade County said. Mr. Bateman was turned in by City Council members and staff, said employees interviewed Friday at City Hall.
On Aug. 6, Manuel L. Maroño, 41, the mayor of Sweetwater and president of the Florida League of Cities, and Michael A. Pizzi, 51, the Miami Lakes mayor, were picked up along with two lobbyists. The United States attorney’s office has accused them of involvement in kickback and bribery schemes concerning federal grants.
Prosecutors said Mr. Maroño had received more than $40,000 in bribes and Mr. Pizzi $6,750. The defendants, who were targets of an F.B.I. sting operation, are charged with "conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right" and could face 20 years in prison if convicted.
Gov. Rick Scott suspended all three mayors while the criminal cases proceed.
"We bought the trifecta," said Carla Miller, the ethics officer for Jacksonville and a former federal prosecutor. "It’s bad when three mayors get led out in handcuffs. What’s left of the public trust gets ground into little pieces."
Not that such situations are unusual in Florida, which led the country in convictions of public officials — 781 — between 2000 and 2010, according to Department of Justice figures.
"Florida has become the corruption capital of America," said Dan Krassner, the executive director of a watchdog group, Integrity Florida, citing statistics going back to 1976 and the "significant number of public officials arrested this year and last."
Florida, and especially Miami and its environs, has long had a reputation as a place where the odd and the eccentric mix with the furtive and the felonious. Last century, organized crime figures from Chicago and New York set up lucrative gambling, extortion and loan-sharking endeavors in Miami Beach and elsewhere, and beginning in the 1980s, South Florida’s economy, culture and reputation were transformed by drug trafficking.
With so much money sloshing about, it was perhaps inevitable that a parade of officials would enrich themselves illicitly at the public trough.
One was Alex Daoud, who in 1985 became the mayor of Miami Beach and six years later was indicted on 41 counts of bribery. He served 18 months in prison, and has since written a memoir.
Last year in Miami Beach, City Manager Jorge Gonzalez, who was making $273,000 a year and had been mired in a web of investigations, was forced to step down after seven of his employees were arrested in a federal corruption investigation. His six-figure pension remained intact.
The arrests of the three Miami-Dade mayors followed news in July that the Securities and Exchange Commission had charged the City of Miami and one of its former budget directors with securities fraud, only a few years after the commission reprimanded the city for similar behavior. In May, a former mayor of Hialeah, Julio Robaina, and his wife, Raiza, were charged with failing to report income from high-interest loans totaling more than $1 million that they had made under an informal system involving friends and associates. The Robainas said they were innocent.
In 2011, in the largest municipal recall election in the country, the mayor of Miami-Dade County, Carlos Alvarez, was removed from office after he gave large pay raises to close aides and then pushed for a significant increase in property taxes.
This year, the State Legislature approved two ethics bills and six that focus on government transparency and accountability — the first time in 36 years that state lawmakers had passed ethics legislation. Mr. Krassner and others think legislators could do more. But many people seem resigned to the prevalence of officials who appear oblivious to ethical boundaries.
"They get drunk on power," said Katy Sorenson, who served on the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners for 16 years and runs the Good Government Initiative at the University of Miami, which educates elected officials about ethics and related issues.
"There’s a certain psychology to some of the people who run for office here — they don’t think they’re going down the wrong track, but there’s a slippery slope," she added. "There’s a lack of self-awareness, an immaturity, a brazenness, of feeling like a big shot. So when they’re arrested, they’re very surprised."
The persistence of political malfeasance — often involving the stereotypical envelopes stuffed with cash, delivered with knowing nods — perplexes those for whom public service is a noble calling.
"Maybe it’s the heat," said Ruth Campbell, 93, a former City Council member here and the curator of the Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum.
Mrs. Campbell, who has lived in town since 1942, was sadly aware of Florida’s reputation as a haven for corruption. "We like to be distinguished," she said, "but not like that."
Prosecutors said Mr. Bateman, among other things, had failed to disclose that the health care company, Community Health of South Florida Inc., secretly agreed to pay him $120,000 over a year to lobby on its behalf. By the time he was arrested, he had accepted $3,625, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said.
After the mayor’s arrest, a City Council member, Judy Waldman, told reporters, "I have zero tolerance for people using their public office to make money." Ms. Waldman, who referred to Mr. Bateman only as "that individual," said his activities on behalf of Community Health Care of South Florida were "just the tip of the iceberg," and encouraged prosecutors to dig deeper.
Mr. Bateman’s lawyer, Ben Kuehne, told The Associated Press that his client was "shocked" by his arrest and had "served the community for many years in an honest, dependable manner."
At City Hall on Friday, in a frame that contained photos of city officials, Mr. Bateman’s likeness had been concealed behind a paper copy of the city’s crest. But a day earlier, a group of his supporters rallied a couple blocks away, and Mr. Bateman, out on bond, showed up, shook hands and vowed to fight the charges. Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Rick Scott promised big ethics reform, but nothing has happened
Tampa Bay Times
By Steve Bousquet,
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
March 7, 2013
TALLAHASSEE -- Long before the Legislature saw the need for new ethics laws, Gov. Rick Scott made a bold commitment to fight public corruption.
But he hasn’t followed through.
On his first day in office in 2011, Scott issued an executive order that preserved an Office of Open Government and added a new code of conduct for everyone working for him that in some areas was stricter than state law.
The order also directed Scott’s then-special counsel, Hayden Dempsey, to study a fresh statewide grand jury report on public corruption and push parts of it through the Legislature. But nothing came of it, even though Scott demanded in his campaign in 2010 that he be held accountable for his promises.
"This was a promise of the governor," said Dan Krassner of Integrity Florida. "Florida needs Gov. Scott’s leadership on ethics reform."
Two years later, the grand jury’s recommendations on what it called "an enormous issue, which is broad in scope and long in history" are still not law, though parts are in an ethics bill that passed the Senate Tuesday.
That Senate bill leaves out many of the grand jury’s strongest recommendations. They include making it a felony if an officeholder’s unethical conduct is motivated by money; raising the maximum fine for an ethics violation from $10,000 to $100,000; allowing the Commission on Ethics to open investigations without complaints being filed, the same as 30 other states; and clamping down on bid-rigging. The grand jury said public corruption cases are too hard to prove under existing laws and that when they are proven, the penalties are too soft.
Following recent Times/Herald inquiries, Scott directed his general counsel, Peter Antonacci, to look back at why nothing happened.
"I’ve asked Pete to look at that," Scott said. "Anytime you see corruption around the state, you ought to look at it and say, ‘What can you do to make sure it doesn’t happen again?’ Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Florida: ''We're No. 1!'' for political corruption
10 News Tampa Bay
June 4, 2012
TAMPA BAY, Florida - It may seem like a different Florida political figure finds him- or herself embroiled in scandal every week.
But in reality, it's every five days.
On Wednesday, the non-partisan watchdog group Integrity Florida will release a report identifying the Sunshine State as number one in the nation for political corruption.
From 2000 to 2010, there have been 781 federal convictions on corruption charges in Florida. That's an average of one every five days for 10 straight years.
"The corrupting influence of money in politics is the defining issue of our time," said Dan Krassner of Integrity Florida.
Integrity Florida's report will include lapses in the laws that allow:
Elected - and nominated - officials to work for lobbying firms.
Legislators to keep conflicts of interest secret until 15 days after a conflicted vote.
Elected officials to blow off fines from the state with little-to-no penalty.
Furthermore, Krassner says the biggest problem is that the Florida Commission on Ethics can't launch an investigation of its own without first receiving a formal complaint.
"Florida's state ethics enforcement officers can't even start an investigation on their own," Krassner said. "Imagine any other law enforcement officer in Florida seeing a crime in progress and not being able to pursue the suspect. That's the state of ethics law enforcement in Florida today." Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Florida So Corrupt FBI Taking Out Newspaper Ads Seeking Tips
Wonkette blog - June 6, 2011
America’s favorite swamp-gas-filled purgatory, the state of Florida, is now so corrupt that the FBI is taking out ads calling on citizens to report all of their dishonest politicians. Florida is the number one state in corruption, with over 800 politicians arrested between 1997 and 2007. Read more
FBI Jacksonville, FL Division
6061 Gate Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone (904) 248-7000
Fax: (904) 248-7404
Jacksonville@ic.fbi.gov
Public Corruption
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Alachua Deputy Sentenced. A former deputy sheriff with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office accepted more than $15,000 from another in exchange for using his influence as a deputy sheriff. Read more
Florida 19th Statewide Grand Jury on Public Corruption
On November 30, 2009, Governor Charlie Crist filed a petition requesting that a Statewide Grand Jury be convened in order to "examine and evaluate public policy issues regarding public corruption and develop specific recommendations regarding improving current laws." On December 2, 2009, the Florida Supreme Court issued an Order to convene the Nineteenth Statewide Grand Jury for the purpose of investigating crimes, returning indictments, and making presentments.
Attorney General Bill McCollum issued a statement on the statewide grand jury on public corruption:
"Floridians should be able to be proud of the public officials who serve their state and their communities, not ashamed of the latest scandal by someone in elected office. We absolutely should expect better of those we have chosen to lead us.
"The grand jury will need to examine the blatant theft of public resources and, perhaps most importantly, the illicit sources of influence upon public officials and how to lift the cloud of scandal that has been present for far too long.
"Led by my Office of Statewide Prosecution and working cooperatively with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as well as local law enforcement and Florida’s state attorneys, the grand jury will work toward restoring the public’s trust in its government. I anticipate excellent work from these men and women who will undertake this responsibility, and I know Florida will benefit greatly from their efforts."
The Statewide Grand Jury was convened by the Florida Supreme Court in early December to examine a list of specific crimes including bribery, extortion, unlawful compensation for official behavior, corruption by threat against a public servant, official misconduct, falsifying records, and misuse of confidential information. The grand jury will be comprised of jurors summoned from the 11th, 15th, 17th and 20th judicial circuits. The presiding judge will be the Honorable Victor Tobin, Chief Judge in and for the 17th Judicial Circuit.
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Bill McCollum Response to Gillespie's Request for Investigation by the Nineteenth Statewide Grand Jury of criminal wrongdoing in case no. 05-CA-7205 Hillsborough Co. Florida.
Statewide grand jury wants corruption tips
Miami Herald
By Patricia Mazzei
February 2, 2010
Selection will begin next week for a statewide grand jury created to look into public corruption and recommend changes to Florida law — and state prosecutors are asking the public for tips on what to investigate. Gov. Charlie Crist called for the grand jury after a spate of high-profile arrests of public officials and major campaign contributors in South Florida. On Monday, Attorney General Bill McCollum urged the public to report instances of wrongdoing by public officials, from bribery to nepotism to fraud, to his office and its investigative arm, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. "We'd really like to know if you're a whistle-blower or willing to be a whistle-blower," McCollum said. Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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The Grand Jury - Reporter’s Handbook, The Florida Bar
By Gregg D. Thomas and Carol Jean LoCicero
Both the Florida and federal judicial systems employ grand juries. Because those systems are similar, the Florida grand jury system will be discussed first. At the conclusion of this chapter, the Florida statewide grand jury and the differences present in the federal grand jury system will be noted.
Traditionally, grand juries served as a shield between unjust prosecution by the state and the individual. Grand juries serve dual functions. The grand jury's primary role is to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to justify indicting an accused individual.
1 To make such determinations, a grand jury also serves as an investigating body with subpoena powers.
2 In Florida, a grand jury indictment is required only to try a person for a capital offense; i.e., one where the death penalty may be given.
3 Otherwise, the state attorney has concurrent authority to file a formal accusation of the commission of a crime (an "information").
4 The information is used routinely to charge individuals in Florida.
In addition to capital cases, grand juries often are utilized for controversial cases such as those involving alleged wrongdoing by public officials. Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Florida is the Most Corrupt State in America
Page 119, First Interim Report, Florida Nineteenth Statewide Grand Jury. Florida led the nation in the number of federally convicted public officials from 1998 through 2007. According to this testimony, Florida leads the next closest state, New York, over an 8% margin.
Page 124, First Interim Report, Florida Nineteenth Statewide Grand Jury. Florida ranked first with 824 convicted public officials and New York ranked second with 704. We point out that according to this testimony, Nebraska ranked last in this survey.
Attorney General Pam Bondi Press Release
February 21, 2011
The Office of Statewide Prosecution released the final report of the 19th Statewide Grand Jury on Public Corruption. The report outlines their examination of the Broward County School Board and their resulting recommendations.
The Grand Jury was charged with investigating public corruption in Florida. The Grand Jury’s term expires in February 2011. It was presided over by Broward County Chief Judge Victor Tobin and supported by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Read more
Gov. Rick Scott’s Executive Order Number 11-03 following the First Interim Report December 29, 2010 of the Nineteenth Statewide Grand Jury filed with the Florida Supreme Court regarding public corruption in Florida, recommending proposed solutions to address public corruption in all aspects of government, politics and business throughout Florida.
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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In what respect does Florida rank #1 in the nation?
Corrupt public officials. The NYTimes reported that Florida's convicted public officials numbred 824 over the last 10 years... more than any other state. New York is #2 with 704 convictions, and Texas third with 565 convictions. No wonder the FBI is asking the question "Who's representing you? Dishonest government officials aren't just wasting your tax dollars... they are betraying your trust. REPORT PUBLIC CORRUPTION TO THE FBI." And the FBI is giving you a way to report public corruption.
The Tallahassee Democrat reports that Tallahassee, the seat of political power in Florida, has become a focal point in the FBI's crackdown on public fraud and corruption. The FBI is seeking the public's help in identifying government officials who use their offices for personal gain... especially in the area of potential fraud involving federal stimulus money.
If it looks like it, it might very well be! Report public corruption or suspected potential corruption.
You can report suspected public corruption activities by calling the FBI Jacksonville Public Corruption hotline at 1-888-722-1225.
You can also Email Jacksonville@ic.fbi.gov with "Public Corruption Tip" in the subject line.
More information is at the FBI website
http://www.fbi.gov/jacksonville
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Ethics reform ignored
by Florida lawmakers
Herald-Tribune
by Zac Anderson
May 29, 2011
For all the major reforms Florida lawmakers took on this year, they failed to enact stronger ethics standards for public officials despite a rash of corruption cases from South Florida to Sarasota.
The inaction is even more glaring in the wake of an unusual statewide grand jury last December that issued 127 pages of recommended changes in state law after declaring that "corruption is pervasive at all levels of government" in Florida.
Florida entered this spring's legislative session reeling from years of major scandal at the state and local level. More than 800 public officials were convicted in Florida on various charges between 1997 and 2007, making Florida the top state for government corruption, according to the grand jury. Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Corrupt Florida Politicians
Blog by Bett
January 22, 2010
Former Deerfield Beach Commissioner Steve Gonot was convicted of stealing campaign funds, falsifying his campaign treasurer's report and official misconduct. The three-woman, three-man jury took just under an hour before returning the guilty verdicts, following a one-week trial. Read more here
Integrity Florida is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research institute and government watchdog
Integrity Florida is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research institute and government watchdog whose mission is to promote integrity in government and expose public corruption. Our vision is government in Florida that is the most open, ethical, responsive and accountable in the world.
Did you know that Florida led the U.S. in federal public corruption convictions from 2000-2010? Florida also received a failing grade for state ethics enforcement agencies on a Corruption Risk Report Card by State Integrity Investigation.
Integrity Florida is publishing research reports that are getting results.
A research report by Integrity Florida in June 2012 provided a roadmap for ethics reform that was largely adopted by the Florida Commission on Ethics as their 2013 ethics reform legislative agenda. Legislators passed ethics reform bills based on Integrity Florida research recommendations in the 2013 legislative session.
Florida lawmakers passed stronger financial disclosure laws following a research report published by Integrity Florida in July 2012 titled Corruption Risk Report: Financial Disclosure.
In January 2013, Integrity Florida provided the report Florida’s Broken Campaign Finance System to the Florida House of Representatives Ethics & Elections Subcommittee. Campaign finance reform legislation was passed in 2013 incorporating a number of Integrity Florida recommendations.
Integrity Florida, in partnership with Americans for Prosperity – Florida, released a research report titled Enterprise Florida: Economic Development or Corporate Welfare in February 2013. This report was a follow up to our April 2012 publication Corruption Risk Report: Enterprise Florida, which exposed a secretive, self-dealing arm of state government operating without sufficient transparency and accountability for results. The Florida Legislature passed new transparency and accountability measures for Enterprise Florida in the 2013 session. Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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FBI Looks For Whistleblowers In Tallahassee
Opinion By Jan Bergemann
President, Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.
June 14, 2011
What would you think if you sit down to read your morning paper -- and the first thing you see is an ADVERTISING from the FBI -- printed in big letters: "Dishonest government officials aren't just wasting your tax dollars. They're betraying your trust. Report public corruption to the FBI."
That just happened to the readers of the TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT -- the local newspaper of the hotspot of Florida corruption -- TALLAHASSEE.
Together with the ad on the front page came an article inside the paper, headlined: "FBI seeking tips from the public in crackdown on government corruption."
Personally, I feel it's about time somebody cleans out this cesspool -- known as Florida's capital. In my opinion Tallahassee is not only the actual capital of the State of Florida, it's as well the capital of political corruption -- a pay-to-play system that has more or less destroyed Florida's economy. What we are seeing now are the shambles of our once great State, formerly known as The Sunshine State. And instead of seeing the failure of their ways, our legislators continue to sell Florida to the highest bidder. What we see in Tallahassee shouldn't be called POLITICS -- it should be called "DRIVEN BY GREED!" Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Florida Grand Jury Fails to Stop Corruption
Is Florida Grand Jury on Public Corruption Corrupt Itself - 19th Grand Jury Fails to Clean Up FL
The 19th Statewide Grand Jury on Public Corruption fails to clean up Florida to the dismay of citizens. Pompano Beach CRA Gate and illegal takings of vast amounts of private property for private profit continue.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) - Mar. 25, 2011 - Florida’s Broward County has been coined Corruption County around the world for its notorious pay for play political scandals, particularly in the arena of land development. Florida’s last Governor, Charlie Crist petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for a Grand Jury Investigation after several Broward County Commissioners, Broward County School Board Members, and Pompano Beach CRA advisors were found to be involved in bribery and fraud as related to land grabbing and development deals on grand scales. The Pompano Beach CRA was found to have been taking property illegally from citizens, churches, and businesses for over a decade. With this, the 19th Statewide Grand Jury on Public Corruption was born to complete a year of investigation that recently ended in February 2011.
At its start many questioned a Grand Jury that was to focus a keen eye on Broward County being headed up by one of Broward County’s own, Broward County Chief Judge Victor Tobin. According to a press release from Bill McCollum's office, the State Attorney General at the time, the purpose of the Grand Jury was "to examine a list of specific crimes including bribery, extortion, unlawful compensation for official behavior, corruption by threat against a public servant, official misconduct, falsifying records, and misuse of confidential information." With an interim report published in December making general recommendations to the legislature, and a final report just released with recommendations exclusively regarding the Broward County School Board, popular sentiment is the Grand Jury has failed to meet its mission and be the clean up that the county requires and for which residents hoped.
An example of the impotency was the presentation of the final report to the Broward County School Board, whereby the board dismissingly said they would take it into advisement. A limp conclusion to what in retrospect seems to be yet another bureaucratic form of pass the buck and responsibility avoidance. No indictments have been made based on this year long investigation; the Jury only recommended the general idea that officials who misuse their office should be prosecuted. Florida's new Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi also failed to issue a statement on the Grand Jury's work.
As for the hundreds of Pompano Beach residents who had their property stolen by a rogue Pompano Beach CRA agency for development schemes? It seems the board did not want to address that which could alter the very landscape of Broward County and challenge the power structure, along with the race divisions. As for the legal and judicial corruption in Broward County with more than a dozen judges and attorneys (remember ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein) making unsavory headlines in recent years? No surprise an investigation was not performed of the Broward County Courthouse with its own Judge Tobin at the helm. As for Florida's new Governor, Rick Scott, who was previously forced to resign as the head of healthcare company Columbia/HCA that pled guilty to massive amounts of systematic Medicare fraud, including 14 felonies, leading to a historic $1.7 billion fine and now heads the state as a prime example of the corporate interest that has long infiltrated Florida’s politics? Looks like he will not be pressing for the term of the Grand Jury to be renewed. Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Florida Is Officially America's Most Corrupt State
New Times Miami
By Tim Elfrink
June 7, 2012
Which is the single most corrupt state in our glorious union? Is it Illinois with its Rod Blagojevich bribery bonanza? Louisiana with its freezer-stuffing yet always reelected congressmen? California with its small-town, $700,000-salaried officials?
None of the above, according to a new study out this morning. Florida tops them all -- by a wide margin actually -- based on a rock-solid statistic: the number of state officials actually convicted on federal public corruption charges since 2000.
"Florida faces a corruption crisis that threatens the state's reputation, its economy and its ability to attract new jobs and capital," write the report's authors, Ben Wilcox and Dan Krassner.
Wilcox and Krassner compiled the new report for Integrity Florida, a non-partizan group dedicated to reducing graft in the Sunshine State.
The pair start by admitting that several other states have also laid claim to the coveted title of Most Corrupt in the U.S. -- most recently Illinois, where a University of Chicago study declared that the state is "leading the pack in corruption."
But that report looked at federal data going all the way back to 1976, when the Windy City was still basically a haven of Al Capone-esque bribery minded mobsters.
Wilcox and Krassner decided to look at more recent federal data. Sure enough, winnowing down federal corruption convictions to the past decade -- from 2000 to 2010, the most recent year the numbers have been released for -- reveals that Florida is the nation's graft capital.
On a year-by-year basis, Florida topped the country in that category five times since 2000, with just Texas and California coming close with three top years each.
On an average year, an astounding 71 Florida officials are convicted of corruption charges.
Of course Integrity Florida doesn't just want to point and laugh at Florida's bribery craze; the group offers five recommendations to fix the problems, including creating a statewide corruption tip line, giving the Florida Ethics Commission more power to launch its own inquiries and requiring top officials to report all major transactions from the previous year. Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Illinois Is Trying. It Really Is. But the Most Corrupt State Is Actually
The New York Times
By BILL MARSH
December 13, 2008
Where is officialdom most crooked? Last week, many guessed it must be Illinois, after news that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taped making brazen personal demands in exchange for his selection of a Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama.
The state's image took a hit despite its long history of producing famously principled political figures, from the bowtied Senator Paul Simon to the great man on the penny.
But bloggers from competing hotbeds of wrongdoing proclaimed that theirs were the worst officials in the land, thank you. New Jerseyans seemed especially sure that their leadership came out on top in the race to the bottom.
Not so. And not so for Illinois, either.
There are several ways to gauge levels of government corruption, all of them a bit, well, corrupt. We present three methods here in the interest of keeping the arguments going.
Number of Guilty Officials (Graphic)
In a Department of Justice tally covering the last decade, Florida wins by its sheer number of guilty. The report, released last week, itemizes convictions in federal public corruption cases at local, state and federal levels in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and three United States territories. Read more
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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Remember Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000)?
Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000), is the landmark United States Supreme Court decision on December 12, 2000, that effectively resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. Only eight days earlier, the United States Supreme Court had unanimously decided the closely related case of Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board, 531 U.S. 70 (2000), and only three days earlier, had preliminarily halted the recount that was occurring in Florida.
In a per curiam decision, the Court ruled that the Florida Supreme Court's method for recounting ballots was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court also ruled that no alternative method could be established within the time limits set by the State of Florida. Three concurring justices also asserted that the Florida Supreme Court had violated Article II, § 1, cl. 2 of the Constitution, by misinterpreting Florida election law that had been enacted by the Florida Legislature.
The decision allowed Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris's previous certification of George W. Bush as the winner of Florida's 25 electoral votes to stand. Florida's votes gave Bush, the Republican candidate, 271 electoral votes, one more than the required 270 electoral votes to win the Electoral College and defeat Democratic candidate Al Gore, who ended up with 266 electoral votes. (One elector from the District of Columbia abstained). Read more here
https://www.nosue.org/florida-corruption/
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GOP opposes justices standing for retention
October 15, 2012
Senior Editor
What started as a whisper campaign against three justices up for merit retention has become a loud shout backed by the political muscle of the Republican Party of Florida.
In an unprecedented move September 21, the Republican Party of Florida’s executive committee unanimously voted to oppose the retention of Justices Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente, and Peggy Quince, after what Chair Lenny Curry described as “a grassroots groundswell” of party members who are “fed up with these justices.”
“The grassroots opposition to these judges stems from a long list of cases in which these justices have injected their political views,” Curry wrote in an op-ed piece printed in many Florida newspapers.
After that vote to oust the justices, Curry said, “Almost immediately, their political allies went into attack mode, accusing Florida Republicans of crashing a party that only the Bar association, trial lawyers, and special-interest groups were invited to attend...”
Capitol News Service President Mike Vasilinda moderated a panel made up of Young; former Republican state Sen. Alex Villalobos, an attorney who is president of Democracy at Stake; and Martin Dyckman, a retired associate editor of the St. Petersburg Times. Dyckman reported extensively on the Florida Supreme Court corruption and cronyism in the early ’70s, as detailed in his book, A Most Disorderly Court: Scandal and Reform in the Florida Judiciary.
“The short reason we have merit selection and merit retention for the appellate bench is that this court right here was riddled with corruption. And all because of the politics that went into the way they were selected,” Dyckman said, delving into a mini history lesson on the ousted justices and why Floridians voted in 1976 to take politics out of the selection of judges.
“The consequences of this retention election are not just the individual fates of those three justices, but the fate for maybe a generation to come of the Florida Supreme Court,” Dyckman said. “And if you put politics back into it, which is what the Republican Party of Florida essentially did last week, you are going to have — I would bet money on it — a succession of scandals sooner or later.”
Villalobos gave a history lesson, too, about how members of his own Republican party, where he held office in both the House and Senate, have tried to rock the balance of three co-equal branches of government.
Villalobos began his list of examples with the Florida Legislature in 2001 giving Gov. Jeb Bush authority to appoint all nine members of each judicial nominating commission. In the waning days of the 2001 session, a compromise was reached to keep the Bar involved in a redefined role. For four of the seats, the Bar submits the names of three lawyer nominees each to the governor, who may reject the Bar’s nominees as many times as the governor wishes.
“They wanted to wipe the slate of all judicial nominating commissioners, so the governor can make the new appointments,” Villalobos said.
More recently, the Legislature tried to raise the required vote for merit retention from 50 percent plus one vote to 60 percent.
“[Legislators] said it should be 60 percent, because people should be really sure. I asked them, ‘Well, should that apply to you just so they’re really sure?’ And, of course, that was a bad idea. You guys laugh. Think about the irony here,” Villalobos said.
In 2011, House Speaker Dean Cannon wanted to “modernize” the Florida Supreme Court by splitting it in two — separate criminal and civil courts — and adding three justices for a total of 10. Cannon’s unsuccessful makeover would have given Gov. Rick Scott three appointments to the court. Under that plan, the three longest serving justices — Lewis, Pariente, and Quince — would have served on the Supreme Court of Criminal Appeals to handle what has been called the “brain surgery of the law” — death penalty appeals.
“They wanted to put the most brilliant justices on the criminal side so it would be more efficient,” Villalobos said wryly. “Up until last week. Now it’s a bad idea. Now the Republican Party is saying we want to take these guys out because they are incompetent.”
Cannon withdrew his plan when he realized it was dead in the Senate. A compromise puts proposed Amendment 5 on the 2012 ballot that would give the Senate confirmation power over the governor’s Supreme Court nominees, and the House would be able to read investigative reports of the Judicial Qualifications Commission looking into judicial misconduct.
A critic of the court since it struck down three constitutional amendments written by the Legislature in 2010, Cannon, a Winter Park lawyer, also criticized The Florida Bar for spending money on its merit retention educational campaign, calling it “a thinly veiled effort to support the justices when they certainly didn’t do that when [Charles] Canady and [Ricky] Polston were up two years ago.”
“I think the Bar is in fact political. I think it is acting politically, and it is hypocritical when they suggest this is about the politicization of the judiciary,” Cannon told The Miami Herald.
“I’ll tell you what this is really about,” Villalobos said. “The whole thing is really about in 2010, when the Legislature passed the Health Care Reform Constitutional Amendment — Obamacare. The Legislature wanted to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow Florida to opt out, which you obviously can’t do. It was being used to get the ‘right’ people to go and vote,” Villalobos said.
He read aloud the first 40 words of the proposed amendment’s summary language that was challenged as misleading. The trial court agreed, and the First DCA sent it to the Supreme Court to review as a matter of great public importance.
“At the [oral] argument, the state says, ‘You’re right. The summary is misleading.’ So they are not arguing the court did wrong,” Villalobos said, explaining the state asked the high court to simply substitute the whole amendment language for the summary.
“I told you I’m a Republican, OK? But I have self-respect and have to look at myself in the mirror,” Villalobos said. “The state is asking the court to be activist. And when the court refuses to be activist, and applies the constitution, then they are activist judges.. . . To say these justices are liberal because they refused to create law, I mean, that’s outrageous!
“.. . And that is why all this money is being funneled into the state.”
A reporter asked: “So at this point, we don’t know how much money and where it’s coming from?”
“Nor will you,” Villalobos answered. “If it goes through a party, you will not know who gave and in what amount, and not where it goes. It goes to the party. The party pays everything from dogcatcher to president of the United States. So, how can you trace the $5 my grandmother sent to the Republican Party? So if you wanted to sneak in a bunch of money from special interests, the way you do it is you put it through the party — through any party, by the way.”
Another reporter noted that when Villalobos’ group Democracy at Stake did focus groups in Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami of 130 diverse people, not one person could name a Florida Supreme Court justice. So how can he make the subject of this merit retention race compelling to readers who aren’t really paying attention?
Dyckman answered: “Those of us who are editorial writers and columnists, we’re free to say what’s next. Most of you are reporters who are going to have to walk down the middle. But you can ask the question: What’s next? If these judges are disposed of because they rubbed somebody the wrong way, we already know who is going to appoint their successors.
“They will be appointed from nominations submitted by a commission that the governor will control. We know what his politics are and what his preferences are. In fact, he lost a big case before the court just last year,” referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling that Scott overstepped his authority when he seized control of the state rulemaking process.
So, Dyckman said, the question to ask is: “What kind of justice will be appointed to succeed them if they are voted out? History tells us that the more politics gets into it, the less confidence you can have in the people wearing the black robes.”
https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/gop-opposes-justices-standing-for-retention/
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A Most Disorderly Court: Scandal and Reform in the Florida Judiciary (Florida History and Culture)
Author:
Martin A. Dyckman,
Publish Date: Mar 30, 2008
https://www.allbookstores.com/Most-Disorderly-Court-Scandal-Reform/9780813032054
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Book Release: People v Money- Corruption Scandal Rocks the Florida Court System
TAMPA, Florida –October 29, 2019. Incredible Publishing, LLC announces the release of People v Money, an international, best-selling book that exposes widespread corruption at the highest levels of Florida government.
“This is the biggest exposé on the judicial system of our lifetime,” says Mark Stopa, author of this groundbreaking book. “Nine Florida Supreme Court Justices engaged in ethical, if not criminal, misconduct. Numerous lower-level judges joined them. By aligning with big business to preserve their own positions in office and get rich, these corrupt judges harmed millions of low-income families, facilitating the largest redistribution of wealth in modern U.S. history.”
After ten years of unprecedented success representing homeowners in foreclosure lawsuits, many viewed Stopa as “America’s best foreclosure defense attorney.” The banks he was opposing, though, joined forces with the corrupt officials he was working to expose, parlaying allegations they knew to be false into an all-out assault on his reputation, career, and freedom. Their hope? To conceal their bad acts, silence Stopa, and prevent dissemination of this book. Instead, Stopa worked for more than a year as an investigative journalist, determined to get to the bottom of the corruption. He’s now releasing his findings, urging the Government Corruption Units of the FBI, DOJ, and SEC to act.
“The evidence is undeniable,” Stopa explains. “Much of it is based on the judges’ own financial disclosures, as set forth on my website, www.peoplevmoney.com. On behalf of all Americans, I ask that the FBI, DOJ, and SEC take appropriate actions against those government officials who abused their positions of power and breached the public’s trust.”
More than an exposé, People v Money is a call to action. “Millions of Americans have no voice in government,” Stopa continues, “a direct result of ‘our’ government officials shirking the will of the public and aligning with Corporate America to get rich. To restore our democracy, We The People must recognize People v Money for what it is – not just the title of my book, but the Civil Rights Movement of our generation.”
As part of his book release, Stopa is mailing a copy of People v Money to many prominent politicians, including every U.S. Senator and every Florida legislator. To ensure meaningful change in courtrooms throughout America, Stopa encourages the public to “Join the Movement.”
Now available for purchase online, www.peoplevmoney.com, People v Money became a #1 international best-seller on its first day of publication.
https://www.kjnewswire.com/4536/book-release-people-v-money-corruption-scandal-rocks-florida-court-system
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Judge Renatha Francis lied on her application to join the Florida Supreme Court
Jun 19, 2022
https://www.floridabulldog.org/2022/06/judge-renatha-francis-lied-on-application-florida-supreme-court%ef%bf%bc/
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The Self-Serving Supreme Court Is Exonerating Corrupt Officials For Its Own Benefit
Oct 30, 2024
The court is letting other government officials off the hook to shelter itself from scrutiny about the justices’ own deep-seated corruption.
Opinion by opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court has moved toward a judicial framework that insulates justices from growing public concern about their own corruption. In a series of cases, the court has overturned corruption convictions of public officials who received substantial gifts and other things of value in exchange for government favors in decisions that detail the officials’ egregious behavior and yet absolve them of it.
In his law review article “Corruption and the Supreme Court,” Georgetown law professor Josh Chafetz exposes the self-serving nature of these decisions: The court is letting other government officials off the hook to shelter itself from scrutiny about the justices’ own deep-seated corruption.
Professor Chafetz’s disturbing theory is borne out by the evidence. In five cases concerning public corruption heard within the past decade, the Supreme Court issued in each one an opinion that diminished anti-corruption statutes by either framing them as too broad and vague, or by recategorizing corrupt behavior as simple acts natural to government life. As Chafetz stated to The New York Times, which recently wrote an article about his work:
In all five of the decisions, the court’s message has been that “federal law must be interpreted so as not to cover behavior that looks, to any reasonable observer, sketchy as hell...” Taken together, he added, the decisions make a basic point and a more subtle one. The basic one, he said, is that “the justices keep letting crooked politicians off the hook.”
From honest services fraud to quid pro quobribery, in case after case in which the Department of Justice, a U.S. district court, a unanimous jury, and a U.S. court of appeals have found the official’s conduct to be egregious enough to warrant a felony conviction, the Supreme Court has thrown out convictions and shielded government officials from accountability. And as Chafetz explained, it has done this to shield its own misconduct from criticism. The justices responsible for weakening our anti-corruption laws include not just Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, whose records of lavish gifts have recently been exposed, but all justices who in at least some cases voted unanimously to throw out the convictions of corrupt government officials.
The Supreme Court’s forgiving rhetoric on corruption is not new. Its recent opinions emerge from dangerous precedent set in campaign finance law cases, like Citizens United. The Supreme Court has overlooked evidence of undue influence in elections by entities capable of vast political spending, and instead informed the federal and state governments that their only legitimate anti-corruption state interest is in blocking quid pro quo corruption or its appearance. That skyscraper bar, which notoriously is difficult to document, has proven deficient and led to unprecedented levels of campaign spending where the risk of corruption can only be higher. The court’s early refusal to enforce a thorough and meaningful framework of corruption created a slippery slope, unraveling corruption law altogether. And now, the Supreme Court is relieving public officials accused of serious misconduct at all levels.
The Supreme Court’s shocking leniency on matters of corruption does not quell growing concerns about public erosion of trust in government systems, but rather pushes to the public a reimagination of its own corruption as being equally ordinary. It is not. The Supreme Court’s tolerance of public corruption is a self-serving feat to insulate the justices from growing reports about the court’s own corruption. It must end now.
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/supreme-court-corruption-ruling
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‘Your behavior was unacceptable:’ Seminole County judge suspended by Florida Supreme Court
February 5, 2025
Reprimand came in response to two cases of misconduct in 2022
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A Seminole County judge, who was suspended for “intemperate conduct” behind the bench, has been reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court.
While appearing in Tallahassee on Wednesday, Judge Wayne Culver was scolded by Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz for the inappropriate actions.
“Your behavior was unacceptable and grossly inconsistent with our court’s expectations for he judges of our state,” Muñiz said.
The public reprimand came in response to two cases of misconduct in 2022 where Culver used profanity and either held or threatened to hold people in contempt of court.
The Florida Supreme Court decided to suspend Culver for 60 days after a hearing where the judge admitted he acted inappropriately and sought mental health counseling.
“The (Florida Judicial Qualifications) commission credited your sincere contrition, your acceptance of responsibility and your proactive efforts to get treatments for anger management and stress,” Muñiz said.
As Wednesday’s public admonishment came to a close, Culver was given a stern warning for when he returns to the bench following his suspension.
“While we acknowledge that this was a brief period in a very difficult time in your life, we emphasize that there will be no second chances if this ever happens again,” Muñiz said.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2025/02/05/your-behavior-was-unacceptable-seminole-county-judge-suspended-by-florida-supreme-court/
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Florida Supreme Court to take up Broward felon voter fraud fight
January 13, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court on Monday said it will take up an appeal by a convicted felon who was one of 20 people accused by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials in 2022 of registering and voting when they were ineligible.
Justices issued an order agreeing to hear the appeal by Terry Hubbard, who went to the Supreme Court in October after the 4th District Court of Appeal ruled that charges against him should move forward.
As is common, Monday's order did not explain the justices' reasons. But the order came after Attorney General Ashley Moody's office contended in a brief last month that the Supreme Court should decline to take up the case.
The order did not set a date for arguments.
DeSantis and other state officials made a high-profile announcement in August 2022 about voter fraud charges against 20 convicted felons, including Hubbard. The announcement came less than three months before the 2022 general election when DeSantis won a second term. It also came after DeSantis and other leaders had made a major issue of trying to crack down on what they said was voter fraud.
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-supreme-court-broward-felon-voter-fraud-fight/
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Florida Grand Jury - Stop the Corruption in the Florida Courts
the Florida State Bar and the Florida Supreme Court is Allowing Florida Attorneys to Run Amok - time For a Florida Grand Jury on the Iviewit Stolen Patent Case. Attempted Murder NOT investigated, Proskauer Rose Corrupt Attorney Christopher Wheeler NOT investigated. Florida Corruption, Judges Paid Off ~ Enough is Enough !!
Judicial Corruption in the Florida Supreme Court. Bill A. Corbin and the Abuse of Power in the Florida Judicial Process.
June 22, 2010
https://floridagrandjury.blogspot.com/2010/06/judicial-corruption-in-florida-supreme.html
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Iviewit Inventor Eliot Bernstein Interview with Disbar the Florida Bar ~ Les Winston The Biz 880am regarding Trillion Dollar Fed RICO Lawsuit against Florida Bar, FL Supreme Court & Justice Jorge Labarga
July 3, 2017
Iviewit Stolen Technology
Disbar the Florida Bar Radio Host Les Winston interviews Iviewit Technologies Inventor Eliot Ivan Bernstein regarding illegal activities at the Florida Supreme Court, Florida Bar & Judge Jorge Labarga involving Proskauer Rose & Foley &; Lardner firm
https://floridagrandjury.blogspot.com/
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"In the early 1970s, four Florida Supreme Court justices resigned from office following corruption scandals."
April 29, 2015
That was the U.S. Supreme Court today in decising Williams-Yulee v. The Florida Bar. From the intro:
Our Founders vested authority to appoint federal judges in the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and entrusted those judges to hold their offices during good behavior. The Constitution permits States to make a different choice, and most of them have done so. In 39 States, voters elect trial or appellate judges at the polls. In an effort to preserve public confidence in the integrity of their judiciaries, many of those States prohibit judges and judicial candidates from personally soliciting funds for their campaigns. We must decide whether the First Amendment permits such restrictions on speech.
We hold that it does. Judges are not politicians, even when they come to the bench by way of the ballot. And a State’s decision to elect its judiciary does not compel it to treat judicial candidates like campaigners for political office. A State may assure its people that judges will apply the law without fear or favor—and without having personally asked anyone for money. We affirm the judgment of the Florida Supreme Court.
I'm against judicial elections, but if you are gonna have em, then I think you gotta back the First Amendment and a person's right to ask for campaign contributions even if they are running for judge. I find myself agreeing with Scalia again:
An ethics canon adopted by the Florida Supreme Court bans a candidate in a judicial election from asking anyone, under any circumstances, for a contribution to his campaign. Faithful application of our precedents would have made short work of this wildly disproportionate restriction upon speech. Intent upon upholding the Canon, however,the Court flattens one settled First Amendment principle after another.
The first axiom of the First Amendment is this: As a general rule, the state has no power to ban speech on the basis of its content. One need not equate judges with politicians to see that this principle does not grow weaker merely because the censored speech is a judicial candidate’s request for a campaign contribution. Our cases hold that speech enjoys the full protection of the First Amendment unless a widespread and longstanding tradition ratifies its regulation.
https://sdfla.blogspot.com/2015/04/in-early-1970s-four-florida-supreme.html
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Corruption Is About to Get Worse, Thanks to the Supreme Court
December 18, 2024
As Trump backers line up for spoils, the justices have virtually ensured there’s no way to punish backdoor deals.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/12/donald-trump-corruption-supreme-court/
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This Supreme Court Has Redefined the Meaning of Corruption
September 2, 2024
https://flaglerlive.com/supreme-court-corruption/
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Clarence Thomas: Here Are All The Ethics Scandals Involving The Supreme Court Justice Amid New Ginni Thomas Report
Sep 4, 2024
Key Facts
Ginni Thomas Conservative Activism: Thomas’ wife, Ginni Thomas, is a right-wing activist, which has raised considerable ethics concerns about overlap between her and her husband’s work—particularly as the New Yorker reported groups she’s been involved with have submitted briefs before the Supreme Court, including a group that has weighed in on the court’s pending case about affirmative action in university admissions.
Ginni Thomas Court Reform Opposition: ProPublica reported Thomas’ wife praised religious liberty-focused group First Liberty Institute after it vocally opposed President Joe Biden’s proposals for Supreme Court reforms—including a binding code of ethics—writing in an email to the group’s president that “YOU GUYS HAVE FILLED THE SAILS OF MANY JUDGES ... THANK YOU SO, SO, SO MUCH.”
Harlan Crow Trips: ProPublica first reported in 2023 that Thomas had for years accepted trips from GOP megadonor and developer Harlan Crow, including on his private jet and superyacht, without disclosing them on financial disclosures as federal law requires.
Senate Findings On Harlan Crow: Though Thomas has now started disclosing some of his trips with Crow on his financial disclosure forms, claiming he was not previously obligated to report them, the Senate Judiciary Committee and now the Senate Finance Committee have uncovered additional undisclosed travel as part of investigations into Thomas—including spending time with Crow in Russia—and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the Finance Committee chair, alleged in August Crow is improperly claiming his yacht as a for-profit business in order to avoid paying taxes on it.
Harlan Crow Tuition: ProPublica reported in May 2023 Crow also paid two years of tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew Mark Martin, whom the justice has custody of, to attend two private schools in the 2000s, which cost $6,000 per month at one of the schools and were similarly not disclosed—even as Thomas did disclose a tuition payment a different friend made years earlier.
Harlan Crow Real Estate: Thomas and his family also sold a string of properties in Savannah, Georgia, to Crow in 2014 without disclosing that as required, ProPublica reports—including the home where his mother still lives—which Crow told the publication he purchased so he could eventually build a museum dedicated to the justice.
RV Loan Forgiven: Thomas never repaid a “substantial portion” of a $267,230 loan from wealthy friend Anthony Welters, which he used to purchase a luxury RV, a Senate Finance Committee investigation found, raising questions about whether the loan was properly reported on his taxes. If Thomas never paid the principal on the loan, it would have created a “significant amount of taxable income,” the committee noted, which wasn’t reported on his financial disclosure to the court in 2008, the year Welker said the loan was “satisfied.”
Koch Network Summits: Thomas attended at least two donor summits for the Koch network—the right-wing political organization founded by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch—and participated in a dinner with high-level donors, without disclosing his appearance at the summits or a private jet trip he took to and from the event in 2018, ProPublica reported in September.
Koch Brothers: ProPublica also reported Thomas cultivated a relationship with the two Koch brothers (David died in 2019) through repeated trips to the Bohemian Grove, a private retreat for wealthy men; the report noted the Koch network has brought cases before the Supreme Court, including having staff attorneys represent the plaintiffs in an upcoming case this term.
Sokol, Huizenga and Novelly Gifts: ProPublica reported that during his tenure on the Supreme Court, Thomas has accepted gifts including at least 38 “destination vacations,” 26 private jet flights, VIP sports passes, helicopter flights, private resorts stay and a “standing invitation” for a private golf club—which ProPublica noted was “almost certainly an undercount”—particularly from former Berkshire Hathaway executive David Sokol, late billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga and Apex Oil CEO Paul “Tony” Novelly, none of which were disclosed on Thomas’ federal disclosure forms.
Horatio Alger Association: ProPublica’s reporting built off a previous New York Times report that Thomas—a longtime member of the Horatio Alger Association, which was created to “dispel the mounting belief ... that the American dream was no longer attainable”—has for years accepted gifts from a “[broad] cohort of wealthy and powerful friends” who belong to the group, including people with business before the Supreme Court, receiving such benefits as luxury trips and a Super Bowl ring.
Ginni Thomas Leonard Leo: Leo, a conservative judicial activist who’s spent billions on efforts to reshape the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, told then-conservative pollster Kellyanne Conway to give Ginni Thomas “another $25k” through a nonprofit group he advises—which then filed a brief with the Supreme Court—but conceal that the payment was for her, the Post reports, telling Conway, “No mention of Ginni, of course.”
Ginni Thomas 2020 Election: Thomas pushed efforts to overturn the 2020 election results as her husband was hearing cases on it, including sending text messages to then White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, which fueled calls for Thomas to resign or face impeachment over the perceived conflict of interest.
January 6: Ginni Thomas has also confirmed she briefly attended the rally on January 6 that preceded the attack on the Capitol building and publicly criticized the House January 6 Committee, and the justice has come under fire for failing to recuse himself in a case concerning former President Donald Trump’s records being turned over to the committee—in which he was the only justice to dissent and believe the records should have been withheld.
Ginni Thomas Funding: The Post reported in March that a conservative group Ginni Thomas formed in 2019 had raised nearly $600,000 from anonymous donors funneled through a right-wing think tank that filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court during the same time, and ethics experts said Clarence Thomas should have recused himself from that case if his wife was paid by the group.
Financial Disclosures: Thomas has made a series of other “errors and omissions” on financial disclosure reports, which the Washington Postreported includes reporting real estate income for decades from a company that shut down in 2006 and has in the past had to amend his financial disclosures multiple times, including after failing to report his wife’s income in the 2000s.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/09/04/clarence-thomas-here-are-all-the-ethics-scandals-involving-the-supreme-court-justice-amid-new-ginni-thomas-report/
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Florida Supreme Court upholds DeSantis' suspension of Orlando-area prosecutor
June 7, 2024
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to suspend Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrell, saying he made adequate allegations of neglect of duty and incompetence.
DeSantis issued an executive order in August that suspended Worrell, a Democrat who was elected in 2020 in the 9th Judicial Circuit, which is made up of Orange and Osceola counties. The move drew widespread attention and came after DeSantis also suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, a twice-elected Democrat.
In the Worrell executive order, DeSantis made a series of allegations, such as that the prosecutor’s policies prevented or discouraged assistant state attorneys from seeking minimum mandatory sentences for gun crimes and drug trafficking offenses. As another example, the executive order alleged Worrell’s policies prevented assistant state attorneys from seeking “sentencing enhancements” for certain defendants.
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2024/06/07/court-upholds-ron-desantis-suspension-of-prosecutor-monique-worrell/74001547007/
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Supreme Court throws out convictions in sweeping New York corruption probe
May 11, 2023
In two rulings the court delivered a blow to the Justice Department's efforts to root out public corruption.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-throws-ex-cuomo-aides-bribery-conviction-rcna68456
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Supreme Court overturns ex-mayor’s bribery conviction, narrowing the scope of public corruption law
Jun 26, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court overturned the bribery conviction of a former Indiana mayor on Wednesday, the latest in a series of decisions narrowing the scope of federal public corruption law.
The high court's 6-3 opinion along ideological lines found the law criminalizes bribes given before an official act, not rewards handed out after.
“Some gratuities can be problematic. Others are commonplace and might be innocuous,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote. The lines aren't always clear, especially since many state and local officials have other jobs, he said.
The high court sided with James Snyder, a Republican who was convicted of taking $13,000 from a trucking company after prosecutors said he steered about $1 million worth of city contracts to the company.
In a sharply worded dissent joined by her liberal colleagues, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the distinction between bribes and gratuities ignores the wording of the law aimed at rooting out public corruption.
“Snyder's absurd and atextual reading of the statute is one that only today's court could love,” she wrote.
The decision continues a pattern in recent years of the court restricting the government’s ability to use broad federal laws to prosecute public corruption cases. The justices also overturned the bribery conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell in 2016 and sharply curbed prosecutors’ use of an anti-fraud law in the case of ex-Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling in 2010...
https://www.yahoo.com/news/supreme-court-overturns-ex-mayor-141502422.html
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Florida Supreme Court disciplines 12 attorneys, including Lake Worth lawyer
2024
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/state/2024/02/01/florida-bar-report-state-supreme-court-disciplines-12-attorneys/72405582007/
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Ex-Florida Supreme Court justice urges former colleagues to readmit disbarred Miami lawyer
June 01, 2023
William Castro, a permanently disbarred Florida attorney who was swept up in a Miami corruption scandal in the early 1990s, submitted a 51-page petition earlier this year seeking the right to practice law again...
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article275978201.html
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Honest Services Fraud: Federal Prosecution of Public Corruption at the State and Local Levels
June 2010
https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/honest-services-fraud-federal-prosecution-of-public-corruption-at-the-state-and-local-levels/
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Nate Monroe: State lawmakers intent on making Florida the nation's corruption capital
Feb 7, 2024
COMMENTARY | Even in this benighted moment, most people might agree that public corruption is generally pretty bad, so the shady Florida Legislature is really breaking the mold this time: Lawmakers are considering a pair of bills that, taken together, would amount to a kind of informal sanctioning of unethical behavior by elected officials and government employees. Were they to become law, Florida could very well become the corruption capital of the United States simply because it's the only place dumb enough to damn near make it legal.
One bill, which has already passed unanimously in the Senate, would effectively prevent ethics officials across the state from investigating even credible, documented allegations of wrongdoing. The other, which has gained crucial support in both chambers, would put journalists at heightened risk of being sued for relying on anonymous sources — a time-honored and crucial component of investigative journalism that routinely brings to light government dysfunction, waste, and criminality...
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/columns/nate-monroe/2024/02/07/nate-monroe-lawmakers-intent-on-making-florida-the-corruption-capital/72507217007/
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Florida's Worst Corruption Scandals, Ranked
10/28/2015
Nobody does corruption quite like Florida. Sure, places like Illinois and Detroit have had high-profile cases, but no state has public corruption to quite the extent that we do (seriously, Integrity Florida found that between 1976-2012 over 1,760 public officials in this state had been convicted of corruption), so narrowing it down to a top 12 is almost impossible. Almost. From a US attorney biting a stripper to dead people casting votes, here are the dozen weirdest, most egregious, and just flat-out only-in-Florida political scandals in our history.
5. Operation Court Broom
Ah, the 1980s in Miami. A time when a judge could sell his decisions, freebase cocaine, and dime out drug informants to cartels for a measly 50 grand. Or at least they could before Operation Court Broom. That’s the name of an FBI sting of Dade County judges, where fake cases were created and Manuel Noriega’s lawyer wore a wire to catch five judges, who took up to $50,000 to fix cases. Two of the most upstanding among them: Harvey Shenberg, who gave up the name of a confidential drug informant to a cartel for $50,000. And Phillip Davis, who when federal agents raided his home looking for marked cash used in the bribery sting, found Amanda Bynes-levels of cocaine along with all the tools used for freebasing.
2. Miami River Cops
The 1980s were not exactly a glorious time for the Miami Police Department, and bottomed out with the Miami River Cops. In summer 1985, a boat full of $12 million worth of cocaine docked on the Miami River, and somewhere along the line the offload went bad. A nearby night watchman called the police claiming gunfire during a “police raid," but somehow the raid mysteriously had no police report. Nor were the 400 kilos of cocaine on the boat ever heard from again. Though they may have been floating in the Miami River next to the three dead bodies that resulted from the “raid.” The missing drugs prompted an investigation that unearthed a network of crooked Little Havana cops who shook down drug dealers, stole their money and drugs, and profited from it all. In the end, 24 cops were convicted and 17 went to prison as a result of the investigation.
1. Miami mayoral recall
Why the world was even slightly surprised South Florida botched the 2000 presidential election is a mystery to anyone who was here in 1997. That was the year that, despite capturing nearly half the vote in the general election, Joe Carollo lost the mayoral runoff to Xavier Suarez. The big difference during the runoff? Some very important voting blocs turned out to pull the lever for Suarez, including the dead, convicted felons, non-residents of Miami, and homeless people Suarez staffers paid $10 apiece. Also credited for his win: a flood of absentee ballots coming in from City Commission District 3 represented by... Humberto Hernandez, who at the time was on suspension pending federal indictment. While the FDLE investigated and Suarez encouraged Miamians to keep their mouths shut, a federal trial began in February, and a month later the election was declared invalid. Joe Carollo ultimately took over as mayor, several Suarez staffers were indicted, and Humberto Hernandez still went to prison.
https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/miami/floridas-worst-corruption-scandals-including-xavier-suarez-hialeah-mayor-and-bob-allen
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Former Hillsborough school official files lawsuit alleging high-level corruption
2017
https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/Former-Hillsborough-school-official-files-lawsuit-alleging-high-level-corruption_161814026/
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Corruption in Florida Public Schools: A Perverse Disparity of Justice
2014
https://drrichswier.com/2014/04/20/corruption-in-florida-public-schools-a-perverse-disparity-of-justice/
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Deputies today arrested a former Collier County Public Schools employee after a CCSO investigation found she stole thousands of dollars from an elementary school.
Apr 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/CollierSheriff/status/1646975378202738690
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Congresswoman Corrine Brown And Chief Of Staff Charged With Fraud Scheme Involving Bogus Non-Profit Scholarship Entity
July 8, 2016
Jacksonville, FL – Congresswoman Corrine Brown and her chief of staff were indicted today for their roles in a conspiracy and fraud scheme involving a fraudulent education charity.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/congresswoman-corrine-brown-and-chief-staff-charged-fraud-scheme-involving-bogus-non
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Ethics complaint against Collier superintendent involves Mercedes and $18,000. How did it end?
2023
In May, a Naples citizen filed an ethics complaint against Collier County Public Schools Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli. The complaint claimed Ricciardelli violated Florida law by not declaring part of her personal finances. A hearing took place on Oct. 20.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ethics-complaint-against-collier-superintendent-involves-mercedes-and-18-000-how-did-it-end/ar-AA1iLSu8
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Detective testifies about evidence against Miami-Dade school board member’s son accused of shooting cop
September 13, 2023
Detective: Evidence includes videos, phone records, and a police officer who recognized the suspect
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/09/13/hearing-to-be-held-for-man-accused-of-shooting-miami-dade-detective/
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NBC Airs Two-Part Series on Corrupt Family Courts Putting Kids in Danger
May 14, 2021
https://pjmedia.com/megan-fox/2021/05/14/nbc-airs-two-part-series-on-family-court-corruption-that-puts-kids-in-danger-n1447007
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‘Totes Legit’ tipster found 282 possible voter fraud cases in Florida; few prosecuted outside The Villages
2022
News 6 investigates how Florida officials handled double voting cases uncovered by a prolific tipster
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/politics/2022/09/06/totes-legit-tipster-alerted-florida-to-282-possible-voter-fraud-cases-few-have-been-prosecuted/
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Collier County tests voting machines amid widespread concerns of election fraud
2022
https://news.wgcu.org/news/2022-01-21/collier-county-tests-voting-machines-amid-widespread-concerns-of-election-fraud
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Collier voters concerned mysterious WiFi connection granted access to county election machines
Nov 10, 2022
https://www.wguf989.com/2022/11/10/collier-voters-concerned-mysterious-wifi-connection-granted-access-to-county-election-machines/
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Collier County voters seek answers to mysterious text about mail ballots
Feb 14, 2024
https://www.nbc-2.com/article/collier-county-voters-seek-answers-to-mysterious-text-about-mail-ballots/46792435
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Florida's election police investigating alleged election crime in Collier County
Feb 22, 2024
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —
NBC2 has confirmed that Florida's election police are investigating whether an election crime was committed in Collier County.
The investigation comes after Collier County voters last week reported receiving misleading text messages claiming they requested a mail ballot when in fact they did not.
The matter has now caught the attention of Tallahassee. All of this is happening right in the middle of the presidential preference primary as voters are going out and already casting a vote. Collier County Supervisor of Elections Melissa Blazier reports she has turned all of the information she gathered over to the governor's election police.
Shortly after the misleading texts went out, Blazier posted on social media that the political PAC Win America was behind it.
The text made it seem like it came from Naples candidate for Mayor Gary Price, who said DC politics was showing its ugly face in Naples.
“Quite frankly this seems like election fraud,” Blazier told NBC2.
Today she confirmed she's asked the Office of Election Crimes and Security to investigate.
“I ended up packaging up the information and I spoke with the Office of Election Crimes and Security in Tallahassee who advised 'Yes, they would like to investigate,'" Blazier said.
She said the Win America PAC continues sending out misleading text messages about the Price campaign.
She’s concerned that if a local municipal race is creating this much controversy, a national presidential race could become even more contentious.
“I think that's why in the end I decided we should get involved because yes if you look at what is happening now in small municipal election I can only imagine what's going to happen in November,” Blazier said.
Price said the state’s election police have not contacted him but that he would cooperate if they reach out to him.
“I think voters have lost a lot of confidence and that is one of the things I think we need to preserve is that people feel comfortable with their election regardless of the outcome,” Price said.
https://www.nbc-2.com/article/floridas-election-police-investigating-alleged-election-crime-in-collier-county/46913330
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Collier County commissioner Hall caught in election deception -- cites Bible verse as defense
August 10, 2023
https://news.wgcu.org/government-politics/2023-08-10/collier-county-commissioner-hall-caught-in-election-deception-cites-bible-verse-as-defense
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Florida's effort to charge 20 people with voter fraud has hit some roadblocks
December 21, 2022
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/21/1144265521/florida-voter-fraud-cases-prosecution-update
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What Is Florida's 'Big Corruption Scandal'? Trump Tweets About 'Election Fraud' as Governor Rick Scott Files Suit
Nov 09, 2018
https://www.newsweek.com/what-floridas-big-corruption-scandal-trump-tweets-about-election-fraud-1208407
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2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_United_States_presidential_election_recount_in_Florida
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Global Voter Fraud Investigated - (Author: Michael James Ross)
December 10th, 2016
Globalvoterfraud.blogspot.com
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Local officials will no longer be able to investigate police misconduct under proposal
January 5, 2024
MIAMI - Civilians charged with investigating police misconduct could lose that power under a bill proposed in the Florida Legislature. If passed, the bill also bans municipalities from passing measures to handle officer conduct.
The proposal has critics that include Ursula Price, Director of the Miami-Dade Independent Civilian Panel, which oversees investigations of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/local-officials-will-no-longer-be-able-to-investigate-police-misconduct-under-proposal/
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Another record year for press-freedom violations in the US
January 12, 2022
https://www.cjr.org/analysis/2021-press-freedom-prior-restraint-arrests.php
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A record number of journalists are in prison right now, according to press freedom report
December 16, 2021
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/09/media/journalists-imprisoned-cpj-census/index.html
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{We accuse the Biden Administration of this illegal arrest of Michael Ross from PollutionScience.com, this was in order to silence journalist Michael Ross}.
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July 1st, 2020 - A Joe Biden Investigation 2020 - (7-1-2020) - (Joe Biden, Barack Obama & Beto O'Rourke) - (Author: Michael Ross)
https://bidenreport.blogspot.com
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Hollywood officers charged in FBI sting
2007
FORT LAUDERDALE -- A two-year FBI sting operation into corruption in the Hollywood Police Department has resulted in federal charges against four veteran officers who allegedly protected what they thought were mob shipments of drugs as well as stolen art, diamonds and watches.
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2007/02/24/hollywood-officers-charged-in-fbi-sting/28531010007/
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The Dirtiest Cops In America; Brevard County Sheriffs Take 1st Place
Brevard Counties Sheriffs Department... Police Corruption Is Not Just Accepted, It's Mandatory.
"Brevard County come on vacation, leave on probation..."
It's sad to say that these are police stationed in our great nation, the Brevard County Sheriffs Office is without a doubt a disgrace, not only to every other American police department but also to the United States of America entirely. Which is why I've decided to bring their unjustified, unconstitutional behavior to light. So that the rest of the country can be made aware of the mockery that they are making of upholding the law. Here the Sheriff is a celebrity, criminal justice is a game show, and even the pettiest of criminals are treated like they are enemy forces of a rival country instead of the American citizens they truly are. This county fuels its economy by ripping apart one family after another and destroying the lives of countless individuals. Too many lives to count in fact, all ruined by the most pathetic interpretation of criminal justice modern America has ever had to witness. It's time for this Sheriffs department to finally be held accountable for their actions, so that, maybe one day, they'll no longer be one of the most corrupt police departments in the country...
https://vocal.media/criminal/the-dirtiest-cops-in-america-brevard-county-sheriffs-take-1st-place
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Operation Florida: The Insanely Corrupt Police That Were Running the Drug Trade
May 20, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzl2bR03Nhk
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Drug Related Police Corruption: The Miami Experience (From Police Misconduct: A Reader for the 21st Century
Annotation
In the late 1980's, nearly 10 percent of the entire Miami Police Department (Florida) was suspended or fired after a drug-related scandal; this paper explores the events that led up to this corruption scandal, and lessons are drawn for other police agencies.
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/drug-related-police-corruption-miami-experience-police-misconduct
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Ranking Miami-Dade's Most Corrupt Cities
2018
Opa-locka
Opa-locka is so crooked its own residents tried to wipe it off the map. Last August, a few local activists were so tired of fighting graft that they actually started a petition to dissolve the town. "Once you're tapped out, you're tapped out," said Willis Howard, one of the locals who mounted the charge. "The city revenues are tapped out, there's no leadership, and in this case, you can't even file bankruptcy to restructure your assets, because there's nothing for you to restructure."
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-dades-most-corrupt-cities-ranked-10533469
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Undercover sting busts Miami cop shaking down suspects for money, drugs, feds say
November 17, 2023
MIAMI – Federal agents arrested an officer with the Miami Police Department after he was caught in a sting trying to extort suspects for cash and drugs, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice said Friday.
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/11/17/undercover-sting-busts-miami-cop-shaking-down-suspects-for-money-drugs-feds-say/
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Culture of corruption in Biscayne Park Police way worse than I imagined
2019
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article226890009.html
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The Mess Left Behind by Dirty Cops
https://www.biscaynetimes.com/news/the-mess-left-behind-by-dirty-cops/
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Florida’s new database on cops with bad records has holes, reform advocates say
2022
The new database doesn’t include citizen complaints, only goes back a decade, and for an officer to make the list, he or she must have a felony criminal conviction or have been found guilty of a moral character violation.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/07/28/florida-new-database-on-cops-with-bad-records-has-holes-reform-advocates-say/
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Florida police organization offers to hire cops who were fired or resigned over police misconduct
2020
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/08/us/brevard-county-florida-police-union-misconduct-trnd/index.html
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Problem police officers don't just go away, studies find. They get hired somewhere else.
2021
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/28/florida-disciplined-police-decertification-use-of-force-rehired/4876622001/
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Florida gave thousands of tarnished officers a second chance. Hundreds blew it again.
2021
https://www.naplesnews.com/in-depth/news/crime/2020/12/29/hundreds-florida-officers-given-second-chance-blew-again/3764571001/
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‘Florida’s Worst Cop’ Was Just Fired for Misconduct—for the Seventh Time
2021
https://news.yahoo.com/florida-worst-cop-just-fired-171631570.html
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Former Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo sues city, claiming he was fired for being whistleblower
January 20, 2022
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/20/us/art-acevedo-lawsuit-miami-whistleblower/index.html
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‘It never stops’: killings by US police reach record high in 2022
2023
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/06/us-police-killings-record-number-2022
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Shooting of Miami-Dade detective related to probe into corruption at jails, source says
March 13, 2023
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/03/13/shooting-of-miami-dade-detective-related-to-probe-into-corruption-at-jails-sourc-says/
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How Cops Who Use Force and Even Kill Can Hide Their Names From the Public
2020
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-cops-who-use-force-and-even-kill-can-hide-their-names-from-the-public
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Sheriff who can’t carry a gun? Felon runs to become Florida county’s top cop
2023
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/647246-sheriff-who-cant-carry-a-gun-felon-runs-to-become-florida-countys-top-cop/
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Former Tampa Police Corporal Pleads Guilty To Public Corruption Charges
2015
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/former-tampa-police-corporal-pleads-guilty-public-corruption-charges
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Editorial: Toughen Florida law to put kibosh on careers of bad cops
2021
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/opinion/editorials/2021/01/27/editorial-toughen-florida-law-prevent-bad-cops-being-rehired-elsewhere/4257403001/
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How Do Bad Cops Stay in Power? Just Look at Miami.
2021
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/10/22/javier-ortiz-florida-police-misconduct-protections-516231
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Rotten to the Core: Your One-Stop Shop for Hollywood Police Corruption
2009
https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/rotten-to-the-core-your-one-stop-shop-for-hollywood-police-corruption-6448495
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Report: Miami cops cleared their own
2002
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/03/18/report-miami-cops-cleared-their-own/
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Problem cops: State notes sharp rise in disciplined officers
2011
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/crime/2011/03/29/problem-cops-state-notes-sharp/7587825007/
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Florida Police Deputies Charged With Stealing Nearly A Half Million Dollars In Covid Funds
2023
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2023/10/16/florida-police-deputies-charged-with-stealing-nearly-a-half-million-dollars-in-covid-funds/?sh=23180dcb251c
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Ex-BSO lieutenant pleads guilty to fleecing hundreds of thousands from COVID loan program
March 2024
A former Broward Sheriff’s Office lieutenant on Wednesday joined a long list of BSO employees who have pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from a U.S. government-funded loan program meant to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ernest Bernard Gonder Jr. admitted in Miami federal court that he fleeced more than $167,000 from the federal Paycheck Protection Program — much more than 17 other BSO employees who were arrested in October on charges of stealing tens of thousands of dollars each from the same program.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/ex-bso-lieutenant-pleads-guilty-to-fleecing-hundreds-of-thousands-from-covid-loan-program/ar-BB1jselP
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Former Florida State Representative Sentenced To Federal Prison For Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, And Making False Statements In Connection With COVID-19 Relief Fraud
October 19, 2023
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/former-florida-state-representative-sentenced-federal-prison-wire-fraud-money
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’50 to 70′ BSO employees accused in PPP loan fraud case, Florida Bulldog reports
October 11, 2023
https://wsvn.com/news/local/broward/50-to-70-bso-employees-accused-in-ppp-loan-fraud-case-florida-bulldog-reports/
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'We Hate Corrupt And Dirty Cops, Abusive Cops', Broward Police Chiefs Lay Out Action Plan
2020
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/broward-police-chiefs-lay-out-action-plan/
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Judges side with public corruption probe into cops at tony Florida town of Golden Beach
2019
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article226256050.html
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Dozens of South Florida Officers Charged in Past 5 Years Following Use of Force Allegations
September 12, 2022
https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/dozens-of-south-florida-officers-charged-in-past-5-years-following-use-of-force-allegations/2856383/
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POLICE BRUTALITY. BLUELINE OF CORRUPTION IN FLORIDA
https://www.facebook.com/groups/586656768547265/
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Veterans, police officers fighting City of Naples for benefits they say they’re owed
December 6, 2021
https://winknews.com/2021/12/06/veterans-police-officers-suing-city-of-naples-for-benefits-they-say-theyre-owe/
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Former MDPD Police Officer, Former Public Service Aide, and Two Tow Truck Drivers Arrested in Illegal Bribery and Kickback Scheme
2015
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/miami/news/press-releases/former-mdpd-police-officer-former-public-service-aide-and-two-tow-truck-drivers-arrested-in-illegal-bribery-and-kickback-scheme
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Police officer Karl Waldon and a band of thugs terrorized, stole and killed for money; then they were brought to justice
2021
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2021/03/18/terror-blue-police-officer-karl-waldon-and-band-thugs-terrorized-stole-and-killed-money-then-they-we/4732730001/
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The authors of an ugly story about cops-turned-robbers discuss why police seem to be at war with citizens
‘I Got a Monster: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Corrupt Police Squad.’
2020
https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/how-americas-most-corrupt-police-squad-27912687
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Local Police in Florida Acting Like They’re the CIA (But They’re Not)
2014
https://www.aclufl.org/en/news/local-police-florida-acting-theyre-cia-theyre-not
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BSO Employee Faces Fraud Charges, Including Buying Miami-Dade County Resident SSN For $200
2022
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/bso-tech-accused-of-fraud/
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Florida city manager charged in $3.4M corruption scheme
2021
TAMARAC, Fla. (AP) — The manager of a South Florida city has been charged in a corruption scheme involving the attempted extortion of $3.4 million from an investment company.
Tamarac City Manager Michael Cernech was charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering with two developers by allegedly trying to extort the money from 13th Floor Investments.
https://apnews.com/article/business-florida-f8734f0442d4b89c3a1ae9b51727ce7b
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Miami city commissioner charged with bribery and money laundering
2023
MIAMI (AP) — A city of Miami commissioner accused of bribery and money laundering was arrested Thursday on multiple corruption charges, officials said.
https://apnews.com/article/miami-commissioner-money-laundering-florida-04dc202faede26bf85fb8a4ac17544d0
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Florida official sentence to 5 years in corruption case
2021
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A former city commissioner who once ran the Florida Democratic Party was sentenced to five years in federal prison for taking money from Uber and undercover FBI agents in exchange for his influence.
Former Tallahassee Commissioner Scott Maddox pleaded guilty in 2019 to wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. The sentencing was delayed while Maddox and co-defendant Paige Carter-Smith cooperated with investigators in the prosecution of a local developer.
https://www.cbs17.com/news/florida-official-sentence-to-5-years-in-corruption-case/
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New indictment alleges Lynn Haven corruption began years before Hurricane Michael
2021
LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - An indictment handed down this week by federal investigators is alleging years of fraud by the former Lynn Haven mayor and a local businessman. Past indictments detailed corruption charges that started after Hurricane Michael, but this week’s indictment shows a pattern of corruption that began in 2015.
https://www.wjhg.com/2021/11/19/new-indictment-alleges-lynn-haven-corruption-began-years-before-hurricane-michael/
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Longtime Florida Congresswoman Sentenced to 5-Year Prison Term for Corruption
December 4, 2017
In 1992, Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, Fla., was the first African American from that state to be elected to Congress since Reconstruction. She served 12 terms until this January, when she lost the 2016 Democratic primary because of both corruption charges and gerrymandering of her 5th Congressional District.
On Monday, a federal judge sentenced Brown to five years in federal prison after she was convicted in May on 18 corruption charges ranging from mail fraud to filing a false federal tax return in relation to her One Door for Education charity, which prosecutors allege she used as a personal “slush fund” for herself and her associates.
https://www.theroot.com/longtime-florida-congresswoman-sentenced-to-5-year-pris-1820990592
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Documents detailing FBI Investigation in alleged public corruption resealed
2022
https://www.wjhg.com/2022/08/17/documents-detailing-fbi-investigation-alleged-public-corruption-resealed/
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Arrests of 3 Mayors Reinforce Florida’s Notoriety as a Hothouse for Corruption
2013
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/us/arrests-of-3-mayors-reinforce-floridas-notoriety-as-a-hothouse-for-corruption.html
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Critics question proposed ban on Florida Bar investigating sitting constitutional officers
2021
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2021/10/16/critics-question-proposed-ban-on-florida-bar-investigating-sitting-constitutional-officers/
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Is the city of Tallahassee the most corrupt in Florida as President Trump said?
2018
https://www.politifact.com/article/2018/oct/31/city-tallahassee-most-corrupt-florida-president-tr/
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Prosecutor vows to go after corruption in Tallahassee and north Florida
2019
TALLAHASSEE — A federal prosecutor warned a long-running probe that resulted in criminal charges against the former head of the state Democratic Party and hung over the campaign of Andrew Gillum is just the start of a sustained effort to go after corruption in north Florida...
https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2019/08/06/prosecutor-vows-to-go-after-corruption-in-tallahassee-and-north-florida-1132144
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Florida Democrat removed from office, faces corruption charges following FBI sting
January 27, 2018
A Florida mayor was removed from office Friday after she was arrested and charged with three felony corruption charges.
Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order suspending Joy Cooper, the 57-year-old mayor of Hallandale Beach, a city just north of Miami, after she was accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions through former attorney Alan Koslow.
Cooper surrender to authorities on Thursday following an undercover FBI investigation. She was charged with money laundering, official misconduct and exceeding campaign contribution limits, the Sun Sentinel reported.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-democrat-removed-from-office-faces-corruption-charges-following-fbi-sting
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Florida’s former Democratic leader sentenced to 5 years in corruption case
2021
Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, who once ran the Florida Democratic Party, pleaded guilty in 2019 to wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/09/09/floridas-former-democratic-leader-sentenced-to-5-years-in-corruption-case/
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Ghost candidates, dark money and a 'winning formula': Florida corruption case linked to Republican insiders
2021
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/state/2021/07/30/florida-ghost-candidate-election-corruption-frank-artiles-republican-lawmakers-third-party/5391308001/
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Public corruption investigation links prominent Republicans across Florida
2021
https://www.rawstory.com/florida-republican-corruption-spreads/
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Legacy of Corruption: GEO Buys Off the Florida Political Establishment
March 15, 2011
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s unsettling history of extremely close ties to private prison operator GEO Group and the possible federal investigation into Florida’s private prison giveaway of more than $120 million
Newly minted U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) was sworn in on January 5, 2011 with unfinished business back home.
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2011/mar/15/legacy-of-corruption-geo-buys-off-the-florida-political-establishment/
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Florida prisons riddled with corruption, staffers tell senators – Miami Herald
Mar 17, 2024
https://corruptionbuzz.com/2024/03/17/florida-prisons-riddled-with-corruption-staffers-tell-senators-miami-herald/
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Justice Department watchdog finds alarming conditions inside Florida federal prison
November 9, 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/11/09/1211823240/justice-department-watchdog-finds-alarming-conditions-inside-florida-federal-pri
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Florida prisons didn’t like ‘demanding’ watchdog. Now he’s gone.
Sept. 30, 2020
Inspector General Lester Fernandez, on the job since June 6, 2016, had rubbed people in high-ranking positions, like the head of Florida’s Department of Corrections, the wrong way. He was replaced Tuesday.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2020/09/30/florida-prisons-didnt-like-demanding-watchdog-now-hes-gone/
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Whistleblower correctional officer paid the price for reporting abuse
CO: “I knew once I did the right thing, and I stepped forward...my career would be over”
July 19, 2015
https://www.corrections1.com/corrections/articles/whistleblower-correctional-officer-paid-the-price-for-reporting-abuse-IPvbKfHs0ZnSAeXn/
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Prison death renews scrutiny on warden demoted after guard's slaying
2014
https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/prison-death-renews-scrutiny-on-warden-demoted-after-guards-slaying/2184581/
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Violence, Abuse, and Death at For-Profit Prisons: A GEO Group Rap Sheet
September 26, 2013
https://prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12255/violence-abuse-and-death-profit-prisons-geo-group-rap-sheet
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Florida prison chief disagrees with feds on abuse report
1-14-2021
For at least a decade, women at the prison have complained that officers tramp through their dorms and showers and grope, rape and threaten to beat and even kill them if they don’t comply with their sexual demands.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/01/14/florida-prison-chief-disagrees-with-feds-on-abuse-report/
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Ex-Florida prison boss: Drunken orgies tainted system
2008
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) -- Softball, drunken orgies and a prison system run like the mafia. That's what Florida's former prison secretary says he inherited when he took over one of the nation's largest prison systems two years ago.
https://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/02/11/prison.boss/index.html
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Florida lawmakers didn’t fix prisons. They may wish they had | Opinion
March 2024
It’s not easy to muster public sympathy or political support for a purpose linked to a group that includes murderers, rapists and child molesters. So the 2024 Legislature’s refusal to adequately address festering problems within the state’s massive prison system was not a total surprise.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/florida-lawmakers-didn-t-fix-prisons-they-may-wish-they-had-opinion/ar-BB1k00sw
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At Least 35 Florida DOC Employees and Contractors Arrested in Just Over a Year
April 28, 2022
An examination of Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) employee and contractor arrests from March 2021 to April 2022 revealed that 18 were charged with introducing contraband, and another 10 were charged with assaulting prisoners. Six more were charged with having illicit relationships with prisoners under their...
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2022/apr/28/least-35-florida-doc-employees-and-contractors-arrested-just-over-year/
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Bartered sex, corruption and cover-ups behind bars in nation’s largest women’s prison
2015
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/special-reports/florida-prisons/article49175685.html#storylink=cpy
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Corruption, abuse and more inside the nation's largest women's prison (w/video)
Dec. 14, 2015
https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/corruption-abuse-and-more-inside-the-nations-largest-womens-prison-wvideo/2257644/
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Paging Ron DeSantis: Journalist Faces 20 Years in Prison for Investigating Corruption at Fla. Women's Shelter
May 05, 2021
https://pjmedia.com/megan-fox/2021/05/05/paging-ron-desantis-journalist-faces-20-years-in-prison-for-investigating-corruption-at-fla-womens-shelter-n1444723
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From retaliation to torture in a Florida prison unfit for habitation
February 28, 2018
https://sfbayview.com/2018/02/from-retaliation-to-torture-in-a-florida-prison-unfit-for-habitation/
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Florida's unsafe prisons
Adequate funding would protect inmates, officers and the public
2015
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/opinion/2015/02/04/floridas-unsafe-prisons/29296705007/
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Misconduct in Federal Prisons Is Tolerated or Ignored, Congressional Report Says
Jan. 4, 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/us/prison-misconduct-congressional-study.html
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Senate launches group to examine reports of corruption and abuse in federal prisons
Feb 17, 2022
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/senate-launches-group-to-examine-reports-of-corruption-and-abuse-in-federal-prisons
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After report outlines private prison problems, lawmakers demand fixes
Feb 17, 2023
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/17/florida-private-prisons-report-shows-pattern-of-failed-oversight-and-compliance/69910767007/
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A report spells out dire conditions in Florida's prison system
November 16, 2023
https://www.wlrn.org/law-justice/2023-11-16/a-report-spells-out-dire-conditions-in-floridas-prison-system
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The Florida prison system is a corrupt dysfunctional mess
November 20, 2014
https://www.sfltimes.com/opinion/the-florida-prison-system-is-a-corrupt-dysfunctional-mess
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Prison inspectors: Corruption rampant in Florida system
March 10, 2015
https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/prison-inspectors-corruption-rampant-in-florida-system/2220754/
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The 8 Worst Prisons in Florida
https://journeyz.co/worst-prisons-in-florida/
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What's Wrong With Florida's Prisons?
Oct. 17, 2007
https://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1672366,00.html
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Banned behind bars: 20,000 books can't be read by Florida inmates; the list may surprise you
2019
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2019/08/09/banned-behind-bars-20-000-books-cant-read-florida-inmates/1934468001/
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Statement on Florida DOC's banned books list and prison censorship
July 16, 2019.
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/in-the-news/2019/statement-florida-banned-books-list-and-prison-censorship/
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Lawsuit alleges Florida Department of Corrections impounded publications that inform inmates of their rights
Aug. 18, 2021
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/in-the-news/2021/lawsuit-alleges-florida-department-corrections-impounded-publications-inform-inmates-their-rights/
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Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Florida Department of Corrections For Unlawfully Confiscating Millions of Dollars of Digital Music and Books
February 19, 2019
https://fji.law/our-work/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-florida-department-of-corrections-for-unlawfully-confiscating-millions-of-dollars-of-digital-music-and-books/
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Will Lawsuits and Exposés Lead to Reform of Florida’s Brutal Prisons?
Feb. 2, 2016
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/feb/2/will-lawsuits-and-exposes-lead-reform-floridas-brutal-prisons/
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Hundreds of Inmates Riot at Florida Prison
September 28, 2016
A nationwide prison strike planned Friday has Florida’s jails and state prisons on high alert through the weekend, bracing for possible upheavals by inmates protesting what they say is inhumane and violent treatment.
https://incarceratedworkers.org/news/hundreds-inmates-riot-florida-prison
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Frorida Prisons — all of them — on lockdown
2017
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article167756842.html
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Protestors Block Access to Private Prison Company's South Florida Headquarters
2019
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article237995029.html
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Senators told about corruption in Florida prison system
March 10, 2015
https://winknews.com/2015/03/10/senators-told-about-corruption-in-florida-prison-system/
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Florida lawmakers won't hear bills to improve state prison conditions this session
'What's really sad is that I follow these (bills) every year – and they always die,' one advocate said.
March 1, 2024
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/01/bills-to-improve-florida-prison-conditions-likely-dead-this-session/72595958007/
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How for-profit prisons have become the biggest lobby no one is talking about
April 28, 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/04/28/how-for-profit-prisons-have-become-the-biggest-lobby-no-one-is-talking-about/
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As other states ban unpaid 'slave' prison labor, lawmakers drop plans to tackle issue in Florida
March 8, 2023
https://www.wuwf.org/florida-news/2023-03-08/as-other-states-ban-unpaid-slave-prison-labor-lawmakers-drop-plans-to-tackle-issue-in-florida
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Florida Provides Lesson in How Not to Privatize State Prisons
Feb. 15, 2012
When Florida lawmakers used a backdoor approach to try to privatize almost 30 state detention facilities in 2011, they likely did not anticipate the outcome. By the time the political dust had settled, the union representing prison employees had successfully sued to stop the privatization plan...
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2012/feb/15/florida-provides-lesson-in-how-not-to-privatize-state-prisons/
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Florida's Bloated Prison System Will Cost Billions To Maintain
11.17.2023
Florida's mandatory minimum sentences created a large, elderly prison population. Now the bill is coming due.
https://reason.com/2023/11/17/floridas-bloated-prison-system-will-cost-billions-to-maintain/
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Lawmakers hear report that says path of Florida’s prison system is ‘unsustainable’
November 15, 2023
Urges $582 million for air-conditioning, a provision questioned by one GOP senator
https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/11/15/lawmakers-hear-report-that-says-path-of-floridas-prison-system-is-unsustainable/
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The private prison industry in FL is now changing; the state is taking more control
October 18, 2023
https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/10/18/the-private-prison-industry-in-fl-is-now-changing-the-state-is-taking-more-control/
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Director of Florida's Private Prison Commisssion Resigns, Fined $10,000 for Ethics Violations
Oct. 15, 2003
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2003/oct/15/director-of-floridas-private-prison-commisssion-resigns-fined-10000-for-ethics-violations/
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Private prisons aren’t the villain. The entire system needs reform | Opinion
2021
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2021/02/24/private-prisons-arent-the-villain-the-entire-system-needs-reform-opinion/
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Florida prison privatization stalls in legislature
February 7, 2012
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-prisons-florida-idUKTRE8162A220120207/
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Private Prison Companies Bilk Florida Taxpayers Out of Millions
June 15, 2007
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2007/jun/15/private-prison-companies-bilk-florida-taxpayers-out-of-millions/
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Prison Privatization: Bad for Florida, Bad for Taxpayers
https://www.inthepublicinterest.org/wp-content/uploads/floridaprivateprisonsfactsheet42111.pdf
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Florida Prisons and Jails Retaliate Against Prisoners Who File Lawsuits by Countersuing for Costs of Incarceration
July 2, 2019
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2019/jul/2/florida-prisons-and-jails-retaliate-against-prisoners-who-file-lawsuits-countersuing-costs-incarceration/
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Arrests of Federal Prison Guards Soar 90% Over Past Decade; Misconduct Cases Double
Sept. 15, 2012
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2012/sep/15/arrests-of-federal-prison-guards-soar-90-over-past-decade-misconduct-cases-double/
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Florida Prison Boss Fires 32 Over Inmate Deaths
2014
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article2176191.html
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Florida Prisons Face Ongoing Staff Shortages Due to Low Pay And Long Hours
Aug. 1, 2021
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2021/aug/1/florida-prisons-face-ongoing-staff-shortages-due-low-pay-and-long-hours/
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‘System in crisis’: Florida struggles to retain prison guards
Feb. 22, 2021
Last year, 42 percent of new employees left the state corrections department in their first year, and 57 percent left by the end of the second year. That turnover is worse now.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/02/22/system-in-crisis-florida-struggles-to-retain-prison-guards/
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Facility closures continue as Florida prisons face ‘unprecedented’ staff shortage
2021
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2021/09/13/facility-closures-continue-as-florida-prisons-face-unprecedented-staff-shortage/
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Florida Prisons Fire Guards: Reports Of Abuse, Corruption Lead To Massive Clean-Up Effort
Sep 22, 2014
https://www.inquisitr.com/1491789/florida-prisons-fire-guards-reports-of-abuse-corruption-lead-to-massive-clean-up-effort
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Florida: Private Prison Company Allowed to Overcharge State, Mistreat Prisoners
Jan. 8, 2018
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2018/jan/8/florida-private-prison-company-allowed-overcharge-state-mistreat-prisoners/
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Price Hikes at Florida Prisons Leave Residents Furious
October 8, 2023
There’s a new canteen supplier in town — and now the cost of regular staples are 16% to 400% higher than before.
https://prisonjournalismproject.org/2023/10/08/canteen-prices-soar-florida-prisons/
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Opinion: Florida jails serving as debtors' prison
Sep 2017
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2017/09/04/opinion-florida-jails-serving-debtors-prison/624478001/
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Private Prisons Lock Up Thousands Of Americans With Almost No Oversight
2017
America’s for-profit prison industry controls 126,000 Americans’ lives. It’s a $5 billion sector — one that encompasses the operation of 65% of the nation’s immigration detention beds. And at the same time, it is largely opaque, often unaccountable to the public or the government.
https://time.com/5013760/american-private-prisons-donald-trump/
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{We need to deport unlawful immigrants out of the country}.
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A Federal Judge Put Hundreds of Immigrants Behind Bars While Her Husband Invested in Private Prisons
August 24, 2017
https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2017/08/a-federal-judge-put-hundreds-of-immigrants-behind-bars-while-her-husband-invested-in-private-prisons/
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Investigators accuse Florida Department of Corrections of corruption
July 8, 2014
https://www.tampabay.com/investigators-accuse-florida-department-of-corrections-of-corruption/2187616/
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Florida's Private-Prison Population Spiked 211 Percent Since 2000
August 3, 2018
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/florida-private-prison-inmates-spiked-from-2000-to-2016-sentencing-report-says-10589872
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Study: Private prisons result in more inmates, longer sentences
September 18, 2020
The Labour Economics study suggests two potential reasons for the increase: corruption and increased capacity.
https://bigthink.com/the-present/private-prisons/
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Study Shows Private Prison Companies Use Influence to Increase Incarceration
Aug. 22, 2016
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/aug/22/study-shows-private-prison-companies-use-influence-increase-incarceration/
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Hidden corporate profits in the U.S. prison system: the unorthodox policy-making of the American Legislative Exchange Council
2015
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10282580.2016.1185949
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New contracts give private prison giant nearly 80 percent of Florida's private prison market
2013
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2013/12/16/new-contracts-give-private-prison-giant-nearly-80-percent-floridas-private/15805432007/
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Five Reasons South Florida's Pro-Trump Private-Prison Company Is Evil
January 7, 2018
You shouldn't be able to turn a profit from imprisoning people. That seems obvious. The basic goal of the American criminal-justice system should be to eradicate crime — but multibillion-dollar private-prison systems can't earn big profits if there's no crime.
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/five-reasons-boca-private-prison-company-geo-group-is-evil-9967258
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Former Florida prisons chief who took kickbacks released from federal prison
April 2013
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2013/04/16/former-florida-prisons-chief-who-took-kickbacks-released-federal-prison/15831804007/
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Seven Former GEO Employees Plead Guilty in Federal Texas Private Jail Bribery Scheme
Oct. 1, 2021
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2021/oct/1/seven-former-geo-employees-plead-guilty-federal-texas-private-jail-bribery-scheme/
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Private prison investors love the Florida Senate's budget
Feb 24, 2022
Senate leaders, who got $200,000 from private-prison contractor GEO Group just before session, want to build two big new prisons – one of which may be privatized.
https://jasongarcia.substack.com/p/private-prison-investors-love-the
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Marco Rubio, Geo Group, and a Legacy of Corruption
August 29, 2012
https://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/08/11591/marco-rubio-geo-group-and-legacy-corruption
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Ron DeSantis just accepted $100K from the GEO Group, a controversial Florida-based private prison giant
Aug 17, 2018
A political action committee supporting Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis just got a $100,000 from the GEO Group, a Florida-based private prison giant known for numerous human rights investigations.
According to public records, on Aug. 15 the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC accepted $50,000 from GEO Group, Inc. and another $50,000 from the company's CEO, George C. Zoley.
The GEO Group, which is headquartered in Boca Raton and is the second largest private prison group in the country, was an early supporter of the DeSantis campaign. Records show they also gave the congressman another $50,000 back in March of 2017.
DeSantis isn't alone. The GEO Group has sprinkled cash all over Florida politicians, including Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics. In fact, it's hard to find someone who hasn't taken money from the group.
But it makes sense the GEO Group is heavily backing DeSantis, considering the congressman parrots everything the president says, and they directly profit from Trump's abysmal immigration policies.
According to the investigative website Sludge, the GEO Group currently holds almost a half billion dollars in ICE contracts. For some perspective, last year the Trump Administration spent a record $1.7 billion on private contracts, which means the GEO Group gets more direct cash from ICE than any other company. Plus, it doesn't hurt that former aides to Attorney General Jeff Sessions are now lobbyists for the GEO Group.
The company is a private prison behemoth and has immigration detention centers all over the country, including Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, California, and of course, Florida.
https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/ron-desantis-just-accepted-100k-from-the-geo-group-a-controversial-florida-based-private-prison-giant-17272961
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Kyle Cohen appointed as 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge
May 29, 2020
He replaces retiring Judge Keith Cary.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Estero prosecutor Kyle Cohen as a 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge.
Cohen previously served as assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida where he’s worked since 2008.
Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit includes Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.
Cohen has worked on a range of issues in federal court including tort, bankruptcy, employment discrimination, Administrative Procedures Act, Bivens, civil rights, contractual disputes, medical malpractice, summons enforcement, immigration, Touhy, eminent domain, FIRREA, qui tam, and False Claims Act litigation.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/336459-kyle-cohen-appointed-as-20th-judicial-circuit-court-judge/
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Broward Judge to Stand Trial on Ethics Charge
May 13, 2010
FORT LAUDERDALE | A Broward County judge has lost his bid to dismiss a misconduct charge against him.
Circuit Judge Dale Cohen is set to stand trial Sept. 13 for allegedly exploiting his position to further the interests of himself and his wife, who is running for election to the county bench.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission denied dismissing the ethics complaint today.
Cohen’s attorney says the allegations against the judge don’t correlate with the specifications of the Code of Judicial Conduct...
https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2010/05/13/broward-judge-to-stand-trial-on-ethics-charge/26270264007/
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Trial set for Philadelphia County Judge Cohen’s discipline over irresponsible Facebook posts
May 31, 2023
On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, the Court of Judicial Discipline of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued an order setting the trial of the disciplinary matter concerning Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark B. Cohen of the 1st Judicial District.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Mark B. Cohen,” with case no. 1 JD 2023.
The Judicial Conduct Board filed formal charges against Cohen on February 23, 2023, accusing Cohen to have authored and made improper posts to his personal Facebook page. In summary, Judge Cohen’s Facebook posting consisted of the following: (1) his sympathetic, supportive, or positive views of political figures, living and dead, of the Democratic Party and, generally, of the political “left”; (2) his support for legislation instituted and embraced by the Democratic Party and, generally, the political “left”; (3) his support for policy initiatives or issues embraced by the Democratic Party and, generally, the political “left”; (4) his criticism of political figures of the Republican Party and the political “right”; and (5) his criticism of policy initiatives and legislation instituted and embraced by the Republican Party or the political “right”.
https://abusivediscretion.com/trial-set-for-philadelphia-county-judge-cohens-discipline-over-irresponsible-facebook-posts/
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{We see that we have three corrupt judges with the last name Cohen}.
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DeSantis Installs Corrupt Crony As Elections Supervisor In Orange Co.
March 2024
DeSantis seems to have dropped off the national radar screen since his humiliating performance in the Republican presidential primary. But at least in Orange County, Florida, DeSantis looks busy setting up what could well be a rigged election.
Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell did a deep dive into the dark facts behind the appointment of Glen Gilzean as Orange County elections supervisor. For starters, Maxwell reports that Gilzean brazenly flouted ethics rules when he failed to resign as chair of the state’s ethics commission when he got his $400,000-a-year gig running DeSantis’ anti-Disney government district...
https://crooksandliars.com/2024/03/desantis-installs-corrupt-crony-elections#google_vignette
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Ron DeSantis Accused of 'Public Corruption' by Former GOP Lawmaker
Apr 22, 2023
https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-accused-public-corruption-former-gop-lawmaker-1796077
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Possible Corruption at the Florida GOP Could Threaten DeSantis in 2022
August 17, 2021
https://floridianpress.com/2021/08/possible-corruption-at-the-florida-gop-could-threaten-desantis-in-2022/
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DeSantis recruiters eyed Catholic church for migrant flights that bishop calls ‘reprehensible’
June 8, 2023
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recruiters set their sights on Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the Texas border city of El Paso in search of asylum-seekers they could take from its bustling migrant shelter to California’s capital on taxpayer-funded private jets.
Intentionally or not, envoys for Florida’s Catholic governor and Republican presidential candidate infused an element of his own religion into his latest move on immigration, which has drawn sharp criticism from El Paso’s Catholic bishop.
“Without going into the details of the politics of it, it does seem clear that they were being used not out of concern for the migrants but in an effort to make a political point,” Bishop Mark Seitz told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Seitz said many migrants arriving in the U.S. don’t know the geography, including how far cities and states are from one another, and are just anxious to move on.
DeSantis has acknowledged that Florida paid to transport 36 mostly Venezuelan migrants from Republican-led Texas to Sacramento on charter flights last Friday and on Monday. The first group was dropped off in front of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Sacramento, also the headquarters of Catholic Charities, apparently without warning. Local advocates and officials met the second group at the airport after learning of their arrival.
The governor says they made the trip voluntarily — a claim that some migrant advocates challenge. He also says they signed waivers to that effect and that California effectively invited them with its welcoming policies.
“I think the border should be closed. I don’t think we should have any of this. But if there’s a policy to have an open border, then I think the sanctuary jurisdictions should be the ones that have to bear that,” DeSantis said Wednesday at an event for law enforcement officials in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Asked about the bishop’s criticism, DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said the governor’s previous comments “stand on their own.”
In May, DeSantis signed a law allocating up to $12 million for migrant flights, like two that Florida funded last year from San Antonio to the pricey Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard.
References to the Martha’s Vineyard flights have become a staple in DeSantis’ presidential stump speech and often draw hearty applause from Republican primary voters. The Sacramento flights are part of a broader effort by certain Republican-led states to send migrants to Democratic-leaning parts of the country, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.
https://apnews.com/article/desantis-migrants-flights-border-california-catholic-aa274a39b65712ea2d70bd480a62928e
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Biden admin parole program sparks 550% increase of undocumented migrants pouring into Florida from just last year: data
Dec. 27, 2023
https://nypost.com/2023/12/27/news/more-undocumented-migrants-heading-to-florida-than-ever-with-550-increase-this-year/
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Florida Struggles to Accommodate Immigration-Fueled Population Growth as its Environmental Impacts Worsen
November 2021
https://www.fairus.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/fl-environ-case-study.pdf
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‘Been there before’: Haitian community leaders urge caution as Florida deploys troops to halt potential migrant surge
March 17, 2024
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/17/us/haiti-migrants-florida/index.html
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Marine Corps Sends Special Response Unit to Haiti After Partial US Embassy Evacuation
3-13-2024
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/03/13/marine-corps-sends-special-response-unit-haiti-after-partial-us-embassy-evacuation.html
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Challenge to Florida's 'sanctuary cities' law gets rejected
April 17, 2023
https://www.wlrn.org/immigration/2023-04-17/challenge-to-floridas-sanctuary-cities-law-gets-rejected
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Florida officers break up sex trafficking ring run by illegal migrants
October 24, 2022
Sheriff's Officers in Florida rescued eight women who were forced into sex trafficking by smugglers who illegally brought them into the U.S.
Officers with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office rescued eight women who were forced into sex trafficking in Florida by smugglers who illegally brought them into the U.S. through the southern border. They also arrested their alleged smuggler and trafficker, Rosalia Leonard Garcia, 29, and Amet Maqueira, 35.
Arrestees of Human Trafficking Case pic.twitter.com/o8vNUJB2Nn— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) October 24, 2022
Sheriff Chad Chronister made the announcement on Monday with Attorney General Ashley Moody and other officials. Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution charged Garcia and Maqueira with 47 counts of human trafficking and will be prosecuting them.
“These horrific acts of sex trafficking are among the most depraved crimes we have seen in a long time and highlight how criminals are taking advantage of [President Joe] Biden’s open border to advance their illicit trade,” Moody said. “I applaud the swift, courageous actions of Sheriff Chronister’s deputies and ensure my Statewide Prosecutors will hold the traffickers accountable in court for what they did to these eight women.”
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/florida-officers-break-sex-trafficking-ring-stemming-illegal-border
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Venezuelan sex trafficking gang that brands young girls operating in US, linked to ex-cop’s murder: reports
Jan. 20, 2024
https://nypost.com/2024/01/20/news/venezuelan-sex-trafficking-gang-that-brands-young-girls-operating-in-us-linked-to-ex-cops-murder-reports/
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Local pharmacist charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor and child sex tourism
April 23, 2024
MIAMI – On April 19, a local pharmacist was charged by criminal complaint with attempted sex trafficking of a minor and attempted travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
According to the criminal complaint and the underlying affidavit, law enforcement officers stopped Stefan Andres Correa, 42, of Miami, Florida, attempting to board a flight from Miami to Bogota, Colombia. It is alleged that, law enforcement officers discovered nine cellular phones in Correa’s possession containing videos of Correa engaging in intercourse with purported minor children, as well as a chat exchange with a suspected sex trafficker, where Correa allegedly paid for commercial sex with children aged between 10 to 12 years old in Colombia. According to the allegations, during the chat exchange, Correa agreed with the suspected sex trafficker to meet with the minor victims once he arrived in Colombia.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/local-pharmacist-charged-attempted-sex-trafficking-minor-and-child-sex-tourism
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A long corruption probe in Tallahassee whimpers to a close — The return of Rod Smith? — Gruters talks about allegations on internal GOP call
2021
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/florida-playbook/2021/07/28/a-long-corruption-probe-in-tallahassee-whimpers-to-a-close-the-return-of-rod-smith-gruters-talks-about-allegations-on-internal-gop-call-493753
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U.S. Attorney Larry Keefe to release details of 'massive' corruption probe in Panama City
2019
U.S. Attorney Larry Keefe will announce details of "a massive public corruption scheme" on Friday in Panama City.
The investigation, which seems to have flown beneath the radar, is not believed to be connected to Tallahassee's long-running public corruption probe, which led to guilty pleas from former City Commissioner Scott Maddox and former Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Paige Carter-Smith.
In a news release, the U.S. Attorney's Office said it would announce the outcome of what's being described as a "major long-term investigation into widespread public corruption" by its Public Trust Unit.
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2019/11/13/u-s-attorney-larry-keefe-to-release-details-of-major-corruption-probe-in-panama-city-florida/4178651002/
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Ex-commissioner in Florida city convicted of corruption
2019
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A former city commissioner in Florida is facing prison time after he was convicted of corruption charges arising from a tiki bar he operated in a strip mall.
Court records show a jury late Monday found 56-year-old David McLean guilty of bribery, official misconduct and theft charges. McLean was a commissioner in the South Florida city of Margate.
Trial evidence showed McLean used his influence to do city favors for the tiki bar’s landlord. In return, the landlord forgave about $8,000 in rent and made another $6,000 in cash payments.
https://apnews.com/general-news-7eda58207c5345718dba91b426f5e258
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Gainesville’s city audit controversy, explained
2022
https://www.alligator.org/article/2022/11/gainesvilles-city-audit-controversy-explained
After delayed financial reports to the state, the Gainesville city auditor’s resignation and planned international commission trips, some local residents are worried about their tax dollars.
Four successive issues led to local concern: a formal letter from the state about late city financial reports, three city commissioners traveling to Israel off public funds, the city auditor’s resignation and budget changes made Nov. 17.
Gainesville’s upcoming fiscal budget is around $445 million, with about $14 million of general fund debt made up of bonds and other obligations.
Juli Aitch, Gainesville resident, said recent decisions were irresponsible given the situation.“They are robbing the citizens of Gainesville,” Aitch said.
However, Gainesville city officials say the series of financial controversies were both expected and planned for.
Commissioners’ trip to Israel
City Commissioners David Arreola and Adrian Hayes-Santos, as well as Mayor Lauren Poe will travel to Israel for MuniWorld, an international city government conference. The three will leave Dec. 2, just over a month before they all exit office after reaching their term limit.
MuniWorld is a three-day convention for cities across the globe. Participants will see Jerusalem’s tech startup projects, connect with other municipalities and watch lectures on local government practices.
The attendance fee is $200 per person and accommodations are $600, according to its website.
City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut first expressed concern over the trip, calling it a waste of money given the city’s financial circumstances.
“This international trip taken by commissioners with expenses paid by public funds is disingenuous to all our constituents,” Chestnut wrote in an email to them.
For each fiscal year, commissioners receive a $5,000 stipend for travel. The 2023 fiscal year began Oct. 1. Chestnut also said the trip would take travel funding away from oncoming commissioners, though Arreola and Hayes-Santos said that was inaccurate.“When the new commission is sworn in, they will have their own budgets,” Arreola said.
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Joel Greenberg alleged far-reaching public corruption in Florida jailhouse interview
2022
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/554553-joel-greenberg-alleged-far-reaching-public-corruption-in-florida-jailhouse-interview/
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As Gaetz investigation ramps up, feds mount sweeping probe into Central Florida political scene: Sources
June 18, 2021
Since federal prosecutors obtained the cooperation of GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz's once close-ally in May, sources tell ABC News the ongoing investigation, which includes sex trafficking allegations involving Gaetz, has engulfed the tight-knit Central Florida political scene as prosecutors continue their investigation of the Florida congressman.
Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, who reached a plea deal last month, has been assisting federal agents in the sprawling probe that has recently revved up its focus on alleged corruption and fraud stemming from Greenberg's time in office and beyond, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The former tax collector pleaded guilty in May to a host of crimes including charges of stalking, identity theft, wire fraud and conspiracy to bribe a public official, as well as a sex trafficking charge. Greenberg is prepared to hand over evidence and testimony that could implicate Gaetz and others, sources told ABC News.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gaetz-investigation-ramps-feds-mount-sweeping-probe-central/story?id=78321551
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Fmr. Opa-Locka City Manager Turns Himself In
2016
OPA-LOCKA (CBSMiami) -- The former city manager of Opa-locka who is facing federal corruption charges turned himself into police Monday morning.
Former Opa-locka City Manager David Chiverton appeared before a Judge in federal court Monday afternoon...
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/fmr-opa-locka-city-manager-turns-himself-in-on-corruption-charges/
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Marco Island city manager responds to latest police scandal
March 23, 2023
https://winknews.com/2023/03/23/marco-island-city-manager-responds-to-latest-police-scandal/
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Corrupt politicians have free rein in Florida
2014
https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/corrupt-politicians-have-free-rein-in-florida-2242139
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The most corrupt state(s) in America
2014
Florida: Between 1998 and 2007, 824 public officials in Florida were convicted on public corruption charges at the local, state and federal level. According to a tally compiled by the New York Times, that was more than any other state. New York came in second place, with 704 public officials locked up, while Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Ohio and Illinois all saw more than 500 officials convicted.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/01/22/the-most-corrupt-states-in-america/
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Florida Is the Most Corrupt State in the Union, According to a Federal Tally of Convictions
June 6, 2012
In 2010, a statewide grand jury slammed Florida laws for being too lax on corruption, and made a number of suggestions, most of which were never implemented. Then-Gov. Charlie Crist called for that grand jury investigation in 2009 following a string of high profile arrests of public officials and political figures. He noted at the time that he had been forced to remove 33 public officials from office in less than three years as governor because of varying instances of wrongdoing.
https://flaglerlive.com/florida-most-corrupt/#gsc.tab=0
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Harvard finds Florida among most politically corrupt states in U.S.
2015
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/191150-harvard-says-florida-one-of-americas-most-politically-corrupt-states/
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LIST: Florida among America's most corrupt states
Jun 11, 2014
https://www.wesh.com/article/list-florida-among-america-s-most-corrupt-states/4330300
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City too corrupt for Florida is spared
2014
Hampton, Florida CNN —
This worn-down, one stoplight town found redemption Friday night in a Baptist church named Victory. Cheers broke out in the pews as two Florida lawmakers abandoned their quest to strip Hampton of its cityhood.
The battle for the 89-year-old city’s survival began in February with the release of a scathing audit that read like a textbook of municipal malfeasance – finding 31 violations of local, state and federal codes, along with allegations of nepotism, double-dipping and personal use of city property.
Surviving was a sweet win for this city of just 477 residents – 476 if you don’t count the former mayor, who’s sitting up the road in jail on a drug charge.
Already a notorious speed trap, the place gained even more infamy as a symbol of small-town corruption when the legislators threatened last month to yank its city charter. Late-night comedians mocked Hampton as “too Florida, even for Florida.”
https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/29/us/hampton-florida-corruption-survival/index.html
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Florida Is The Most Corrupt State In The Country, According To Integrity Florida Study
2012
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/florida-most-corrupt-in-country_n_1577571
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Florida Corruption News Monitoring
https://uspolitics.einnews.com/news/florida-corruption
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A most disorderly court : scandal and reform in the Florida judiciary
2008
https://archive.org/details/mostdisorderlyco0000dyck/page/n9/mode/2up
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POLICE CORRUPTION PLAGUING FLORIDA
1986
https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/03/us/police-corruption-plaguing-florida.html
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Police Corruption is becoming a pandemic too
2020
https://www.transparency.org/en/news/police-corruption-is-becoming-a-pandemic-too
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Aquakiki News Investigative News Videos & Reports
6/18 Vid-CROOKED Top Florida Cop RIC BRADSHAW-Owns MILLION$ In Real Estate-Ties To MAFIA In Palm Beach Mansions
https://aquakiki.wordpress.com/
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Lee County Florida Corruption
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LeeCountyFloridaCorruption/
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'Corruption in the Courts' Comment Brings New Troubles for South Florida Attorney | Daily Business Review
https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracywhatever/comments/v7xbdc/corruption_in_the_courts_comment_brings_new/
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Widespread CORRUPTION In Entire FLORIDA Collier County Judicial System - CORRUPT and INCOMPETENT Judges and Deputies Go Unchecked By FEDS & Local Media
2014
https://aquakiki.wordpress.com/category/koh-chang-island/
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*******
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Separating Fact from Fiction on Florida’s Defamation Bills
February 27, 2024
https://www.nationalreview.com/2024/02/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-floridas-defamation-bills/
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Ron DeSantis Embodies the Republican Surrender to Antisemitism Once again, the “mainstream” Republican refuses to condemn Jew hatred.
Nov 2023
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/11/ron-desantis-elon-musk-antisemitism-white-nationalism-trump.html
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A Florida bill attacking ‘critical theory’ in higher education has the state’s Jewish academics worried
March 22, 2023
https://www.jta.org/2023/03/22/united-states/a-florida-bill-attacking-critical-theory-in-higher-education-has-the-states-jewish-academics-worried
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Florida budget framework increases Jewish day school security funding 25%
February 8, 2023
Gov. Ron DeSantis has long been a ‘steadfast friend of the Jewish people’ and Israel defender, a spokesman told JNS.
https://www.jns.org/florida-budget-framework-increases-jewish-day-school-security-funding-25/
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DeSantis approves $25M for Florida Jewish day school security
January 30, 2024
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/656115-desantis-approves-25m-for-florida-jewish-day-school-security/
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$45M Appropriated By Legislature To Protect Jewish Institutions In FL
2023
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/dollar45m-appropriated-by-legislature-to-protect-jewish-institutions-in-fl/ar-AA1jCltD
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Florida Jewish leaders push local officials for approval to build Holocaust museum: 'This is your legacy'
January 27, 2024
Advocates demand answers, stress need to educate young people about antisemitism after Oct. 7 terror
https://www.foxnews.com/media/florida-jewish-leaders-push-local-officials-approval-build-holocaust-museum-legacy
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State, Cities Fight Back Against Growing Antisemitism In Florida
May 11, 2023
Florida now ranks fourth in the country for incidences of antisemitism, with 269 incidents in 2022.
https://patch.com/florida/southtampa/state-cities-fight-back-against-growing-antisemitism-florida
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation against antisemitism into law
JUNE 4, 2019
The legislation defines as antisemitism calls for violence against Jews, advancing conspiracy theories about Jewish control and Holocaust denial.
https://www.jpost.com/American-Politics/Florida-Gov-Ron-DeSantis-signs-legislation-against-antisemitism-into-law-591517
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Florida rejects Holocaust education textbooks in clampdown on ‘woke’ instruction
May 11, 2023
https://www.jta.org/2023/05/11/united-states/florida-rejects-holocaust-education-textbooks-in-clampdown-on-woke-instruction
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David Irving jailed for Holocaust denial
20 Feb 2006
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/20/austria.thefarright
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British historian sentenced to 3 years for denying Holocaust
Feb 20, 2006
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/british-historian-sentenced-to-3-years-for-denying-holocaust-1.601100
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Holocaust Deniers Sent to Prison
July 01, 2007
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2007/holocaust-deniers-sent-prison
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Holocaust Investigation Marathon 1 - Michael Ross speaks
2019
https://archive.org/details/HolocaustInvestigationMarathon1
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Antisemitism in the Soviet Union
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_the_Soviet_Union
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Category: Jewish communists
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Jewish_communists
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Jewish Bolshevism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Bolshevism
Jewish Bolshevism, also Judeo–Bolshevism, is an antisemitic conspiracy theory that claims that the Russian Revolution of 1917 was a Jewish plot and that Jews controlled the Soviet Union and international communist movements, often in furtherance of a plan to destroy Western civilization. It was one of the main Nazi beliefs that served as an ideological justification for the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the Holocaust.
After the Russian Revolution, the antisemitic canard was the title of the pamphlet The Jewish Bolshevism, which featured in the racist propaganda of the anti-communist White movement forces during the Russian Civil War (1918–1922). During the 1930s, the Nazi Party in Germany and the German American Bund in the United States propagated the antisemitic theory to their followers, sympathisers, and fellow travellers.
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DeSantis invites Jewish students fearing antisemitism to Florida universities
1-09-2024
The governor proposes waiving application deadlines and credit requirements and an emergency order is issued.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/01/09/desantis-invites-jewish-students-florida-universities/
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Antisemitism in Florida
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_Florida
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Major Jewish population centers worldwide saw hate crimes skyrocket in 2021
May 6, 2022
https://www.heritagefl.com/story/2022/05/06/news/major-jewish-population-centers-worldwide-saw-hate-crimes-skyrocket-in-2021/16597.html
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Florida Jewish leaders react to budget funding to combat antisemitism
Dec 5, 2023
https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-jewish-leaders-budget-funding-antisemitism/46045117
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Antisemitism rises among Hispanic Miami’s right wing
April 27, 2021
https://forward.com/news/468551/antisemitism-rises-among-hispanic-miamis-right-wing/
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Miami Is America's Second Most Jewish City, in Case You Needed Proof
December 2, 2010
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-is-americas-second-most-jewish-city-in-case-you-needed-proof-6539777
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JEWISH POPULATION GROWING STUDY FINDS 38% RISE IN PAST SEVEN YEARS
1987
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1987/10/08/jewish-population-growing-study-finds-38-rise-in-past-seven-years/
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The Florida-Israel connection: How the state cultivates its Jewish ties
Oct. 20, 2023
With booming trade and staunch political support, Gov. Ron DeSantis calls Florida “the most pro-Israel state.”
https://www.tampabay.com/news/2023/10/20/florida-israel-connection-how-state-cultivates-its-jewish-ties/
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This map shows the 20 congressional districts with the most Jews
September 10, 2020
https://www.jta.org/2020/09/10/united-states/this-map-shows-the-20-congressional-districts-with-the-most-jews
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History of the Jews in South Florida
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_South_Florida
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Florida: It’s not just for old Jews anymore
By Uriel Heilman February 11, 2014
https://www.jta.org/2014/02/11/united-states/florida-its-not-just-for-old-jews-anymore
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From 'highly offensive' to 'he's not wrong,' GOP senators respond to Trump's remarks about Jewish voters
March 19, 2024
Trump invoked a dual loyalty trope this week when he said that "any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion" and "hates" Israel.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-respond-trumps-remarks-jewish-voters-rcna144181
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For Biden, Jewish voter turnout is key in Florida as race with Trump tightens
October 23, 2020
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article246648813.html
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A Florida Dem engaging with Cuba is a ‘communist,’ but a Republican doing same becomes Speaker | Opinion
September 19, 2023
https://news.yahoo.com/florida-dem-engaging-cuba-communist-195329020.html
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History of the Jews in Cuba
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Cuba
Jewish Cubans, Cuban Jews, or Cubans of Jewish heritage, have lived in the nation of Cuba for centuries. Some Cubans trace Jewish ancestry to Marranos (forced converts to Christianity) who came as colonists, though few of these practice Judaism today. The majority of Cuban Jews are descended from European Jews who immigrated in the early 20th century. More than 24,000 Jews lived in Cuba in 1924, and still more immigrated to the country in the 1930s. Following the 1959 communist revolution, 94% of the country's Jews emigrated, most of them to the United States. In 2007 an estimated 1,500 known Jewish Cubans remained in the country, overwhelmingly located in Havana. Several hundred have since immigrated to Israel. Considered one of the most important Latin American Jewish sites, Beth Shalom Temple is the epicenter for current Jewish life in Cuba and still conducts weekly Shabbat services.
In addition to the descendants of Cuban Jews living in the United States, there is also a significant population which claims descent from non-Cuban Jews and from Cuban gentiles.
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Fury as Miami reveal Africa themed police car for Black History Month
03 February 2023
The mayor said the cruiser was a ‘beautiful collaboration’ between the department and Black History Month, but others were not as receptive
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/miami-police-car-black-history-month-b2275551.html
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A Black History Month-themed police car in Miami draws criticism
February 4, 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/02/04/1154266889/a-black-history-month-themed-police-car-in-miami-draws-criticism
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Collier County Sheriff’s Office claims undocumented felons are moving to the area
2021
https://www.nbc-2.com/article/collier-county-sheriffs-office-claims-undocumented-felons-are-moving-to-the-area/46739655
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4,100 immigrants in Lee & Collier counties have ICE court cases
2017
https://www.news-press.com/story/news/investigations/melanie-payne/2017/08/08/more-than-4-000-southwest-florida-immigrants-face-deportation/548823001/
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Profile of the Unauthorized Population: Collier County, FL
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/county/12021
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Profile of the Unauthorized Population: Florida
Unauthorized Population: 772,000
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/FL
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Florida's new immigration law creates 'panic' in agriculture community
May 12, 2023
Law could have wide-ranging impact on industries vital to state's economy
https://www.wptv.com/news/palm-beach-county/floridas-new-immigration-law-creates-panic-in-agriculture-community
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DeSantis signs bills that he says will keep immigrants living in the US illegally from Florida
March 15, 2024
https://wtop.com/national/2024/03/desantis-signs-bills-that-he-says-will-keep-immigrants-living-in-the-us-illegally-from-florida/
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Sales are way down at a Florida flea market. A new immigration law could be to blame.
AUGUST 2, 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/08/02/1191297764/florida-immigration-law-desantis-economy-politics-civil-rights
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'Immigrants leaving Florida in fear': New immigration law sparks exodus of workers
Jun 30, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dfDioh9UFY
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Race and crime in the United States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_crime_in_the_United_States
Hispanics
According to a 2009 report by the Pew Hispanic Center, in 2007 Latinos "accounted for 40% of all sentenced federal offenders ‒ more than triple their share (13%) of the total U.S. adult population". This was an increase from 24% in 1991. Between 1991 and 2007, enforcement of federal immigration laws became a growing priority in response to undocumented immigration. By 2007, among Hispanic offenders sentenced in federal courts, 48% were immigration offenses, 37% drug offenses, and 15% for other offenses. One reason for the large increase in immigration offenses is that they exclusively fall under federal jurisdiction.
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Hispanics and Latinos in Florida
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanics_and_Latinos_in_Florida
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Historic wave of Cuban migrants will have a lasting impact on Florida
Dec. 16, 2022
An exodus of over 220,000 Cubans have come through the U.S.-Mexico border in the last fiscal year. Over 6,000 more were interdicted at sea in 2021.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/historic-wave-cuban-migrants-florida-impact-lasting-rcna61989
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Cuban migrants flow into Florida Keys, overwhelm officials
January 4, 2023
https://apnews.com/article/united-states-government-cuba-florida-875b5ffd18563c479543ed77fffe77dd
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Cuban Migration to Florida at Its Highest Since Obama Administration
Jun 21, 2021
https://www.newsweek.com/cuban-migration-florida-its-highest-since-obama-administration-1602788
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Communist regime in Cuba is not ‘accidentally’ authoritarian; it is ‘intentionally totalitarian’ | Opinion
July 27, 2023
https://news.yahoo.com/communist-regime-cuba-not-accidentally-163153712.html
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The Cuban Missile Crisis at 50: America and Cuba Still Frozen in 1962
Oct. 17, 2012
Raúl Castro's decision this week to let Cubans travel freely outside their communist island is a reminder of the jaded cold-war policies Washington and Havana adopted after the 1962 U.S.-Soviet standoff
https://world.time.com/2012/10/17/the-cuban-missile-crisis-at-50-america-and-cuba-still-frozen-in-1962/
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Cuban missile crisis
international incident [1962]
https://www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-missile-crisis
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Kennedy and Cuba: Operation Mongoose
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2019-10-03/kennedy-cuba-operation-mongoose
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White House says it will not tolerate Cuba's efforts to influence US elections
2023
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-says-it-will-not-tolerate-cuba-s-efforts-to-influence-us-elections/ar-AA1lOCjk
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How Fidel Castro’s revolution remade South Florida
2016
https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-castro-florida-20161127-story.html
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Chinese Communism is Alive and Well in Our Government
March 26, 2024
https://www.citizensjournal.net/chinese-communism-is-alive-and-well-in-our-government/
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How Cubans Transformed Florida Politics and Gained National Influence
December 2014
https://academic.oup.com/florida-scholarship-online/book/19578/chapter-abstract/178313632?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false
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Florida bill that would require schools to teach history of communism spurs debate
Feb 2024
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/florida-bill-that-would-require-schools-to-teach-history-of-communism-spurs-debate/ar-BB1iicMg
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Florida bill to teach kindergarteners about threats of communism gets Senate approval
Feb 21 2024
Bill sponsor Jay Collins, R-Tampa, and other supporters have warned that young people are increasingly viewing communism in a positive light
https://www.cltampa.com/news/florida-bill-to-teach-kindergarteners-about-threats-of-communism-gets-senate-approval-17304373
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DeSantis Kicking China, Cuba and Others Out of Florida Universities
March 1, 2024
https://anticommunist.zone/desantis-kicking-china-cuba-and-others-out-of-florida-universities/
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DeSantis' latest anti-communist campaign targets Florida schools linked to Chinese firms
2023
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/25/desantis-suspends-school-funds-chinese-communist-party-allegations/70960346007/
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DeSantis bans ‘Chinese agents’, citizens of other ‘countries of concern’ from buying real estate in Florida
2023
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/desantis-bans-chinese-agents-citizens-of-other-countries-of-concern-from-buying-real-estate-in-florida/ar-AA1aUOvb
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Blames COVID on Chinese Communist Party, Signs Bills Thwarting Chinese Influence in Schools
Jun 07, 2021
https://www.newsweek.com/florida-gov-ron-desantis-blames-covid-chinese-communist-party-signs-bills-thwarting-chinese-1598214
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Governor Ron DeSantis Declares First Annual Victims of Communism Day
November 7, 2022
https://www.flgov.com/2022/11/07/governor-ron-desantis-declares-first-annual-victims-of-communism-day/
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The United States' concerns over China's activities in Cuba
June 21, 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/06/21/1183578300/the-united-states-concerns-over-chinas-activities-in-cuba
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Chinese spies in Cuba? The problem runs deeper than that.
June 16, 2023
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/06/chinese-spies-in-cuba-problem-runs-deeper-than-that/
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China, Russia, Iran and Cuba all tried to meddle in 2022 US congressional elections, intelligence assessment finds
December 18, 2023
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/politics/china-russia-iran-cuba-2022-midterm-election-meddling/index.html
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Russian mob eclipses Italian Mafia in South Florida, FBI says
June 1, 2011
https://boulderweekly.com/news/russian-mob-eclipses-italian-mafia-in-south-florida-fbi-says/
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Russian mob influence growing in South Florida, FBI says
2011
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2011/06/01/russian-mob-influence-growing-in/7325405007/
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Inside Florida's 'Little Moscow,' where Russian money flows thanks to 'rich daddies' snapping up real estate
Mar 6, 2022
https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-little-moscow-sunny-isles-miami-russian-money-real-estate-2022-3?op=1
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Florida's worst spies: Espionage comes to the Sunshine State
June 16, 2017
https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/floridas-worst-spies-espionage-comes-to-the-sunshine-state/2327447/
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Jeffrey Epstein Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Sex Trafficking Of Minors
July 8, 2019
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/jeffrey-epstein-charged-manhattan-federal-court-sex-trafficking-minors
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In the past decade in New York State "more than 30 current and former state officeholders have been convicted, sanctioned or accused of wrongdoing — more than any other state."
August 26, 2016
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2016/sep/19/elaine-phillips/new-york-has-been-most-corrupt-state-decades/
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Fighting Public Corruption
Over 340 Arrests Made | Over $99 Million Recovered
Our Investigations
Comptroller DiNapoli’s anti-corruption initiative investigates fraud in State and local governments, including fire departments and companies, vendors who do business with the State and local governments, and pension fraud. Comptroller DiNapoli partners with law enforcement to bring corrupt officials to justice and recoup stolen taxpayer money.
Latest Cases
DiNapoli: Former Marbletown Fire Chief Arrested for Stealing Over $100K From Department
Former Avon Police Chief Pleads Guilty to Stealing Federal Funds
Former West Carthage Treasurer Charged With Stealing Thousands of Dollars From the Village
DiNapoli: Former Vernon Center Fire Department Treasurer Arrested for Stealing Over $300,000
DiNapoli: Ithaca Woman Charged With Stealing Nearly $70,000 in Pension Payments
Our Work with Law Enforcement
We partner with law enforcement to combat fraud at all levels of government, including investigating:
Corruption and fraud in State and local government
Public vendor & grant recipient fraud
Pension fraud
https://www.osc.ny.gov/investigations
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Judicial Watch & the Fight Against Corruption in New York
October 16, 2018
Judicial Watch takes a lot of heat in the public arena, but in fact we are not a partisan group. Our mission is public education. We educate through investigations, litigation, journalism and public outreach. Increasingly, our public education efforts include the rapidly expanding world of social media.
We use national and state transparency laws to fight corruption and malfeasance in public office. Our weapon of choice is the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. We lead the nation—including all the major news organizations—in filing and litigating freedom of information actions. These are powerful tools for holding public officials accountable.
New York is the financial and media capital of the world and deserves special attention in the fight against corruption. New Yorkers take corruption seriously. Poll after poll shows that corruption ranks among the top concerns of New Yorkers.
For instance, in a July 2018 Zogby poll, New Yorkers ranked corruption concerns second, after high taxes.
That same month, a Quinnipiac poll showed that 45% percent of New Yorkers ranked corruption as a “very serious” concern.
In 2015, in a Sienna College poll, 92% of New Yorkers ranked corruption as a “serious issue.”
Corruption has a long history in New York. It includes the notorious Tammany Hall, a corrupt political machine that dominated city politics for more than a century. Judicial Watch has raised questions about whether the city has entered an era of a new, more sophisticated Tammany Hall, with sketchy financing from international players, power brokers in Albany ruling with an iron fist, and influential non-profit entities like the Clinton Foundation making an end run around the law.
With a new generation of corrupt enterprises, new challengers have begun to emerge as well.
But who are the corruption fighters of tomorrow and how will they do?
In this regard, the case of an obscure corruption expert with the wonderfully musical name Zephyr Teachout is worth considering.
Teachout put the fear of political death into New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the 2014 gubernatorial primary, gathering 34% of the vote. She ran on an anti-corruption platform. She went on later to lose to Republican John Faso for a seat in the House of Representatives. Earlier this year, she lost again, this time to Democratic machine favorite Letitia James in a race for New York attorney general.
But in each case, Teachout did surprisingly well.
The anti-corruption message resonates.
Teachout is a Democrat, but when it comes to corruption, conservatives and Republicans in New York often find themselves cheering her on.
New York City is a Democratic stronghold, and so much of the corruption we see comes at the hands of Democrats. The list of corrupt Democrats is long. It includes:
Sheldon Silver, the powerful former speaker of the New York State Assembly, who went down on corruption charges earlier this year.
Joseph Percoco, one of Gov. Cuomo’s closest allies, sentenced last month to six years in prison for accepting bribes in a sweeping corruption case that also netted other Cuomo associates.
The governor himself, lest we forget, disbanded his own corruption inquiry, the Moreland Commission, in 2014.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is mired in allegations of improper campaign donations and dealings with corrupt associates like Long Island restaurateur Harendra Singh.
Former state senator Malcolm Smith of Queens was convicted on bribery charges related to election scheming.
Former state assemblyman William Scarborough of Queens was convicted of abusing over $70,000 in state and campaign funds.
Former state assemblyman William Boyland Jr. of Brooklyn was convicted of taking bribes.
Former state assemblyman Eric Stevenson of the Bronx was convicted of taking bribes.
Former state senator Shirley Huntley of Queens admitted to embezzling more than $80,000 from an educational non-profit she controlled.
Former state senator Pedro Espada of the Bronx pleaded guilty to tax fraud and looting health clinics.
The list goes on. And Republicans are no angels either. The Republican Hall of Shame includes:
Former state senate majority leader Dean Skelos, convicted on corruption charges.
New York City Council member Dan Halloran of Queens, convicted on corruption charges.
Former state senator Thomas Libous of Binghamton pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
Former state senator Nicholas Spano of Yonkers admitted to cheating on his income tax.
Former state senator Vincent Leibell was convicted on kickbacks and tax evasion.
Now, two of these felons are worthy of particular note: Sheldon Silver, the former assembly speaker, and Dean Skelos, the former senate majority leader.
In Albany, the assembly speaker and the senate majority leader, along with the governor, are known as the “three men in a room.”
“Three men in a room” is New York political shorthand for how ultimate power is wielded in the state capital.
The three men in a room control the levers of power in state politics. It’s one of the reasons that corruption is such a problem in New York.
Following the conviction of Silver, then-U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “If you’re one of the three men in a room, and you have all the power, and you always have, and everyone knows it, you don’t tolerate dissent because you don’t have to. You don’t allow debate because you don’t have to.”
No dissent, no debate, power concentrated at the top. Corruption flows down from the top. The fish rots from the head...
https://www.judicialwatch.org/judicial-watch-the-fight-against-corruption-in-new-york/
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Hall Of Shame: 9 Of New York’s Most Corrupt Politicians
This week's resignation of New York Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin is the latest in a long line of political corruption in New York State.
Benjamin stepped down after being arrested on charges including bribery and falsification of records.
All in all, over the past two decades, we here in New York have elected more than 30 current or former politicians to positions where they would later be convicted of various acts of corruption.
From the State Assembly to the Governor’s office, here's a look at the Top 9 most noteworthy New York State ‘Crooks’:
Governor Andrew Cuomo
Cuomo resigned in August of 2021 after being accused of sexual harassment by at least 11 women. Cuomo repeatedly denied the allegations and was never criminally charged, despite investigations by several District Attorney's Offices.
Governor Eliot Spitzer
Spitzer announced his resignation after being caught in a prostitution sting in Washigton, DC. Spitzer served as governor from 2007 until his resignation in 2008.
U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner
Weiner served nearly 12 years in Congress, He had a dramatic and sordid fall from grace after he sent a lewd picture of himself over Twitter in 2011 and resigned after the behavior came to light.
NYS Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
Bruno resigned his Senate seat in 2008 was later convicted on two felony counts. The US Supreme Court overturned his conviction; a later retrial resulted in acquittal
NYS Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos
Skelos resigned in 2015 after his arrested on federal corruption charges, along with his son. He was released from federal prison in 2021 on house arrest after contracting COVID-19 in prison
NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
Silver resigned following his arrest in February of 2015. He was convicted on 7 counts of Felony Corruption and served time in prison until his death in 2022.
NYS Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr.
In 2012, Espada was sentenced before Judge Frederic Block in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York, to five years’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for theft of federal funds from Bronx-based non-profit healthcare clinics, and lying on his 2005 personal tax return.
NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
Schneiderman resigned in 2018, hours after the New Yorker published an article detailing allegations of physical abuse. He currently teaches meditation in Manhattan
NYS Comptroller Alan Hevesi
Alan Helvesi resigned 2006 and was barred from politics in 2011. Hevesi, now 81, pleaded guilty to a corruption charge in a “pay to play” scheme involving the state Pension Fund during his time as comptroller. He served 19 months behind bars..
https://wibx950.com/hall-of-shame-9-of-new-yorks-most-corrupt-politicans/
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The Many Faces of New York’s Political Scandals
May 3, 2016
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/23/nyregion/23moreland-commission-and-new-york-political-scandals.html
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NYC Corruption
January 25, 2016
MANHATTAN - In a summary order within three weeks of oral arguments , the Second Circuit affirmed the corruption convictions of Jia "Jenny" Hou, who served as campaign treasurer for former New York City Comptroller John Liu, and of Xing Wu "Oliver" Pan, a Liu fundraiser.
https://www.courthousenews.com/nyc-corruption/
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Explosive Grievance Complaint Targets New York Judges for Alleged Misconduct and Bias
Oct 23, 2023
Rockland County Supreme Court Justices Sherri Eisenpress and Thomas Zugibe Accused of Unethical Behavior; Not Eisenpress' First Time, Papers Allege
Rockland County, NY – They say a good lawyer knows the law, but a great lawyer knows the Judge. A high-stakes divorce case has spiraled into just those accusations of judicial misconduct involving fraternization and political contributions by select attorneys with a sitting judge that influenced court decisions, filed papers allege.
Rockland County Supreme Court Justices Sherri Eisenpress and Thomas Zugibe are implicated in alleged unethical behavior and bias. Justice Eisenpress’ relationship with Attorney Lisa Zeiderman of Miller Zeiderman, LLP, is under scrutiny.
Sai Malena Jimenez Fogarty, who filed the grievance, asserts that these judges’ actions have significantly impacted the fairness of her divorce proceedings, which began on September 29, 2021, under docket number 035547/2021.
https://luthmann.substack.com/p/explosive-grievance-complaint-targets
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New York’s Top Judge Steps Down Amid Misconduct Allegations
Jul 12, 2022
The chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, Janet DiFiore, resigned Monday as reports surfaced that she was under investigation by the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct for improperly interfering in a disciplinary hearing, leaving the bench just as the court is expected to make crucial decisions about abortion and gun control.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliecoleman/2022/07/12/new-yorks-top-judge-steps-down-amid-misconduct-allegations/
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Appeals Court Brings Back Brian Benjamin Bribery Charges
March 8, 2024
The three-judge panel ruled that the case doesn’t need explicit language to prove a quid-pro-quo relationship.
https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/03/08/appeals-court-benjamin-bribery-charges/
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Feds drop corruption charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin
Jan. 17, 2025
https://nypost.com/2025/01/17/us-news/feds-drop-corruption-charges-against-former-ny-lt-gov-brian-benjamin/
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Wall Street’s David Weigel Exposes NYC Divorce Court Corruption
December 12, 2023
David Weigel is a man at his wit’s end. For over a decade, the NYC-based Asset Manager and Certified Financial Planner was a fattened calf for Manhattan’s divorce-industrial complex. Exasperated, Weigel has taken to social media to expose the divorce industry and the New York State Courts as “government-sponsored racketeering and systemic fraud.”
Many echo his sentiments, including Frank Parlato. Recently, Parlato questioned whether the Family Courts operate like RICO Enterprises.
But Weigel is different. He is uniquely positioned to analyze and expose divorce and custody malfeasance. He is in the top 1% of Fixed Income Asset Managers, and the 51-year-old has been for over a decade.
“Over the last ten years, the heart of my analysis has been to look at complex structures and find the bullshit.” He says he’s struck paydirt in Justice Tandra L. Dawson’s Integrated Domestic Violence Court (IDVC)...
https://frankreport.com/2023/12/12/wall-street-whiz-david-weigel-exposes-divorce-court-corruption-in-crusade-against-government-sponsored-bullshit/
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Brooklyn Corruption Figure Admits He Arranged Bribes
2-24-2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/nyregion/brooklyn-corruption-figure-admits-he-arranged-bribes.html
A central figure in the wide-ranging investigation of judicial and political corruption in Brooklyn, a man accused of arranging bribes in divorce and child custody cases for people in the borough's Orthodox Jewish communities, pleaded guilty yesterday to 13 counts of bribery and conspiracy.
The man, an electronics dealer named Nissim Elmann, admitted passing thousands of dollars to a lawyer to arrange preferential treatment in cases before a State Supreme Court justice, Gerald P. Garson. Justice Garson has been suspended from the bench and is awaiting trial on bribery charges.
The investigation into dealings by Justice Garson, a former treasurer of the Brooklyn Democratic organization, has spilled over into a conspiracy inquiry involving the judicial nominating system and taking aim at, among others, the Brooklyn Democratic Party leader, State Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr.
Prosecutors portrayed Mr. Elmann as a fixer, a known figure in Orthodox communities who accepted cash through the window of his car or inside a warehouse and passed it to a former lawyer who had an advantage in Justice Garson's courtroom.
The former lawyer, Paul Siminovsky, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of giving unlawful gratuities last year, after wearing a hidden microphone at the direction of the office of Charles J. Hynes, the Brooklyn district attorney.
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The Crisis in New York's Family Courts
February 12, 2024
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/2024/brad-hoylman-sigal/crisis-new-yorks-family-courts
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Why Almost No Reporting on Family Courts is Accurate
Jul 14, 2024
The True Degree of Depravity and Corruption in the Family Courts is Nearly Impossible to Grasp
I could not believe what I was reading when I came across an abominable article by the Free Press. Despite claiming to have “spent more than eight months speaking to dozens of people and reading hundreds of documents,” the reporting made a fundamental, fatal error: to trust Family Court rulings. This is the equivalent of walking into a Nazi concentration camp and believing that everyone there is guilty and deserves to be there, just as the Nazi guards say. There is simply no chance that any “investigation” under this lens will be accurate, and the blindness to the horrors of the Family Courts makes this article appalling. A simple, cursory research of the sheer numbers of children and mothers who are dying in Family Court should have sent alarm bells ringing, rather than reducing everything to a “tempestuous union” or an “ugly domestic dispute.” The article should have begun with how Family Courts have become a “law-free zone” as a result of decades of lack of transparency and no oversight and are the equivalent of organized crime. The fact that 98 percent of abused children are given to their abusive parent in my own experience, and a National Institute of Justice-sponsored study showing that it would be more correct to overturn every custody decision by Family Court, makes clear whom the good parent and victim was: the (as is usual) mother without her children. It is a telling sign that one has fallen into abuser gaslighting — not to mention that the deceased parent had no say for this “investigative” article — when frivolous rhetoric replaces the very real and utterly serious crisis of children being ripped from their primary caregivers to be “sold” to their torture, rape, battery, and murder (one-fifth of child murders by parent may be attributable to Family Courts setting up the conditions). In this egregious context, I was very happy to see that WeSpoke published a rebuttal letter:
https://bandyxlee.medium.com/why-almost-no-reporting-on-family-courts-is-accurate-ce86ae7bf961
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Key Lawmakers Vow to Take Action on ‘Gut-Wrenching' NYC Family Court Crisis
February 9, 2022
Response comes day after I-Team report detailed what NYC Bar called "deep inequities" in a system that serves mostly poor litigants and people of color
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/key-lawmakers-vow-to-take-action-on-gut-wrenching-nyc-family-court-crisis/3536033/
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A 'Dehumanizing' Place: New York City's Family Courts Are in 'Crisis' and Need More Judges, State Panel Reports
The commission, a 28-member body of judges and attorneys originally formed in 1991, is co-chaired by Appellate Division, First Department Justice Troy Webber and Albany Supreme Court Justice Richard Rivera, who is also supervising judge of the Family Court for the Third Judicial District.
January 03, 2023
https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2023/01/03/a-dehumanizing-place-new-york-citys-family-courts-are-in-crisis-and-need-more-judges-state-panel-reports/?slreturn=2025030552021
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DiNapoli: Disgraced Top Officials at School for At-Risk Students Arraigned on Public Corruption Charges
Over $50,000 of School Money Was Spent on Personal Items Such As Jewelry and Luxury Handbags
January 22, 2025
https://www.osc.ny.gov/press/releases/2025/01/dinapoli-disgraced-top-officials-school-risk-students-arraigned-public-corruption-charges
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NYC Schools Chancellor to Resign after Phone Seizure in Federal Corruption Probe
2023
New York City Schools chancellor David Banks on Tuesday became the latest official in Mayor Eric Adams’s inner circle to announce his intention to step down amid a series of federal corruption investigations plaguing city hall.
Banks was one of many city leaders whose phones and other electronic devices were seized by the FBI nearly three weeks ago. Federal investigators also seized phones belonging to Banks’s longtime girlfriend — New York City first deputy mayor Sheena Wright — and his two brothers, New York City deputy mayor for public safety Philip Banks III and consultant Terence Banks. The brothers are reportedly at the center of a federal probe into an alleged bribery scheme involving city contracts.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nyc-schools-chancellor-to-resign-after-phone-seizure-in-federal-corruption-probe/ar-AA1r8Ple
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Former Top NYC School Official Charged in Alleged Bribery Scheme With Meat Supplier
September 29, 2021
Some chicken ordered from a meat supply company allegedly contained "foreign objects being found in products" including "plastic" — and in one case, a city "DOE employee choked on a bone" found in a chicken tender
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-top-nyc-school-official-charged-with-corruption-in-alleged-bribery-scheme/3298720/
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Sen. Menendez found guilty on all counts in federal corruption trial
July 16, 2024
Sen. Bob Menendez, 70, had pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from 2018 to 2022 from three New Jersey businessmen and agreed to take official actions that would benefit their interests, including financially
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/bob-menendez-verdict-reached-bribery-trial/5585178/
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Corrupt ex-NYC judge Sylvia Ash sentenced to 15 months for obstructing justice
April 20, 2022
A corrupt former Brooklyn judge was sentenced to 15 months in prison Wednesday after being convicted of obstruction of justice charges – a case that “struck at the heart of the criminal justice system,” a federal jurist said.
The disgraced Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice, Sylvia Ash, was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and other counts at trial last year for attempting to throw off federal investigators who were probing embezzlement at the Municipal Credit Union.
Ash previously served as chair of the Board of Directors of the MCU, a credit union that primarily serves New York City civil servants, such as firefighters, sanitation workers and police officers.
She helped the former CEO of the MCU, Kam Wong, embezzle millions of dollars from the financial institution, in part, by signing a misleading memo that purported to show he was authorized to receive the cash...
https://nypost.com/2022/04/20/ex-nyc-judge-sentenced-to-15-months-for-obstructing-justice/
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Judge Obstructed Justice in $10 Million Corruption Case, U.S. Says
10-11-2019
The Brooklyn judge was accused of destroying text messages and emails during a fraud inquiry at a major credit union.
When the former chief executive of the Municipal Credit Union pleaded guilty last year to stealing nearly $10 million from the 500,000-member financial institution, federal prosecutors said he had gone to some lengths to hide his long-running embezzlement scheme.
The chief executive, Kam Wong, “tried to cover up what he had done by making false statements to federal investigators and creating false and misleading documents,” the prosecutors said.
On Friday, federal prosecutors said that Mr. Wong had been helped in the cover-up by a high-ranking ally: a Brooklyn judge who led the credit union’s board of directors.
The judge, Justice Sylvia G. Ash of State Supreme Court, was arrested after arriving at La Guardia Airport from Miami. She was charged in a criminal complaint with trying to thwart the federal inquiry into Mr. Wong’s theft in several ways.
Justice Ash, prosecutors said, had signed a false memo that tried to justify millions of dollars in improper payments that Mr. Wong received from the credit union; concealed and deleted text messages and emails, and wiped clean her iPhone issued by the credit union; and made false and misleading statements to federal investigators...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/nyregion/brooklyn-supreme-court-judge-sylvia-ash.html
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New York’s ethics watchdog ruled constitutional by state’s top court
February 18, 2025
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s top court on Tuesday affirmed the constitutionality of an ethics watchdog created three years ago to stem public corruption, rejecting arguments from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo related to a $5 million book deal.
The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government had been fighting for its survival after Cuomo’s lawyers persuaded lower courts that the panel was given unconstitutional enforcement powers. Cuomo contended that the law creating the agency violated the separation of powers mandated under the state constitution, since enforcing ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch...
https://apnews.com/article/cuomo-ethics-courts-new-york-2072b0fb7f64217915f5f2672e468332
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Supreme Court likely to toss New York corruption convictions
11/28/2022
The justices are near a consensus to overturn charges against a former Cuomo aide and developers.
The often-fractious Supreme Court displayed unusual consensus Monday as it signaled an appetite to overturn fraud convictions in two New York corruption cases involving developers with ties to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration.
Conservative and liberal justices strongly suggested both cases brought by anti-corruption crusading former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara relied on faulty legal premises. Much of the debate during oral arguments Monday centered on how broadly the court would word opinions rejecting the theories prosecutors used to win guilty verdicts from juries.
Forthcoming decisions, which are expected by June, could further a decades-long trend at the high court of limiting what the justices have seen as overly expansive use of federal statutes to pursue alleged corruption. In 2016, the court narrowed the types of acts that can trigger criminal corruption charges when it overturned the corruption convictions of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. Four years later, former allies to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie invoked the McDonnell ruling as they got their Bridgegate convictions overturned.
Cuomo was not charged in either case argued Monday, but it didn’t take long for his name to come up.
The first case involved the former governor’s convicted former aide, Joseph Percoco, who says payments he took in 2014 should not have been charged as essential bribes, because he was not on the government payroll at the time and was instead being paid by Cuomo’s reelection campaign.
Percoco attorney Jacob Roth quickly acknowledged that Percoco appealed to clients using influence he derived “from a close relationship to the Cuomo family,” but said the government’s bribery theory “strolls recklessly into a constitutional minefield” that could expose lobbyists and informal advisers to criminal bribery charges.
That argument clearly resonated with Justice Neil Gorsuch, who expressed deep concern about applying bribery-type statutes to past officials or people simply wielding a lot of influence, rather than to people actually serving as public officials.
“If the court were to go beyond that, is there any stopping point? Does this statute cover all lobbying, potentially?” asked Gorsuch, an appointee of President Donald Trump. “This town [Washington] is full of such persons. And presidents have had kitchen cabinets since the beginning of time.”
Prosecutors argued in the case that Percoco was effectively acting as a public official — even when on the campaign payroll — because he continued to attend official meetings and essentially perform the functions of his former job as deputy executive secretary to Cuomo.
Justice Department attorney Nicole Reaves said the fact that Percoco kept his official “key card” and was using official phones and offices in Albany supported the government’s theory that one could be convicted if serving as a “functional public official,” albeit not actually on the payroll...
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/28/supreme-court-new-york-corruption-00071011
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Cuomo -- Too Corrupt for New York City
February 26, 2025
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/02/26/cuomo_--_too_corrupt_for_new_york_city_152421.html
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Supreme Court suggests higher bar may be needed for corruption cases
November 28, 2022
In oral arguments in two New York public-corruption cases, justices say some efforts to influence government decisions are equivalent to lobbying
The Supreme Court on Monday seemed likely to impose new restrictions on federal prosecutors battling public corruption, with the justices skeptical about the convictions of two men who profited in influence peddling during the administration of former New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo (D).
The justices questioned whether Joseph Percoco could be convicted of depriving the public of his “honest services,” given that he was working for Cuomo’s reelection campaign — rather than in his former role as an aide to the governor — when he accepted $35,000 in payments from a construction company. Percoco made calls to state officials on the company’s behalf just before returning to government employment.
But using one’s political influence as a private citizen is basically just being a lobbyist, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch said, and “this town is full of such persons...”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/28/public-corruption-supreme-court-new-york/
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Judge Strikes Down Law Blocking Those Convicted of Public Corruption From Running for Office
Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Machelle Sweeting found that Local Law 15 and its retroactive application were unlawful.
May 11, 2023
https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2023/05/11/judge-strikes-down-law-blocking-those-convicted-of-public-corruption-from-running-for-office/
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Supreme Court’s weakening of public corruption safeguards sparks alarm
07/05/24
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4754860-supreme-court-decision-bribery-law-corruption/
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Bad Cops Not Getting Punishment They Deserve, Says Corruption Commission
July 10, 2022
In its first report since the pandemic began, the Commission to Combat Police Corruption says several cops who should have been fired for terrible behavior and lies were allowed to keep their jobs.
The NYPD let 21 cops who should have been terminated for serious misconduct in recent years remain on the job — including a veteran detective who inappropriately contacted several women who’d called a Crime Stoppers hotline, according to an oversight panel.
In the Commission to Combat Police Corruption’s 20th “annual” report, quietly released last month, the investigators said the discipline meted out by the NYPD was insufficient in 38 out of 338 cases — or just over 11% — that were concluded between October 2018 and September 2019.
That’s the same rate of disagreement revealed in the commission’s prior report, released three years ago in late 2019...
https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/07/10/bad-cops-not-getting-punishment-ccpc/
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NYC Surrogate’s Court is broken, it should be fixed or abolished
October 31, 2019
https://www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2019/10/nyc-surrogates-court-is-broken-it-should-be-fixed-or-abolished/176762/
The Public Administrator’s office is part of political patronage in the judicial system.
Earlier this week, Crain’s broke a story that Fernando Cabrera, a Bronx city councilman running against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, bought an apartment last year for just $55,000 and is now listing it for $140,000. Cabrera secured the bargain thanks to the Bronx Public Administrator, the office charged with handling the assets of those who die without wills.
New Yorkers who don’t have the misfortune of reckoning with the estate of a loved one know little about the Public Administrator’s office and Surrogate’s Court, where these matters are settled.
And even those who have encountered the institutions before may not know that Democratic Party politics can determine how assets are doled out, especially in boroughs with strong machines - the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.
The Public Administrator’s office is, as its name describes, a public agency. Each borough has one. But while other city agencies are (relatively) free of obvious partisan politics—civil service reforms instituted decades ago ensure the bureaucrats working there are not directly tied to a politician or political machine—the Public Administrator’s office is not. Under state law, Mayor Bill de Blasio does not appoint the heads of each Public Administrator’s office, like he would for the Department of Transportation or Department of Finance.
Instead, the Surrogate’s judge appoints the public administrator, who is paid through taxpayer money. Each borough has one judge, except for Brooklyn and Manhattan, which have two. All of them are Democrats elected to 14-year terms. Almost of all of them enjoy very close relationships with the local Democratic Party organizations. Those with political connections can earn substantial income administering the estates, some worth millions of dollars, of New Yorkers who die without a will.
Matilde Sanchez, the Bronx public administrator, earned $217,000 in 2019. Her counsel, like all counsels to the public administrator, is chosen by the Surrogate's Judge. This gives the judge, typically a machine ally, a unique power: the ability to decide both the head of a city agency and the chief lawyer who goes to court. Politically-connected lawyers, as has been reported extensively over the years, are more likely to handle estates in Surrogate’s Court.
For probate lawyers looking to boost their incomes, the most prized post is the counsel to the public administrator. Sanchez herself has been a donor to the Bronx Democrats and her deputy, Virna Crespo, is the wife of the chairman of the Bronx Democratic Party, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo. The counsel, Hugh Campbell, has donated to Bronx politicians like Carl Heastie, the Assembly speaker and former county leader, and Vanessa Gibson. In 2010, the Bronx Democratic Party gave Campbell their “Service Award.”
In Queens, the public administrator is Lois Rosenblatt, who was a longtime Democratic Party election lawyer. The Queens Surrogate's Judge appointed her counsel, Gerard Sweeney. Sweeny, who was the law partner to the former county leader Tom Manton, can earn millions of dollars a year in Surrogate’s Court. He remains a power broker in the Queens Democratic Party and was their primary lawyer in a court battle this summer over the Queens district attorney’s race. The Surrogate’s judge, Peter Kelly, is also party player: his sister used to be the chief of staff to Joe Crowley, the Queens Democratic boss who lost his congressional reelection race to Ocasio-Cortez.
Brooklyn has its own checkered history with Surrogate’s Court. An employee of the Public Administrator’s office once stole $78,000 from eight estates. A Brooklyn Surrogate judge was booted from the court for corrupt practices in 2005. Another Brooklyn Surrogate, Frank Seddio, who now chairs the Brooklyn Democratic Party, resigned in 2007 over allegations that he misused campaign funds.
While the decline of party machines in New York City has meant a city government largely free of the mass political patronage that was once common during the Tammany Hall era, Surrogate’s Court has changed surprisingly little over the last half century. There are reforms that could be enacted but would require changing state law.
One of the judges in Brooklyn’s Surrogate’s Court, Margarita Lopez-Torres, has urged state lawmakers to actually take away her power to appoint the public administrator and give it to the mayor. Taking politics out of the Surrogate’s judge post entirely could help as well: the state could make the position a mayoral appointee, like a criminal and family court judge, and end the practice of subjecting these judges to typically noncompetitive, party-controlled elections.
On the more radical end, reformers have called for Surrogate’s Court to be abolished entirely, its functions merged with the State Supreme Court. Though unlikely, this move would help consolidate New York’s byzantine court system, one of the most convoluted in America.
Lawmakers of both parties, as well as Gov. Andrew Cuomo, have rarely showed interest in any kind of judicial reform. If politicians have no interest in even mildly reforming the court, best to end it altogether and deprive the friends of the political machines their lucre.
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How insiders snatch millions from estates in the scandal-scarred Surrogate Courts
July 29, 2012
If you’re a lawyer in New York, there’s no sweeter deal than getting assigned to an estate case in Surrogate’s Court.
The work is often routine — selling assets, paying bills, contacting heirs — but the pay can reach into the millions.
Landing such a gig requires currying favor with one of the city’s seven surrogate judges, who handle wills and estates. They have the power to appoint lawyers and approve their sometimes jaw-dropping invoices.
The jobs often go to the judges’ friends, associates or campaign contributors, court authorities admit. Looting of the estates can sometimes result.
The most recent example involves Bronx Judge Lee Holzman, who last week faced removal from the surrogate bench after he signed off on legal work that was never done.
The bills, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, totaled $300,000 and went to the judge’s associate, lawyer Michael Lippman, a Democratic Party crony who ran Holzman’s campaign financing, raising $125,000, a court watchdog claims.
Lippman then got into money trouble himself, racking up $1 million in gambling debts and allegedly faking bills to cover his losses.
Prosecutors say they uncovered the cooked books and charged him with fraud.
Another alleged thief preyed on a lucrative and largely unsupervised part of the system — cases in which there is no will.
Such cases go to public administrators, who work with Surrogate’s Court judges in handling their finances.
In May, Richard Paul, the bookkeeper for the Brooklyn public administrator, was indicted for stealing $2.6 million from these estates, allegedly manipulating the check-writing process to get at the cash.
Judges who allow fraudulent pay-outs are “a disgrace to the legal profession and to the state of New York,” said Monroe Freedman, a Hofstra University professor and leading expert on legal ethics. “They should be removed from the bench and disbarred.”
Freedman said an entrenched system of favor-trading, with hints of bribery, has persisted for decades.
“They’re stealing from the client, which is one of the worst things you can do,” he said. “I can’t think of much worse. The judges are not only condoning it, but they’re helping lawyers do it.”
Even when there is no illegality, huge sums vanish.
A decade after Wall Street investment banker Ted Ammon was beaten to death in his East Hampton home, a group of politically connected lawyers pummeled his estate with $10 million in fees, records show.
That amounts to 20 percent of his $50 million fortune, well above the 6 percent rate that court administrators deem acceptable.
The staggering payments helped shrink the inheritance of Ammon’s adopted twin children — son Grego and daughter Alexa — to just $1 million each.
The hefty legal tab was rubber-stamped by Surrogate’s Court judges in Manhattan and Long Island.
One of them, former Manhattan Surrogate Eve Preminger, approved $4.3 million to a single firm, Schulte, Roth & Zabel.
That amounts to $9,710 per day between February 2002 and July 2003.
Preminger had personal ties to the firm. She privately worked with Schulte’s pointwoman on the case, lawyer Susan Frunzi. The two wrote a textbook, “Trusts and Estates Practice in New York,” together.
The judge also owned stock in JPMorgan Chase, which she approved as estate executor.
The bank picked Schulte, then submitted its own bill for $1.6 million.
After Ammon’s widow, Generosa, died of cancer in 2003, the matter moved to Surrogate’s Court in Suffolk County, where Gerard Sweeney, an insider with the Queens Democratic machine, made a windfall.
He and another lawyer, Michael Dowd, were executors to the estate of Generosa Ammon, but also got appointed as lawyers by the Suffolk judge, John Czygier.
Together they scooped up a cool $2.2 million.
Sweeney hired Eisner LLP, an accounting firm that charged $123,000 for just one month of work in April 2004.
State court authorities long ago recognized serious problems in the Surrogate’s Courts.
They conducted two blue-ribbon panel reviews, in 2001 and 2005, and found that there was “an opaque system that operates on the basis of connections and cronyism” and that its own rules were being ignored.
So in 2002, they pushed through reforms, barring court employees and political party leaders from getting fiduciary appointments.
Any lawyer who earns more than $75,000 in a given year on a single case he’s appointed to now must wait a year before getting a second appointment.
There’s also a “sunshine” provision that demands the court system publish the names of appointees and their fees on its official Web site.
But that hasn’t stopped the tide of scandal.
Former Brooklyn Surrogate Michael Feinberg was forced out in 2005 and disbarred for approving excessive fees of 8 percent to a law-school friend.
His successor, Frank Seddio, stepped down in 2007 amid a probe by the watchdog Commission on Judicial Conduct into allegations he sent campaign cash to political cronies.
A commission committee voted to boot Holzman last week, but he’s fighting to keep his job.
His defense is to claim that other surrogates did the same thing — namely, signing off on fat payments without examining invoices, a practice that court authorities say is not OK.
His examples, listed in rebuttal to the charges, include former Manhattan Surrogate Renee Roth, one of the four Ammon judges, who was ripped by the city bar association for handing two-thirds of her lucrative legal assignments to attorneys who funded her election.
Has anything really changed?
Not according to former Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Felice Shea, who was hired as a referee on the Holzman matter and dryly concluded last week that in Surrogate’s Courts “statutory compliance and transparency are not the norm.”
Court spokesman David Bookstaver said the new rules have greatly improved the system.
“They certainly lend themselves to much greater accountability and transparency and have gone a long way to increase the public’s understanding and confidence in the Surrogate Courts,” he said.
Preminger, Roth, Frunzi, Sweeney and Dowd did not return calls for comment.
Before his death in 2001, Ammon doted on children Grego and Alexa, who are now 21, but they stand to inherit far less than what has been paid to the court-approved experts — just $500,000 in cash each, plus $1million for them to share in a trust named after the widow Generosa.
That trust has only one other asset: the East Hampton home where their father was killed by Generosa’s husband, Danny Pelosi.
But the house, valued at $9 million, cannot be sold until their former nanny, Kathryn Ann Mayne, dies.
She gets to live there for free for as long as she wants.
https://nypost.com/2012/07/29/how-insiders-snatch-millions-from-estates-in-the-scandal-scarred-surrogate-courts/
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The Corrupt Justice in New York State Is Very Sad!
May 11, 2016
When I read, Margaret Besen's story I fell back in my chair and thought something needs to be done with the unethical misconduct of Judges and Lawyers in New York State. The higher they are in the courts the worse unethical behavior these Judges and Firm Lawyers act toward citizens seeking Justice. There is absolutely a serious problem inside the New York State Judicial System, they're Corrupt. There is warrant for serious concern among the poor and working class citizens of New York State. It's about Bias and Abuse and misleading the public into defeat because they don't know this corruption exists in the court, until they go through the New York State Judicial System looking for Justice! Justice doesn't exist inside the New York Judicial System. If you don't pay attention to this article you will realize you alone are fooling yourself because "Reality is when it happens to you." trust me, what happened to Margaret Besen, a mother of two, a Nurse, it can happen to any of us.
Read her story below, the New York Judicial System, the Highest New York Courts and the New York Bar Association are corrupt and Margaret Besen's Story is proof of how corrupt the system is in New York State.
This 51, year old Nurse, Margaret Besen was better off staying married to her abusive lawyer husband, Stuart Besen an attorney at law in East Northport, Long Island. Instead, she filed for divorce from her husband in March of 2010 because she believed justice was on her side.
Margaret and Stuart Besen, who agreed their marriage was beyond repair, would remain in their suburban Suffolk County house together, living in separate rooms – while keeping away from each other and sharing custody of their two children. While, Judge William Kent’s until the Judge's Decision and resolution could be reached. Read below how corrupt the courts are in New York State. The Judge should be disbarred, indicted and sent to prison for what he did to Margaret Besen.
The Judge's wife Patricia Kent, a Real Estate Broker Listed and sold, Margaret Besen's Long Island home for $749, 999, and till this day she hasn't got a penny from the sale. Judge Kent said, the most valuable marital asset the Besen's have, is their home, it must be sold and the proceeds divided, but, Margaret Besen ended up with nothing. She ended up homeless, lost her professional job, ended up living on food stamps and her children were taken away, her lawyer husband Stuart Besen got full custody of the children. Read the full story below!
Corrupt justice: what happens when judges' bias taints a case? http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/18/judge-bias-corrupts-court-cases
How evil is this government? They take people out of their homes, throw them to the street, and then the empty house remains empty for years with black deadly mold embeded inside the walls. The banks collect the insurance money on the houses and now the New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announces another bailout for the banks "initiative" so the banks can make more money off of the backs of homeowners they threw to the streets. We are going to give the banks $12.6 Million to fix these Zombie houses. Really! What did you give the taxpayers who once owned these homes that you threw out to the streets? http://www.westchestermagazine.com/New-York-Zombie-Homes-Grant-Money-Westchester-Hudson-Valley/
The Westchester News is the most trusted News Media on the internet, we expose corruption - The Westchester News
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/corrupt-justice-new-york-state-very-sad-barbara-ricci
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Left and right agree on one thing: The justice system is corrupted by bias
07/01/2024
It is now taken for granted that the courts are not on the level — and that it’s naïve to believe otherwise.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/01/justice-system-bias-supreme-court-00165991
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Can New York Overhaul Its Complex, Antiquated Court System?
2/16/2022
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/16/nyregion/new-york-court-system.html
For decades, governors and lawmakers have unsuccessfully tried to overhaul New York’s antiquated and fragmented court system, considered among the most complex to navigate in the country.
A family, for example, might have to appear in State Supreme Court for divorce proceedings, in Family Court for related custody issues and in Criminal Court if domestic violence was involved — appearing before multiple judges in different courts for issues that are all connected.
On Wednesday, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore renewed her push to modernize and simplify the court system, a labyrinth that is laden with backlogs, higher costs for litigants and redundant court appearances, supporters of reforming it say.
Judge DiFiore, who presides over the state’s highest court, announced a plan meant to effectively consolidate most of the state’s 11 trial courts into two: the existing State Supreme Court and a newly created Municipal Court.
“We are compelled to operate one of the largest and busiest court systems in the world under the constraints of what is, without question, the most inefficient, outdated, fragmented and needlessly complex trial court structure in the nation,” Judge DiFiore said during her annual State of the Judiciary address. “We need to streamline and modernize our obsolete trial court structure, but inexplicably reform is never seriously pursued...”
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Why Are New York Politicians So Corrupt?
November 1, 2024
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/new-york-politics-corruption-explainer/
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How the politically connected control the New York court system
June 7, 2017
Manhattan lawyers knew Judge Joan Kenney was “confrontational,” “abusive” and “outright nasty” — and said so on a judge-ranking Web site, The Robing Room.
One fed-up attorney went further, complaining to the state Commission on Judicial Conduct that she was “rude” and failed to display “judicial temperament” during a settlement conference.
The city Bar Association publicly branded her with a damning “Not Approved” rating in 2010, saying she failed “to affirmatively demonstrate the requisite qualifications” to sit in judgment of others.
And last year, she was “universally not respected” by a Democratic screening committee that blocked her bid to run for a seat on the state Supreme Court, a panel member told The Post.
But none of the red flags affected her seat on the bench — or even her 2009 promotion to acting Supreme Court justice, for which she scored her first annual renewal just two months after being deemed unfit by the Bar Association...
https://nypost.com/2017/06/07/how-the-politically-connected-control-the-new-york-court-system/
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Former Nassau County Exec Ed Mangano Sentenced to 12 Years for Bribery, Corruption
April 14, 2022
Former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, once one of Long Island's most powerful elected officials, was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison for what a prosecutor described as “widespread corruption and dishonesty.”
Mangano, who was convicted in 2019 on corruption charges related to his relationship with businessman Harendra Singh, defended his actions at his sentencing in federal court on Long Island, according to Newsday.
“I haven’t been able to say anything in the last seven years and I just want you to know the type of people we are,” Mangano told U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack. He said he and his wife, Linda, who was also charged in the case, were “not conspiring people" but "caring people.”
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-nassau-county-exec-ed-mangano-sentenced-to-12-years-for-bribery-corruption/3647253/
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NYC mayoral hopeful Jim Walden wants to fight City Hall ‘corruption’ with overhauled ‘Integrity’ agency
Jan. 4, 2025
https://nypost.com/2025/01/04/us-news/nyc-mayoral-hopeful-jim-walden-wants-to-fight-city-hall-corruption-with-overhauled-agency/
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‘A form of corruption': NYPD officer settles city lawsuit that brought union's get-out-of-trouble cards to light
September 11, 2024
In his lawsuit filed last year, Mathew Bianchi claimed current and retired officers have access to hundreds of cards, giving them away in exchange for a discount on a meal or a home improvement job.
A New York City police officer has reached a $175,000 settlement with the city in a lawsuit that illuminated the use of the “courtesy cards” that officers dole out to friends and relatives to get out of traffic stops and other minor infractions, according to an agreement filed in Manhattan federal court Monday.
The deal brings an end to a lawsuit brought last year by Officer Mathew Bianchi that claimed he'd been punished by his superiors for failing to honor the cards, though the settlement itself makes no substantive changes to how the cards are used by NYPD officers.
The laminated cards, which typically bear an image of an NYPD badge and the name of one of the city's police unions, are not officially recognized by the police department but have long been treated as a perk of the job.
The city’s police unions issue them to members, who circulate them among those who want to signal their NYPD connections — often to get out of minor infractions such as speeding or failing to wear a seat belt.
Bianchi said his views about the courtesy cards haven’t changed. The 40-year-old Staten Island-based officer said there should be more oversight over how many of the cards are distributed to officers and better protections for those who speak out against their misuse.
“It's a form of corruption,” he said by phone Tuesday. “My approach to how I handle them is not going to change, even if some boss is going to try to punish me. I’m still going to go out there and I’m going to do exactly what I feel is right.”
Bianchi's lawyer John Scola said he hoped the officer's efforts would inspire others in the department to step forward as whistleblowers...
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/a-form-of-corruption-nypd-officer-settles-city-lawsuit-that-brought-unions-get-out-of-trouble-cards-to-light/5786538/
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Feds make dozens of bribery arrests related to New York City public housing contracts
February 7, 2024
NEW YORK -- Dozens of New York City Housing Authority workers are accused of corruption for allegedly taking millions of dollars in exchange for work contracts.
Seventy current or former employees are now facing extortion and bribery charges, and potentially decades in prison.
NYCHA -- the largest public housing authority in the nation -- receives more than $1.5 billion a year from the federal government. One in 17 New Yorkers lives in a NYCHA building. There are 335 developments.
The bribes -- more than $2 million in total -- allegedly took place at nearly one-third of all NYCHA buildings across all five boroughs of New York City...
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nycha-bribery-arrests/
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Major corruption scandal at NYCHA involves a third of buildings with at least 70 arrests
February 7, 2024
About 70 people are charged in connection with varying alleged corruption and kickback schemes at NYCHA facilities, prosecutors said
Dozens of New York City Housing Authority workers and contractors were arrested Tuesday by city and federal investigators in one of the largest public corruption roundups in Justice Department history, according to prosecutors.
About 70 people are charged in connection with varying alleged corruption and kickback schemes that occurred between 2013 and 2023 at NYCHA facilities, Southern District of New York attorney Damian Williams announced. The alleged kickback schemes included construction, maintenance and no-bid contracts for essential services like plumbing at nearly a third of the public housing buildings where "extorting was business as usual."
The investigation spanned over a year and arrests were made in six states and all five boroughs, prosecutors said.
A total of 55 current NYCHA employees and more than a dozen former employees were charged after allegedly demanding more than $2 million in bribe money from contractors in exchange for giving out more than $13 million worth of work. The bribes involved small jobs like plumbing for less than $10,000 each, prosecutors alleged, but building superintendents demanded kickback payments before work could begin.
Williams said it was the largest single-day bribery takedown in Justice Department history. So many NYCHA workers were arrested that federal agents had a bus waiting by to drive them all to court. Others were led to U.S. Marshals vans.
Ivan Arvelo, the Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge for New York, said that the NYCHA residents "may have been cheated out of better services and programs" due to the "lucrative, under-the-table deals."
There are 335 NYCHA developments across the city and investigators alleged bribery at almost 100 of them, Williams said as he showed a map of the widespread corruption (below)...
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/nycha-corruption-arrest-scheme/5109613/
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Ulrich, the ex-NYC building commissioner, indicted by Bragg in sweeping corruption case
9/13/2023
Manhattan district attorney alleges Eric Ulrich abused multiple positions in city government for private gain.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/13/ulrich-nyc-building-commissioner-indicted-bragg-corruption-00115654
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9 Contractors Charged in ‘Brazen' NYCHA Kickback Scheme: Brooklyn DA
September 20, 2021
What to Know
The Brooklyn district attorney and the city's Department of Investigation have announced charges Monday against more than a half-dozen contractors they say allegedly tried to bribe NYCHA supervisors to win contracts in Brooklyn public housing developments.
Nine contractors surrendered Monday morning to face charges of bribery in the third degree. If convicted, they face up to seven years in jail.
The case began after a NYCHA official reported a bribery attempt, which led to an undercover investigation that allegedly showed a more widespread problem, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/contractors-expected-to-be-charged-in-alleged-nycha-kickback-scheme-sources/3280939/
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Rampant Lack of Oversight Led to NYCHA Contract Corruption, Comptroller Audit Finds
12/19/2024
Comptroller Brad Lander’s office found dozens of cases where NYCHA could not document that work the agency had paid for was actually done.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/nyregion/ingrid-lewis-martin-corruption-charges.html
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Three Contractors Sentenced to 20 Years in CityTime Corruption Case
2-29-2014
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/nyregion/three-men-sentenced-to-20-years-in-citytime-scheme.html
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Corruption in the New York Courts
March 25, 2018
There is an interesting—and disturbing—federal case that involves allegations of corruption in the New York state court system that is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Welcome to Knopf v. Esposito, 17-cv-5833 (S.D.N.Y.) and 17-4151 (Civil) (2d Cir.).
What’s remarkable about the case is that much of what happened isn’t disputed. The documentary evidence has been filed (and is available to anyone with a PACER account), and the corruption seems established by these documents. However, instead of allowing the victims’ civil rights claim to proceed, the federal district court not only dismissed the complaint but sanctioned the victims and their attorney at total of $197,857. It’s not clear how such documented allegations could be defeated prior to trial, let alone result in the victims of the corruption being penalized by a federal judge.
Here is the background. Norma and Michael Knopf are an elderly couple. They made several real estate loans to an individual named Michael Sanford. Sanford did not repay the loans, and the Knopfs prevailed on their breach of the loan agreement claims in a state court appeal, but the appellate court did not determine the amount of their damages. Then, while awaiting a hearing on their damages, Sanford sold one of the properties he had purchased using the loans from the Knopfs without paying the proceeds into escrow as he was required to do under yet another appellate order. The Knopfs had obtained that escrow order so that, when they eventually obtained their money judgment, they could apply those proceeds to their judgment.
Prior to selling the property, Sanford moved to vacate, the legal term for nullify, the escrow order, but his motion was denied. Sanford’s buyer therefore refused to close on the escrow-free terms Sanford was demanding. Instead of moving for reconsideration, Sanford located Frank Esposito, the husband of an appellate court attorney, Melissa Ringel, and entered into an agreement to pay Esposito $55,000. Ringel, after talking to Esposito, agreed—as she admitted in a deposition—to say that the order did not impose an escrow requirement.
The very next day after Sanford and Esposito entered into the $55,000 contract, two of Sanford’s lawyers, Nathaniel Akerman and Ed Feldman, contracted Ringel at the First Department without including the Knopfs’ lawyers on the call. Ringel provided Akerman and Feldman with what the federal district court called an “advisory opinion” that there was no escrow requirement after all, and that Sanford was free to sell the property without escrowing the sale proceeds. Ringel’s advisory opinion satisfied the concerns of Sanford’s buyer, and Sanford sold the property without escrowing the proceeds. Esposito, the husband of the court attorney, received $102,500 of the sale proceeds, well beyond the $55,000 Sanford had promised him.
A few weeks later, after Sanford was found by a judicial hearing officer to owe the Knopfs $10.9 million, the Knopfs learned about the sale and moved to enforce the escrow order. Their motion was granted, but all except $436,227.32 of the sales proceeds had been dispersed by that time.
Based on these events, the Knopfs brought a civil rights action alleging a conspiracy to deprive them of their due process rights (particularly, the right to notice and an opportunity to be heard in connection with the court attorney’s “ruling”). They alleged that the money that had not been paid into escrow but was dispersed instead should have been paid to them.
It appears that the Knopfs have already obtained most the evidence they would need to prove the due process violation. Esposito and Sanford testified in depositions that they met so that Sanford could obtain Esposito’s assistance in overcoming the escrow order. Esposito and Ringel testified that she agreed to opine that the orders did not impose an impediment to Sanford selling the property without escrowing the proceeds.
Feldman and Akerman admit that they called Ringel and obtained her advisory ruling without the Knopfs being on the call. The deposition testimony is in the record, and accessible via PACER, as is: Sanford’s agreement to pay Esposito $55,000 on January 11, 2016, Feldman’s file memo regarding the call he and Ackerman made to Ringel the next day (January 12), and the $102,500 in checks that Esposito received from the property sale, all of which are on the district court docket.
Based on the documentary evidence, the district court’s decision (Hon. Denise Cote, J.) dismissing the complaint seems curious. Judge Cote found that it was a “coincidence” that Ackerman and Feldman ended up talking to Ringel, as opposed to another court attorney. The Knopfs, not surprisingly, reject the plausibility of an innocent coincidence since Ringel was one of more than fifty court attorneys employed in the appellate court, and she was assigned to the court’s mediation department and had no responsibilities relating to motions or orders. Judge Cote also did not mention the obvious due process violation that occurred when the Knopfs were not included on the call Ackerman and Feldman placed to Ringel. Nor did Judge Cote’s decision mention that $102,500 in payments were made to Ringel’s husband, Esposito. Judge Cote also found, without elaboration, that there were no grounds to believe that Ringel was part of a conspiracy.
As would be expected, the Knopfs appealed the ruling to the Second Circuit. However, immediately after they filed the appeal, Judge Cote imposed $197,857 in sanctions against them and their counsel under 42 U.S.C. §1988, 28 U.S.C. §1927, and the court’s inherent powers. From reading the decision granting sanctions, it’s fairly clear that, while Judge Cote did not believe that Sanford, Esposito, Ringel, or Sanford’s attorneys did anything wrong in exchanging $102,500 for an advisory opinion and then using that advisory opinion to avoid the escrow requirement, she had no qualms about punishing the Knopfs and their attorney for bringing the corruption to light.
All these issues are now before the Second Circuit, and this will be an interesting appeal to follow. The federal Civil Rights Act of 1871 was intended to protect the victims of corruption schemes in the state courts, and the Second Circuit has an opportunity make sure that purpose is achieved in this case.
https://www.stloiyf.com/blog/post/corruption-in-the-new-york-courts/
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Ex-Fire Chief in New York City Pleads Guilty in Corruption Scandal
Jan 29, 2025
A former New York City Fire Department chief has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge, admitting that he and others agreed to accept $190,000 in bribes to speed safety inspections for customers of a former city firefighter
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2025-01-29/ex-fire-chief-in-new-york-city-pleads-guilty-in-corruption-scandal
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Two ex-fire chiefs in New York City arrested in corruption scandal
September 16, 2024
https://apnews.com/article/corruption-nyc-fire-chiefs-arrested-2e03726e7303383c1fca10b0dff441ba
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Billionaire Gautam Adani indicted in New York on bribery charges
November 21, 2024
New York/New Delhi CNN —
Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and other executives were indicted in New York on Wednesday by US prosecutors for their alleged roles in a yearslong, multi-million-dollar bribery and fraud scheme involving plans to develop a major solar power plant.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement that Adani, a key ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and seven other executives, including his nephew Sagar Adani, promised more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure solar energy contracts.
The impact of the allegations, which come more than a year after a US short-seller accused Adani Group of stock manipulation and accounting fraud, was immediately felt across the sprawling conglomerate. On Thursday, shares in the group’s listed firms fell between 10% and 20%, wiping out just under $30 billion in total market value according to Reuters data.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/20/business/gautam-adani-indicted/index.html
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A Union Scandal Landed Hundreds of NYPD Officers on a Secret Watchlist. That Hasn’t Stopped Some From Jeopardizing Cases.
Oct. 22, 2021
After prosecutors flagged hundreds of cops caught fixing tickets for friends and family a decade ago, the officers’ work was supposed to get an extra level of scrutiny. Some cases fell apart anyway.
One judge said she believed the testimony of a Bronx defendant’s 64-year-old mother more than that of the two New York City police officers who arrested him.
Another said she didn’t buy the testimony of an officer and his colleagues, concluding that they had stopped a car not because they’d seen its occupants break any laws but because it was driven by “three young men of color.”
A third jurist toyed with using the word “perjury” to describe the testimony of an officer who repeatedly contradicted himself, claiming, for example, the defendant had both told police and not told police where he lived.
In each of the cases, the officers’ testimony was supposed to help prosecutors secure convictions against people charged with illegal gun possession. Instead, the cases fell apart, done in by the officers’ own dubious statements. Yet prosecutors had pursued trials knowing there was reason not to put these cops on the stand.
That’s because they were among hundreds of officers placed on the Bronx district attorney’s “No Fly List,” a secret roster of officers whose cases are supposed to get an extra level of scrutiny by prosecutors...
https://www.propublica.org/article/a-union-scandal-landed-hundreds-of-nypd-officers-on-a-secret-watchlist-that-hasnt-stopped-some-from-jeopardizing-cases
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NYPD - Historical and Current Research: NYPD Oversight: Excessive Force, Corruption & Investigations
This is a guide mainly focusing on the history of the NYPD, but modern sources are covered too.
https://guides.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/c.php?g=288325&p=1922622
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Two NYPD detectives faced brutal retaliation — and fake rats — while probing corrupt bosses: lawsuit
Feb. 1, 2025
Two NYPD detectives allege in a bombshell lawsuit filed Saturday that they have become modern-day Serpicos, investigating police corruption at the highest levels only to be retaliated against by their own department — and even mocked with images of rats at their desk.
Detective William Seidman, 42, and his partner, Detective Anthony Vidot, 57, were assigned to the city’s Department of Investigation in 2020 to root out corruption and bribery involving NYPD and city officials, their lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court claims.
One investigation involved allegations that clubs in Midtown and Queens were paying cops and their associates for special treatment, like not issuing fines for noise complaints and ignoring other violations, sources have said.
https://nypost.com/2025/02/01/us-news/two-nypd-detectives-faced-brutal-retaliation-and-fake-rats-while-probing-corrupt-bosses-lawsuit/
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Brooklyn DA overturns 378 convictions due to 13 NYPD officers' misconduct, false testimony
September 8, 2022
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The Brooklyn District Attorney's office has asked a judge to throw out hundreds of convictions that relied on testimony from dirty police officers.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez presented 378 cases to a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge asking for their dismissal based on new evidence that the police officers who testified were not reliable witnesses...
https://abc7ny.com/convictions-overturned-brooklyn-da-eric-gonzalez-nypd-misconduct-corruption/12212052/
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NYC police commissioner resigns amid nightclub probe
Sep 12, 2024
Edward Caban's phone was seized by federal investigators last week.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/nyc-police-commissioner-expected-resign-today-nightclub-probe-sources-rcna170792
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'You can't have cops watching cops' — NYPD officer, ex-cop lawyer sue NYC
May 20, 2019
An NYPD sergeant who uncovered blatant corruption in the 109th Precinct during the course of an 18-month undercover operation says top brass ignored his findings and then engaged in a “campaign to harass” him. The attorney representing him is an ex-cop who says he can relate.
Sgt. Steven Lee filed a lawsuit against the city and the NYPD in Queens Supreme Court last month. In the suit, Lee claims that Internal Affairs ignored his secret audio tapes, which exposed bribery, prostitution and drug dealing at Flushing karaoke bars. The NYPD elected not to pursue the protection racket that Lee says involved high-ranking cops in the 109th, organized crime figures and an ex-cop who coerced bars into contracting with his security firm, he said.
“You can’t have cops watching cops,” Lee said. “It’s sad to say, but it’s like a gang. You come in, you get initiated and if you don’t ride along with the program you get picked on and you get pressured to do what everyone else is doing.”
Rather than reward him for his work, the department began to systematically mistreat him, belittle him and analyze his every move, Lee said.
Lee sought an attorney to represent him in disciplinary proceedings and, later, the lawsuit, and connected with Joe Murray, a retired NYPD officer in the 115th Precinct. Murray said he too experienced harassment after he challenged authority and refused to toe the company line.
“[Lee] really struck me because I remember everyone being against me,” Murray told the Eagle. “It’s like I’m reliving it...”
https://queenseagle.com/all/cops-corruption-harassment-nypd-lawsuit-lee-murray
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Rikers Island guards and staff are ‘usually’ source of drugs at the jail, investigator testifies
November 29, 2022
https://www.nydailynews.com/2022/11/29/rikers-island-guards-and-staff-are-usually-source-of-drugs-at-the-jail-investigator-testifies/
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Ex-Suffolk District Attorney Tom Spota sentenced to 5 years in prison in corruption case
August 10, 2021
CENTRAL ISLIP, Long Island (WABC) -- Former Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday following his 2019 conviction for helping cover for a former protégé who as police chief punched a handcuffed man suspected of stealing embarrassing items from his police department SUV, including sex toys and pornography.
Spota was convicted of witness tampering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy, and he must report to prison by December 10. Spota was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.
The jury determined Spota conspired with Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke and former anti-corruption bureau chief Christopher McPartland to pressure witnesses to not cooperate with an FBI investigation into the 2012 assault.
https://abc7ny.com/thomas-spota-tom-sentencing-suffolk-county/10942546/
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Ex-NYS judge, prosecutor kills himself after shootout with FBI agents who arrived to arrest him on corruption charges: report
9-24-2024
A retired upstate New York judge and former prosecutor allegedly shot himself to death Tuesday morning in a shootout with FBI agents trying to bust him on bribery and corruption charges, according to sources.
Stewart Rosenwasser, who has been embroiled in a sordid federal bribery scandal, allegedly opened fire on the agents as they approached his Orange County home before his death by apparent suicide shortly after 9:30 am, law enforcement sources told The Post.
The FBI said in a statement that the agency is reviewing the incident at the Campbell Hall home, noting that it is being investigated by the Inspection Division, as is typically the case in agent-involved shootings.
“As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide,” the statement said.
https://nypost.com/2024/09/24/us-news/ex-nys-judge-prosecutor-apparently-kills-himself-as-fbi-arrives-to-arrest-him-on-corruption-rap/
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Correction Boss Busted in Alleged Pension Scam
June 8, 2016
The leader of a powerful city union who allegedly accepted lavish gifts, exotic trips and cold hard cash in exchange for the investment of pension funds was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges in an ongoing investigation focusing on the NYPD and City Hall.
Norman Seabrook, president of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association for the past 21 years, was arrested at his Bronx home early Wednesday morning and charged with honest services fraud and conspiracy.
Investigators allege Seabrook took kickbacks in connection with his union’s pension fund investments.
Seabrook allegedly received $60,000 in payoffs and in exchange directed a total of $20 million in the union's retirement funds to the Platinum Investment fund, according to court documents.
The former head of the fund, Murray Huberfeld, was also arrested and charged with honest services fraud and conspiracy Wednesday morning. His bond was set at $1 million to be secured by $500,000 in property and co-signed by two financially responsible individuals.
Seabrook and Huberfeld have both denied wrongdoing...
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-fbi-arrests-corrections-union-president-norman-seabrook-corruption-charges/712098/
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Boss Tweed’s House of Corruption: A Tale of Crooked Schemes and Unchecked Power
March 8, 2019
The roots of modern American corruption traces themselves back to a handsome — but not necessarily revolutionary — historic structure sitting behind New York City Hall.
The Tweed Courthouse is more than a mere landmark. Once called the New York County Courthouse, the Courthouse is better known for many traits that the concepts of law and order normally detest — greed, bribery, kickbacks and graft.
But Tammany Hall, the oft-maligned Democratic political machine, served a unique purpose in New York City in the 1850s and 60s, tending to the needs of newly arrived Irish immigrants who were being ignored by inadequate city services. But they required certain favors like the support of political candidates.
And that is how William ‘Boss’ Tweed rose through the ranks of city politics to become the most powerful man in New York City. And it was Tweed, through various government organizations and his trusty Tweed Ring, who transformed this new courthouse project into a cash cow for the greediest of the Gilded Age.
How did the graft function during the construction of the Tweed Courthouse? What led to Tweed’s downfall? And how did this literal temple to corruption become a beloved landmark in the 1980s?
https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2019/03/boss-tweeds-house-of-corruption.html
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Supreme Court To Decide Scope of Key Federal Corruption Statute
February 29, 2024
Section 666 of Title 18 has become one of the most important legal tools used in the federal prosecution of state and local corruption. It will soon be taken up by the Supreme Court. This article discusses another important federal anti-corruption statute, 18 U.S.C. §201. It then describes the competing interpretations of Section 666 and concludes with comments on the implications of a Supreme Court decision in 'United States v. Snyder'.
Section 666 of Title 18 has become one of the most important legal tools used in the federal prosecution of state and local corruption. The law applies broadly to public and private organizations funded by the federal government and makes it a crime to "corruptly solicit[ ][,] demand[ ][,]…or accept[ ]…anything of value" with the "inten[t] to be influenced or rewarded in connection with" an organization's activities. 18 U.S.C. §666(a)(1)(B).
Public corruption is a perennial focus of prosecutors, so the reach of Section 666 is of importance. The new Whistleblower Pilot Program of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District, for instance, expressly seeks to help the office "bring[ ] complex public corruption cases," among others.
https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2024/02/29/supreme-court-to-decide-scope-of-key-federal-corruption-statute/
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Mexico’s Ex-Top Security Official Is Convicted of Cartel Bribery
A Brooklyn jury found Genaro García Luna guilty of taking millions of dollars from the Sinaloa drug cartel when he was in charge of Mexico’s bloody war on organized crime.
2-21-2023
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/21/world/americas/genaro-garcia-luna-guilty.html
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Sheldon Silver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Silver
Sheldon Silver (February 13, 1944 – January 24, 2022) was an American Democratic Party politician and attorney from New York City who served as Speaker of the New York State Assembly from 1994 to 2015. A native of Manhattan's Lower East Side, Silver served in the New York State Assembly from 1977 to 2015. In 1994, he was elected as Speaker; he held that position for two decades. During this period, Silver was known as one of the most powerful politicians in the state.
Silver was arrested on federal corruption charges in early 2015, and resigned as Speaker of the Assembly shortly afterward. At his trial that November, he was convicted of all charges; the felony convictions triggered his automatic expulsion from the Assembly. Silver's conviction was overturned on appeal, but in May 2018, following a retrial, he was found guilty on the same charges. After another appeal, the Second Circuit Court dismissed the guilty verdicts for three of the charges, but upheld them for four others. Silver was resentenced in July 2020 to 6+1⁄2 years in prison and a $1 million fine. He was incarcerated in the federal prison at Otisville, New York. Silver was released on May 4, 2021, under a provision of the CARES Act, which allows prison bureaus to release those deemed vulnerable to COVID-19, but was recalled to a medical-care specialized federal prison at Devens, Massachusetts two days later on May 6. He died at a hospital in nearby Ayer, Massachusetts, on January 24, 2022, while still serving his sentence.
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The 1930s Investigation That Took Down New York’s Mayor—and Then Tammany Hall
September 25, 2024
When FDR found out how beholden New York politicians were to mobsters, he ordered the Seabury commission to investigate.
https://www.history.com/news/tammany-hall-corruption-downfall-fdr-seabury-investigation
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IN SCANDAL OF 1930'S, CITY SHOOK AND A MAYOR FELL
1986
https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/13/nyregion/in-scandal-of-1930-s-city-shook-and-a-mayor-fell.html
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Tammany Hall
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was an American political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789, as the Tammany Society. It became the main local political machine of the Democratic Party and played a major role in controlling New York City and New York state politics. It helped immigrants, most notably the Irish, rise in American politics from the 1850s into the 1960s. Tammany usually controlled Democratic nominations and political patronage in Manhattan for over 100 years following the mayoral victory of Fernando Wood in 1854, and used its patronage resources to build a loyal, well-rewarded core of district and precinct leaders; after 1850, the vast majority were Irish Catholics due to mass immigration from Ireland during and after the Irish Famine of the late 1840s.
After 1854, it expanded its political control even further by earning the loyalty of the city's rapidly expanding immigrant community, which functioned as its base of political capital. The business community appreciated its readiness, at moderate cost, to cut through regulatory and legislative mazes to facilitate rapid economic growth. By 1872, Tammany had an Irish Catholic "boss". In 1928, a Tammany hero, New York Governor Al Smith, won the Democratic presidential nomination. However, the organization also served as an engine for graft and political corruption, most infamously under William M. "Boss" Tweed in the mid-19th century. The Tammany ward boss or ward heeler (wards were the city's smallest political units from 1786 to 1938) served as the local vote gatherer and provider of patronage.
By the 1880s, Tammany was building local clubs that appealed to social activists from the ethnic middle class.[1][2] At its peak the machine had the advantage of a core of solid supporters, and usually exercised control of politics and policymaking in Manhattan; it also played a major role in the state legislature in Albany. Charles Murphy acted as boss from 1902 to 1924.[3] "Big Tim" Sullivan was the Tammany leader in the Bowery, and the machine's spokesman in the state legislature.[4] In the early 20th century, the two men promoted Tammany as a reformed agency dedicated to the interests of the working class. The new image deflected attacks and secured a following among the emerging ethnic middle class. In the process Robert F. Wagner became a powerful United States Senator, and Al Smith served four terms as governor and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1928.[5][6]
Tammany's influence waned during the 1930s and early 1940s, when it engaged in a losing battle with Franklin D. Roosevelt, the state's governor (1929–1932) and later U.S. President (1933–1945). In 1932, after Mayor Jimmy Walker was forced from office when his bribery was exposed, Roosevelt stripped Tammany of federal patronage. Republican Fiorello La Guardia was elected mayor on a Fusion ticket and became the first anti-Tammany mayor to be re-elected. A brief resurgence in Tammany power in the 1950s, under the leadership of Carmine DeSapio, was met with Democratic opposition, led by Eleanor Roosevelt, Herbert Lehman, and the New York Committee for Democratic Voters. By the mid-1960s, Tammany Hall had ceased to exist.
Although not common in modern interpretations and evaluations of the effects of the organisation, Tammany was frequently criticised in the 19th century for being directly responsible for the nativism, anti-Catholic sentiment, and the rise of the Know Nothing Party in the preceding century due to fears about Tammany's influence and tactics.
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Past Corruption in New York City: Marcus, Tweed & Gross
August 23, 2016
The James Marcus Scandal: 1965-1968
The James Marcus story is told with a knowing, fluid and jaundiced style by Walter Goodman in A Percentage of the Take: A Classic Case of Big-City Corruption (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux) (1971). Marcus’s corruption brought down political leader Carmine DeSapio, New York City contractor Henry Fried, Mafia figures, union leaders and Consolidated Edison executives.
James Marcus had few successes in life. At age 35, his main path to advancement was his 1962 marriage to Lily Lodge, the daughter of John David Lodge, former governor of Connecticut and ambassador to Spain. In 1965 Marcus attached himself to the mayoral campaign of John V. Lindsay. In March 1966 Lindsay brought Marcus to City Hall and appointed him an assistant to the mayor charged with running the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. Lindsay, bedazzled my Marcus’s pedigree by marriage, did not know Marcus was broke and in debt. Marcus’s financial needs brought him under the influence of an experienced con man, Herbert Itkin. Itkin earned his living brokering deals between corrupt labor union leaders who controlled union pension funds and marginal businessmen unable to get legitimate loans. Itkin had also ingratiated himself with the CIA, had an informer’s relationship with the FBI and, above all, was supremely street smart. Itkin met Marcus during Lindsay’s 1965 mayoral campaign and they became friends.
Under Itkin’s tutelage, Marcus, as head of the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, demanded kickbacks from contractors repairing water main breaks. But small water main contracts yielded small money. Marcus needed $100,000 to free himself from the loan sharks who had loaned Marcus funds to meet his stock market debts. Marcus’s opportunity came when his agency offered a million dollar emergency contract to clean New York City’s Jerome Park Reservoir in the Bronx. Sludge lying on the bottom of the 96-acre reservoir had gotten into New York City’s drinking water causing water in some areas of the City to appear dirty. The solution was to clean the sludge from the reservoir.
Marcus’s target was Henry Fried, the owner of S.T. Grand Co., a major contractor and probably the only local contractor capable of cleaning a reservoir as large as Jerome Park. Marcus, under Itkin’s guidance, extorted a $40,000 kickback from Henry Fried, which was never fully paid due to Marcus’s ineptness and Fried’s superior sophistication in such matters.
Marcus and Itkin in 1967 developed a more involved kickback scheme involving Consolidated Edison. The utility wanted to add additional power lines to towers built on the City’s right-of-way for the aqueduct that carried water from upstate reservoirs to the City. Consolidated Edison faced an urgent need to bring additional upstate electric power to New York City to prevent another City-wide blackout as had happened in November 1966. Consolidated Edison needed a permit from Marcus’s Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity.
Marcus and Itkin’s plan was to squeeze Consolidated Edison by delaying the permit until Consolidated Edison agreed to award major construction contracts to S. T. Grand Co., the owner of which was Henry Fried, the same person who bribed Marcus for the Jerome Park Reservoir job. Henry Fried would then kickback a percentage of the Consolidated Edison revenue to Marcus and Itkin.
Marcus and Itkin’s plan went nowhere until Carmine DeSapio joined the conspiracy and advised Marcus and Itkin how to properly manage the extortion conspiracy. DeSapio, sophisticated in such matters, advised Marcus and Itkin to disengage from the Mafia and union conspirators with whom they were working and permit him, DeSapio, a seasoned political operator, to handle the kickback negotiations with Consolidated Edison. They did, but the conspiracy fell apart short of success when Itkin and Marcus were outed by the F.B.I. as a result of another of their illegal deals.
Fried and DeSapio were convicted after a trial in federal court in Manhattan. Both received jail sentences. Marcus pleaded guilty and served eleven months in prison. Itkin, who became a cooperating witness, succeeded in entering the federal witness protection program. Consolidated Edison got its permit, but the Lindsay Administration, now alerted to the value of the aqueduct permit, raised the franchise fee considerably, so much so, that it would have been cheaper for Consolidated Edison’s customers if Consolidated Edison had paid Marcus the bribe.
Boss Tweed: 1870-1871
Of the many books about Tweed, Kenneth D. Ackerman’s recent book, Boss Tweed, The Rise and Fall of the Corrupt Pol who Conceived the Soul of Modern New York (Carroll & Graff)(2005), provides a highly readable and gripping narrative.
Unlike James Marcus, William M. Tweed successfully served as a municipal official with major accomplishments. He enjoyed unparalleled popularity as an elected official and political boss, became rich by trading on his public office in accordance with the mores of the day, and did not need an Itkin to show him how.
Between 1868 and 1870 Boss Tweed was at the height of his power. He had engineered the election of Tammany faithful Joseph Hoffman as governor of New York State; the election of A. Oakey Hall as Mayor of New York City; and the election of enough members of the New York State Assembly and Senate to constitute a majority. Tweed then bribed the state legislature into enacting a new charter for the City of New York which restored to the City power over the City’s finances and other activities. Tweed’s popularity reached a crescendo as the public, including The New York Times, praised Tweed for ending State control of the City’s government. The new charter, however, placed near total control of City government in four officials known later as the Tweed Ring: Boss Tweed as commissioner of public works, A. Oakey Hall as the elected mayor, Richard Connolly as the appointed comptroller, and Peter B. Sweeny as commissioner of parks.
In April 1870, also at Tweed’s bidding, the State Legislature abolished the New York County Board of Supervisors which had been responsible for building a new county courthouse on Chambers Street. The legislature created a new Board of Audit to replace the Board of Supervisors. The new Board of Audit consisted of three people: A. Oakey Hall as mayor, Richard Connolly as appointed comptroller, and Boss Tweed as president of the old Board of Supervisors. The old Board of Supervisors had not paid many of the invoices for the work on the new county courthouse, invoices which totaled in the millions. These unpaid invoices were a huge opportunity for graft for the new Board of Audit. The Tweed Ring’s scheme to profit was simple: pad the contractors’ invoices by 50 percent or more. When the City paid the padded invoices the contractors kicked back the money to the Ring. The county courthouse, originally budgeted at $250,000, ultimately cost the City more than $6 million in padded invoices.
In 1871, when Tweed was still enjoying his celebrity as a result of the new charter, three important adversaries appeared. The New York Times started editorially attacking the Tweed Ring as corrupt; Harper’s Weekly began printing cartoons drawn by Thomas Nast attacking Tweed; and Tweed’s Democratic Party adversary Samuel J. Tilden began a campaign against Tweed. Harper’s and the Times attacked Tweed openly, while Tilden waited for his moment. The attacks continued through the first six months of 1871, but lacked impact because neither the Times nor Harpers had facts to support their attacks. No one had proof of the kickbacks.
A major crack in the Tweed Ring’s defenses occurred when a disgruntled Tammany politician, unhappy with his share of the spoils and carrying a grudge against Tweed, delivered to The New York Times a package of secretly obtained handwritten copies of the padded payment records from the comptroller’s office. On July 22, 1871, the Times began publishing the amounts paid and to whom they were paid. The Times headline read: “The Secret Accounts: Proofs of Undoubted Frauds Brought to Light.” The astonishingly padded payments paid by the Board of Audit created a pubic sensation. The amount paid bore no relation to the work performed.
The Tweed Ring members panicked after the Times published “The Secret Accounts” and the reformers became encouraged to act. The reformers went to court seeking to halt further payments and force a review of past payments. Judge George G. Barnard, a Tammany politician, found himself cornered and signed a court order on September 6, 1871 halting all payments by the City. Under the order the City could not even pay salaries to City workers, who were soon protesting and demanding payment of their salaries.
A burglary greatly heightened the drama. The New York Times possessed handwritten copies of the padded payment records, but the actual records remained locked in Comptroller Connelly’s office in the new court house. Sometime during the weekend of September 9-10, 1871, three burglars broke into the comptroller’s office in the new courthouse and stole the account records from 1869 -70, and nothing else! The burglars carried the paper records to the janitor’s apartment in the courthouse and burned them. Two weeks later the three burglars were identified and caught, but they never disclosed who they were working for when they stole the crucial records.
The public was now fully aroused, but no one had yet shown that any of the money from the padded payments had actually flowed to Tweed or a member of the Ring. With the pressure for answers building steadily Comptroller Connolly cracked.
Known as Slippery Dick, Comptroller Connolly, in order to save himself, sided secretly with the reformers. Connolly met at night with Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden, an ambitious upper-class lawyer and leader of the wealthy, professional “Swallowtail” wing of the Democratic Party, was a personal and political enemy of Tweed. Tilden had been waiting for an opportunity to overthrow Tweed. With Connelly now available, Tilden conceived of a complex strategy that would injure Tweed and put Tilden in control of the City.
Tilden demanded that Connolly appoint Tilden’s former law partner and loyal reformer, Andrew Haswell Green, as deputy comptroller. Tilden did not want Connolly to resign because under the charter he could not be removed. With Comptroller Connolly a figure head but still in office, authority over the City’s money shifted to Tilden and to the newly appointed Deputy Comptroller Andrew Haswell Green.
Samuel J. Tilden then closed the loop on the padded invoices by recreating Tweed’s banking transactions. Tilden obtained the personal banking records of the Tweed Ring from the Broadway Bank. By analyzing Tweed’s bank deposit slips and checks, Tilden traced the checks paid by the City as published by the New York Times to the contractor’s bank accounts and then to deposits made into the accounts of the Ring members. Tilden gave his brilliantly prepared charts to The New York Times which, on October 26, 1871, began publishing the damaging proof that Tweed and the Tweed Ring had been paid off. Of the $5,710,913 paid by the City to the various contractors, Tilden showed that $932,858 ultimately ended up in Tweed’s bank account.
With Tilden’s evidence that the Tweed Ring had benefitted from the padded invoices, the Ring collapsed. Tweed was arrested on October 27, 1871 the day after the Times began publishing Tilden’s charts. In December 1873 a jury convicted Tweed of 204 counts of criminal misdemeanor. Tweed was sentenced to 12 year in prison. In December 1875 Tweed escaped to Cuba and then Spain. Tweed, recognizable as a result of Nast’s drawings, was recaptured and brought back to New York City and jailed. Tweed, in hopes of release, testified openly for eleven days in 1877 before a committee of the New York City board of aldermen, but no release came. Tweed died in jail on April 12, 1878 at age 55.
Tweed was the only member of the Ring to go to prison. A. Oakey Hall was tried three times; two hung juries and an acquittal after the third trial. Parks Commissioner Sweeny fled to Paris. He was not indicted and returned to New York City in 1886. Comptroller Connolly fled New York City and lived abroad until he died in 1899.
Harry Gross and William O’Dwyer: 1940 – 1951
Crime reporters Norton Mockridge and Robert H. Prall, in The Big Fix: graft and corruption in the world’s largest city (Henry Holt & Company)(1954), paint a full picture of the Harry Gross gambling empire and the clash between Mayor William O’Dwyer and his successor as Brooklyn District Attorney, Miles McDonald, over McDonald’s investigation into gambling. In the end hundreds of police officers were convicted, retired, demoted or resigned, and Mayor William O’Dwyer was forced to resign.
William O’Dwyer, Brooklyn District Attorney from 1939 to 1945, was born in Ireland in 1890, immigrated to the United States in 1910, worked as a laborer, and then as a New York City police officer while studying law at night at Fordham Law School. O’Dwyer was elected Brooklyn District Attorney in 1939. As District Attorney he made his reputation prosecuting Murder, Inc., a vicious shakedown, protection, and murder-for-hire organization that terrorized Brooklyn shop owners.
District Attorney O’Dwyer’s most prominent witness against Murder Inc. was Abe “Kid Twist” Reles, a Murder Inc. gangster who turned state’s witness. Reles was a marked man. District Attorney O’Dwyer placed Reles under custody at the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island protected around the clock by a guard of six cops. On the morning of November 12, 1941, with five of the six cops present at their stations, Reles went out of the sixth floor window and fell to his death, taking with him any hope of convicting Murder Inc. members.
How Reles went through the window – jumped, thrown or slipped – was never settled. O’Dwyer claimed that Reles accidentally slipped to his death trying to escape, but Reles was in more danger free than protected, and had never tried to escape before. District Attorney O’Dwyer failed to investigate Reles’s death. This failure fueled O’Dwyer’s reputation as a reluctant prosecutor of major crime figures such as Joe Adonis, whose indictment O’Dwyer allowed to be dismissed, and Albert Anastasia a vicious criminal who had been one of the founders of Murder Inc. Reles’s death meant that O’Dwyer never had to go to trial against Anastasia.
In 1945 William O’Dwyer was elected Mayor of the City of New York and Miles McDonald was elected Brooklyn’s District Attorney. McDonald was born in 1905, grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Holy Cross. After college he worked at a law firm while attending night classes at Fordham Law School. He became an assistant D.A. in 1939 under Brooklyn District Attorney O’Dwyer. His work brought him to the attention of Brooklyn’s political leaders and in 1945 he was elected District Attorney when O’Dwyer became mayor.
Gambling was a huge concern in the 1940s. Bookies operated openly out of storefronts, drug stores, delicatessens, and street corners. Individual bookies were organized into syndicates and connected by telephones to central offices from which the boss managed the enterprise. These illegal activities occurred more or less in the open and were the source of systematic payoffs to police officers, including payoffs to officers of the highest ranks.
The kingpin of Brooklyn’s gambling empire was Harry Gross. Gross was born in 1916, quit school in the seventh grade and worked in small stores where he noticed how bets were made and learned how to make book. By 1940 he had opened his own bookie joints. Between 1942 and 1949 Gross had bookies operating out of 30 horse rooms and was the part owner of several night clubs and restaurants. He was paying $50,000 a month to police for protection, and regularly gave presents to as many as 200 police officers: suits, ties, hats, television sets and furs. Gross’s gambling empire at its height annually grossed $20 million, of which $1 million was paid to police officers for protection.
O’Dwyer, as Brooklyn District Attorney, had ignored gambling and the police corruption that protected it. The new District Attorney Miles McDonald made gambling a major target, but quickly found that the police would not cooperate. Mayor O’Dwyer was in control of the police department. When McDonald asked the police to check a bookie operation at a particular location, the police would investigate and report back that they could not find any gambling.
McDonald found a way to outflank the police department. He got the department to assign 29 rookie police officers who had just graduated from the Police Academy as investigators for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. McDonald wanted cops assigned to the District Attorney’s office who had not already been corrupted by the payoff system. With his rookies McDonald made significant arrests of local bookies.
McDonald’s success brought him into conflict with Mayor O’Dwyer. In the spring of 1950 McDonald raided a bookie establishment in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The bookies were indignant; they declared that they made regular payments to the police and were entitled to operate without being arrested. The bookies were convicted, but refused to identify the police officers they had paid. Captain John G. Flynn, the commander of the precinct in which the Bay Ridge bookies operated, was called to the grand jury and denied that he had received information that the bookie operation existed. Then, on July 16, 1950 Captain Flynn committed suicide. Mayor O’Dwyer seized upon the suicide to imply that Flynn had been hounded into taking his own life by McDonald’s gambling investigation. Mayor O’Dwyer attended Captain Flynn’s funeral and ordered 6,000 uniformed police officers to stand in formation for two hours at the funeral. In the press after the funeral O’Dwyer was quoted calling McDonald’s gambling investigations a “witch hunt.”
But Mayor O’Dwyer overplayed his hand. McDonald repeatedly made headlines on gambling and police corruption, and it was widely known that in 1941 O’Dwyer had had a meeting with Frank Costello, the crime boss. O’Dwyer, in addition, had been unable to refute fully an accusation that in 1949 while mayor he had taken $10,000 in cash from the Uniformed Firemen’s Association.
In the summer of 1950 Edward J. Flynn, the powerful Democratic Party boss of the Bronx, moved to oust Mayor O’Dwyer. Flynn knew that McDonald’s gambling investigations would continue to reveal corruption in Mayor O’Dwyer’s police department and that this would finish O’Dwyer as a political leader, and Flynn feared that O’Dwyer’s presence would hurt Senator Herbert Lehman who was up for reelection in 1950.
In July 1950 Flynn, who was also a national Democratic Committeeman, met with President Harry S. Truman. At the meeting President Truman agreed that if O’Dwyer resigned as mayor Truman would appoint O’Dwyer as ambassador to Mexico. Flynn met with O’Dwyer in a late night meeting at Gracie Mansion. At the meeting O’Dwyer agreed to resign and accept the ambassadorship.
On August 14, 1950 the White House announced that New York City Mayor William O’Dwyer would resign as mayor and become ambassador to Mexico. The public was stunned. O’Dwyer explained to the surprised press that “my country’s needs are first and foremost in my mind,” and that “there was much critical work to be done,” as ambassador to Mexico. O’Dwyer left office two weeks later on August 31, 1950 after serving only eight months into his second term. Vincent R. Impellitteri, City Council President, became Acting Mayor and was elected Mayor in November 1950.
On August 15, 1950, the day after the announcement of Mayor O’Dwyer’s resignation, the Brooklyn grand jury investigating gambling filed a report. The grand jury demanded that O’Dwyer stop interfering with the gambling investigation, declared that O’Dwyer’s witch hunt charge was unfounded, and proclaimed McDonald’s investigation honest.
On September 15, 1950, two weeks after Mayor O’Dwyer left office, District Attorney McDonald’s efforts finally paid off; McDonald arrested Harry Gross, head of Brooklyn’s gambling syndicate. McDonald finally had a witness who could name top police officers on the take.
Gross testified in the grand jury which then indicted high level police officers. The trial of the first eighteen police officers indicted on Gross’s testimony began on September 10, 1951. At the conclusion of the second day of jury selection Gross, guarded by police, asked to visit his wife. During the home visit Gross slipped away and disappeared. Gross drove to New Jersey where, Mockridge and Prall report, Gross met with Meyer Lansky, the organized crime figure, and Willie Moretti, a New Jersey gangster. They gave Gross $60,000. Gross then drove to Atlantic City where he was recognized, captured and returned to Brooklyn.
When Gross was taken back to the courtroom on September 18, 1951, he refused to testify. Gross shouted “I won’t answer any questions,” and “I ain’t coming back.” Judge Samuel Leibowitz held Gross in contempt of court, but, without Gross’s testimony, Judge Leibowitz was forced to dismiss the indictments against the eighteen police officers. Judge Leibowitz, famed as the defender of the Scottsboro Boys, cited Gross for contempt 60 times and sentenced him to twelve years in prison.
Gross never testified in a criminal trial, but did later testify in police department civil disciplinary trials. As a result of Gross’s testimony and McDonald’s investigation some fifty-two police officers were dismissed from the force and more than four hundred retired or resigned. Gross was released from prison in 1958 and moved to California where he was jailed on a manslaughter charge, released and then arrested again. He committed suicide in 1986.
Ambassador O’Dwyer testified before the Senate Crime Investigating Committee in March 1951, where he made a very poor witness, and also before grand juries in Manhattan and Brooklyn. On May 1, 1951, the Senate Crime Investigating Committee, in a 195-page report, charged O’Dwyer with tolerating gambling, rackets, murders and police corruption. Manhattan District Attorney Frank Hogan asked O’Dwyer to return from Mexico and testify before a Manhattan grand jury. O’Dwyer refused and never testified. O’Dwyer resigned as ambassador to Mexico in December 1952. He continued to live in Mexico until 1960, and died in New York City in 1964.
Miles McDonald was reelected Brooklyn District Attorney and in 1952 was elected a State Supreme Justice. In 1971, McDonald left the bench and became counsel to the law firm of Shea & Gould. He died in 1991 in Florida.
https://www.citylandnyc.org/past-corruption-new-york-city-marcus-tweed-gross/
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Operation Greylord
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Greylord
Operation Greylord was an investigation conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Chicago Police Department Internal Affairs Division and the Illinois State Police into corruption in the judiciary of Cook County, Illinois (the Chicago jurisdiction). The FBI named the investigation "Operation Greylord" after the curly wigs worn by British judges.
Operation
The 3-year, 8-month federal undercover operation took place in the 1980s, with the cooperation of some state and local law enforcement and judicial officials. After the end of the undercover phase, the Greylord trials lasted ten years. Over 92 public officials were indicted (almost all in federal court), and most eventually were convicted, either by guilty pleas or trials.
The undercover phase included a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, as well as numerous FBI agents and cooperating local law enforcement officers. Cook County Judge Thaddeus Kowalski also cooperated with authorities even though he knew his cooperation might endanger his career.[2] Recently elected downstate Judge Brocton Lockwood operated undercover in the Chicago Traffic Court.[3] In addition, Assistant State's Attorney Terrence Hake went undercover in the Criminal Division of the Cook County Circuit Court, initially as a prosecutor and later as a defense attorney (although actually on the FBI payroll).
Investigators
Key undercover FBI agents and lawyers included: David Grossman, David Ries and Hake. As a Cook County prosecutor, Hake complained about the bribery and corruption in the Murder and Sexual Assault preliminary hearing courtroom in Chicago.[5] The FBI and United States Attorney's Office learned of Hake's complaint and recruited him to pose as a corrupt prosecutor and later as a bribe-paying criminal defense attorney. Lamar Jordan, David Benscoter, Marie Dyson, William C. Megary, and Robert Farmer were the principal FBI case agents and supervisors during the investigation. Six Internal Revenue Service agents also played key roles in tracking the money flows, including Dennis Czurylo and Bill Thullen.
Prosecutors
During the next decade, four United States Attorneys—Thomas P. Sullivan, Dan K. Webb, Anton R. Valukas and Fred Foreman—supervised the investigations and prosecutions. First Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Reidy and Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) Charles Sklarsky, Scott Lassar, Scott Mendeloff and Candace J. Fabri led many of the prosecutions. In 1985, Valukus and AUSA James Schweitzer indicted 22 corrupt court personnel, including Judge Raymond Sodini, who presided over the corruption in his courtroom at Chicago Police Headquarters.
The first listening device ever placed in a judge's chambers in the United States occurred in the undercover phase, when after hearing tapes recorded by undercover agent/prosecutor Hake, a federal judge found evidentiary probable cause and allowed the FBI to bug the narcotics court chambers of Judge Wayne Olson. Olson was one of those later convicted of corruption. In order to acquire evidence of corruption, agents obtained judicial and U.S. Department of Justice authorization to present staged court cases for the undercover agents/lawyers to fix in front of the corrupt judges.[7] In August 1983, the undercover investigative phase ended, when a corrupt court clerk and a corrupt Chicago Police officer were approached by the FBI to cooperate in the investigation and they leaked the investigation to the media.
Indictment and trial
The first defendant to be found guilty was Harold Conn, Deputy Traffic Court Clerk in the Cook County judicial system. Conn was convicted in March 1984 and was one of the many bagmen in the ring of corruption. The last conviction was that of Judge Thomas J. Maloney, who was indicted on bribery charges. Maloney was convicted and then sentenced in 1994 to 16 years for fixing three murder cases for more than $100,000 in bribes. Maloney was released from federal prison in 2008, and died the same year.
A total of 93 people were indicted, including 17 judges, 48 lawyers, 10 deputy sheriffs, eight policemen, eight court officials, and state representative James DeLeo. Of the 17 judges indicted, 15 were convicted. One supervising judge, Richard LeFevour, was convicted on 59 counts of mail fraud, racketeering and income-tax violations, and was later sentenced to 12 years in prison, as well as being disbarred. The stiffest sentence was received by former Circuit Judge Reginald Holzer, who received an 18-year sentence for accepting over $200,000 in bribes from multiple attorneys. Judge Holzer was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Turow, who later became an acclaimed novelist. DeLeo pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to probation, and was later elected to the Illinois Senate. Three subjects of the investigation committed suicide, including former Circuit Judge Allen Rosin. Rosin was taking bribes in divorce court in child custody cases and spousal property disputes.
Aftermath
The systemic corruption led to the formation of the Special Commission on the Administration of Justice in Cook County, a group assembled in August 1984 to examine the problems of the Cook County courts. The group also issued recommendations that were designed to contribute to a period of reform in the courts. The commission, led by Jenner & Block attorney Jerold Solovy, wrote a total of 165 recommendations for the courts of Cook County. Questions remain as to whether those changes achieved the cleanup which many citizens and advocates for better government desired.
Operation Greylord also led to several similar investigations targeting corruption in Cook County, including Operations Silver Shovel, Incubator, Lantern, Gambat, and Safebet. Operation Greylord also became known for its use of eavesdropping devices in order to obtain evidence for trial.
Most of the prosecutors have since left government service and joined large law firms, including Jenner & Block. One, Candace J. Fabri, became a judge in Cook County in 2006, and was recently rated "Well Qualified" by a local attorneys' group; only a former public defender received a higher rating. Circuit Judge Thomas R. Fitzgerald, who cleaned up Traffic Court after the Greylord investigation, was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court, from which he retired in 2010.
In 2009, an attorney for some of those convicted in the Greylord investigation requested that Governor Pat Quinn issue mass pardons, calling her clients rather than the taxpayers the real victims, but the governor did not grant that request before he was defeated for re-election in 2014. In 2010 and 2014, respectively, two attorneys disbarred for unethical conduct disclosed in the Greylord investigation sought to regain their respective law licenses, but were denied; another attorney withdrew a similar application in 2003.
In July 2016, Terrence Hake went on the Chicago talk radio program "Legal Eagles" to explain his role in Operation Greylord and the operation's aftermath. "Legal Eagles" was hosted by retired police officer William Pelarenos and broadcast on WCGO 1590AM.
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Corruption in the United States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_the_United_States
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Corrupt New York City Judges - Softcover
Stanley Yalkowsky
1989
https://www.abebooks.com/9780962098406/Corrupt-New-York-City-Judges-096209840X/plp
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44 Charged by U.S. in New Jersey Corruption Sweep
7/24/2009
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/nyregion/24jersey.html
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Expose Corrupt Courts
Thursday, November 30, 2023
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Former Brooklyn Judge Sentenced
Former Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Obstructing Federal Investigation Of Misconduct At Municipal Credit Union
Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SYLVIA ASH, a former justice of the New York State Supreme Court and chair of the Board of Directors of Municipal Credit Union (“MCU”), was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 15 months in prison for conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, and making a false statement to a federal agent. These charges arose from a scheme to impede the federal criminal investigation into fraud and corruption at MCU, a non-profit, multibillion-dollar financial institution, including misconduct committed by Kam Wong, the former chief executive officer (“CEO”), and Joseph Guagliardo, a former New York City Police Department Officer and member of MCU’s Supervisory Committee. Wong and Guagliardo were charged separately and previously pled guilty to embezzlement from MCU. ASH was convicted in December 2021 after a two-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “While serving as a sitting state judge, Sylvia Ash took repeated steps, over multiple months, to seek to obstruct the federal criminal investigation into misconduct at MCU that took place during Ash’s tenure as chair of its Board of Directors. Ash agreed to do so with the now imprisoned former CEO of the credit union, who provided her with a steady stream of benefits from MCU, including after she was directed to resign from MCU’s board. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who attempt to thwart a federal investigation face serious consequences for that corrosive conduct.”
In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Kaplan said ASH’s “crimes struck at the heart of the criminal justice system.”
According to the Complaint, Indictment, Superseding Indictment, publicly available information, court filings, and evidence presented during the trial in Manhattan federal court:
Municipal Credit Union
MCU is a non-profit financial institution headquartered in New York, New York, which is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”). MCU is the oldest credit union in New York State and one of the oldest and largest in the country, providing banking services to more than 590,000 members, and with more than $4.2 billion in member accounts, each of which is insured for at least $250,000 by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which is administered by the NCUA. Membership in MCU is generally available to employees of New York City and its agencies, employees of the federal and New York state governments who work in New York City, and employees of hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities located within New York State.
At all relevant times, MCU was overseen by a Board of Directors (the “Board”) and a Supervisory Committee, each of which was composed of members of MCU, who were not supposed to be compensated. As a result of severe deficiencies in the Board’s and the Supervisory Committee’s oversight of the credit union, which came to light in connection with the federal investigation, the New York Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) removed the members of the Supervisory Committee in May 2018 and the Board in June 2018. Subsequently, DFS appointed NCUA as the conservator for the credit union. In or about February 2022, MCU successfully emerged from conservatorship under new leadership.
ASH
ASH served as a judge in the New York State court system from approximately 2006 through March 2022, first as a Kings County Civil Court Judge, and then, starting in 2011, as a Kings County Supreme Court Justice. In or about January 2016, ASH was appointed as the presiding judge in the Kings County Supreme Court’s Commercial Division. After the charges in this case were unsealed, ASH was suspended from her position. In or about March 2022, after ASH was convicted, she vacated her judicial office.
ASH served on MCU’s Board from in or about May 2008 until on or about August 15, 2016, when she resigned. From in or about May 2015 until her resignation, ASH served as the chair of the Board. ASH resigned after a complaint was filed against her by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct arising from a conflict of interest between her position as a state judge and her membership on MCU’s Board. More than a year before her resignation, ASH had been instructed to resign from MCU’s Board by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, which instruction she disregarded.
From at least in or about 2012 through 2016, while serving as an MCU Board member and while Wong was CEO, ASH received annually tens of thousands of dollars in reimbursements and other benefits from MCU, many of which were personal in nature, and not business-related, including airfare, hotels, food and entertainment expenses for her and a guest to attend conferences both domestically and abroad, annual birthday parties at a minor league baseball stadium, payment for phone and cable bills, and electronic devices. Even after her resignation from the Board, Wong continued to provide or cause MCU to provide ASH with benefits, such as Apple devices and sports tickets. As a sitting state judge, ASH was required to report both her board service and gifts and benefits she received from any outside sources on an annual state disclosure form. But between at least 2012 and 2018, ASH never reported her board service nor any gifts or benefits from MCU.
ASH’s Obstruction of Justice
In January 2018, after Wong, MCU’s then-CEO, had been approached by federal law enforcement agents investigating apparent financial misconduct by Wong, in an attempt to protect Wong, ASH agreed to and did sign a false and misleading memorandum purporting to explain and justify millions of dollars Wong had received from MCU. Wong subsequently provided that false and misleading memorandum to federal agents in an attempt to demonstrate that the millions of dollars had purportedly been orally approved for him to receive by ASH in June 2015, when she was chair of the Board. However, in truth, neither ASH nor the Board had approved the payment of those funds.
On March 1, 2018, shortly after Wong was placed on administrative leave by MCU, ASH was interviewed about the memorandum she signed for Wong. During that interview, ASH admitted that the memorandum was not accurate, but attempted to justify the money that Wong received by stating that MCU’s then-current general counsel had told her that Wong’s employment contract gave him the option of receiving such money. That statement was false.
On March 13, 2018, ASH was served with a federal grand jury subpoena (the “First Subpoena”), which required the production of documents related to various matters, including Wong’s compensation, and any communications with Wong through the date of the First Subpoena. On April 6, 2018, during a telephonic interview with a federal agent, ASH falsely stated that she did not have any materials responsive to the First Subpoena.
On June 8, 2018—after Wong was charged with embezzlement from MCU and the Government executed a judicially-authorized search of the residence of Guagliardo—ASH was interviewed by telephone for a second time about the First Subpoena. During that interview, ASH again falsely stated that she did not have any materials responsive to the First Subpoena.
On June 18, 2018, ASH was served with a second federal grand jury subpoena (the “Second Subpoena”), which required the production of, among other things, all correspondence with Wong and Guagliardo; all documents regarding any criminal investigation, internal investigation, or audit related to Wong; and all documents regarding items of value ASH received from MCU, Wong, or Guagliardo. Shortly afterward, ASH went to an Apple store and wiped an iPhone X that Wong had provided her in January 2018. In addition, ASH deleted emails from her Gmail account, including all of her emails with Guagliardo, none of which she produced in response to either of the two federal grand jury subpoenas directed to her. ASH also later wiped two MCU-issued iPads she had received.
On July 6, 2018, on ASH’s behalf, her then-counsel produced materials to the Government in response to the Second Subpoena. This production was materially incomplete, and did not contain text messages, emails, and other documents ASH possessed or had under her custody or control that were responsive to the Second Subpoena.
On July 9, 2018, ASH attended a voluntary interview with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. During this interview, while accompanied by her then-counsel, ASH made multiple false statements, including repeating false statements regarding her purported conversations with MCU’s former general counsel about Wong’s receipt of cash payments and falsely claiming that she and her aunt took a trip to Las Vegas paid for by MCU, including airfare, lodging, and entertainment expenses, after she resigned because all of her travel arrangements were paid for by MCU before she resigned, when in truth all of the expenses were paid for after she resigned.
On or about October 11, 2019, ASH was arrested, and her cellphone was seized. After obtaining a judicially authorized search warrant, ASH’s phone was searched, which revealed, among other things, numerous text messages, including with Wong and Guagliardo, that were concealed in response to the First and Second Subpoenas.
In addition to her prison term, ASH, 64, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to a $80,000 fine, and two years of supervised release, including a special condition of twenty hours of community service per week while on supervised release. The court reserved the decision on restitution to MCU.
On June 4, 2019, Wong was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment for embezzlement from MCU and was ordered to forfeit $9,890,375 and to pay restitution in the same amount to MCU.
On July 23, 2020, Guagliardo was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment for embezzlement from MCU and was ordered to forfeit $425,514 and to pay $468,189 in restitution to MCU.
U.S. Attorney Williams praised the outstanding work of the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office and DFS for their assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark, Daniel C. Richenthal, and Jonathan Rebold are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alona S. Katz from the New York County District Attorney’s Office.
Contact
Nicholas Biase
Victoria Bosah
(212) 637-2600
Updated April 20, 2022
Component
USAO - New York, Southern
Press Release Number: 22-129
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Thursday, June 30, 2016
A NY Supreme Court Judge for over Twenty Years Pleads Guilty to Corruption
Corrupt Judge John A. Michael admits to accepting bribes, solicitation, filing false instrument …..
The merry road of Empire Corruption within and about New York's "System of Justice" gets closer and closer to Joseph Percoco and Andrew Cuomo.
SEE THE STORIES:
“Operative Tied to Cuomo Is Accused of Bribing Judge,”
The New York Times by Vivian Yee (June 29, 2016)
N.Y. Supreme Court Judge Pleads Guilty to Bribery
The Wall Street Journal by Erica Orden and Mike Vilensky (June 29, 2016)
After judge’s guilty plea, prosecutors turn attention to Pigeon
The Buffalo News by Robert J. McCarthy and Dan Herbeck (June 30, 2016)
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Friday, January 1, 2016
READ AND SIGN THE 2016 CORRUPTION PETITION TODAY !!!!
CLICK HERE TO READ AND SIGN
THE 2016 CORRUPTION PETITION TODAY !!!!
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A New Year and New Hope Against New York's Corruption
Help Ensure the Appointment of a Federal Monitor over so-called “ethics” Entities in New York State....
Read more »
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Sunday, August 2, 2015
Federal Judge Resigns From Bench After Arrest
Sometimes the lifetime-guaranteed appointment as a United States District Court Judge isn't. According to the letter sent to the President, August 1, 2015 was the last day for one federal court jurist who had been arrested and spent a night in jail.... MORE....
Read more »
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Saturday, August 1, 2015
New York Gets a New Chief Administrative Judge, Hon. Lawrence K. Marks
As people wait for the next corruption arrest in New York State (and you won't have to wait too long !) (and involving NYS Court's system), there is a sense of relief and thanksgiving that the Hon. Lawrence K. Marks has been named the next Chief Administrative Judge..... MORE.......
Read more »
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Friday, January 30, 2015
Open Letter to Next NY Governor Kathy Hochul
EthicsGate.Com
OPEN LETTER TO:
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul
Read more »
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Massively Corrupt Judge Anthony Scarpino Gets Pushed Off Bench and Out the Door Today !!
Though woefully too late, Anthony Scarpino is finally getting the boot. The corrupt Westchester Surrogate Judge is officially gone, effective today, January 30, 2015. Scarpino, has singled-handedly orchestrated the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars, disgraced the rule of law, and destroyed countless families in the process..... MORE......
Read more »
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Thursday, January 1, 2015
Judge Not Too Drunk to Tell Cops, "I'll Take Care of This"
"Come on, I'm a judge. I'll take care of this. I'll take care of it. We don't have to do anything about this," Harrison, New York Town Justice Marc J. Lust reportedly told police after he smashed another car with his Jaguar, drove away, and then refused to take a breath test.
Apparently, Judge Lust, who is also a partner at a Manhattan law firm, Dopf, P.C., is quite familiar with how New York political insiders are able to "put the fix in" so to "take care" of things. Speaking of New York "fixes," judge/attorney Lust was "elected" in 2011 in the Westchester Town of Harrison after he appeared on both the Republican and Democratic lines- a classic and sobering election scam that has disgraced New York voters, and the rule of law, for way too long..... READ MORE......
Read more »
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Monday, December 15, 2014
Ex-Judge Found Guilty of Framing Woman for Drug Arrest
Bryant Cochran was the chief magistrate judge in Murray County, Georgia, and after a woman fought back against his sexual misconduct, Judge Cochran conspired to plant Methamphetamine in her car. SEE THE VIDEO AND STORY......
Read more »
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Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Cuomo’s Moreland Commission Ethics Block Worse Than First Reported, Says Insider
Feds have evidence of Governor scrambling to prevent public testimony
describing the Systemic Corruption of 9 New York State ‘ethics’ organizations…
Read more »
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Thursday, May 15, 2014
Animal-Judge Indicted For Planting Drugs in Car of Complaining Woman
First this mutt allegedly pressured the women into having sex for a favorable ruling in her case. In his chambers, of course. Then this former Chief Magistrate Judge, Bryant Cochran, seizing on his legal training, tampered with a witness, and then had drugs planted in the victims car....
Read more »
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EthicsGate Announces New York State Corruption Contest
Submit your best Corruption Story Today !
No need to be creative- good or bad- all the corruption is very real !
Send your story, tip, etc. (anonymous OK) to:
Read more »
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Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Fed's New Chief of NY Public Corruption Unit Ready to Roar
Arlo Devlin-Brown has quietly headed the Public Corruption Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan for a little over two months .....
Read more »
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Thursday, January 2, 2014
Another Year of Corrupt Judicial Oversight
New York's Corrupt Judicial 'Ethics' Commission Welcomes 2014
In a failed attempt to show any usefulness, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct (CJC) apparently came to the conclusion that NY State-issued license plates identifying the registered owner as a member of the NY "Supreme Court" just may provide the driver or occupants with some sort of friendly accommodation from law enforcement.
Read more »
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Wednesday, January 1, 2014
New York Judges Disgraced Again, and Again, and Again….
In November of 2013, New York voters resoundingly rejected the notion that a few judges should be allowed to sit on the bench past the current mandatory retirement age. Apparently, someone forgot to tell those in charge that it would be more appropriate to treat ALL judges equally…..
Read more »
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Monday, December 30, 2013
New Chairman of Manhattan Attorney "Ethics" Committee is Ernest J. Collazo
64-Year-Old Bronx Native Provides Hope for Corruption Clean-Up
Again, hopes spring eternal, and a new chairman of the corrupt attorney "ethics" committee has been named….. more....
Read more »
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Monday, December 16, 2013
Governor Cuomo Asked to Shut Down NY's Corrupt Court "Ethics" Committees
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Trump Says He Was ‘Evilly And Illegally Treated’ After Judge Upholds Hush Money Conviction
Jan 4, 2025
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/01/04/trump-says-he-was-evilly-and-illegally-treated-after-judge-upholds-hush-money-conviction/
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323,911 Accusations of N.Y.P.D. Misconduct Are Released Online
8/20/2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/20/nyregion/nypd-ccrb-records-published.html
The records had been sealed for decades, but last month, New York repealed a law keeping them secret after national protests against police brutality.
Over 323,000 accusations of misconduct against current and former New York City police officers were published online on Thursday, a major milestone in a long and contentious political battle to open records of police discipline to public scrutiny.
The records include all civilian complaints filed since 1985 with the city’s independent police watchdog agency, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and closed after an investigation.
Some 81,550 officers — from the rank-and-file to the current commissioner — were named in the complaints. Together they offer the public the broadest look to date at how officers are investigated and punished for a range of offenses, from using profanity and slurs to beating or choking people during arrests.
The complaints were published in an online database by the New York Civil Liberties Union, which obtained the records from the review board after state lawmakers repealed a law that had kept them secret.
The civil liberties union noted that less than 3 percent of the 323,911 complaints resulted in a penalty for officers, 12 of whom had been terminated. Christopher Dunn, the organization’s legal director, said in a statement that the records showed that the Police Department, whose commissioner makes the final decision on disciplinary matters, “is unwilling to police itself.”
“The release of this database is an important step towards greater transparency and accountability,” Mr. Dunn added, “and is just the beginning of unraveling the monopoly the N.Y.P.D. holds on public information and officer discipline.”
Al Baker, a police spokesman, said the department had refined the discipline system and implemented changes recommended by a panel of prosecutors and judges. “All of this advances the NYPD’s priority to make its internal disciplinary system as fair, effective, and transparent as it can,” he said.
Fred Davie, the chairman of the review board, said in a statement that the agency released the records in response to demands from the public for greater police accountability, which have been underscored by the nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
“All New Yorkers have a right to transparency” under the state law granting access to public records, said Mr. Davie, who promised that his agency “will hold paramount the people’s right to know how their communities are policed.”
But that might become even more difficult for the review board, which is preparing to possibly lay off staff because of budget cuts brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The Independent Budget Office recently said the review board, which has a $20 million budget and 200-person staff, was too small to oversee the police department, which has a $6 billion budget and 36,000 officers.
The records released Thursday include all allegations of excessive force, abuse of authority, discourtesy and offensive language investigated by the review board though mid-July, as well as the board’s findings and any discipline that the police commissioner imposed. They do not include complaints under investigation by the review board or those investigated by the Police Department itself.
The complaints were shrouded in secrecy until June, when, as protests against police brutality spread across the country, the State Legislature in New York repealed a 44-year-old law that had been used to prevent their release to the public.
After a legal challenge from labor unions representing police officers, firefighters and corrections officers whose records were shielded by the law, a federal appeals court on Thursday ruled that the data could be released while the case continued in a lower court.
The unions vowed to continue fighting against what Hank Sheinkopf, a spokesman for the union coalition, said was “the improper dumping of thousands of documents containing unproven, career-damaging, unsubstantiated allegations that put our members and their families at risk.”
The publication of the records, policing experts said, chips away at a legal wall of confidentiality built up by police unions, which for decades have used their political clout to block efforts to publicly release complaints about officers and the punishment they receive.
Samuel Walker, a professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha who is a leading expert on police accountability, said the data would allow academic researchers and policymakers to identify patterns and problems.
“That provides the fodder for policy changes, and that is terribly important,” he said.
The topic of how and whether to disclose police disciplinary records has been contentious for decades. States like Delaware have laws keeping the records secret, while others like Florida and Arizona permit the release of some or all records, according to the Police Executive Research Forum, a policy and research nonprofit.
“Departments have come to recognize that’s part of what transparency looks like,” Chuck Wexler, the executive director, said.
The records became a lightning-rod issue when Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration fought against disclosing those of Daniel Pantaleo, a police officer who put Eric Garner in a banned chokehold on Staten Island in 2014 that proved fatal.
Officer Pantaleo was fired last year, but the law the city relied on to shield his records did not change until this past June, after the death of Mr. Floyd.
The records released Thursday add to a patchwork of data about police misconduct in New York City created by media and legal organizations.
ProPublica published data on nearly 4,000 officers who had at least one allegation of misconduct substantiated after an investigation, and BuzzFeed in 2018 published leaked records of 1,800 cases. The Legal Aid Society also maintains a database of federal lawsuits against officers.
Most people who have unpleasant encounters with the police do not file formal complaints. For many who have filed formal complaints that the review board substantiated, the publication of the records offers an opportunity to finally learn what punishment, if any, those officers received.
And for those who are facing criminal charges based on officers’ testimony, or who have filed lawsuits against the city accusing police of misconduct and abuse, the records make it easier to learn more about an officer’s history.
Richard Emery, a former chairman of the review board, said the data provided a treasure trove for researchers and policymakers.
But the release of the records also puts pressure on the Police Department to change how unsubstantiated claims affect officers’ careers, he said. Even if not proven true, misconduct complaints can have a negative effect on officers’ opportunities for transfers, promotions and more desirable assignments.
“It’s a very, very complicated, messy problem that has a lot of strings to it,” Mr. Emery said. “The release of these statistics and information can be something that’s useful and it can support reform, but it also can be something that undermines reform and puts the police in the position where they cannot and will not do their job.”
The police unions have argued in court that no information about misconduct cases should be released in which the police commissioner has not ended up handing down punishment. But the repeal of the secrecy law, known as 50-a, “made clear that disciplinary records can now be made available to the public,” James E. Johnson, the city’s corporation counsel said in a statement Thursday.
The unions’ argument would have prevented the release of the vast majority of the review board’s data. Only in 8,699 of the more than 300,000 cases did officers receive any disciplinary action, according to the civil liberties union. The penalties can range from a letter in their personnel file to suspension or firing, according to the review board.
Reasons for this vary, but the majority of civilian complaints end because investigators did not have enough evidence to determine what actually happened or found evidence to disprove the allegations, or the person filing the complaint withdrew from the investigation.
The Police Department often withholds some evidence, including body camera footage. The review board has said cases in which there is video are more likely to be substantiated.
Kate Levine, a criminal law professor at Yeshiva University, said the data should not be used to “name and shame” officers, but to understand how policing is in need of fundamental change.
"Let’s get rid of the worst people first,” she said, “but also let’s take those dollars and reinvest them in the many different ways that we can better the lives of marginalized communities.”
N.Y. Bans Chokeholds and Approves Other Measures to Restrict Police
June 12, 2020
Corrections were made on Aug. 20, 2020
:
An earlier version of this article misstated the number of complaints of police misconduct that had been released. It is 323,911, not 323,511.
An earlier version of this article misstated the percentage of complaints that resulted in penalties against officers. It is three percent, not .03 percent.
______________
Mayor Adams warns migrant crisis will ‘destroy’ NYC, rips Biden for failing to help
Sep. 7, 2023
https://nypost.com/2023/09/07/nyc-mayor-adams-says-migrant-crisis-will-destroy-the-city-during-town-hall/
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Judge cancels NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ trial and leaves corruption charges intact until mid-March
February 21, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/eric-adams-mayor-corruption-judge-justice-department-5e9d3941103e3af64a38466e032381cf
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Turkish businessman pleads guilty in Mayor Adams’ corruption case, could testify against mayor
January 11, 2025
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/01/10/turkish-businessman-guilty-mayor-adams-federal-corruption-straw-donor/
______________
What to know about $2.7 trillion in 'improper' Medicare, Medicaid payments allegedly sent overseas
March 5, 2025
Trump government efficiency adviser Elon Musk called the alleged payments "the biggest fraud operation in human history."
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/medicaid-medicare-improper-payments/?cb_rec=djRfMQ
______________
Why is Nancy Pelosi’s stock activity getting tied to the United Healthcare CEO killing?
December 16 2024
https://www.dailydot.com/debug/nancy-pelosi-united-healthcare-luigi-mangione/
______________
Impeach Nancy Pelosi for crimes of Treason!
Created on January 18, 2019
https://petitions.trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/petition/impeach-nancy-pelosi-crimes-treason
______________
Petition: Have Nancy Pelosi arrested for destruction of government property
2020
https://www.change.org/p/donald-j-trump-have-nancy-pelosi-arrested-for-destruction-of-government-property
______________
Twitter Sleuth Goes Viral Showing Mangione Family’s Ties to Pelosi
December 13, 2024
https://headlineusa.com/twitter-sleuth-mangione-pelosi/
______________
FAMILY TREE: Inside CEO’s ‘assassin’ Luigi Mangione’s family from his mother’s chilling comment to cousin turned politician
Dec 18 2024
https://www.the-sun.com/news/13114597/luigi-mangione-family-mom-kathleen-dad-louis-grandfather-nicholas/
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Inside Luigi Mangione’s extremely wealthy family that’s been dubbed ‘beloved’ Baltimore royalty: ‘It’s a shock for all of us’
Dec. 10, 2024
https://nypost.com/2024/12/10/us-news/inside-luigi-mangiones-family-of-beloved-baltimore-royalty-its-a-shock-for-all-of-us/
______________
‘Every Politician Has Got to Have Somebody That’s the Hit Man’
2024
A Republican state lawmaker devised a bribery scheme that ended in a trial and a death — and showed why corruption has become harder to prosecute.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/25/magazine/ohio-bribery-politics.html
______________
Goodfella:
Jeffrey Epstein told police a ninja in the mafia with ties to Gambino
crime family was stalking him during house arrest
Feb 3 2020
JEFFREY Epstein told police that a man dressed in traditional ninja garb was stalking him during his house arrest.
This man was also in the mafia and had ties to the Gambino crime family according to Epstein and his lawyer.
Documents
obtained by The Sun reveal that Epstein's lawyer shared this
information in a letter to the State's Attorney's Office while asking to
modify his client's probation.
Jack Goldberger said that
Epstein's security "intercepted a person who was dressed in black like a
ninja and hiding in some bushes."
The security guards then chased down the man to his car and take down his license details, explained Goldberger.
A search of that info then allegedly revealed that man was in the mafia and had strong ties to the Gambino crime family.
The
State's Attorney's office sent a measured reply to Goldberger while
fuming about the fact that he would even ask to have Epstein's sentence
modified in internal emails.
In one of these emails, a member of the office states that Epstein got "the deal of the century..."
https://www.the-sun.com/news/351095/jeffrey-epstein-mafia-mob-ninja-gambino/
______________
The Jeffrey Epstein case is why people believe in Pizzagate
A
mysterious cabal of billionaires and politicians and Hollywood bigwigs
running an international sex trafficking ring — ridiculous, right?
July 8, 2019
The
arrest of the apparent billionaire investor Jeffrey Epstein at a New
Jersey airport on Saturday on federal charges for crimes he was accused
of during the Bush administration should not be surprising to anyone who
has followed the news carefully. He may have escaped in 2008 with a
ludicrous one-year stint in a county jail that he was allowed to leave
six days a week, but his name has never quite been out of the headlines.
Between 2008 and 2015 Epstein reportedly settled more than a dozen
lawsuits from Jane Does alleging sexual assault; the youngest of his
alleged victims was 14 years old.
The only question is why did it
take this long? Why was the ludicrous deal that gave Epstein and his
fellow conspirators immunity in exchange for a slap-on-the-wrist jail
sentence ever allowed to go through in the first place?
The most
obvious answer is, of course, that Epstein knows people. Lots of people.
A list of his reported friends, business associates, and legal
counselors reads like a #MeToo and Manhattan sleazebag All-Star team,
with a few stringers pulled in from the media and both political
parties: Woody Allen, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Mort Zuckerman,
Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, Ken Starr, Katie Couric,
George Stephanopoulos, the current president of the United States. The
obscene deal that kept Epstein out of what could easily have been a life
sentence in prison was negotiated by Alexander Acosta, the current
Secretary of Labor, who was then a federal prosecutor in Florida. In
2002, Graydon Carter, the longtime editor of Vanity Fair, removed
references to Epstein's sexual activity from a profile, including
testimony from alleged victims, according to the article's author. "He's
sensitive about the young women," Carter is said to have explained.
Won't somebody please not think of the children? Read More...
https://theweek.com/articles/851426/jeffrey-epstein-case-why-people-believe-pizzagate
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The restaurants where mobsters gathered, ate and got murdered
July 13, 2016
Joe and Mary’s Italian American Restaurant
Bushwick — July 12, 1979
The body of Carmine Galante is taken out of Joe and Mary’s Italian Restaurant.
Carmillo “Carmine” Galante was nicknamed “Lilo,” Italian slang for “cigar,” which was appropriate given his omnipresent stogie.
Suspected
by the NYPD of more than 80 murders, Galante, 69, was a prodigious
heroin peddler who rose to be head of the Bonanno crime family.
He
became a mob target, sources say, because he was planning to knock off
rivals in the hope he would be installed as capo di tutt’i capi — “boss
of all bosses” — while refusing to share his dope profits with his
cronies.
Galante had two Sicilian bodyguards with him — Baldassae
Amato and Cesare Bonventre — when lunching with Leonard Coppola, a
Bonanno capo, and restaurant owner/cousin Giuseppe Turano, a Bonanno
soldier, in a patio area.
Three ski-masked men entered and opened
fire with a shotgun and handguns, leaving Galante and his two
companions dead, though Amato and Bonventre curiously emerged unscathed.
There
was a grisly photograph of the death scene that spoke volumes about
what had occurred — one showing Galante, with an eye shot out, lying
crumpled on the ground, a cigar still stuck in his mouth.
The eatery now houses a Mexican restaurant, Taqueria La Asuncion...
https://nypost.com/2016/07/13/the-restaurants-where-mobsters-gathered-ate-and-murdered/
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The Mafia Pizza Connection | FULL DOCUMENTARY
Feb 15, 2024
NSTLKIA
presents 'The Pizza Connection', our newest documentary on the rise
and fall of the world's largest international drug ring, the Sicilian
Pizza connection.
The Pizza Connection was a major
drug-trafficking network between the Middle East, Sicily, and the East
Coast that stretched for over a decade and saw almost 2 billion in
heroin being pumped into the US.
However, after a wave of major
internal conflict in Palermo between warring mafia clans, the entire
thing would fall apart and disappear within a week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF-wcyJfnL4
______________
The Pizza Connection
Jun 18, 2021
The
Pizza Connection Trial (in full, United States v. Badalamenti et al.)
was a criminal trial against the Sicilian and American mafias that took
place before the United States District Court for the Southern District
of New York in New York City, U.S.
The trial centered on a
number of independently owned pizza parlor fronts used to distribute
drugs, which had imported US$1.65 billion of heroin from Southwest Asia
to the United States between 1975 and 1984.
The trial lasted from
September 30, 1985, to March 2, 1987, ending with 18 convictions, with
sentences handed down on June 22, 1987. Lasting about 17 months, it was
the longest trial in the judicial history of the United States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-LhjwR3-LU
______________
The Mafia Waged a War Over a Pizza Recipe
Nov 19, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKif2UCRK_o
______________
Pizzagate, QAnon and the ‘Epstein List’: Why the Far Right Is Obsessed with Sex Trafficking
An expert on conspiracy theories explains why MAGA figures are embracing the latest twist in the Jeffrey Epstein saga.
01/09/2024
A
day before the so-called Epstein list was supposed to drop, far-right
conspiracy theorists buzzed with excitement over the expectation that it
would crucify prominent figures on the left for their involvement in
sex trafficking. It’s a wildly popular notion in that world, where
Pizzagate and QAnon fantasies run rampant.
The truth, of course,
was far different: The material made public in federal court last week,
with more now being released, wasn’t some kind of Jeffrey Epstein client
list, as had been speculated online. It was actually documents from a
court case filed by one of Epstein’s victims that did include people’s
names, but provided little new information on whether they knew of or
participated in Epstein’s heinous crimes.
To get a sense of why
conspiracy theories centered on sex trafficking and pedophilia — and now
the “Epstein list” — are so buzzy in MAGA circles, POLITICO Magazine
called up Mike Rothschild, author of The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon
Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything and Jewish
Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories.
Rothschild
pointed to a toxic stew of age-old antisemitism; the worst incentives
of today’s social media; and the right’s unending obsession with Bill
and Hillary Clinton.
Donald Trump pops up in the documents,
including some released on Monday, but that’s typically not a problem
for his hard-core supporters. As with most conspiracy theories,
adherents create their own reality.
“There’s nothing Trump can do
that will lose these people’s loyalty,” Rothschild said. “Anything that
is inconvenient, that alters their worldview, they’ll just ignore it,
or they’ll make up some bizarre justification for it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity...
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/09/why-maga-is-obsessed-with-jeffrey-epstein-00134394
______________
Deadliest Mafia Bosses Who Are Still Active In New York
Aug 29, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lgK_0SZ_hA
______________
The Rochester, NY Crime Family - Documentary (A/B Team Wars + Downfall)
Feb 15, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bCimSgnNuA
______________
Carmine Persico and The Colombo Wars | FULL DOCUMENTARY
Feb 22, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijA4w0mxKls
______________
Joe Columbo: The Youngest Godfather That Redefined The Mafia | Mafia's Greatest Hits
May 5, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R7B2m-ulfE
______________
FBI Showdown: 5 Hours Of The Mafia's Biggest Mistakes
Sep 27, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liUli5XkV-E
______________
Youngstown Mobster Series
Jun 10, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnjx9oCa5KI
______________
Murder Inc: The Mafia MURDER Crew | FULL DOCUMENTARY
Jun 27, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pd5VGKdJy8
______________
How the 'Great Mafia War' Killed Thousands
Aug 4, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0pv8vj3RKU
______________
The Most Feared Gang of New York City's Crack Wars: The Dominican Wild Cowboys of Washington Heights
Mar 2, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKJclUWvVi0
______________
Brooklyn's Infamous Mob Hit Of Carmine Galante
Aug 27, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYjjYR8cUug
______________
Mafia Ties And FBI Lies: Donnie Brasco, Sonny Black And Lefty Ruggiero
Feb 23, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy9qsSXzgkg
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THE MAFIA PART 1
Oct 16, 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-9prHsgxDE
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MAFIA PART 2
Oct 16, 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO_h8RlWUeU
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Surviving 11 Bullets: New York's Most Feared Gangster
Sep 6, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1FkZ2CeFS4
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The Most Feared Gang of New York City's Crack Wars: The Dominican Wild Cowboys of Washington Heights
Mar 2, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKJclUWvVi0
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Joe Gallo: The Iconoclast Who Ruled the 1960s | Mafias Greatest Hits | Our History
Dec 30, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j81DV_V7lBY
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THE PHILADELPHIA MAFIA - FROM ITS BEGINNINGS TO THE PRESENT DAY [mob history]
Aug 17, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUz2u6XiFZg
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Confessions Of An Italian Mafia Capo: The Life Of A Top Earner & HITMAN For The Bonanno Crime Family
Apr 14, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTYAaRbINYc
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MAFIA COPS - Gangsters with Badges - Documentary
Mar 3, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap8A_Uh3x1M
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COINTELPRO
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO
COINTELPRO
(a syllabic abbreviation derived from Counter Intelligence Program) was
a series of covert and illegal projects conducted between 1956 and 1971
by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aimed at
surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting American
political organizations that the FBI perceived as subversive. Groups and
individuals targeted by the FBI included feminist organizations, the
Communist Party USA, anti-Vietnam War organizers, activists in the civil
rights and Black power movements (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr., the
Nation of Islam, and the Black Panther Party), environmentalist and
animal rights organizations, the American Indian Movement (AIM), Chicano
and Mexican-American groups like the Brown Berets and the United Farm
Workers, and independence movements (including Puerto Rican independence
groups, such as the Young Lords and the Puerto Rican Socialist Party).
Although the program primarily focused on organizations that were part
of the broader New Left, they also targeted white supremacist groups,
such as the Ku Klux Klan and the National States' Rights Party.
The
FBI has used covert operations against domestic political groups since
its inception; however, covert operations under the official COINTELPRO
label took place between 1956 and 1971. However, the official chronology
of the program is the subject of the debate. According to a senate
investigation, "If COINTELPRO had been a short-lived aberration, the
thorny problems of motivation, techniques, and control presented might
be safely relegated to history. However, COINTELPRO existed for years on
an 'ad hoc basis before the formal programs were instituted, and more
significantly, COINTELPRO-type activities may continue today under the
rubric of 'investigation." Many of the tactics used in COINTELPRO are
alleged to have seen continued use, including discrediting targets
through psychological warfare; smearing individuals and groups using
forged documents and by planting false reports in the media; harassment;
wrongful imprisonment; illegal violence; and assassination. According
to a Senate report, the FBI's motivation was "protecting national
security, preventing violence, and maintaining the existing social and
political order".
Beginning in 1969, leaders of the Black Panther
Party were targeted by the COINTELPRO and "neutralized" by being
assassinated, imprisoned, publicly humiliated or falsely charged with
crimes. Some of the Black Panthers targeted include Fred Hampton, Mark
Clark, Zayd Shakur, Geronimo Pratt, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and Marshall
Conway. Common tactics used by COINTELPRO were perjury, witness
harassment, witness intimidation, and withholding of exculpatory
evidence.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover issued directives
governing COINTELPRO, ordering FBI agents to "expose, disrupt,
misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" the activities of these
movements and especially their leaders. Under Hoover, the official in
charge of COINTELPRO was assistant director William C. Sullivan.
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy personally authorized some of the
programs, giving written approval for limited wiretapping of Martin
Luther King's phones "on a trial basis, for a month or so". Hoover
extended the clearance so his men were "unshackled" to look for evidence
in any areas of King's life they deemed worthy.
FBI claimed intent of COINTELPRO
The
FBI claimed that the purpose behind COINTELPRO was to "expose, disrupt,
misdirect, or otherwise neutralize" groups that the FBI officials
believed were "subversive" by instructing FBI field operatives to:
Create a negative public image for target groups (for example through
surveilling activists and then releasing negative personal information
to the public)
Break down internal organization by creating
conflicts (for example, by having agents exacerbate racial tensions, or
send anonymous letters to try to create conflicts)
Create dissension between groups (for example, by spreading rumors that other groups were stealing money)
Restrict access to public resources (for example, by pressuring
non-profit organizations to cut off funding or material support)
Restrict the ability to organize protest (for example, through agents
promoting violence against police during planning and at protests)
Restrict the ability of individuals to participate in group activities
(for example, by character assassinations, false arrests, surveillance)
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The following documents and articles will detail the ongoing corruption in Collier County, Florida. These documents prove as evidence of the current corruption with human trafficking and government funded kidnapping rings.
This article was written in order to free Michael James Ross from his illegal arrest while attempting to stop these human trafficking rings in Collier County, Florida. The authorities in Collier County, Florida illegally arrested journalist Michael James Ross. Michael James Ross was illegally arrested, the authorities claimed he was a convicted felon with an air rifle in the State of Florida, and wanted to give Michael James Ross over 10 years in prison for this crime he did not commit. The authorities and judges have refused to hand over the audio evidence that states the original reason why Michael James Ross was being arrested. These Judges and police both are now tampering with audio evidence and why the media cannot even produce a copy of the correct audio recordings of the arrest of Michael James Ross. We are calling for the Florida National Guard to arrest the police officers that were involved with this illegal arrest. We are now calling for the arrest of Police Chief Kevin Rambosk and Police Officer Delia C. Luna for tampering with audio evidence, obstruction of justice, and the illegal arrest of a journalist in the scientific community and medical community.
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Chapter 2: Human Trafficking in Florida & The Mistrial of Journalist Michael James Ross. Michael James Ross PollutionScience.com vs Collier County, Florida Government - (Corruption in Collier County, Florida, Human Trafficking & Government Kidnapping Rings)
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Pollution Science X - Florida - (Pollution Science 101 - Florida) (Editor: Michael James Ross)
April 4th, 2024
PollutionScience101Florida.blogspot.com
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We now would like to file a
complaint under the 28 U.S.
Code § 144 - Bias or prejudice of a judge against Judge Kyle Cohen,
Judge Elizabeth Krier and Judge John Mcgowan of the Twentieth District
Court in Collier County, Florida. We no longer think that these judges
are competent. We want these judges to no longer have authority in any
further court cases to harm others as well. We accuse these judges of
being no better than the Judges in the "Kids for Cash Scandal," we are
now
requesting that these Judges either should be fired, or these judges
need to step down. We request that these following judges now face
prison time, just as Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella in the "Kids for Cash Scandal" received prison time. We wish to prosecute Judge Elizabeth Krier, Judge Kyle Cohen
and Judge John Mcgowan similar to Michel Conahan and Mark Ciavarella in the
"Kids for Cash Scandal," We
want to know who else the 20th District Court in Collier County,
Florida has illegally jailed, we want these citizens released. We are
going to request that the 20th District Court be closed down on charges
of
mass corruption if these illegal arrests of citizens and journalists
continue. We consider this a form of mass corruption from the 20th
District Court if these charges are not dropped at once. We are going to
start asking that the 20th District Court now face daily fines for
keeping this illegal trial of Michael Ross still going. We are calling
for the Florida National Guard and military to now arrest Judges Krier,
Cohen and Mcgowan for tampering with evidence. We have disowned these
judges, we will now disown the 20th District Court if the 20th District
Court continues to harm scientific researchers and continues with the
illegal arrest of Michael Ross. These judges are no longer to work in
the legal system. These Judges are guilty of tampering with evidence, we
want these Judges from the 20th District Court stopped right now. We
want all of these Courtroom officials tried for treason and given the
fullest possible punishment for treason. We no longer want the 20th
District Court to have any authority in this case, the 20th District
Court has broken too many laws. These Judges are a nuisance to the
scientific community and medical community. These Judges are a nuisance
to the scientific community. These authorities have had their chance to
arrest Delia C. Luna for the wrongful arrest of Michael Ross. We
consider this an obstruction of justice. The law requires that if a
police officer wrongfully arrests a citizen for any reason, that this
officer behind the wrongful arrest is now to be detained by law. Michael
Ross was wrongfully arrested in January of 2024, it is now past August
and the judges attempt to continue an illegal trial. We consider this a
form of inhumane torture of a journalist. We are calling the Florida
National Guard to arrest Collier County Police Officer Delia C. Luna and
Collier County Police Chief Officer Rambosk.
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Michael Ross vs Florida - Illegal Arrest - Document: Evidence Exhibit A-7 - Pages 1-109
July 1st, 2024
https://archive.org/details/evidence-a-7
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Michael Ross vs Florida - Illegal Arrest - Court Document: Evidence Exhibit A 4
July 1st, 2024
https://archive.org/details/evidence-a-4
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Michael James Ross vs Collier County, Florida
PRIMARY DOCKET # 24CF95
Our Environmental Websites and Reports:
Website: Pollution Science - PollutionScience.com
Book: Pollution Science X - Florida - https://pollutionscience101Florida.blogspot.com
Michael
Ross from PollutionScience.com was doing an environmental survey report while investigating illegal wastewater
dumping from a beach storm drain off 2nd Avenue in Naples, Florida and
was illegally detained at this location on January 14th, 2024 at 1:30
am.
Michael Ross was investigating the illegal stormwater dumping
complaints when the police illegally raided his vehicle. The police
illegally searched the vehicle of Michael Ross by force and found an
air rifle that
was not a true firearm. The authorities lied at first and said it was an
unidentified rifle instead of just saying it was an air rifle gun made
by Gamo, this was done in order to illegally detain Ross longer. The
authorities then lied right off the bat and said that Michael Ross had a
felony, the authorities then stated that it was illegal to own the air
rifle in the State of Florida because Ross had a previous felony. The
fact is
that Michael Ross was never convicted of a felony in his life, and it is
legal for Michael Ross to own the air rifle. The authorities claimed
that it was illegal for felons to own an air rifle in the State of
Florida and that Ross was being detained for having an air rifle in his
vehicle. Michael Ross was arrested for having an air rifle, Michael Ross
will be filing a
lawsuit against this illegal detainment. Here is Ross's Driver's
License
number (Texas Driver's License number: 18785123) (California Driver's
License: D8434672) (American Passport Id # 587031279) so that you can
see for yourselves that Michael Ross does not have a felony. These
officials lied to
the public including other news agencies and claimed Ross had a felony
when Ross did not have a previous felony.
The government of
Collier County had to create a
lie about Ross in order to stop his investigative journalism. The
government lied to
the press and this is why you see the headlines that were claiming Ross
was a felon that had an air rifle in his vehicle. The truth is
that Ross was never a convicted felon and it was legal for Ross to own
the air
rifle. The police also claimed Ross was sleeping, when Ross claims he
was not sleeping
and that he was just relaxing. There was a parking sign for the parking
hours
but the sign was torn off the post, there was no way to tell the parking
hours, Ross was just enjoying the beach after visiting most of the
amusement parks in Florida for over two weeks. Ross was planning on
spending several months in Florida. For the records I checked the
time
on my cellphone just 10 minutes before the illegal arrest. Ross was
planning on leaving the area at 2 am that night. We do not like how the
police tell multiple lies in front of journalists in order to falsify
more charges against people.
The problem is the Naples government
assumed Michael Ross had a previous felony because Ross was found with 2
grams of hash in
2009 in Texas, Ross received a reduced punishment down to a misdemeanor
instead of having a felony. The officials in Collier County, Florida
assumed it was a felony to have hash in Texas, these officials in
Florida lied and said Ross received a felony from having hash in Texas.
The truth is the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and Ross never
received a felony. This is why even the media was lied to and you can
see in the headlines that the government misled the media, and why the
news article claims Ross was a felon in possession of an air rifle when
it turns out that Michael Ross was never a convicted felon in his entire
life. This makes it difficult to get more support from
others, this is because the public was lied to and thinks Ross was a
felon with an air rifle. It even makes it more difficult if Ross wanted
to
find a job in the scientific community while the news headlines are
inaccurate and claim falsely that Ross was a felon. We believe that an
AI
computer could have told the police by mistake that Ross had a felony.
We
also see that the police removed all audio evidence of stating that Ross
was being arrested as being a felon with an air rifle.
You will
notice that the police arrested Ross first for trying to say that Ross was a
felon in possession of an air rifle, the police had no idea how
much cannabis hemp that Ross had at the time. Ross was originally detained first because
the police lied and said Ross was a felon in order to illegally arrest Ross.
The
police had to dismiss the case of Ross being a felon with an air rifle,
this is simply because Ross was never a felon and that Michael Ross was illegally
arrested. We consider this as an illegal attempt to try to gain illegal
access to his research van.
The Police refused to identify the
Gamo pellet gun as an air rifle and said that the rifle was an
unidentified rifle for multiple days. This was done in attempt to hold
Ross in custody longer illegally. The police knew they made a mistake in
arresting Ross for having a pellet gun that was legal. The police wanted
to use the unidentified rifle as a distraction, this however kept Ross
in
jail longer illegally and we will be seeking damages for this illegal
arrest.
We notice that the police did not even release the full
audio recording of the arrest of Michael Ross on 1/14/2014 at 1:30:10
am. We do not even see that the police were able to identify the air
rifle for a few days.
We also want to state that we believe why
it took longer to hear the charges. The police knew they made a mistake
and why it took longer for the police to figure out they illegally
arrested Ross for falsely saying that Ross was a felon with an
unidentified rifle, when Ross simply was not a felon with a rifle or an
air rifle. A jury will see multiple counts of tampering with evidence
and see that this evidence presented by these Collier County officials
was falsified. No honorable person would try to harm a scientific
researcher and medical researcher that has already had this much tainted
evidence and illegal detainment. The authorities are greedy and want the
money and silver, they don't care about our science research and
medical research.
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The illegal arrest of Michael Ross - Background check to prove Michael Ross was never a felon.
July 16th,2024
https://archive.org/details/innocent-not-a-felon
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September 16th, 2024
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Evidence Court Document - Evidence Exhibit A-4 & A-7 - Judge Krier:
Twentieth
District Court Judge Krier caused Libel, Slander and illegally signed
court documents that stated that Michael Ross is to be punished as a
previous felon, this was an illegal punishment and that Michael Ross was
never a previous felon. This judge attempted to give Michael James Ross extra
punishment from his illegal sentence and made the untrue statement that
Michael Ross was a previous felon. The truth is that Michael Ross was
never a felon. This Judge is trying to give Ross extra punishment and
time, this judge states that Michael Ross is a felon which is wrong. We
want this judge removed from office and to never be able to work as a
judge again.
The
Police illegally arrested Michael Ross and stated Ross was a previously convicted felon that
was found with an air rifle in his vehicle, the truth is that Michael Ross was never a felon. Mrs.
Gomes the District attorney lied and continued the extension of the illegal
arrest of Ross by saying Ross was to be tried as a convicted felon with an air
rifle, Mrs. Gomes also wanted to add additional punishments for falsely
stating that Ross was a previous felon as well. Judge Elizabeth Krier
(Respondeat superior) approved of Amira D. Fox and Nicole Santini of
adding additional punishments for Michael Ross. Fox, Gomes & Santini falsely
stated that Ross would receive more punishments for being a previous felon while
being illegally arrested.
The police wrongfully stated
that Ross was being arrested as a felon in possession of an air rifle in
his
vehicle. The truth is that the police did not tell the truth, Michael
Ross was
never a convicted felon. The police then lied and said that Ross' Gamo
air
rifle was an unidentified rifle to hold Ross in custody longer. Mrs.
Gomes
lied in court and told the Judge and public that Ross was being charged
as
a convicted felon with an air rifle. This statement was not true and
that Michael Ross was never a felon. The arrest of Michael James Ross
for having an air rifle was a form of either police error or intent to
illegally arrest scientific and medical journalist Michael Ross, we
consider this illegal arrest a form of police brutality. Judge Elizabeth
Krier approved of the illegal arrest of Michael Ross and allowed Amira
D. Fox and Nicole N. Santini to approve of additional punishments on
Ross's punishment scoresheet. Additional points were added to Ross's
3.992(a) Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheet because Fox and Santini
stated that Ross was being punished as a previous felon. This also added
more punishments on all other charges. We accuse these
authorities of illegally giving Michael James Ross more punishment
charges in attempt to silence political journalist Michael Ross. This
was done with malice, spite and with intent to illegally keep Michael
Ross longer in custody, and this caused harm to Michael Ross of
PollutionScience.com
in different ways. We want Rhiannon Gomes, Amira Fox, Nicole Santini
and Judge Elizabeth Krier to face arrest for tampering with evidence,
this includes the libel, slander and contempt in court under oath.
Rhiannon Gomes lied under oath and stated that Michael Ross was to be
charged as a convicted felon with an air rifle. This created Judge Krier
to increase the punishments of Michael Ross, simply because this made
Judge Krier think that Ross's punishment should be more for being a
previously convicted felon. Rhiannon Gomes tried to create malice to
harm a member of the scientific community and the medical community.
Michael
James Ross from
pollution Science is seeking 5 million dollars in damages for being
illegally arrested on January 14th, 2024 by Delia C. Luna and the
Collier County Police. Michael Ross is seeking an additional 6 million
dollars for being held longer illegally in custody by Police Chief Kevin
Rambosk. The authorities should have let Ross go with this
illegal arrest. The Young District Attorney Gomes did not properly check
and also wrongfully assumed that Michael Ross was a felon when Michael
Ross was not a felon. This mistake caused Michael Ross to spend multiple
days illegally detained, and this caused a lot of stress when having to
go to court to prove that Ross was never a felon. We want 7 million
dollars
in additional damages for being illegally detained longer by young
District Attorney Rhiannon Gomes. May we remind the Jury what a Young
District Attorney is, this attorney has only been working as a District
Attorney since 2021. This Young attorney is not qualified to continue to
give illegal punishments to journalist Michael Ross of Pollution
Science. We want the Twentieth District Court Attorneys to stop issuing
more illegal punishments from continuing to state that Ross is a felon.
The authorities knew they made a mistake in illegally arresting Ross for
having an air rifle, the authorities then stated the air rifle was
unidentified for multiple days. The air rifle was in stock condition and
any competent officer could clearly see that it was a Gamo pellet gun
within one minute, the air rifle was unloaded and stored away out of
public sight. The serial number and name of the air rifle was in no
way obstructed and could be identified within one minute or less. Amira
D. Fox and Nicole Santini also went along and took Young District
Attorney Mrs. Gomes's word that Ross was a felon and trusted her
judgment
which was wrong. Fox and Santini tried to add additional punishment
points on the punishment scoresheet of Michael Ross and stated that Ross
was a previous felon, this was
in attempt to give Ross more time on my charges because of this error.
My 4th Amendment
rights were violated, the police stated that I was being arrested as a
felon with an air rifle to gain access to my vehicle, I was never a
felon and this was an illegal arrest. My 2nd Amendment rights were
violated, I was illegally arrested for owning an air rifle. My 8th
Amendment rights were violated with cruel and unusual punishment, my
punishments were increased because the authorities claimed falsely I was
a felon. My 1st Amendment rights to peacefully gather were also
violated. My 13th Amendment rights were violated, the State of Florida
is running a type of racketeering system in their prison systems to
illegally extort money and wrongfully convict innocent citizens. These
innocent citizens are then sent to private prison labor camps for
profit.
Michael James Ross is also alleging libel, defamation,
slander, defamation per se, business disparagement, business defamation,
tortious interference with current and/or prospective business
relations, civil conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional
distress caused by the authorities of Collier County, Florida. We need
to stop good researchers in the scientific community and medical
community from facing wrongful arrest and ask the authorities to please
stop this Vexatious litigation. These authorities have already lied and
stated Ross was a felon and this was not true. The original reason why
Ross was being arrested is because the authorities stated that Ross was a
previous felon in possession of an air rifle. We
consider this Vexatious litigation by the authorities of Collier County,
Florida if they continue to break the law to illegally arrest
reporters. The authorities have broken multiple laws and that if Michael
Ross is illegally jailed for this, the public will know that Michael
Ross from
PollutionScience.com is being jailed illegally. We consider this gross
negligence, Nonfeasance, Misfeasance, and acting with severe
recklessness with disregard for the safety or well-being of another
person by Collier County officials. This is happening while the
authorities lie to the public and tell the public that Michael Ross was a
felon in possession of an air-rifle, when the authorities made the
mistake and lied to the public about Ross being a felon. Michael Ross
was never a felon, and the Collier County Police officers made a mistake
in arresting Michael Ross for having an air rifle that was legal for
him to own. This was the first main cause for the authorities trying to
detain Ross, we want the audio recording from the Collier County Police
from 12 am to 3 am on the morning of the arrest on January 14th, 2024.
We are asking the public to stop this illegal detainment of Michael Ross
as a scientific journalist and medical journalist.
We accuse
Collier County Courtroom authorities of acting with scienter and that
these authorities were fully aware of what they were doing.
Scienter
refers to a person’s mental state at the time they allegedly committed a
crime. Specifically, scienter refers to whether the individual
intentionally and knowingly acted with the intent to defraud or
manipulate, or if the results of their actions were simply caused by a
mistake or accident. Scienter is a Latin term, which translates to
“knowledge.” Therefore, someone who acts with scienter is fully aware of
what they are doing and the consequences that can result, yet they go
ahead with it anyway.
This illegal arrest has caused me multiple
forms of personal injury, emotional stress, physical stress, headaches,
Libel and Slander. It is now more difficult to find work, this is a form
of Libel, Slander and this harms my public reputation as a scientific
journalist and medical journalist.
The police have stolen money I
wanted to use on fixing my teeth, I have had to put off fixing my teeth
until the authorities give me my stolen research funds back. I will now
have to sell my 3.25 acre property in Austin because of this
illegal arrest, I was going to turn this land into a storage rental
property. I have lost millions of dollars I was going to earn from
investing this money into my business. I have lost millions of dollars
because the authorities refuse to give me back my laptops with priceless
science, medical and COVID research. I have now lost millions in
research and accuse the Collier County authorities of harming
researchers in the scientific community and medical community. The
authorities attempted to edit out the audio that stated I was being
arrested as a previously convicted felon with an air rifle multiple times. This was done at
the time of my arrest and when I was being questioned sitting in my
vehicle. The authorities removed multiple audio clips that stated the
original reason of why I was being arrested and attempted to shift blame
to arrest me for cannabis that was not mine. The audio of Officer Delia
C. Luna was not shown in the evidence we received. Officer Delia C.
Luna stated that the first original reason why we were being arrested is
that we were a convicted felon with an air rifle. The police asked me
if I owned an air rifle while I was sitting in my vehicle, I stated that
I did have an air rifle in the vehicle. The police then stated for me
to step out of the vehicle, and within a minute the police stated that I
was being arrested for being a previous convicted felon in possession
of an air rifle. The authorities did not know how much cannabis or THC-A
legal hash that we had at the time. The audio of Troy A. Menning
stating that I was being arrested as a previous convicted felon with an
air rifle was deleted when I was being interviewed at the police
station. We see that the audio recording that the authorities gave my
lawyer had the section of audio taken out where Troy A. Menning stated
that I was being arrested as a felon with an air rifle. We accuse the
Collier County Police Department of trying to tamper with multiple forms
of evidence.
I bought the air rifle legally in Texas and did not
break any laws. Florida claims to try and be one of the more
conservative states, yet we see how they are trying to complain about
American citizens trying to own an Air Rifle. I remember in the 1990s
that any American could go into a store to buy an air rifle legally. I
will state for the record that I was never a felon and that I bought the
air rifle legally. I want the air rifle that was illegally confiscated
and stolen from me by the Collier County, Florida police department
back. I want all of my property back that was illegally confiscated.
The
Police Lied and said that we had a felony and that we were a felon in
possession of an air rifle. This was done to gain illegal access to
search our research vehicle to plant false evidence. We were clearly not
a felon and want all charges dismissed. I knew that I had an air rifle
but I was unaware that there was 9mm ammo, the vehicle was used by
multiple people and the van had not been cleaned. The air rifle was not
in plain sight and was in a box.
You will notice that the
authorities misspell the word paraphernalia in my charges and instead
use the word parapherna. We think that this must have been an auto spell
check error where the spell checker accidentally fills in the wrong
word and not the word you typed. This is another reason why we think
that an AI computer is behind some of these mistakes. I am starting to
think that it is the AI computer that is getting some people in trouble.
I
would like to know who has written this report, it appears that someone
replaced the word Paraphernalia with the word Parapherna. This was a
red flag because we believe an AI computer is doing a lot of this and
that some of these clerks are mostly letting the AI computers try and
write the report. Am I being charged with parapherna as a crime? I would
like these charges of Parapherna dropped and do not think that I
deserve the punishment for a crime that I did not commit.
May we remind the court what parapherna is.
Parapherna
- Definition: The property of a woman that on her marriage is not made a
part of her dower but remains her own and entirely free from the
control of the husband
Does the Twentieth District Court really wish to give Michael James Ross a misdemeanor for the crime of parapherna?
We refuse these charges and that the Collier County officials have multiple errors in their reports.
_______________________________
Court Document Evidence
Exhibit A-7 - Page 4: The Police knew that Ross had an Air Rifle and the police
stated that they found an air rifle within the first minutes of
searching the vehicle. The Police knew they illegally arrested Michael
Ross and this was a wrongful arrest. It turns out that Ross was never a
convicted felon and that Ross was illegally arrested for a crime that he
did not commit. The authorities then lied and stated that Ross was
being arrested for an unknown rifle to make the charge sound worse, this
was also done in an attempt to make it look as if Ross had a real
rifle. The following document states that Ross was arrested for an
unknown rifle.
Court Document Evidence
Exhibit A-7 - Page 5: The following Court document
states that Ross was being charged as a previous convicted felon in
possession of ammunition. This statement was false and this was an
illegal charge the authorities had to drop against Michael Ross.
You will notice that the authorities even state multiple times that Ross was being charged with a firearm as a convicted felon.
Court Document Evidence
Exhibit Evidence A-7 - Page 73: 790.23(3) - POSSESSION OF A FIREARM OR CONCEALED WEAPON BY A CONVICTED FELON
Court Document Evidence
Exhibit A-7 - Page 74: 790.23(3) - POSSESSION OF A FIREARM OR CONCEALED WEAPON BY A CONVICTED FELON
Court Document Evidence
Exhibit A-7 - page 13: The following states that Michael James Ross was
illegally arrested for the following crime: 790.23(3) - POSSESSION OF A
FIREARM OR CONCEALED WEAPON BY A CONVICTED FELON
_______________
You will notice
that the other arresting police officers had to leave out that Ross was
being illegally arrested for an air rifle. We believe the arresting
police officers left out in their original reports that the first reason
why Michael Ross was being detained was for being an accused felon in
possession of an air rifle. Keep in mind that one of the first questions
the authorities asked Ross is if he had an air rifle. Michael Ross
replied truthfully to the officers and stated that he did own an air
rifle and felt that there was nothing wrong with owning a pellet gun in
America. Michael Ross told the truth to the authorities, we can see that
the authorities were dishonorable and lied on multiple occasions to
have journalist Michael James Ross illegally arrested. We want all of
the arresting officers fired, we can clearly see that they lied to cover
for each other in their reports. These officers are bad apples and we
do not want them to continue to influence other officers to also be
corrupt as the following officers. We no longer want the following
officers to work as police officers. These officers failed to write in
their reports that Michael Ross was being arrested as a previous
convicted felon with an air rifle.
Delia C. Luna
Evan J. Scott
Anthony N. Iannuzzi
John Redhead
Yasmin M. Pachecho
Lynnze E. Bender
Leovijildo Rodriguez
Derrick Vazquez
Jake Crowther
We believe that most of the police officers understood and heard Officer Luna state that Michael Ross was being arrested in possession of an air rifle. It could be possible that the officers that were away from the van and standing on the beach may not have heard that Ross was being arrested for having an air rifle as a previously convicted felon. These were lies the Collier County Police Department made. We could like to prosecute the Collier County Police Department, Chief Rambosk and the officers that edited the video and audio footage of the illegal arrest of Michael Ross to faces charges of tampering with evidence. We also want an investigation into the corruption of many attorneys in Florida. Ross is seeking an additional 6 million dollars in damages from Police Chief Kevin Rambosk. Police Chief Rambosk acted illegally and decided to keep Ross illegally detained as a journalist. Ross is seeking an additional 30,000 Dollars for each day this illegal court trial goes on. We consider this a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Michael Ross was illegally arrested on January 14th, 2024, this illegal trial continues to go on even past August 2024.
The only way we will allow these officers back on the force is if they testify that Michael James Ross was illegally arrested. These officers must admit that Michael Ross was illegally arrested, and why they were told to not state that Ross was being arrested as a previous convicted felon with an air rifle.
I have done so much medical research and the only way this corrupt government can repay me is to falsify and tamper with the video evidence and audio evidence in an illegal mistrial.
My Lawyer Donald P. Day was given tainted video and audio evidence and never received the Video and Audio evidence of the illegal arrest of Michael James Ross. The first original reason why Michael James Ross from PollutionScience.com was arrested was for Delia C. Luna stating that Ross was to be arrested for being a previously convicted felon with an air rifle. The truth is that Ross was never a convicted felon and why the authorities had to drop the first charges. The authorities tampered with the video evidence, the audio evidence and physical evidence. The police refused to show my defense team the tampered video footage of the illegal arrest. The District Attorneys even attempted to take my lawyer off of the trial, simply because he was a witness to the tampering of the video and audio evidence. The District Attorneys attempted to say there was a conflict of interest because my lawyer used to work for the 20th District Court as a District Attorney. My Lawyer Donald P. Day stated that he had never seen anything like this before and that they must have messed up bad in order to do this. Judge Elizabeth Krier of the 20th District Court also stated that the authorities acted inappropriately. However, this judge was voted off the bench in the 2024 Election in November and could not continue the case. I would like for Judge Elizabeth Krier to state why the authorities acted inappropriately and to have the courts see this was a mistrial. Some people are put in jail illegally, Michael James Ross was put on probation illegally and that we ask the courts to release Michael James Ross from this illegal probation and to compensate Michael James Ross for being put on probation illegally with this mistrial. We know that the police acted inappropriately. The police lied to the courts and refused to hand over the proper evidence to my legal team. We consider this an obstruction of justice by the Collier County Sheriff's Office. If the court could see this was an obstruction of justice, then the blame should be put on the Collier County Sheriff's Office. Then we would stop saying that the courts attempted to cover-up the tampered video and audio evidence and instead put blame on the Collier County Sheriff's Office for attempting to cover-up this illegal arrest of Michael James Ross.
Michael James Ross Explains Why the Authorities Had to Drop the Illegal Arrest Charges Against Him & Why the Courts still are threatening to Stop the Research of Michael Ross with Tainted and Falsified Audio Evidence in a Mistrial.
We can clearly see that the mainstream media continues to attack the independent media whenever the mainstream media gets the chance. Many of these news stations would be considered liberal news, many of these liberal mainstream media outlets conspire to attack the free independent press whenever the mainstream media gets the chance. These groups conspired to harm members of the independent media in order to also cover-up for the crimes committed by the government of Collier County, Florida. We clearly see that the government of Collier County, Florida is behind a human trafficking ring. We need to stop this human trafficking ring.
The follow links were published by these mainstream media outlets, these were lies created by the mainstream media in order to hurt members of the medical community and science community. We even see how Alex Jones was sued in court by the parents of Sandy Hook. I believe that these lies created by the mainstream media against Michael James Ross from PollutionScience.com were even worse. Michael James Ross was already put on probation illegally. It is not right how these authorities continue to threaten Ross with incarceration if Ross does not complete his probation that he was illegally put on. We hear that often people are put in jail illegally, well Michael James Ross was put on probation illegally. The authorities continue to tamper with Video evidence, Audio Evidence and Physical evidence. The courts in Florida even covered up this illegal arrest. We can see that the courts in Texas may be the only hope left for Michael Ross and to stop this human trafficking ring in Collier County, Florida. The authorities continue to not release the tainted video evidence, audio evidence and physical evidence where Delia C. Luna stated the original reason why Ross was being arrested was for being a convicted felon with an air rifle. I was never a felon and Delia C. Luna made a mistake and claimed I was a felon for being arrested in 2009, when this was not a felony and the case was reduced to a misdemeanor. If the courts continue this illegal trial against Ross then this will be considered a full betrayal of the government against members of the medical community and scientific community. Ross is seeking 5 million dollars in damages from each media company that lied and stated Ross was a convicted felon when he was not. This also hurt the trial and chances of Michael Ross gaining help and support from the public as well.
https://archive.org/details/evidence-exhibit-iheartradio
https://archive.org/details/evidence-exhibit-msn
https://archive.org/details/evidence-exhibit-wink-news-cbs
The mainstream media is lying to you about Michael James Ross being a previously convicted felon with an air rifle. These were the lies the government told the mainstream media, this same corrupt government refuses to hand over the tainted video evidence and audio evidence of this illegal arrest as well. This happened under the Joe Biden Administration and accuse the Biden Administration of attempting to cover-up this illegal arrest of journalist Michael James Ross. I believe that many researchers are not safe under this government and these cities attempting to bring in an invading Third World army of illegal immigrants to overthrow the West.
Do you really think many of your science researchers and medical researchers want to work in these types of conditions that these atrocious Democrats and government has left us in our big cities.
If the government cannot release the tampered video evidence and audio evidence in a mistrial of their own researchers such as Michael James Ross, then I want to move my research out of the country and not credit this government for our research. We also want to warn other researchers to not work with this government until the illegal detainment of journalist Michael James Ross is stopped. We believe the federal government is in on this corruption as well. The Federal government was also in on illegally raiding my house in Laguna Beach, California in 2018. I was illegally abducted and had to sell my home, simply for trying to get the illegal immigrants out of America and why big cities such as Los Angeles have now fallen. Most of the American people are cowards and also cannot be trusted, we do not trust the American people to do the right thing any longer. That is why it seems like many Americans were cursed and their big cities in ruins, simply for refusing to work with the scientific community. Then we see how many members of the scientific community are now calling for strict population control so that these people in the public do not continue to harm medical researchers and scientific researchers. This is why we are now going to call for strict population control in the Third World, so we do not have low IQ Third World type police officers with a ghetto accent attempt to harm the medical researchers, such as we see with the illegal arrest of medical and science researcher by Collier County, Florida Police Officer Delia C. Luna. Many of these low IQ people from the public need to be gone from our society once and for all. The American people allow the corruption, such as the people of Collier County, Florida were the people voting in these mafia judges and the mafia police officers such as Collier County, Florida Police Chief Kevin Rambosk, and why the scientific community was forced to pull the plug on many members of the public.
Not only did the incapable and corrupt government cheat our scientific media agency but they have also cheated others. If the media and others were allowed to see the video and audio evidence of the illegal arrest of Michael James Ross, they would be able to see that this was a wrongful arrest to begin with.
All this government is good for is covering up the illegal arrest and police brutality of their own researchers.
This is why we declare a new revolution against this corrupt liberal government the Democrats have installed. This corrupt government is not even capable of keeping many of the big cities in America in safe conditions for their own researchers.
This is why I now refuse to work with this incapable government and no longer will credit this government with our research as long as they hold their own medical researchers such as Michael James Ross hostage. This government continues to suppress and bury evidence in the illegal arrests of their own researchers. We would like to not credit this government with our research and would like to state that this senile government is a burden and a nuisance to their own First World researchers.
This deceitful government continues to harm me in an illegal mistrial with tampered evidence. We want to set an example of why this government is not to be trusted, and why we should have an American Revolt to replace this government that continues to bring in an invading army of Third World illegal immigrants to slowly degrade our First World nation, and to harm those in the media that are now trying to stop this Third World invasion.
I also refuse to now work with these authorities for continuing to allow a corrupt police department to allow the Police Officers that enact police brutality against their own researchers to continue to operate on the public streets. We want these corrupt officials that tampered with the video and audio evidence to be taken out of political power.
This is a violation of my civil rights, I accuse the government of Collier County Florida of being behind this organized crime racket.
My research was illegally confiscated in an illegal arrest. This has happened in 2016, including 2018 in the following video and in 2024 as well.
We have a disagreement with this government. The government thinks they can continue to lie to the public, this happens while my research is being held hostage and the government that kidnapped me as a scientific researcher in order to hijack my research. This is why I have now disowned this government. I no longer want to give this government credit for my research. I have now disowned this government completely.
America is supposed to be a counter to the Communists. However we see America allying with the Communists in World War II, we see America has harmed the West with this Communist alliance with China. We can even see the Communists allowed the Wuhan Lab leak with the COVID virus.
This government is a public enemy and continues to have more Communists ideals with many of these BLM type riots the government allows, while assimilating many of these Black African Somali and Haitian groups that should not even be around.
We hereby declare full sanctions against the government of Collier County, Florida and for the public and researcher to boycott the people of Collier County, Florida. As long as the people of Collier County, Florida continue to allow the 20th District Court to hold illegal trials against members of the scientific press.
I want to leave the country and this government is hijacking my research. We then should be calling on a boycott of the local government of Collier County, Florida. If the government does not stop this then maybe it will be a tough decision to call for certain types of repercussions on my own nation if they continue to withhold the tainted video and audio evidence of my illegal arrest. We consider this a form of police brutality against their own journalists, it now makes it worse that the government continues to cover-up the footage. What else can I say to make these corrupt officials hand over the evidence the government is tampering with. This is tampering with evidence and I want to be compensated for my illegal arrest. Instead this government attempts to parade the names of their researchers around in illegal arrests and illegal mistrials to try and brag about their illegal arrests. Too many people in Collier County, Florida were connected to the mob and were working together to harm members of the scientific community. That is why we are calling for the removal off all Third World groups out of Florida and America. No one in their right mind wants to do business with the corrupt government of Collier County, Florida and we now declare a Civil War against the corrupt public officials in Collier County, Florida for attempting to overthrow the scientific community and hold illegal trials against members of the medical community and scientific community.
We are calling for the arrest of the Billionaire Collier Family in Collier County, Florida, for their attempt to overthrow the scientific community. The Collier Family continues to bring in illegal Third World immigrants to destabilize America, the Collier Family is now an enemy of the American people. We want their funds and accounts seized in order to pay off restoring the Everglades in Florida.
This government shells depleted uranium, sprays agent orange, legalizes Glyphosate, not to mention all the artificial sweeteners and food dyes that this government still legalizes while other countries make these harmful food chemicals illegal. Then we see the rate of cancer has skyrocketed.
Not to mention this government acts like the biggest faggot and attempts to legalize biological men to play in women's only sports. Not to mention many of the early 2020's DEI style commercials the government has for the military that everyone makes fun of. This government also covers-up kidnapping and pedophile rings such as with Jeffery Epstein. I no longer want to give credit to this government for our research if this government continues to harm my scientific and medical research and media agency. This government wants to kill many people in the next COVID style lock-down as well.
There are not many good factions left in the world. I think that America may be one of the few chances left for the West. My fight is then against the liberal Democrats trying to bring in the illegals, we must restore America as a Western nation. If you offer me a scientific dictatorship then I promise to eliminate over 75% of the people in Africa, South East Asia, The Middle East and to declare a manifest destiny for America and the West. We can even see that Trump wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, this should have been done a long time ago. America should have already invaded Central America and declared a manifest destiny for the West. Instead we see these low IQ Third World groups around the globe that are now overpopulated. We need a full eugenics program to stomp out these degenerates and dysgenic groups in the Third World. We should be cautious of losing the citizens of Europe, America and the West and want to preserve these bloodlines as the future race of humanity.
Germany was a good example of a better government and America went against this.
Now we are overpopulated with Third World immigrants that should never have been around.
Many Americans will act like a bunch of liberal cowards about this as well.
We want to warn many of the liberal Americans that your lives are on the lines if you think we should flood First World nations with Third World groups. We are already overpopulated, the government and media is talking about reducing the population on the planet. While it is many of the liberal citizens of America and their liberal politics that continue to ruin the environment and deplete our natural resources at a rapid rate, just so many of these self-righteous parasite liberals in America think they are doing a good job by letting illegal Third World immigrants into the country. These people are going against the orders of the scientific community.
This corrupt government does not value my time. Do you understand how important this is.
I do not want to work with a government that continues to withhold tainted video evidence, audio evidence and physical evidence in my mistrial. I do not appreciate this government also lying to the media so that the mainstream media repeats their lies and claims I was a felon with an air rifle in the news headlines. Many of these articles about my wrongful arrest were deleted, simply because the government lied to the media as well about my illegal arrest.
I would have gotten a more legitimate trial in a Third World country honestly. These people refuse to release the evidence of the tape of where Delia C. Luna stating I was being arrested for being a felon with an air rifle. The government covered-up my illegal arrest and then attempted to parade my name around to the mainstream media that I was a felon with an air rifle.
The government will not release the audio evidence, even after one judge of the 9th District approved my lawsuit to bring forward the video and audio tapes of my illegal arrest. The 20th District Court withheld the video and audio evidence illegally, similar to how the FBI withheld the evidence from the Epstein files. I accuse these courtroom officials and District Attorney of using the same tactics, these officials cheated me in my trial and why I no longer wish to work with these authorities.
This is their last chance to release the evidence or that I am going to disown this government and take my research out of the country if I cannot get a fair trial.
This illegitimate government just causes too many problems with their medical researchers and science researchers. These corrupt officials will not let me work in peace. I do not want to work around these government officials and want to take my science and medical research away from these illegitimate government officials. The Democrats were Communists, these were the same people in charge of the Cambodian Killing Fields, we would only expect these people to harm their own researchers in an illegal court trial.
Look at how these incapable government officials just lie and cover-up evidence in front of everyone. This happens while these officials endanger the lives of their own researchers.
I do not want these officials to take credit for my work, these officials have been a burden to me since 2009, 2016, 2018 and 2024
I should have already been acquitted of these mistrial with the bad evidence. I refuse to work with this decrepit government and these conditions. I refuse to work with a government that has to lie and bury evidence in my trial.
We want the Collier County Naples Police who withheld the video and audio evidence for tampering with evidence in the trial of Michael James Ross to go to prison.
This government is holding my research hostage for over a year and refuses to give me back my two laptops. All this corrupt government can do is create more lies about their researchers in order to silence the voices of the members of the scientific community and medical community. I no longer want to give this government credit for our research, as long as this government lies about the video evidence in my own trial, then threatens my life in order to silence me and cover-up this illegal arrest. Ask yourselves why the government has not released the video evidence of the illegal arrest of Michael James Ross, including the JFK files, the RFK files and the Epstein files. I will be lucky to walk out of here alive.
I do not want to work with a government that allows these officers to continue to work and cover-up my illegal arrest. I am also going to move my research out of the country as long as the 20th District Court in Collier County, Florida is still operating. The 20th District Court refuses to give my legal team the video evidence of my illegal arrest. I refuse to work with this government, this government is trying to assassinate me to silence me about my research, my science research, my medical research and my COVID research. This government also wants to lie and hand down sentences that are unjust, this happens while the government refuses to show the public the video footage of the illegal arrest and attempting to hand down maximum sentences. We consider this a type of kids for cash scandal and want these Judges and District Attorneys arrested for tampering with video and audio evidence.
We hear the rumors that this corrupt government does not even want to settle and pay people that have been wrongfully arrested by these corrupt authorities. We can see now the government would rather just bury and hide evidence, then have illegal mistrials to harm American citizens. This government would rather illegally put their own scientists in prison than to give their own researchers a fair trial.
We can see that the officials in Florida also are in with the private prison industry, this is why the laws are unjust and do not make sense. For what is legal in many states such as California, Oklahoma and Colorado, the government of Florida is trying to hand down 11-year prison sentences instead.
We are calling for a Boycott of Collier County, Florida. If the state of Florida wishes to continue to have this mistrial then we will shortly be calling for a full boycott on the State of Florida and their private prison industry. It was these officials in Collier County, Florida also helping these pedophile kidnapping rings get away.
If you are a researcher do not bring your research to Collier County, Florida. These were the mafia officials that covered up the pedophile rings with Epstein and the Hotels in Collier County, Florida.
I am going to demand that the scientific community stop these pedophiles in Collier County, Florida. I am going to demand that these pedophile officials in Collier County, Florida stop stealing our science research and medical research. We are going to call in the National Guard to shut-down the corrupt government in Collier County, Florida, and to arrest these officials behind the covering up of these Epstein files and the covering up of the files of the illegal arrest of researcher Michael James Ross.
These officials in Collier County, Florida are liars and a nuisance to the medical community and science community. I have now disowned these corrupt authorities. These corrupt officials are so dishonest they make me fear day and night for my life, while they plot day and night on how to harm their own researchers with a mistrial and to illegally jail their own scientists with an illegal trial. I do not want to credit the government of Florida or the Federal government with any of our research. These officials are a burden and I want to move my research out of the country for my illegal arrest in 2016 Laguna Beach, California, 2018 in Laguna Beach, California and 2024 in COllier County, Florida. These corrupt courts will not even let me file a lawsuit for when the authorities illegally showed up to my house in 2018 half a dozen times within a week. This is unacceptable, this was illegal and I do not want work around these dishonest officials any longer. I see these dishonorable government officials as a parasite to the scientific community and medical community.
You want to know a secret to where some of the biggest scumbags live, it is in private gated communities. Many of these people want an extra line of defense and they hide behind a gate and a security guard for many of the types of white collar crimes, such as loan sharking, etc. Many of these people in Collier County, Florida have shady business and why the elect the same crooked Police Chiefs such as Kevin Rambosk and Judge Kyle Cohen of the 20th District Court. If anything, many of the voters voting in these corrupt officials are also helping this type of corruption. We have lost trust in the court system in Florida, this is why we are now filing these lawsuits in Texas. We need a different court system from a different state to subpoena the tainted video and audio evidence to see this was an illegal arrest. This is why the public will hopefully soon know the real truth. The public will know that the courts and the police attempted to cover-up this tainted video evidence and audio evidence. These same corrupt officials are behind the human trafficking rings and helped Jeffery Epstein. We simply cannot allow these corrupt courts as the 20th District Court in Collier County, Florida to continue to exist. We are now going to ask for the public to disband the 20th District Court in Collier County, Florida. We cannot allow more citizens to face these illegal courtroom trials from these authorities behind these human trafficking rings.
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4/10/2020 - The Cephalic Investigation - Race Eugenics & Dysgenics
(Skull Evolution & The History of the Lineage of Man)
https://skullevolution.blogspot.com
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3/5/2019 - Race Dysgenics: Evolution, Dysgenic De-evolution, Eugenics
& Genetic Modification - The History of the Lineage of Man -
https://racedysgenics.blogspot.com
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04/19/2018 The Dysgenics Investigation - Race, Science & the Human
Genome Project - The Eugenics Investigation (Akoniti) -
DysgenicsInvestigation.blogspot.com
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5/12/2019 - Race Virus 101 - The Eugenics Investigation (The Dysgenics Investigation) - https://racevirus101.blogspot.com
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8/15/2017 - Genetically Modified Vaccines Investigated - The Eugenics Investigation (MonsantoInvestigation.com) - GMOvaccinesinvestigated.blogspot.com
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Race Dysgenics Brazil | Eugenics in Brazil
https://eugenicsbrazil.blogspot.com
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July 7th, 2017 - Genetically Modified Humans & Viruses - The Eugenics Investigation - GMOhumansandviruses.blogspot.com
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4/4/2019 - The Rockefeller Dynasty Investigation 2020 - The Eugenics
Investigation - https://rockefellerdynastyinvestigation.blogspot.com/
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Pollution Science 101 - China
https://pollutionscience101china.blogspot.com
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Pollution Science 101 - Brazil - Emergency Report
https://pollutionscience101brazil.blogspot.com
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Pollution Science 101 - Mexico
https://pollutionscience101mexico.blogspot.com
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Pollution Science 101- Russia
https://pollutionscience101russia.blogspot.com
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Pollution Science 101 - India
https://pollutionscience101india.blogspot.com
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Pollution Science 101 - Cancer Investigated (California)
https://pollutionscience101cancerinvestigated.blogspot.com
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Pollution Science 101 - Texas
https://pollutionscience101texasvsbpoil.blogspot.com
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Pollution Science 101 - Solutions
https://pollutionscience101solutions.blogspot.com
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The DuPont Investigation
https://dupontinvestigation.blogspot.com
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Pollution Science 101 - Brazil - Emergency Report
https://pollutionscience101brazil.blogspot.com
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King Solomon's Temple Investigation Marathon
https://solomonstempleinvestigation.blogspot.com
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April 4th, 2024
PollutionScience101Florida.blogspot.com
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PollutionScience@Protonmail.com
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