corruption

Andrew Cuomo Pushes Tepid Campaign Finance Reform as Preet Bharara Finds Corruption "Everywhere We Look"

Brendan O'Connor · 06/09/16 08:50AM

On Wednesday, shortly after Norman Seabrook, president of New York City’s jail officers’ union, was arrested on corruption charges, Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a speech promising new regulations on independent expenditure committees (a.k.a. super PACs). This is the fourth time in five years that the governor has proposed such regulations, Politico reports, which—even in the unlikely event of them passing—would not actually do very much to ameliorate corruption in New York.

Donald Trump Can Be Bought

Brendan O'Connor · 05/12/16 12:20PM

On Tuesday, Donald Trump told the Associated Press that he doesn’t plan to release his tax returns before the presidential election in November. “There’s nothing to learn from them,” he said. Then, on Wednesday, he said he would release them. “I’ll release. Hopefully before the election I’ll release,” he told Fox News. “And I’d like to release.” (Doesn’t seem like it.) “You learn very little from a tax return,” he added. Maybe, but you learn a lot from someone’s ambivalence about releasing them.

City Freezes Contracts with Volunteer Orthodox Security Force Implicated in NYPD Corruption Probe

Brendan O'Connor · 04/21/16 07:38AM

The ongoing federal investigation into corruption in the NYPD expanded this week, as the chief financial officer of an Orthodox volunteer security force was arrested Sunday. He is accused of bribing officers in the NYPD’s Licensing Division to exchange for handgun permits. The mayor’s office has frozen two City Council grants, totaling $35,000, allocated to the organization.

Who's Named in the Panama Papers?

Gabrielle Bluestone · 04/05/16 10:40AM

What do heads of state, FIFA execs, billionaires, celebrities, and hundreds of their rich and powerful friends have in common? Quite a few things, I’d wager, but here’s something specific: They’ve all been named in the “Panama Papers,” the trove of 11.5 million records that give insight into how the rich and powerful hide their money abroad.

Hamilton Nolan · 03/14/16 02:53PM

Three proposals for how to make Albany less corrupt: Andrew Cuomo wants to limit lawmakers’ outside income to $12K; Democrats want to limit it to $70K; and Republicans want no limit. Contemplate a setting in which Andrew Cuomo is the least corrupt thinker.

Government Officials Could Face Manslaughter Charges In Flint

Allie Jones · 02/10/16 12:00PM

With whom the blame for the poisoned water and subsequent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Flint, Michigan lies is still being determined. But the top investigator on the case says that when all is said and done, government officials could face charges as serious as involuntary manslaughter.

FBI Arrests Nearly Every Single Top Official For Running Insanely Corrupt Tiny Texas Town

Andy Cush · 02/08/16 11:55AM

In the remote town of Crystal City, Texas, the mayor, city manager, mayor pro tempore, a city councilman, and a former councilman were all arrested by federal agents last week. Last month, another councilman was arrested. Crystal City has only three people total on its city council, and the lone remaining councilman was the only official who reported for work at city hall on Friday.