TheRepublic.com - Campaign finance improprieties News

Ensign to pay $32,000 fine over parents' payment

Sat, 18 May 2013 21:10:05 -0400

LAS VEGAS - The Federal Election Commission says former U.S. Sen. John Ensign has agreed to pay a $32,000 civil penalty over a payment made by his parents to his one-time mistress.

Edwards reactivates law license, speaking at event

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:27:32 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Former presidential contender John Edwards has reactivated his license to practice law and is setting out on the speaking circuit.

Recordings: Ex-speaker told of tax bill concerns

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:03:33 -0400

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - Former Connecticut House Speaker Chris Donovan knew that tobacco shop owners were worried about a tax increase proposal and that they were seeking his help in defeating it, but Donovan insisted he didn't kill the measure when it didn't come up for a vote in last year's regular session, according to secretly recorded conversations played in federal court Thursday.

Did Whittemore's money have strings attached?

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:11:06 -0400

RENO, Nevada - The trial for an ex-Nevada developer and once powerful lobbyist accused of breaking federal campaign finance laws opened Wednesday with lawyers arguing whether there were any strings attached to money Harvey Whittemore gave his employees while suggesting they contribute to Sen. Harry Reid's re-election in 2007.

Mo. ethics panel fines ex-Sen. Wright-Jones $270K

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:59:39 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - Former state Sen. Robin Wright-Jones has been fined more than $270,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for violating numerous campaign finance laws, including using campaign money for personal expenses such as food and clothing.

Ex-assistant Indy prosecutor faces bribe charge

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:36:33 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS - A former Marion County deputy prosecutor has offered to provide federal authorities with evidence that could lead to corruption charges against other current and former Indianapolis officials, U.S. attorneys said Monday.

Timing of AG Horne's plea politically astute

Thu, 09 May 2013 21:10:24 -0400

PHOENIX - Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne's no contest plea in a misdemeanor hit-and-run case came without warning, even for the court.

Group cites 100,000 NY campaign finance violations

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:32:03 -0400

ALBANY, New York - Gassing up twice a week in New Jersey? Hiring Turdo the magician? Buying smoked meats for Christmas presents?

Protesters blocked from NY campaign funds hearing

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:37:12 -0400

ALBANY, New York - Protesters and good-government advocates were barred from a public hearing Tuesday in which Republican senators bolstered their opposition to using public money to fund campaigns.

Ex-Pa. Justice Melvin gets house arrest, probation

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:26:46 -0400

PITTSBURGH - Former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin avoided prison time Tuesday for her campaign corruption conviction but was ordered to send written apologies to every judge in the state because she abused her office.

Guilty plea expected in Del. campaign finance case

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:55:09 -0400

WILMINGTON, Delaware - A former liquor industry executive serving a two-year federal sentence in a campaign finance scheme is expected to plead guilty in a related state case.

NY mayoral hopeful loses challenge to donation cap

Fri, 03 May 2013 18:13:24 -0400

NEW YORK - A court has tossed out a mayoral contender's challenge to New York City's campaign contribution limits.

County attorney blocked from Horne campaign case

Thu, 02 May 2013 20:53:37 -0400

PHOENIX - A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on Thursday blocked a campaign finance violation case against Arizona's attorney general, saying it was improperly brought by the county attorney's office.

Jury convicts 2 associates of NY mayoral candidate

Thu, 02 May 2013 19:22:56 -0400

NEW YORK - An undercover FBI investigation that imperiled a politician's bid to become New York City's first Asian-American mayor resulted Thursday in convictions of a former campaign worker and a fundraiser in a case that may have raised more questions than it answered.

3 Perdue backers plead guilty to misdemeanors

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:23:16 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Three former Gov. Beverly Perdue supporters agreed to pay fines Wednesday, wrapping up a long-running probe into undisclosed benefits to the Democrat's 2008 campaign, a prosecutor said.

Developer gets 6 months for campaign fraud

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:23:19 -0400

PENSACOLA, Florida - Florida developer Jay Odom was sentenced to six months in federal prison Tuesday for lying about illegal contributions he made in the 2008 presidential primary.

NY prosecutor boosting corruption probe efforts

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:04:40 -0400

NEW YORK - A top federal prosecutor criticized the "unmistakable pervasiveness of corruption" in Albany as he promised on Monday to boost his office's efforts to expose politicians' crimes.

1 of last NJ corruption defendants pleads guilty

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:45:18 -0400

NEWARK, New Jersey - One of the final defendants in New Jersey's large-scale corruption sting pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense Monday in federal court.

Vt AG says GOP govs, '10 gov candidate settle suit

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:24:55 -0400

MONTPELIER, Vermont - The state off Vermont has settled a lawsuit that claimed the Republican Governors Association and the state's losing 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidate, Brian Dubie, improperly shared polling data, causing the RGA to exceed Vermont's campaign spending limits, Attorney General William Sorrell said Friday.

Man pleads guilty in campaign finance scheme

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:26:46 -0400

HARTFORD, Connecticut - A seventh person has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with illegal contributions made to the failed congressional campaign of former Connecticut state House Speaker Christopher Donovan.

Probe opens of alleged Libyan funding for Sarkozy

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:07:23 -0400

PARIS - Paris prosecutors on Friday began investigating whether the winning presidential campaign of former President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 may have received illegal funding from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime.