In the 235 years of the United States of America, there have been 115 members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives involved in reported scandals. There were only four (4) in the first 100 years. There were 28 in the second 100 years. There have been 83 in the last 35 years. That’s 72% in the last 35 years! And most of the corruption is never discovered or reported.
- Every member of Congress ignored the rampant corruption in the federal judiciary and refused to sign a contract pledging honesty and support of our fundamental rights. (2011)
- John Ensign (R-NV) resigned amid an ethics investigation. (2011)
- Joe Wilson (R-SC) The congressman from South Carolina interrupted a major televised speech about health care reform by President Barack Obama to a joint session of Congress. After Obama said that no illegal aliens would be accepted under his health plan, Rep. Wilson shouted, “You lie!” The incident resulted in a formal rebuke by the House of Representatives. He later admitted that the outburst was “inappropriate”.[1] (2009)
- Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) Rep. Rangel was found guilty on 11 charges by the House Ethics Committee.[2][3][4][5] On December 2, 2010, the full House of Representatives voted 333-79 to censure Rangel.[6]
- Tom DeLay (R-TX) On November 24, 2010 a Texas jury convicted DeLay of money laundering connected to the Jack Abramoff scandal.[7][8] On January 10, 2011, he was sentenced to three years of prison in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.[9]
- Ted Stevens Senator (R-AK) convicted on seven counts of bribery and tax evasion October 27, 2008 just prior to the election. He continued his run for re-election, but lost. Once the Republican was defeated in his re-election, new US Attorney General Eric Holder (D) dismissed the charges “in the interest of justice” stating that the Justice Department had illegally withheld evidence from defense counsel.[81]
- Charles Rangel (D-NY) failed to report $75,000 income from the rental of his villa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and was forced to pay $11,000 in back taxes.(September 2008)[82]
- Rick Renzi (R-AZ) Announced he would not seek another term. Seven months later, on February 22, 2008 he pleaded not guilty to 35 charges of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.[83]
- Jack Abramoff Scandal, (R) lobbyist found guilty of conspiracy, tax evasion and corruption of public officials in three different courts in a wide ranging investigation. Currently serving 70 months and fined $24.7 million.[84] See Scandals, Executive Branch. The following were also implicated:
- Tom DeLay (R-TX) The House Majority Leader was reprimanded twice by the House Ethics Committee and his aides indicted (2004–2005); eventually DeLay himself was investigated in October 2005 in connection with the Abramoff scandal, but not indicted. DeLay resigned from the House 9 June 2006.[85] Delay was found to have illegally channeled funds from Americans for a Republican Majority to Republican state legislator campaigns. He was convicted of two counts of money laundering and conspiracy in 2010.[86]
- James W. Ellis (R) executive director of Americans for a Republican Majority a PAC, was indicted for money laundering.[87]
- John D. Calyandro (R) of Americans for a Republican Majority [87]
- Bob Ney (R-OH) pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements as a result of his receiving trips from Abramoff in exchange for legislative favors. Ney received 30 months in prison.[88]
- Robert E. Coughlin (R) Deputy Chief of Staff, Criminal Division, Justice Department, pled guilty to accepting bribes.[89]
- John Doolittle (R-CA) both he and his wife were under investigation (January 2008). Under this cloud, Doolittle decided not to run for re-election in November 2008. The Justice Department announced in June 2010 they had terminated the investigation and found no wrong doing.[90]
- Randy Cunningham (R-CA)pleaded guilty on November 28, 2005 to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion in what came to be called the Cunningham scandal. Sentenced to over eight years.[91]
- Kyle Foggo Executive director of the CIA was convicted of honest services fraud in the awarding of a government contract and sentenced to 37 months in the federal prison at Pine Knot, Kentucky. On September 29, 2008, Foggo pleaded guilty to one count of the indictment, admitting that while CIA executive director he acted to steer a CIA contract to the firm of his lifelong friend, Brent R. Wilkes.[50]
- Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) struck a U.S. Capitol Police officer in the chest after he attempted to stop her from going around a security checkpoint. McKinney apologized on the floor of the House and no charges were filed (March 29, 2006) [92]
- William J. Jefferson (D-LA) in August 2005 the FBI seized $90,000 in cash from Jefferson’s home freezer. He was re-elected anyway, but lost in 2008. Jefferson was convicted of 11 counts of bribery and sentenced to 13 years on November 13, 2009, and his chief of staff Brett Pfeffer was sentenced to 84 months in a related case.[93][94]
- Bill Janklow (R-SD) convicted of second-degree manslaughter for running a stop sign and killing a motorcyclist. Resigned from the House and given 100 days in the county jail and three years (2003)[95]
- Robert Torricelli Senator (D-NJ) after 14 years in the House and one term in the Senate, Torricelli declined to run again when accused of taking illegal contributions from Korean businessman David Chang. (2002)[96]
- Jim Traficant (D-OH) found guilty on 10 felony counts of financial corruption, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison and expelled from the House (2002)[97]
- Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI) found to have committed 11 violations of law and house rules stemming from use of campaign funds for personal use.[110]
- Wes Cooley (R-OR), Cooley was convicted of having lied on the 1994 voter information pamphlet about his service in the Army. He was fined and sentenced to two years probation (1997)[111]
- Austin Murphy (D-PA) convicted of engaging in voter fraud for filling out absentee ballots for members of a nursing home.[112]
- Newt Gingrich (R-GA), the Speaker of the House, was accused of financial improprieties leading to House reprimand and $300,000 in sanctions [113] leading to his resignation (1997)[114]
- Walter R. Tucker III (D-CA) resigned from the House before conviction on charges of extortion and income tax fraud while he was Mayor of Compton, California. Sentenced to 27 months in prison.(1996)[115]
- Nicholas Mavroules (D-MA) pleaded guilty to bribery charges.[116]
- House banking scandal [117] The House of Representatives Bank found that 450 members had overdrawn their checking accounts, but had not been penalized. Six were convicted of charges, most only tangentially related to the House Bank itself. Twenty two more of the most prolific over-drafters were singled out by the House Ethics Committee. (1992) [118]
- Buzz Lukens (R-OH) convicted of bribery and conspiracy.[119]
- Carl D. Perkins (D-KY) pled guilty to a check kiting scheme involving several financial institutions (including the House Bank).[119]
- Carroll Hubbard (D-KY)convicted of illegally funneling money to his wife’s 1992 campaign to succeed him in congress.[120]
- Mary Rose Oakar (D-OH) was charged with seven felonies, but pleaded guilty only to a misdemeanor campaign finance charge not related to the House Bank.[119]
- Walter Fauntroy (D-DC) convicted convicted of filing false disclosure forms in order to hide unauthorized income.[119]
- Jack Russ Sgt. at Arms, convicted of three counts.[119]
- Congressional Post Office scandal (1991–1995) A conspiracy to embezzle House Post Office money through stamps and postal vouchers to congressmen.[121]
- Dan Rostenkowski (D-IL) Rostenkowski was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison, in 1995.[122]
- Joe Kolter (D-PA) Convicted of one count of conspiracy[123] and sentenced to 6 months in prison.[124]
- Robert V. Rota Postmaster, convicted of one count of conspiracy and two counts of embezzlement.[121]
- Jay Kim (R-CA) accepted $250,000 in illegal 1992 campaign contributions and was sentenced to two months house arrest (1992)[125]
- Albert Bustamante (D-TX) convicted of accepting bribes.[129]
- Lawrence J. Smith (D-FL) pleaded guilty to tax fraud and lying to federal election officials [130] and served three months in jail, fined $5,000, 2 years probation and back taxes of $40,000[131]
- David Durenberger Senator (R-MN) denounced by Senate for unethical financial transactions and then disbarred (1990). He pled guilty to misuse of public funds and given one year probation (1995)[132]
- David Durenberger Senator (R-MN), denounced by the Senate for unethical financial transactions (1990) and then disbarred as an attorney.[173] In 1995 he pled guilty to 5 misdemeanor counts of misuse of public funds and was given one years probation.[174]
- Jesse Helms Senator (R-NC), His campaign was found guilty of ‘voter caging’ when 125,000 postcards were sent to mainly black neighborhoods and the results used to challenge their residency and therefore their right to vote. (1990) [175]
- Barney Frank Congressman (D-MA), Lived with convicted felon Steve Gobie who ran a gay prostitution operation from Frank’s apartment without his knowledge. Frank was Admonished by Congress for using his congressional privilege to eliminate 33 parking tickets attributed to Gobie.(1987) [176]
- Donald E. “Buz” Lukens (R-OH), Convicted of two counts of bribery and conspiracy. (1996) [177] See also Sex scandals.
- Anthony Lee Coelho (D-CA) Resigns rather than face inquiries from both the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee about an allegedly unethical “junk bond” deal, which netted him $6,000. He was never charged with any crime (1989) [178]
- Jim Wright (D-TX) House Speaker, resigned after an ethics investigation led by Newt Gingrich alleged improper receipt of $145,000 in gifts (1989) [179]
- Keating Five (1980–1989) The failure of Lincoln Savings and Loan led to Charles Keating (R) donating to the campaigns of five Senators for help. Keating served 42 months in prison.[180] The five were investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee which found that:
- Alan Cranston Senator (D-CA) reprimanded[181]
- Dennis DeConcini Senator (D-AZ) acted improperly[182]
- Don Riegle Senator (D-MI) acted improperly[182]
- John Glenn Senator (D-OH) used poor judgment[182]
- John McCain Senator (R-AZ) used poor judgment[182]
- Abscam FBI sting involving fake ‘Arabs’ trying to bribe 31 congressmen.(1980) [183] The following six Congressmen were convicted:
- Harrison A. Williams Senator (D-NJ) Convicted on 9 counts of bribery and conspiracy. Sentenced to 3 years in prison.[184]
- John Jenrette Representative (D-SC) sentenced to two years in prison for bribery and conspiracy.[185]
- Richard Kelly (R-FL) Accepted $25K and then claimed he was conducting his own investigation into corruption. Served 13 months.[186]
- Raymond Lederer (D-PA) “I can give you me” he said after accepting $50K. Sentenced to 3 years.[187]
- Michael Myers (D-PA) Accepted $50K saying, “…money talks and bullshit walks.” Sentenced to 3 years and was expelled from the House.[188]
- Frank Thompson (D-NJ) Sentenced to 3 years.[189]
- John M. Murphy (D-NY) Served 20 months of a 3 year sentence.[190]
- Also arrested were NJ State Senator Angelo Errichetti (D) [191] and members of the Philadelphia City Council. See Local scandals.
- Mario Biaggi (D-NY), Convicted of obstruction of justice and accepting illegal gratuities he was sentenced to 2½ years in prison and fined $500K for his role in the Wedtech scandal, see above. Just before expulsion from the House, he resigned. The next year he was convicted of another 15 counts of obstruction and bribery. (1988) [192]
- Pat Swindall (R-GA) convicted of 6 counts of perjury. (1989) [193][194]
- George V. Hansen (R-ID) censured for failing to file out disclosure forms. Spent 15 months in prison.[195]
- James Traficant (D-OH), convicted of ten felony counts including bribery, racketeering and tax evasion and sentenced to 8 years in prison. He was expelled from the House July 24, (2002.)[196]
- Frederick W. Richmond (D-NY),Convicted of tax evasion and possession of marijuana. Served 9 months(1982) [197]
- Dan Flood (D-PA) censured for bribery. After a trial ended in a deadlocked jury, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year’s probation.[198][199]
- Joshua Eilberg (D-PA) pleaded guilty to conflict-of-interest charges. In addition, he convinced president Carter to fire the U.S. Attorney investigating his case.[200]
- Fred Richmond (D-NY) – Convicted of tax fraud and possession of marijuana. Served 9 months in prsion. Charges of soliciting sex from a 16-year-old boy were dropped after he submitted to counseling. (1978) [206]
- Charles Diggs (D-MI), convicted on 29 charges of mail fraud and filing false payroll forms which formed a kickback scheme with his staff. Sentenced to 3 years (1978) [207]
- Herman Talmadge Senator (D-GA), On October 11, 1979 Talmadge was denounced by the Senate for “improper financial conduct.” He failed to be re-elected. (1979) [208]
- Michael Myers (D-PA) Received suspended six-month jail term after pleading no contest to disorderly conduct charged stemming from an incident at a Virginia bar in which he allegedly attacked a hotel security guard and a cashier.[209]
- Charles H. Wilson (D-CA) censured after he converted $25,000 in campaign funds to his own use and accepted $10,500 from a man with a direct interest in legislation before Congress. This was a later non-Park incident.[210]
- John Connally (R-TX), Milk Money scandal. Accused of accepting a $10K bribe. He was acquitted. (1975) [211]
- Richard Tonry (D-LA) pleaded guilty to receiving illegal campaign contributions.[212]
- Koreagate scandal involving alleged bribery of more than 30 members of Congress by the South Korean government represented by Tongsun Park. Several other Koreans and Congressmen were allegedly involved, but not charged or reprimanded.[213] The most notable are:
- Richard T. Hanna (D-CA) pleaded guilty [214] and sentenced to 6–30 months in federal prison.[215] Wound up serving a year in prison.[216]
- Otto E. Passman (D-LA) was accused of bribery and other charges,[217] but found innocent.[218]
- John J. McFall, Edward Roybal, and Charles H. Wilson, all (D-CA). Roybal was censured and Wilson was reprimanded,[219] while McFall was reprimanded,[220]
- Andrew J. Hinshaw (R-CA) Congressman convicted of accepting bribes while Assessor of Orange County. He served one year in prison. (1977) [222]
- Wayne L. Hays (D-OH), resigned from Congress after hiring and promoting his mistress, Elizabeth Ray See sex scandals. (1976)[223]
- Henry Helstoski (D-NJ) Indicted on charges of accepting bribes to aid immigrants but the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court. (1976) [224]
- James F. Hastings (R-NY), convicted of kickbacks and mail fraud. Took money from his employees for personal use. Served 14 months at Allenwood penitentiary (1976) [225]
- Robert L. F. Sikes (D-FL) reprimanded for conflict of interest in failing to disclose stock holdings.[210]
- John V. Dowdy (D-TX), Served 6 months in prison for perjury. (1973) [226]
- Bertram Podell (D-NY), pleaded guilty to conspiracy and conflict of interest. He was fined $5,000 and served four months in prison (1974)[227]
- Frank Brasco (D-NY) Sentenced to three months in jail and fined $10,000 for conspiracy to accept bribes from a reputed Mafia figure who sought truck leasing contracts from the Post Office and loans to buy trucks.[200]
- Frank Clark (D-PA) Paid congressional salaries to 13 Pennsylvania residents who performed no official duties.[200]
- Cornelius Gallagher (D-NJ) pleaded guilty to tax evasion, and served two years in prison.[239]
- J. Irving Whalley (R-PA) Received suspended three-year sentence and fined $11,000 in 1973 for using mails to deposit staff salary kickbacks and threatening an employee to prevent her from giving information to the FBI.[200]
- Martin B. McKneally (R-NY) Placed on one-year probation and fined $5,000 in 1971 for failing to file income tax return. He had not paid taxes for many years prior.[240]
- Ted Kennedy Senator (D-MA) drove his car into the channel between Chappaquiddick Island and Martha’s Vineyard, killing passenger Mary Jo Kopechne. Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended sentence of two months [246] (1969)
- Thomas J. Dodd, Senator (D-CT): Censured by the Senate for financial misconduct (1967)[247]
- Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (D-NY): was expelled from Congress but won the special election as his own replacement (1967)[248]
- Daniel Brewster (D-MD) Senator pleaded no contest to accepting an illegal gratuity in 1975 and fined $10,000.[249][250] Brewster was convicted in 1972 of accepting $14,500 from a lobbyist,[251] and got a six-year term in 1973 over the conviction,[252] but the conviction was overturned on grounds of unclear jury instructions.[253]
- Thomas F. Johnson (D-MD) In 1962, he was indicted on charges of members of Maryland’s S&L industry bribing him and lost his seat. Later was convicted of conspiracy and conflict of interest in 1968, served 3 1/2 months of a 6 month sentence and was fined $5,000.[255]
- Frank Boykin (D-AL) Was placed on six months’ probation in 1963 following conviction in a case involving a conflict of interest and conspiracy to defraud the government. His prison sentence was suspended on age and health grounds and was fined $40,000 total. He was pardoned by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965.[256][257]
- McCarthyism: A broad political and cultural purge against people suspected of sympathy with communism, starting near the end of World War II and reaching its climax in the investigations of Sen. Joseph McCarthy. The Senate passed a resolution of condemnation against McCarthy in 1954 after an embarrassing investigation of the United States Army, ending his career, but anti-communist purges continued for several years.[260][261]
- Thomas J. Lane (D-MA) convicted for evading taxes on his congressional income. Served 4 months in prison, but was re-elected three more times[262] before his 1962 defeat due to re-districting. (1956) [263]
- Ernest K. Bramblett (R-CA) Received a suspended sentence and a $5,000 fine in 1955 for making false statements in connection with payroll padding and kickbacks from congressional employees.[264]
- Walter E. Brehm (R-OH) convicted of accepting contributions illegally from one of his employees. Received a 15 month suspended sentence and a $5,000 fine.[266]
- J. Parnell Thomas (R-NJ): a member of the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), was convicted of salary fraud and given an 18 month sentence and a fine, resigning from Congress in 1950. He was imprisoned in Danbury Prison with two of the Hollywood Ten he had helped put there. After serving his 18 months he was pardoned by Truman (D) in 1952,[267]
- Andrew J. May (D-KY) Convicted of accepting bribes in 1947 from a war munitions manufacturer. Was sentenced to 9 months in prison, after which he was pardoned by Truman (D) in 1952.[268]
- Marion Zioncheck (D-WA) Killed after he jumped or was possibly pushed out a window in Seattle, WA while still in office. He was known to have been feuding with J. Edgar Hoover. (1936) [269]
- Hiram Bingham Senator (R-CT) Censured for hiring to his staff a lobbyist employed by a manufacturing organization. (1929) [270]
- Thomas L. Blanton (D-TX) censured for inserting obscene material into the congressional record. A motion to expel him failed by 8 votes.[280]
- William Lorimer Senator (R-IL), The ‘blond boss of Chicago’ was expelled from the U.S. Senate in 1912 for accepting bribes.[282]
- Benjamin R. Tillman and John McLaurin, Senators (D-SC) censured for fighting in the senate chamber.[283]
- Stephen W. Dorsey, Senator (R-AR) was included in the investigation of corruption of Star Route postal contracts under the administrations of President James A. Garfield (R) and President Chester A. Arthur (R). (1881)
- Crédit Mobilier of America scandal:[293] Oakes Ames (R-MA) bribed Congress with Union Pacific stock. Censured for his involvement.[294]
- Credit Mobilier of America scandal: James Brooks (D-NY) also implicated; censured for his involvement. (1872)[295]
- Corrupt Bargain: supposed bargain by John Quincy Adams with Henry Clay. (1824) [308]
Source: Wikipedia
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