North America | United States | Corruption

AOC, Chief of Staff Reportedly Hid $1 Million in Campaign Contributions – Could Face Jail Time?

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An explosive complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by a non-profit group alleges New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, illegally funneled nearly $1 million in campaign contributions to privately owned companies. The companies, controlled by Chakrabarti, allegedly received cash transfers from a pair of political action committees (PACs) that he personally oversaw. The complaint, filed by the National Legal and Policy Center, alleges that Ocasio-Cortez’ top aide engaged in “an elaborate scheme to avoid proper disclosur
North America | United States | Corruption

FDA: Government Recommends Untested, Unlicensed Vaccines for Pregnant Women

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In response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit, the FDA has admitted, for the first time, that government agencies, including the CDC, are recommending vaccines for pregnant women that have neither been licensed for pregnant mothers by FDA nor tested for safety in clinical trials. The lawsuit, filed by Children’s Health Defense (CHD) attorney, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on behalf of Informed Consent Action Network(ICAN), a vaccine safety advocacy group, sought all clinical trial data used by FDA to approve influenza vaccines for pregnant women. The FDA’s terse reply: “We
North America | United States | Corruption

Wasserman Schultz resigning as party leader

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Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday she is stepping down as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee at the end of the party's convention, which is set to begin here Monday. The Florida congresswoman's resignation -- under heavy pressure from top Democrats -- comes amid the release of thousand of leaked emails showing DNC staffers favoring Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the party's 2016 primary contest. Her announcement that she was leaving had pro-Sanders supporters cheering during a demonstration in Philadelphia and
North America | United States | Corruption

Former Congressional Candidate Admits Sending Death Threats To Herself

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A former Congressional candidate admitted to CBS13 that she sent herself fake death threats in the mail. Karen Davis is now facing federal charges for lying to investigators about two death threat letters she said she received during her failed 2014 campaign. “You know, everybody makes mistakes. I did,” she said. The first letter included the line, “A close up to your head or to your husband will be final. You make the decision not to run for Congress.” A second letter read, “If you don’t quit very soon, you won’t be warned. You won’t see it coming. Your family will
North America | United States | Corruption

Keila Ravelo: From ‘Women Worth Watching’ to Under Arrest

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Just weeks before she quit her job at a white-shoe law firm in New York and was arrested on charges of stealing more than $5 million from two former employers and a client, Keila Ravelo was named one of 100 “Women Worth Watching” by a diversity publication. Ms. Ravelo’s photo and bio are still posted on the website of Profiles in Diversity Journal even though she is now facing criminal charges that could send her to prison. Other alleged actions by Ms. Ravelo could unravel the largest antitrust settlement in history – a $6 billion pact between Visa, MasterCard and millions of mercha
North America | United States | Corruption

New Mexico secretary of state charged with theft, money laundering

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New Mexico Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran was charged on Friday with embezzlement, fraud, money laundering and campaign finance violations by the state’s attorney general Democrat Hector Balderas. Balderas’ officer filed the 64-count complaint in state district court in Santa Fe. Balderas didn’t make a statement of hold a news conference to announce the complaint against Duran, one of the high-ranking GOP lawmakers in the state. James Hallinan, a spokesman for Balderas, said the office wouldn’t release any information beyond the court filing. “Our office will procee
North America | United States | Corruption

Chesterfield woman charged with stealing $800,000 from Virginia Physicians for Women

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A former billing specialist for Virginia Physicians for Women who has a prior conviction for welfare fraud has been charged with embezzling more than $800,000 from the well-known obstetrics and gynecology practice in Midlothian. Edith W. Harris, 51, of the 7400 block of Sandlewood Drive, was arrested June 29 on 11 counts of felony embezzlement, Chesterfield County police announced Monday. Grohowski said Harris was responsible for making reimbursements to the accounts of patients who had overpaid for services while under the care of Virginia Physicians for Women at 10710 Midlothian Turn
South Asia | Pakistan | Corruption

Local leaders ban women from voting in upcoming election

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A Jirga (traditional assembly of elders) in the northern Pakistan’s Deral valley has barred women from casting votes in the upcoming elections for Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly. The contesting political parties, including religious political party Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), which is not represented on a national level, have endorsed the decision. It was made by 40 religious scholars and five local elders. More than 12,550 women in the constituency are now disenfranchised.