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Poisoned By Power, Sex, And Corruption– Military And Government Bureaucrats Go Wild

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 14:25
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(Before It's News)

by Monica Davis

The list of public scandals in the military and in government continues to grow.  Today, some of our best and brightest military minds join a long line of alleged scandalous bureaucrats and politicians.  Over the last century, hundreds of allegedly corrupt cops, judges, politicians and military officers have been ensnared in ethical violations. 

What often seperates the past from the present is the fact that sex scandals weren’t as notorious as they are today. In fact, past media outlets considered infidelity as something they wouldn’t cover.  A prime example of this is the “gentlemans’ agreement not to print the JFK-Marilyn Monroe sexcapades. But, while media left high placed men alone when it came to sexploits and infidelity, other breaches of trust, public trust, remained fair game.

 

There is no hard and fast rule defining scandals. Though the dictionary may define scandal as “loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety”, in politics scandal should be kept separate from ‘controversy,’ (which implies two differing points of view) and ‘unpopularity.’ A good guideline is whether or not an action is, or appears to be, illegal. Since everyone, particularly a politician, is expected to be law abiding, breaking the law is, by definition, a scandal. The finding of a court with jurisdictionis the sole method used to determine a violation of law—though not all scandals reach a court.

Deficit spending, laws and court actions are not “scandals.” Neither are mere investigations. Misunderstandings, breaches of ethics, unpopularity, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in scandals depending on who is bringing the charges, the amount of publicity garnered, and the seriousness of the crime, if any.

By definition, political scandals should involve politicians such as governors, secretaries, comptrollers, state senators and state representatives, their close staff and appointees. Private citizens, businessmen, party chiefs and civilians may be mentioned but not featured in an entry.

This article is divided by decade and then by state in alphabetical order.

At the bottom of the article are links to related articles which deal with politicians who are actually convicted of crimes, as well as differentiating between federal, state and local scandals and two separate articles are devoted to political sex scandals and convictions.

[edit]List

[edit]2012

  • Arizona State Representative Ben Arredondo (D) has been charged with bribery, fraud and extortion. (2012) [1]

  • Arizona State Representative Daniel R. Patterson (D) resigned after the House Ethics Committee recommended he be removed for “years-long pattern of inappropriate behavior” concerning domestic violence charges.[2]
  • Arizona State Senator Scott Bundgaard (R) resigned just before the State Senate Ethics Committee was expected to recommend his expulsion after allegations of assault on his then girlfriend.[3]
  • Arizona State Representative Richard Miranda (politician) (D) resigned in February 2012 citing family and health reasons. In March he pled guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion.[4]
  • Illinois Comptroller and Treasurer for Dixon, IL, Rita Crundwell was arrested for fraud after allegedly embezzling as much as $30 million over many years. The money was used to support a lavish lifestyle and support her horse ranch, the Meri-J.[8]
  • Illinois State Representative Derrick Smith (D) was arrested for accepting a $7000 bribe. (2012)[9]
  • Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White (R) was convicted of 6 of 7 felony charges including perjury, theft and voter fraud.[10]
  • Massachusetts State Representative Carlos Henriquez (D) was charged with assault and kidnapping of a woman in July 2012 and released after posting $1000 bond.[12]
  • South Carolina State Representative Thad Viers (R) was arrested on January 6, 2012 on charges of harassing a 28 year old woman described as an ex-girlfriend. He was released and subsequently withdrew his bid for another term in office. Viers was also charged in 2006.[13][14]
  • Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds (D) was arrested and charged with violating the state barratry law (unlawful solicitation of clients by lawyers).[15]

[edit]2010–2011

  • Alabama State Representative Terry Spicer (D) plead guilty to accepting more than $3000 per month in bribes. (2011)[16]
  • Alabama Four state senators and 7 others were indicted for fraud, bribery and conspiracy concerning electronic bingo machines. (2010)[17] Accused include;
  1. Harri Anne Smith (R) Ran in 2010 as an Independent.
  2. James Preuitt (R)
  3. Larry Means (D)
  4. Quinton Ross Jr. (D)
  • California Assembly Member Mary Hayashi (D) was convicted of shoplifting. (2011)[18][19]
  • California State Senator Roy Ashburn (R) of Bakersfield was noted leaving a gay bar and arrested on two counts of DUI. The divorced father of four confirmed he was gay on a local radio station, even though he had voted against several gay rights initiatives. (2010)[20][21]
  • California Southern California Treasurer Kinde Durkee was arrested for possible mail fraud.[22]
  • Colorado former US Congressman and Gubernatorial Candidate Scott McInnis (R-CO) lost the primary election for governor after revelations surfaced that he plagiarized an essay on water rights, for which he had been paid $300,000.[23]
  • Idaho State Senator John McGee (R) was arrested in June for drunk driving and grand theft auto after drunkenly driving away with someone else’s truck. (2011)[27] On July 16, 2011, the Republican Central Committee for the State of Idaho approved a no-confidence motion on McGee.[28] On February 22, 2012, McGee, submitted his resignation amid sexual harassment charges asserted by a senate attachė.[29]
  • Idaho 2008 gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell (R) was arrested for felony jury tampering concerning an elk poaching trial in which he eventually pled guilty. (2011)[30]
  • Idaho former gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell (R) was arrested for battery after he confronted a couple he alleges were trespassing. (2011)[31]
  • Illinois State Senator Suzi Schmidt (R) announced she would not run for office in 2012. She had been criticized for telling a 911 operator to “just ignore” calls from her husband, “because he knows I have connections”.[32][33]
  • Indiana Deputy Attorney General Jeff Cox (R) was fired on February 24, 2011 after he sent a Twitter stating that Wisconsin police should “Use live ammunition” to evict protestors from the state capitol. He later continued, “You’re damned right I advocate deadly force”.[34]
  • Maine Representative Frederick Wintle (R) On May 21, 2011, Wintle was arrested for pointing a handgun at a photographer at point-blank range in a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot.[35] Wintle was arrested for criminal threatening.[35] In September 2011, Wintle resigned from the House of Representatives.[36]
  • New Jersey state senate candidate Phil Mitsch (R) was dropped by the state GOP saying this man is “not worth supporting.” Mitsch had sent two twitters stating that, “a woman should be a maid in the living room and a whore in the bedroom”.[48]
  • New Hampshire State Representative Gary Wheaton (R) resigned from the legislature after being arrested for speeding and driving on a suspended license, his second traffic arrest.[49] [23]
  • New York State Senator Carl Kruger (D) resigned his seat and pled guilty to charges of corruption and bribery. (2011)[50]
  • New York State Assemblyman William Boyland, Jr. (D) was arrested for soliciting bribes. (2011) www.usnews.com, November 30, 2011, “NY Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. arrested for new corruption counts” by Jonathan Dienst [24] The assemblyman’s chief of staff, Ry-Ann Hermon, was also arrested on related charges.[51]
  • New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate (D) of the 13th District, was expelled by the New York State Senate on February 9, 2010 in connection with a misdemeanor assault conviction against his girlfriend.[52][53]
  • New York businessman Carl Paladino (R) running for Governor of New York and supported by the Tea Party movement admitted to his wife and children that he also has a ten-year-old daughter from an extramarital relationship with former employee, Suzanne Brady.[54]
  • New York State Senator Efrain Gonzalez (D) On May 25, 2010, Gonzalez was sentenced to 84 months (7 years) in prison, followed by two years supervised release, after pleading guilty to two conspiracy counts and two wire fraud counts in May 2009.[55][56]
  • North Carolina three associates including the Campaign Finance Director of Governor Bev Perdue (D) have been indicted for obstructing justice. Perdue was not implicated.[57]
  1. State Senator Jane Orie (R) [26]
  2. State Senator Robert Mellow (D) now retired, was charged with one count of filing a false tax return. (2012)
  3. State Representative Bill DeWeese (D) was convicted of five felony charges on February 6, 2012.
  4. State Representative Brett O. Feese (R) was sentenced to 4–12 years in prison for corruption.[59]
  5. Staff to Freese, Jill Seaman[59]
  6. State Representative Mike Veon (D) was found guilty on 14 counts of illegal campaign fund raising. (2010)[60][61]
  7. Staff to Veon, Annamarie Peretta-Rosepink
  8. State Representative John M. Perzel (R) pled guilty to eight criminal charges, concerning a scheme to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on computer technology from Aristotle, Inc. for the benefit of GOP political campaigns.[62]
  • Pennsylvania State Senator Vince Fumo (D) On March 16, 2009, Fumo was found guilty of 137 counts of corruption. His former aide, Ruth Arnao, was found guilty of 45 counts.[63] On July 14, 2009, Fumo was sentenced to 55 months in prison.[64] Aides Michael Hinkelman and Tracie Mauriello were found guilty of destroying evidence.[65][66]
  • Rhode Island State Representative and Minority Leader Robert A. Watson (R) was stopped in Connecticut at a police checkpoint and was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalian, and driving under the influence.[67][68]
  • Rhode Island State Representative Daniel P. Gordon (R) of Porstmouth when arrested for drunk driving told police it was due toPTSD from being wounded in the Gulf War. A check reveiled he was never in combat, but did reveal an extensive arrest record inMassachusetts for assault and attempted murder. Both the House Speaker and GOP leader have asked him to resign. (2011)[69][70]
  • South Carolina State Representative Kris Crawford (R) from Florence County, was charged with seven counts of failure to file state tax documents. (2010)[71]
  • South Carolina Lt. Governor Ken Ard (R) resigned his position and pled guilty to 7 counts of mis-use of campaign funds. He was sentenced to 5 years probation, fined $5K and given 300 hours community service. (2011)[72] [27]
  • Utah State Representative Sheldon Killpack (R) The Utah House Majority Leader resigned after being charged with suspicion of DUI. (2010)[73]
  • Wyoming State Representative Bob Nichols (R) was arrested in Florida for beating his son at a restaurant.[74]

[edit]2000–2009

  • Alabama Governor Don Siegelman (D) was found guilty of bribery, mail fraud and obstruction of justice on 29 June 2006, and sentenced to 88 months.[75]
  • Alabama State Senator Edward McClain (D) was convicted on January 21, 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama [76] on 48 counts of money laundering, mail fraud, bribery and conspiracy.[77] He lost his seat because of the conviction.[78]
  • Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore (R) was ordered to step down from his position when he refused to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judicial Building.[79] [28]
  • Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) vice presidential nominee in the 2008 elections. Troopergate refers to her dismissal of Walt Monegan, allegedly because he would not fire State Trooper Mike Wooten, Palin’s ex-brother-in-law.
  1. A bipartisan Council of Alaskan State Legislators found (in the Branchflower Report)[80] that Palin “abused her power”, violating the State Executive Ethics Act.[80][81][82][83]
  2. The State of Alaska Personnel Board, which has jurisdiction over state employee ethics cases, completed its own investigation and found no wrongdoing.[84]
  1. Thomas Anderson (R) State Representative for District 19. Found guilty of seven felony counts of extortion, bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering. Sentenced on October 15, 2007 to a term of 60 months in prison.[88]
  2. Pete Kott (R) State Representative for District 17. On September 25, 2007, he was found guilty on three charges of bribery and sentenced to six years in prison and fined $10,000.[89]
  3. Vic Kohring (R) State Representative convicted on November 1, 2007, of three counts of bribery by the Veco Corporation. In May 2008 he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.[90]
  4. Jim Clark Chief of Staff to Governor Frank Murkowski (R) On March 4, 2008, Clark pleaded guilty to one felony conspiracy charge involving the Alaska political corruption probe.[91]
  5. Bruce Weyhrauch (R) State Representative of Juneau was sentenced to five years for bribery, extortion and mail fraud.[92]
  6. John Cowdery (R) State Senator of O district. Pled guilty to a conspiracy charge related to the Veco scandal.[93] Sentenced to six months’ house arrest and a $25,000 fine.[94]
  7. Beverly Masek (R) State Representative of Willow, was sentenced to six months on September 23, 2009 for soliciting bribes.[29]
  8. Ted Stevens US Senator (R) – The Veco Corporation was also responsible for “extensive” remodeling at Stevens’ home, which doubled in size. Stevens was convicted on all seven charges on October 27, 2008. The charges were later dismissed by Attorney General Eric Holder (D) on April 1, 2009, citing problems with the federal prosecutors case. See Federal scandals.
  • California State Senator Roderick Wright (D) charged with two counts of perjury, one count of filing a false declaration of candidacy and five counts of voting fraud. A grand jury accused him of lying about his address when he filed to run for office in 2008. (2008)[95]
  • California State Representative Michael Duvall (R-CA) The conservative, family values married politician and father of two resigned abruptly after talking with another legislator over a microphone that was live, during which he described two of his current affairs.[96]
  • California State Senator Carole Migden (D-CA) – The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) found 89 violations in campaign finance reporting. The FPPC settled the dispute with Migden for a record $350,000 fine. Migden went on to lose her reelection bid to fellow Democrat Assemblyman Mark Leno(2008) [97]
  • California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley (D-CA) was accused of laundering campaign funds and sexual abuse,[98] though he was never charged. He later resigned (2005).
  • California Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush (R-CA) resigned on June 28, 2000, rather than face impeachment for campaign-finance violations arising out of insurance-industry settlements after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. However, prosecutors later found no wrongdoings and dismissed all charges in 2002.[99][100]
  • Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland (R-CT) – Rowland resigned from office during a corruption investigation, and later pleaded guilty in federal court to one count with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and tax fraud. (2004) [101] He served ten months in a federal prison followed by four months house arrest, ending in June 2006.
  • Florida State Representative Ray Sansom (R-FL) resigned as Speaker of the House and was then indicted on charges of grand theft and conspiracy in conjunction with a GOP fund-raiser and developer and the president of a local college. His trial is set for January 2010.[102] In March 2011, the charges against Sansom and another person were dropped, and eventually Sansom and two others paid $310,000 in repayment to the college that had planned the building of the airport.[103][104]
  • Florida Senator Gary Siplin (D-FL) was convicted of third-degree felony and grand theft of $5,000 or more for using state employees for his election campaign. The felony conviction was dropped on appeal. (2006) [105]
  • Georgia Schools Superintendent Linda Schrenko (R-GA) was sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement of federal education funds.[106]
  • Georgia Congressman David Scott (D-GA) has expended $52,000 to $344,000 of campaign funds to himself, friends, family and business during every election cycle since 2002. Shortly after the 2006 election, he was served with an IRS tax lien for over $153,000.[107]
  • Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) was arrested and charged with 24 counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and solicitation of bribery in so-called “Pay to Play” schemes, including the alleged sale of President Barack Obama‘s vacated U.S. Senate seat which he described in a wire tap as “f*****g golden”. Before trial he was impeached and removed from office by 59–0 votes of the Illinois Senate. (January 28, 2009) [108][109] On August 17, 2010, he was convicted on one of the 24 federal charges, lying to the FBI, and the jury was hung on the 23 other counts.[110] In a retrial in 2011, he was acquitted on one count, the jury reached no decision on two counts, and he was found guilty on 17 other counts.[111][112][113]
  1. Alonzo Monk, former chief of staff to Rod Blagojevich, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud (2009).[114]
  2. Christopher Kelly advisor to Rod Blagojevich, pleaded guilty to fax fraud (2009).[115]
  3. John F. Harris chief of staff to Rod Blagojevich, pled quilty to one count of mail fraud (2009) [116]
  • Illinois Governor George H. Ryan (R-IL) illegal sale of government licenses and contracts as Illinois Secretary of State and Governor. Convicted of 18 counts of corruption. (2006) [117]
  • Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) and 13 aides were indicted for illegal hiring and firing of state employees. As Governor, Fletcher pardoned all 13, but not himself. His own charges were later dropped under an agreement with the Attorney General.[118]
  • Massachusetts State Representative and House Speaker Thomas Finneran (D) pled guilty to one count of obstruction of justice concerning misconduct during redistricting.[121] (2004)
  • Massachusetts State Senator J. James Marzilli, Jr. (D) was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Arlington, Massachusetts.[122][123] Prosecutors dropped the case for lack of sufficient evidence.[124] Two months later verbally accosting a woman who was sitting on a park bench.[125] When Lowell Police arrived, Marzilli gave a false name and later led Police on a foot chase that ended in a nearby parking garage.[126] On February 22, 2011, Marzilli pleaded guilty to all charges against him and was sentenced to three months in prison.[127][128]
  • Massachusetts State Representative Salvatore DiMasi (D), the Speaker of the House resigned January 25, 2009, after being indicted on charges of corruption and extortion in connection with the state’s computer contracts.[129]
  • Massachusetts State Senator Anthony D. Galluccio (D) pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol on December 18, 2009, and was sentenced to six months home confinement.[130] Within 72 hours of beginning his house arrest the court-ordered breath-alcohol testing device detected alcohol on his breath.[131] He was given the maximum sentence of one year in prison.[132]
  • Massachusetts State Senator Diane Wilkerson (D) was video-taped by the FBI stuffing bribe money into her bra. She was charged with tax evasion, ethics violations and perjury. On June 3, 2010 Wilkerson pleaded guilty to eight counts of attempted extortion.[133]She was sentenced to 3½ years in prison.(2011) [134]
  • Massachusetts: Boston Councilman Chuck Turner (Green party) was videotaped by an FBI informant accepting $1,000 cash in exchange for pushing a liquor license for a Roxbury nightclub.[135][136] Turner was found guilty of making false statements and bribery on October 29, 2010.[137] He was sentenced to three years in jail.[138][139]
  • Maryland State Senator Thomas L. Bromwell (D) was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to seven years in prison for racketeering, corruption and fraud to benefit the construction company of Poole and Kent.[140]
  • Michigan State Representative David Jaye (R) was expelled from the House after allegations of wife beating and three drunk driving convictions.[141][142]
  • Missouri State Senator Jeff Smith (D) resigned from the Senate effective August 25, 2009 after confessing to two counts of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to one year and a day of prison and fined $50,000.[144]
  • Missouri State Representative Nathan Cooper (R) resigned shortly before he was convicted on two felony counts of immigration fraud in 2007.[145][146]
  1. Charles McGee pleaded guilty to a felony and was sentenced to seven months.[153]
  2. Allen Raymond was sentenced to three months in federal prison.
  3. James Tobin Regional Director of the Republican Senatorial Committee was also convicted, but was reversed on appeal.[citation needed][154][155][156]
  • New Jersey Operation Bid Rig: An FBI sting operation indicted 44 New Jersey officials and several Rabbis, mainly for bribery, counterfeiting of intellectual property, money laundering, organ harvesting, and political corruption. Arrested were:
  1. Daniel M. Van Pelt (R) NJ State Assemblyman (representative). Resigned after indictment for bribery.[157]
  2. Acting Mayor of Jersey City L. Harvey Smith(D) indicted for accepting a briber.[158]
  3. Mayor of Hoboken Peter J. Cammarano (D) Plead guilty to accepting a bribe.[159]
  4. Mayor of Secaucus Dennis Elwell (politician) (D) Resigned afted being accused of accepting a bribe.[160]
  5. Mayor of Ridgefield Anthony Suarez(D) charged with accepting a bribe.[161]
  • New Jersey Mayor of Newark Sharpe James (D) Was convicted of corruption charges including, mail fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud. (2007) [162]
  • New Jersey State Senator Wayne Bryant (D) pension padding, no-show jobs, mail fraud, wire fraud and bribery. (2007) [163]
  • New Jersey State Senator Joseph Coniglio (D) was indicted for funneled more than $1 million in public funding to Hackensack University Medical Center after it gave him a high-paying consulting job. He was convicted on April 17, 2009 on six counts of fraud and extortion[164] and sentenced to 2½ years in prison.[165]
  • New Mexico State Senate Leader Manny Aragon (D) was found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to defraud $4.4 million from the State of New Mexico. (2009) [166]
  • New York State Senator Kevin S. Parker lost his position as majority whip after he was arrested for criminal mischief and assault after chasing a photographer.[167] [30]
  • New York State Senator and Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-NY) – On January 23, 2009, Bruno was indicted on eight counts of corruption, including mail and wire fraud. He was convicted on two counts of wire fraud.[168]
  • New York State Representative Brian McLaughlin (D-NY) was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to ten years in prison for racketeering.(2009) [169]
  • Ohio Governor Bob Taft (R-OH) pleaded no contest and was convicted on four misdemeanor ethics violations. He was fined $4000 and ordered to apologize to the people of Ohio. (2005) [176]
  • Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann (D-OH) resigns from the post of Attorney General because of a sex scandal and campaign finance irregularities. He resigned on May 14, 2008.[165]
  • South Carolina State Representative Thad Viers (R) was charged with threatening to “beat up” a man who was dating his estranged wife; he pled no-contest and paid a fine of $500. (2006) He would also be charged in 2012 for a similar crime.[13][195]
  1. John Ford State Senator (D) Sentenced to 66 months for bribery.
  2. Kathryn Bowers State Senator (D) Pled guilty to one count of bribery.
  3. Ward Crutchfield State Senator (D) Pled guilty to one count of bribery.[197]
  4. Chris Newton State Representative (R) Sentenced to one year for bribery.
  • Texas Judge Sharon Keller (R) Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. After a US Supreme Court action, on September 25, 2007, lawyers for convicted killer Michael Wayne Richard wanted a stay of execution. Due to computer problems, however, they could not file the request before 5 pm when the clerk’s office closed and requested to file late. When asked, Judge Keller stated that the clerk’s office must close at 5, and Richard was executed later that night. On February 19, 2009 a motion of impeachment was filed with the state legislature. (2009) [200]
  • West Virginia State Representative Lisa D. Smith (R) pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of failure to pay employee taxes. She was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of probation and fined $1,000,000.[203]
  • Wisconsin State Senator Brian Burke (D) was sentenced to six months in jail for using state employees for campaign work.[204]

[edit]1990–1999

  • Alabama Governor H. Guy Hunt (R) was convicted of improperly using campaign money and resigned from office.(1993) He received a full pardon four years later, due to the confession of his accountant, Gene McKenzie (1998).[206]
  • Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker. (D), As part of the Whitewater investigation run by Kenneth Starr, Tucker was convicted of fraud and conspiracy and sentenced to four years probation. (1996) [209]
  • California an FBI investigation called Shrimpscam or BRISPEC targeted corruption in the California legislature. Five convictions were obtained.
  1. California Senator Alan Robbins (D) resigned on November 21, 1991, in advance of pleading guilty to federal racketeering charges in connection with insurance-industry bribes.[210]
  2. California Senator Joseph B. Montoya (D) was convicted in April 1990 of rackeetering, extortion and money laundering and was sentenced to 6½ years in prison.[211]
  3. California Senator Frank Hill (R) and his aid were found guilty of corruption and money laundering and sentenced to 46 months in prison. {1994} [212]
  4. California Board of Equalization member Paul B. Carpenter (D) was found guilty of 11 counts of obstruction of justice and money laundering. (1993) [213]
  5. California State Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R) served 29 months for bribery.[214][214]
  • Kentucky FBI Operation Boptrot was an investigation into bribery and the horse racing industry in which House Majority Leader Don Blandford (D), was sent to prison for 64 months and the Senate Minority Leader John Rogers (R) was sent to prison for 48 months. Approximately 10% of Kentucky’s legislature, both the house and senate, was implicated in this scandal, some taking bribes for as little as $100. (1992) [215]
  • Massachusetts Speaker of the House Charles Flaherty (D) plead guilty to felony tax evasion for submitting false receipts regarding his business expenses and to violations of the state conflict of interests law.[216] (1996)
  • Missouri Secretary of State Judith Moriarty (D) impeached for misconduct involving back-dating of her son’s election paperwork to hide a missed filing deadline.[217]
  • Missouri Attorney General William L. Webster (R) sentenced to two years in prison for conspiracy in a scheme that rewarded lawyers who donated to his campaign with bigger settlements. (1993) [218]
  • New York Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Sol Wachtler plead guilty to one charge or harassment by threatening to kidnap Joy Silverman’s teenage daughter. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison. (1992) [219][220]

[edit]1980–1989

  • Arizona Governor Evan Mecham (R) was impeached and removed from office on charges of obstruction of justice and misuse of government funds. He was acquitted of all federal charges later in the year. (1988) [225]
  • Maryland State Senator Clarence Mitchell III (D-MD), sentenced to 2½ years for bribery and obstruction in regards to the Wedtech scandal (1988) [228]
  • Maryland State Senator Michael Mitchell (D-MD), (brother of Clarence) sentenced to 2½ years for bribery and obstruction in regards to the Wedtech scandal (1988) [228]
  1. William P. McNeill, Boston’s former budget director (mail fraud)[230]
  2. George Collatos, former Boston Redevelopment Authority official (perjury)[231]
  3. Theodore V. Anzalone, former Boston city assessor and chief fund-raiser for White (extortion and evading a US currency reporting law)[232]
  4. Robert L. Toomey Sr., former aide to the mayor (perjury, fraud, and obstruction of justice)[233]
  5. Anthony Pepicelli, former director of Department of Inspectional Services (mail fraud and receiving bribes)[234]
  • Massachusetts: Former Lowell City Manager B. Joseph Tully was found guilty of attempted extortion and mail fraud and sentenced to three years in federal prison in a case involving a land swap made with an auto dealership during his tenure as city manager. (1988) [235]
  • Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jon Grunseth (R-MN) dropped out of the race two weeks before the election when he admitted to a skinny dipping party with his 13 year old daughter and three of her friends. (1989) [236]
  • New Jersey Mayor of Jersey City Gerald McCann (D) was convicted of fraud and removed from office in a savings and loan scam in 1981.[237]
  • Ohio Donald E. “Buz” Lukens Convicted Contributing to the Delinquincy of a Minor and sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $500. See Sex scandals 1990 and Legislative scandals 1982 [238]
  • Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer (R) was found guilty of one count of bribery and then committed suicide on television before he was to be sentenced. (1987) [239]
  • Tennessee State Representative Tommy Burnett (D) was convicted in federal court for willfully failing to file federal income taxreturns, and served ten months in prison. While in prison, he was re-elected to the Tennessee House with 60 percent of the vote. (1983) See 1990 listing.[223]

[edit]1970–1979

  • Arkansas State Senator Guy H. Jones (D) was convicted of tax evasion in 1973, he was expelled from the Senate in 1974.[240]
  • California Lt. Governor Edwin Reinecke (R) was indicted and convicted on one count of perjury and sentenced to 18 months in prison as part of the Watergate investigation. The sentence was later overturned. (1975) [241]
  • Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, Jr. (D) had retired as Governor and was a sitting judge in the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh District when he was charged with 17 counts of bribery, conspiracy and perjury for his actions as Governor. He was found guilty and served three years in prison. (1974) [242]
  • Illinois Secretary of State Paul Powell (D-IL) after his death in 1970, shoe boxes containing $800,000 in cash were found in his hotel room. He was never charged. (1970) [243]
  • Illinois: Maywood, Illinois Village Manager Paul H. Boucher was arrested and charged with theft by deception, improper use of license plates, and failure to register a vehicle in Illinois.[244] He later pleaded guilty to theft of property under $150.[245] (1970)
  • Louisiana Attorney General Jack P. F. Gremillion (D-LA) was sentenced to three years in prison for perjury concerning his cover up of dealings with a failed savings and loan. (1972)[246]
  • Massachusetts State Senator George Rogers (D) was convicted of conspiracy to steal and bribe. He was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $5,000 (1978).[249]
  • Oklahoma Governor David Hall (D) Three days after leaving office in January 1975, Hall was indicted for conspiracy involving Hall andSecretary of State John Rogers willfully steering State of Oklahoma employee retirement funds to investment funds controlled byDallas, Texas, businessman W. W. “Doc” Taylor. Upon his conviction two months later for bribery and extortion,[242] he became the first Oklahoma Governor to be convicted of criminal acts committed during his tenure.

[edit]1940–1969

  • Arkansas Attorney General Bruce Bennett (D-AR) charged with 28 counts of wire fraud and securities violations relating to a failed savings and loan. His poor health prevented the case from going to trial. (1969) [256]
  • Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts Orville Hodge (R) pleaded guilty to bank fraud, embezzlement and forgery and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1956.[257][258][259]
  • Massachusetts: 1964 special grand jury investigation of corruption indicted:
  1. Speaker of the House John F. Thompson (D) was indicted on 58 counts of conspiracy and requesting and accepting bribes.[260][261] He died before the case was resolved. (1964) [262]
  2. Commissioner of Administration and Finance Charles Gibbons (R) was indicted on 23 counts of accepting bribes. (1964)[261][263]

[edit]1900–1939

  • Louisiana Governor Huey Long (D) controversial and outspoken, Long was widely alleged to have used extensive bribery to prevent his impeachment. (1929) [270]
  • Louisiana Governor Richard W. Leche (D) 1936–39, resigned in 1939, he was convicted in 1940 for mail fraud, corruption, and bribery. Sentenced to 10 years, pardoned by Harry S. Truman in 1953.[271]
  • Massachusetts Speaker of the House John N. Cole was indicted on 123 separate counts of violating a law which prohibited government officers from asking for railroad passes or tickets at reduced rates for themselves or others. (1908)[272]
  • New Jersey Governor Harold G. Hoffman (R) admitted, in a letter after his death, to embezzling up to $50,000 a month while Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in the 1930s.[273]
  • North Dakota Governor William Langer (R) was removed from office in 1934 for alleged racketeering and barricaded himself in the Governor’s mansion rather than leave.[274] He was later acquitted and re-elected as Governor in 1936.[275]
  • North Dakota Governor Thomas H. Moodie (D) impeached and removed from office for not meeting the constitutional requirements for office.(1935)[217]
  • Oklahoma Governor Henry S. Johnston (D), impeached twice, was convicted the second time and removed for “general incompetence” (1928–1929).[276]
  • Oklahoma Governor John C. Walton (D) – Due to growing influence and rioting of the Ku Klux Klan, Walton declared martial law and suspended the writ of habeas corpus without the authority to do so. He was impeached and removed. (1923) [277]
  • Oklahoma Governor James B. A. Robertson (D) involved in political scandals with administering federal funds. (1920) [217]
  • Texas Governor James Edward Ferguson (D), also known as “PA”, was impeached and removed from office for financial misconduct (1917) [278]
  • Texas Governor Miriam A. Ferguson (D), also known as “MA”, was the first woman elected Governor of a state in the U.S. and wife of the removed ex-governor. She was implicated in the same financial improprieties that had brought down “Pa” causing her to lose the Democratic primary in 1926.[278]

[edit]1789–1899

  • Florida Governor Harrison Reed (R) originally appointed to a position in Florida after the Civil War, he was elected and then subjected to three separate impeachment inquiries all of which he survived. (1868–1872) [283]
  • Kentucky State Treasurer James “Honest Dick” Tate (D-KY) ran off with the entire state treasury (about $247,000) left his wife and children and disappeared. He was impeached in absentia and the word “Tatism” for crook, is still used today.(1888) [286]
  • Mississippi Governor John A. Quitman(D) resigned in 1851 after indictment for violation of the Neutrality Act in connection with his support for a Cuban insurrection against Spain. He was acquitted of all charges.[287]
  • Nebraska Governor David C. Butler (R) impeached and removed from office for misuse of funds. He was later reinstated and ran was elected to the Nebraska Senate. (1871) [288]
  • North Carolina Governor William Woods Holden (R) was impeached for the actions of the North Carolina militia in trying to quell the lynching activities of the Ku Klux Klan in what became the Kirk-Holden war. He was the first state governor ever removed from office. (1870) [289]
  • Oregon Governor La Fayette Grover (D) (later U.S. Senator) was implicated, but eventually exonerated, on vote-rigging charges to give Oregon’s electoral votes in the 1876 presidential election to Samuel Tilden (D).[290]

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