Public Corruption and the Limits of Federal Fraud Statutes, CRS Legal Sidebar LSB11025

Over time, Congress has shown consistent interest in policing public-sector corruption, enacting a number of criminal provisions aimed at holding corrupt officials and those who entice them accountable for their actions under federal law. Federal prosecutors’ most potent existing tools for combating such corruption include the federal mail and wire fraud statutes and a provision … Read more

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CRS In Focus IF10177)

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is an interagency committee chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury. It serves the President in overseeing the national security risks of certain foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S. economy. CFIUS jurisdiction includes the review of mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers that could result in … Read more

STOCK Act / Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge Act (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms STOCK Act / Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge Act Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 or STOCK Act – (Sec. 3) Requires the congressional ethics committees to issue interpretive guidance of the rules of each chamber, including rules on conflicts of interest and … Read more

Crony Capitalism / Rent-Seeking / Corporate Welfare / Revolving Door (CongressionalGlossary.com)

Crony Capitalism / Rent-Seeking / Corporate Welfare / Revolving Door Corporate welfare refers to subsidies and regulatory protections that lawmakers confer on certain businesses and industries. When considering budget issues, federal policymakers are supposed to have the broad public interest in mind. Unfortunately, that is not how the federal budget process usually works in practice. … Read more

In Washington, a divided America is good for business.

  Neil Sedaka – Breaking Up Is Hard To Do   Washington is an endless maze of funhouse mirrors, a fact we’re reminded of once a year when The Hill publishes its 50 Most Beautiful list [2017 was the last one], replete with people who are Washington hot, which is a step above rehab hot … Read more

Corruption in Alexandria, VA?

[Alexandria (VA) City Architect Henry] Lewis started raising hell and — to make a long story short — [Jeremy] McPike got him fired. An Alexandria jury found that Lewis had been wrongfully terminated, according to the anti-retaliation provisions of the Virginia Fraud against Taxpayers Act, and awarded him $104,000 in back pay. The city is … Read more

The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 4 (Fourth Amendment – Search and Seizure)

The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 4 (Amendments 1-10 are known as the Bill Of Rights) (4th Amendment) Amendment IV. (Search and Seizure) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon … Read more