Shoshanna Utchenik ticklethewire.com U.S. officials report a break-through in tackling drug trafficking from South America, according to the Associated Press. A former Venezuelan Supreme Court justice Eladio Aponte may be seeking permanent refuge in the U.S. for himself and his family in exchange for evidence linking Venezuelan officials to drug trafficking and corruption, and linking Venezuela…
Shoshanna Utchenik ticklethewire.com Accusations are flying in Atlanta that airport concession contracts have been rigged to favor the Mayor’s campaign contributors, reports WSBTV. The FBI has apparently contacted several of the losing bidders to interview them about the bidding process. One bidder told WSBTV, “I answered their questions that I had a feeling things went…
Shoshanna Utchenik ticklethewire.com You can see why former Jersey City assemblyman Louis Manzo thought he might try his luck once more. But this time the only luck he had was bad luck. The Jersey Journal reports that Manzo lost his bid for reimbursement of $150k worth of legal fees paid over the course of a…
Shoshanna Utchenik ticklethewire.com In like a lion, out like a lamb for former golden boy John Edwards. Even if he beats criminal charges of campaign finance corruption, Edwards will be hard-pressed to ever recover his public image. The L.A. Times reports that former North Carolina Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards goes to trial on…
By Danny Fenster ticklethewire.com Funding teen suicide prevention efforts is a laudable act, no doubt. But that all depends, of course, on whether the funding is actually being used for that purpose. In Detroit, FBI agents are investigating allegations that a fundraiser for Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, who was investigated earlier this year on…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com In political corruption cases, how much prison time is enough? Fed prosecutors in the case of Rod Blagojevich — the world’s most talkative ex-governor — are recommending that he get 15 to 20 years at sentencing, which is set for Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Yes, Blagojevich was a…
By Danny Fenster ticklethewire.com Who knew an advisory roll could pay out so well? Hajime Sagawa and Akio Nakagawa, two Japanese bankers, spent their career moving from firm to firm on Wall Street, reports the New York Times. Then, when advising the Japanese company Olympus–largely successful in medical equipment but better known as a…
