Ethics

Fake Images Made to Show Trump With Black Supporters Highlight Concerns Around AI and Elections

WASHINGTON (AP) — At first glance, images circulating online showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by groups of Black people... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — At first glance, images circulating online showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by groups of Black people smiling and laughing seem nothing out of the ordinary, but a look closer is telling. Odd lighting and too-perfect details... Read More

FBI Informant Charged With Lying About Joe and Hunter Biden's Ties to Ukrainian Energy Company

WASHINGTON (AP) — An FBI informant has been charged with fabricating a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, his son... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — An FBI informant has been charged with fabricating a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company, a claim that is central to the Republican impeachment inquiry in Congress. Alexander Smirnov falsely... Read More

2024-01-12 19:41:27
by Tom Ramstack
Consumer Group Accuses Starbucks of Exploitative Labor Practices

WASHINGTON — A consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Starbucks saying the company falsely labels its coffee and... Read More

WASHINGTON — A consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Starbucks saying the company falsely labels its coffee and tea as "100% ethical" despite a history of what it called "slave-like conditions" on farms where the coffee beans and... Read More

Appeals Court Says Mark Meadows Can’t Move Georgia Election Case Charges to Federal Court

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows cannot move... Read More

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows cannot move charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia to federal court. Meadows was indicted in August along with... Read More

2023-12-15 22:06:21
by Tom Ramstack
Congresswoman Accuses Federal Judge of Ethics Breach for Political Statements

WASHINGTON — U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell is facing an official complaint by a conservative member of Congress who accuses... Read More

WASHINGTON — U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell is facing an official complaint by a conservative member of Congress who accuses her of ethics violations for her statements during the Women's White Collar Defense Association awards banquet on Nov. 28 in... Read More

The Republican Leading Probe of Hunter Biden Has Own Shell Company and Complicated Friends

TOMPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Rep. James Comer, a multimillionaire farmer, boasts of being one of the largest landholders near his rural... Read More

TOMPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Rep. James Comer, a multimillionaire farmer, boasts of being one of the largest landholders near his rural Kentucky hometown, and he has meticulously documented nearly all of his landholdings on congressional financial disclosure documents – roughly 1,600... Read More

George Santos Attorney Optimistic About Plea Talks as Congressman Appears in Court

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos ' lawyer expressed optimism about plea negotiations in Santos' criminal fraud case Tuesday, successfully... Read More

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos ' lawyer expressed optimism about plea negotiations in Santos' criminal fraud case Tuesday, successfully fending off prosecutors' attempts to speed up the the ousted congressman’s trial. In Santos' first court appearance since he was expelled... Read More

Ethics Chairman Launches New Bid to Expel George Santos After Withering Report on Conduct

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Ethics Committee announced Friday he has filed a resolution to force a... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Ethics Committee announced Friday he has filed a resolution to force a vote on expelling Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress, one day after the committee issued a withering report detailing substantial evidence that... Read More

Ethics Panel Says It Found 'Substantial Evidence' of Lawbreaking by Republican Rep. George Santos

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics panel said Thursday it has found “substantial evidence” of lawbreaking by Republican Rep. George Santos of... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics panel said Thursday it has found “substantial evidence” of lawbreaking by Republican Rep. George Santos of New York and has referred its findings to the Justice Department. The committee said that Santos’ conduct warrants public condemnation,... Read More

2023-11-13 20:49:47
by Dan McCue
Supreme Court Unveils Ethics Code for Justices

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it is adopting a code of conduct for justices in the... Read More

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it is adopting a code of conduct for justices in the wake of a series of revelations about undisclosed gifts and other benefits some had received from wealthy benefactors. In a... Read More

2023-10-11 13:19:58
by Dan McCue
Santos Slapped With 10 New Criminal Counts in Superseding Indictment

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who’ll be voting for the next House speaker in coming days, was... Read More

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who’ll be voting for the next House speaker in coming days, was charged with 10 new criminal counts on Tuesday, including identity theft. The superseding indictment filed in the U.S. District Court... Read More

2023-10-02 22:52:56
by Tom Ramstack
Justice Thomas Recuses Himself in Case of Indicted Former Law Clerk

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recused himself Monday for the first time in a case involving the Jan.... Read More

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recused himself Monday for the first time in a case involving the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The case is an appeal by former Trump administration legal advisor John Eastman,... Read More

2023-09-25 21:40:46
by Tom Ramstack
Justice Kagan Calls for New Code of Conduct for Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — Justice Elena Kagan is calling for a “code of conduct” for the Supreme Court in a departure from... Read More

WASHINGTON — Justice Elena Kagan is calling for a “code of conduct” for the Supreme Court in a departure from the position held by most of her colleagues. She announced her support for the code of conduct in a speech... Read More

2023-09-06 12:55:54
by Tom Ramstack
Senator Demands Chief Justice Investigate Justice Alito’s Ethics

WASHINGTON — A leading U.S. senator on the Judiciary Committee filed a complaint Monday with the chief justice of the... Read More

WASHINGTON — A leading U.S. senator on the Judiciary Committee filed a complaint Monday with the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court that accuses Justice Samuel Alito of ethics violations. Although the complaint focuses partly on trips and gifts... Read More

2023-08-31 14:59:06
by Dan McCue
Hoyer Presses Ethics Committee to Release George Santos Findings

WASHINGTON — Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is calling on the House Ethics Committee to release its findings regarding Rep. George... Read More

WASHINGTON — Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is calling on the House Ethics Committee to release its findings regarding Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. “More than enough time has passed for the Ethics Committee to conduct a fair and accurate assessment of... Read More

Testimony From Hunter Biden Associate Provides Insight Into Their Business Dealings

WASHINGTON (AP) — Focusing on the Bidens rather than Donald Trump's federal court appearance, House Republicans released a transcript Thursday... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Focusing on the Bidens rather than Donald Trump's federal court appearance, House Republicans released a transcript Thursday of their interview with Hunter Biden’s former business associate detailing overseas financial dealings by the president’s son. The more than five-hour closed-door... Read More

2023-07-20 21:58:29
by Jacquelyn Burrer
Senate Committee Advances Supreme Court Ethics Bill

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced legislation that would mandate the Supreme Court to implement a code... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced legislation that would mandate the Supreme Court to implement a code of ethics and abide by new standards regarding financial disclosure and case recusal requirements.  In an 11-10 vote along partisan... Read More

Microsoft's Media Literacy Program Aims to Empower Internet Users and Combat Online Misinformation

WASHINGTON (AP) — People are hungry for accurate and reliable information online and may just need help to find it,... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — People are hungry for accurate and reliable information online and may just need help to find it, according to a new media literacy project launched by Microsoft. The tech company worked with the Trust Project, a nonprofit... Read More

Reports: Prosecutors Have Tape of Trump Discussing Holding Onto Classified Doc

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of former President Donald Trump from after he left office in... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of former President Donald Trump from after he left office in which he talks about holding onto a classified Pentagon document related to a potential attack on Iran, according to media... Read More

Aide Fired by George Santos Says He Got His Job After Sending Money to Republican's Deputy

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who briefly worked as an aide to U.S. Rep. George Santos says he got his job... Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who briefly worked as an aide to U.S. Rep. George Santos says he got his job after sending a series of payments to one of the Republican’s top deputies. Derek Myers, 31, told staff of the... Read More

The Day Has Arrived for Elizabeth Holmes to Report to a Texas Prison

Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes is scheduled to move to her new home — a federal prison where she has... Read More

Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes is scheduled to move to her new home — a federal prison where she has been sentenced to spend the next 11 years for overseeing a blood-testing hoax that became a parable about greed and... Read More

Why Texas' GOP-Controlled House Wants to Impeach Its Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — After years of legal and ethical scandals swirling around Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, the... Read More

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — After years of legal and ethical scandals swirling around Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, the state’s GOP-controlled House of Representatives has moved toward an impeachment vote that could quickly throw him from office. The extraordinary and rarely-used... Read More

Court Hearing Delayed for Airman Accused in Documents Leak

BOSTON (AP) — A hearing to decide whether a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman charged with leaking highly classified military documents... Read More

BOSTON (AP) — A hearing to decide whether a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman charged with leaking highly classified military documents should remain jailed while awaiting trial has been delayed to give the defense more time to prepare. Jack Teixeira, 21,... Read More

Report: Thomas Sold Real Estate to Donor, Didn't Report Deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative mega-donor Harlan Crow purchased three properties belonging to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his family,... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative mega-donor Harlan Crow purchased three properties belonging to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his family, in a transaction worth more than $100,000 that Thomas never reported, according to the non-profit investigative journalism organization ProPublica. The 2014... Read More

Trump's Response to Criminal Charges Revives Election Lies

NEW YORK (AP) — Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by... Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan District Attorney last week were “not guilty.” But, politically, the most significant may be “election interference.” Trump’s repetition... Read More

Justice Thomas Says He Didn't Have to Disclose Luxury Trips

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his wife took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as “among our... Read More

2023-04-01 16:54:14
by Dan McCue
Judge Rules Dominion Defamation Suit Against Fox Can Go to Trial

GEORGETOWN, Del. — A judge in Delaware has ruled that Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation case against the Fox... Read More

GEORGETOWN, Del. — A judge in Delaware has ruled that Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation case against the Fox News Network can proceed to trial. In a 130-page opinion released Friday, Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis denied motions... Read More

Trump Invited to Testify Before NY Grand Jury, Lawyer Says

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has been invited to testify before a New York grand jury that has been... Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has been invited to testify before a New York grand jury that has been investigating hush money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign, according to one of his lawyers. Trump attorney Joseph... Read More

Rep. George Santos Under Investigation by House Ethics Panel

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee announced Thursday it is launching an investigation into embattled Republican Rep. George Santos, the New... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee announced Thursday it is launching an investigation into embattled Republican Rep. George Santos, the New York congressman whose lies and embellishments about his resume and personal life have drawn deep scrutiny. The investigation appears to... Read More

2023-02-22 18:19:42
by Dan McCue
Lawmakers Advance Bill Making Trading Sex for Favors an Ethics Violation

SANTA FE, N.M. — A state House panel in New Mexico on Wednesday advanced an update to the government’s long-standing... Read More

SANTA FE, N.M. — A state House panel in New Mexico on Wednesday advanced an update to the government’s long-standing Conduct Act making the exchange of sexual acts for official favors an ethics violation. In addition, House Bill 5, which... Read More

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