Scandal

Florida Politics reports: As First Lady Casey DeSantis continues to draw scrutiny along with Hope Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging people to differentiate that program’s “smashing success” from the finances of the Hope Florida Foundation. “I think what they’re doing with this Foundation is they’re trying to smear the program by implication and trying to smear the First Lady, …

The Miami Herald reports: The $10 million that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration diverted to a state-created charity last year consisted of Medicaid dollars owed to state and federal taxpayers, contrary to what the governor and other officials have publicly asserted. Three years ago, lawyers working with the state drew up a settlement agreement that said Florida’s largest Medicaid contractor, Centene, …

CBS News reports: The mayor of one of North Dakota’s largest cities resigned after an investigation into him mistakenly sending a lewd video to the city attorney. Minot Mayor Tom Ross resigned Tuesday, the same day an investigative report was made public that found Ross sent a video of himself masturbating to City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim in January. He sent …

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports: Jonah Bevin, adopted son of former Gov. Matt Bevin, said he was seeking a protective order against his dad because of a pattern of “manipulative” and “intimidating” behavior, which included threatening to euthanize Jonah’s dog. Jonah, 18, appeared alongside Bevin and former Kentucky first lady Glenna Bevin in a Jefferson Family Court in downtown Louisville Friday …

ProPublica reports: Earlier this year, the Air Force revealed that the general who oversaw its lobbying before Congress had inappropriate romantic relationships with five women, including three who worked on Capitol Hill. Maj. Gen. Christopher Finerty’s colleagues told investigators the relationships were “highly inappropriate” as they could give the Air Force undue influence in Congress. “I honestly felt sick to …

CBS News reports: Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen is resigning following a probe into his personal conduct, the grocery chain said Monday. McMullen, who was both the chairman and CEO, is out after a company board investigation found that his personal conduct, “was inconsistent with Kroger’s Policy on Business Ethics,” the company said on Monday. His behavior was unrelated to business, …

Just in via press release: Today, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander sent the following letter to Mayor Adams in response to the news that several deputy mayors had issued their letters of resignation: Dear Mayor Adams, Today my office received news that four of the City’s Deputy Mayors—including First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer—have submitted their resignations and that others …

The Associated Press reports: As New Orleans church leaders braced for the fallout from publishing a list of predatory Catholic priests, they turned to an unlikely ally: the front office of the city’s NFL franchise. What followed was a months-long, crisis-communications blitz orchestrated by the New Orleans Saints’ president and other top team officials, according to hundreds of internal emails …

NBC News reports: Allies of former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., have approached the White House on his behalf multiple times since the fall to see if President Joe Biden might be willing to pardon him, according to four people familiar with the discussions. Left with the impression that he won’t receive a pardon from Biden, Menendez has now shifted his …

The Daily Beast reports: A slew of damning texts was included in the House Ethics probe into Matt Gaetz that was made public Monday. Gaetz, who stands accused of paying women and a 17-year-old high schooler for sex, allegedly messaged about his sordid encounters and went as far as criticizing one woman for giving him only a brief “drive-by” meeting …

The House Ethics Committee writes: On December 23, 2024, the Committee on Ethics (Committee) released the attached Report regarding allegations relating to Representative Matt Gaetz. The Committee previously noted that there has been a significant and unusual amount of reporting on its activities during its review of the matter of Representative Gaetz, and much of that reporting has been inaccurate. …

Politico reports: New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday distanced himself from a top NYPD official whom he previously promoted and defended, following new graphic sexual assault allegations. “The allegations are extremely concerning and alarming,” Adams told reporters Saturday. “The police commissioner is doing a full review of all personnel, but she’s also doing a full review of this …

NBC News reports: Former Rep. David Rivera, R-Fla., was indicted Tuesday on charges that he violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act and laundered funds in order to “conceal and promote his criminal conduct,” the Justice Department said on Wednesday. In the indictment, Rivera is accused of working “as an agent” of Raul Gorrín Belisario, a Venezuelan national who the Treasury …

CNN reports: The House Ethics Committee secretly voted earlier this month to release its report into the conduct of former Rep. Matt Gaetz before the end of this Congress, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the matter. The report is now expected to be made public after the House’s final day of votes this year as lawmakers leave Washington …

Politico reports: New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who has taken a soft touch with President-elect Donald Trump, left open the possibility of switching to the Republican Party in a pair of Friday morning interviews. Adams was a member of the GOP from 1995 through 2002, and was asked during an appearance on NY1 whether he would return …

The Washington Post reports: At Fox News, Hegseth had a reputation as a heavy drinker, according to six former Fox News employees who worked directly with Hegseth and saw him drinking on the job or visibly drunk at work events and who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. Several years ago, during a St. Patrick’s …

NBC News reports: Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., is forcing a floor vote this week to require the House Ethics Committee to release a report on its yearslong investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. Casten introduced a resolution that would force the bipartisan ethics panel to act. Because the resolution is “privileged,” it must be brought to the floor within …

The Christian Post reports: Michael Brown, host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program, who is also president, founder and professor of practical theology at FIRE School of Ministry, admitted to a “definite lack of judgment” but denied allegations he engaged in sexual misconduct with a former female staffer he said he treated like a “family member” 23 …

The Daily Beast reports: A top Democratic representative is turning up the pressure on the House Ethics Committee to release a report into allegations of sex trafficking and other crimes leveled at former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. Undeterred by Gaetz’s recent withdrawal from both Congress and the running to be Donald Trump’s attorney general, Sean Casten (D-IL) spoke with MSNBC …

The Hill reports: House Democrats will push to release the Ethics Committee report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) despite Gaetz’s decision Thursday to withdraw his name from the running to lead the Justice Department in President-elect Trump’s incoming administration. Rep. Sean Casten [photo] (D-Ill.), who had introduced a resolution Wednesday to force a House vote on releasing the report, …