Free Republic

The House Ways and Means Committee released documents Wednesday that Chairman Jason Smith, (R-Mo.), says reveals a deepening pattern of influence peddling by the Biden family and also underscores career Department of Justice officials' efforts to obstruct the investigation into Hunter Biden. The Committee voted to release 700 pages of materials from the federal investigation into the Biden family that were provided by IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler. In prepared remarks, Smith said that Hunter Biden and his family operated a "complex and lucrative enterprise" to "enrich themselves to the tune of at least $20 million." "It is...

Wash Post reports DOJ has opened criminal probe into President Trump…BREAKING Tonight - DOJ is investigating Donald J. Trump's actions and role in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results. w greats @DevlinBarrett @jdawsey1 @hsu_spencer https://t.co/G9xmc2CKH8— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) July 26, 2022

On Tuesday, Attorney General Letitia James (D-N.Y.) announced that her office would join the Manhattan district attorney in a criminal investigation of the Trump Organization. James had begun investigating the organization in 2019, but her office recently launched a criminal complaint. Former President Donald Trump condemned the investigation in the harshest of terms. “We have informed the Trump Organization that our investigation into the organization is no longer purely civil in nature. We are now actively investigating the Trump Organization in a criminal capacity, along with the Manhattan DA,” James’ spokesman Fabien Levy told CNN. “There is nothing more corrupt...

WikiLeaks' release of documents that provide details of alleged CIA hacking operations will be investigated by federal authorities, CNN reports. Citing several U.S. officials, CNN claims the FBI and the CIA will coordinate their reviews of how WikiLeaks acquired the documents, which officials said are in CNN's words "largely genuine," and if more will follow. The officials have yet to determine how much of the release is accurate or if any have been altered before being released.

WASHINGTON — A majority of voters believe Hillary Clinton has done something illegal, according to a new McClatchy-Marist Poll days before the presidential election. A total of 83 percent of likely voters believe that Clinton did something wrong – 51 percent saying she did something illegal and 32 percent saying she something unethical but not illegal. Just 14 percent said she’s done nothing wrong. By comparison, 79 percent think Donald Trump did something wrong, though not nearly as many think he did something illegal. Just 26 percent think he’s done something illegal, while 53 percent think he’s dome something unethical...

Attorney General Loretta Lynch confirmed to Congress Wednesday that career Justice Department attorneys are working with FBI agents on the criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton's email practices and the handling of classified material. Legal experts say the assignment of career Justice Department attorneys to the case shows the FBI probe has progressed beyond the initial referral, or "matured," giving agents access to the U.S. government's full investigative tool box, including subpoena power for individuals, business or phone records, as well as witnesses. The Associated Press reported earlier this month that career lawyers were involved, but Lynch's comments are the most...

(Reuters) - Authorities are conducting an intensive criminal investigation into the release of thousands of classified U.S. documents by WikiLeaks, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Monday. "There is an active, ongoing criminal investigation that we're conducting with the Department of Defense," Holder said at a news conference. "We are not in a position as yet to announce the result of that investigation." He said Sunday's leak of the classified documents, mostly cables from U.S. embassies around the world, put at risk U.S. diplomats or other individuals assisting the United States. "To the extent that we can find anybody...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shares of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. plunged 9 percent Friday after word that the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation of the Wall Street powerhouse over mortgage securities deals it arranged. The criminal inquiry follows civil fraud charges filed by the government against Goldman two weeks ago and as Congress pushes toward enacting sweeping legislation aimed at preventing another near-meltdown of the financial system. The investigation by the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan stems from a criminal referral by the Securities and Exchange Commission, a knowledgeable person said Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Federal prosecutors have started a criminal investigation into the investment activities of the California Public Employees Retirement System, a newspaper reported Friday. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, said Justice Department officials in Los Angeles are examining potential influence-peddling within CalPERS, the nation's largest public pension fund. At issue is whether the investment decisions of fund managers were influenced by bribes rather than the best long-term interests of pensioners. Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles, declined to comment to The Associated Press. Brad Pacheco, CalPERS' chief...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's attorney general has resigned amid the scandal of a sexual harassment investigation in his office and his extramarital affair. Marc Dann has been under pressure of possible impeachment and announced he was stepping down on Wednesday. The 46-year-old Democrat at first refused to resign, despite demands by Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and others within his party. Dann admitted May 2 to an extramarital affair with an employee that he said contributed to an atmosphere leading to sexual harassment claims against a top aide. Three aides were forced out in the harassment investigation, which showed managers encouraged...

WASHINGTON - When British Petroleum (BP) shut down a vital oil pipeline, the company blamed "unexpectedly severe corrosion" in transit pipes. Yet only five months ago, BP's aging pipeline created the largest-ever oil spill on Alaska’s North Slope. Federal regulators blamed the spill on "internal corrosion" and said in some areas the walls of the pipes were so corroded they were almost paper-thin. So critics and industry experts say the latest problem was hardly a surprise. "I think this was predictable and preventable," says Phil Flynn, an energy analyst with Alaron Trading Corp. In fact, allegations about BP's maintenance practices...

NEW ORLEANS - Federal prosecutors are conducting a criminal investigation into the levee failures that swamped New Orleans, looking into the possibility of corruption in the design, construction and maintenance of the flood barriers. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said Wednesday that his office began the investigation the week after Hurricane Katrina. "The scope of our interest is very broad," he said. He said some officials were found to have undisclosed conflicts of interest, and "we're extremely concerned about those." He would not give details. James Bernazzani, FBI agent in charge in New Orleans, said agents have received numerous tips about...

A leading Ukrainian judge, Yuri Vasylenko, has opened a criminal case against the country's president, Leonid Kuchma after accusations that he violated 11 articles of the country's criminal code. Mr Kuchma is alleged to have been involved in the sale of sophisticated Kolchuga radar systems to Iraq. He is also accused by political opponents of ordering the murder of an investigative journalist, Georgiy Gongadze, who wrote about corruption in high places. "I had no grounds not to open the criminal case against the president," Mr Vasylenko said before a news conference by opposition leaders. The opposition has also accused Mr...

Qwest at center of criminal probe U.S. Attorney’s office told firm of investigation Tuesday BREAKING NEWS NEW YORK, July 10 — Local telephone company Qwest Communications International Inc. Wednesday said it was notified on Tuesday afternoon that the U.S. Attorney’s office began a criminal investigation of the company.