Free Republic

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent John Gillies warns that corruption is tearing at the fabric of American Society.

The horrific crime shocked a nation. Three young boys, cub scouts, were tied up, murdered and their naked bodies dumped in a drainage ditch. As a Deep South community bayed for justice, attention focused on a group of misfit teenagers, heavy metal fans accused of killing the children in a Satanic ritual. The case became a sensation at a time when a 'Satanic panic' over cults was gripping 1990s America. All three were found guilty. Jason Baldwin, then 16, and Jessie Misskelley, 17, got life sentences. Damien Echols, 18, was put on death row, where he remains. Now evidence, including...

City leaders are pressing for the hiring of a corruption watchdog to send a message that New Orleans - with its long and colorful reputation for graft and thievery - can be trusted with the billions of dollars in federal aid pouring in to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. ~snip~ At least five of the council's seven members have signed on to the idea, set for a vote Nov. 2. Some have argued that under the current plan, the inspector general would be too weak, because the watchdog would have no subpoena power. Others are debating whether the inspector general should...

Dr. Elsebeth Baumgartner and Bryan DuBois run a blog called Erie Voices that focuses on local issues in northern Ohio, especially those that are underreported by local newspapers. Many of their posts deal with judicial and governmental corruption in northern Ohio. The bloggers were arrested in July on charges of intimidation, retaliation, and possession of criminal tools (a computer). Their trial began yesterday. The charges originated from a complaint made by retired visiting Judge Richard Markus, who alleges that Baumgartner and DuBois intimidated and threatened him in 2004 prior to a civil trial in which Baumgartner was the defendant, as...

Bill Rasmussen [founder of ESPN], left, talks with Robert Hardy while the two await sentencing Friday morning at the Sarasota County Judicial Center. In the background is Rasmussen’s defense attorney, Jerry Berry, left, and Hardy’s defense attorney, Ron Hanes, center. Stadium Naples: Rasmussen, Bob Hardy both get probation [for racketeering conspiracy] By DENISE ZOLDAN, dczoldan@naplesnews.com January 10, 2004 Real estate mogul Bob Hardy and Stadium Naples idea man Bill Rasmussen chatted like old friends Friday morning inside the Sarasota County Judicial Center courtroom. Within minutes, both men would begin the final chapter the largest public corruption case in the history...

FBI checking tips on city JASON HAGEY, STACEY MULICK AND KRIS SHERMAN; The News Tribune The FBI acknowledged Thursday that investigators are looking into possible public corruption in the City of Tacoma as part of a broad investigation that began with the David Brame shootings. Special Agent Mark Ferbrache said agents with the bureau's public corruption squad are following up on an increasing volume of tips and leads flowing into his office as fallout from the Brame case. Some of them didn't lead anywhere; others are still being checked out. He wouldn't talk about specific charges or targets of the...