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NWCorona

(8,541 posts)
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 08:55 AM Sep 2016

Leaked documents reveal secretive influence of corporate cash on politics

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by etherealtruth (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: The Guardian

The pervasive influence of corporate cash in the democratic process, and the extraordinary lengths to which politicians, lobbyists and even judges go to solicit money, are laid bare in sealed court documents leaked to the Guardian.

The John Doe files amount to 1,500 pages of largely unseen material gathered in evidence by prosecutors investigating alleged irregularities in political fundraising. Last year the Wisconsin supreme court ordered that all the documents should be destroyed, though a set survived that has now been obtained by the news organisation.

The files open a window on a world that is very rarely glimpsed by the public, in which millions of dollars are secretly donated by major corporations and super-wealthy individuals to third-party groups in an attempt to sway elections. They speak to a visceral theme of the 2016 presidential cycle: the distortion of American democracy by big business that has been slammed by both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.

In a case that is the subject of a petition currently in front of the US supreme court, five Wisconsin prosecutors carried out a deep investigation into what they suspected were criminal campaign-finance violations by the campaign committee of Scott Walker, Wisconsin governor and former Republican presidential candidate. Known as the “John Doe investigation”, the inquiry has been a lightning rod for bitter disputes between conservatives and progressives for years

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/14/corporate-cash-john-doe-files-scott-walker-wisconsin

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Leaked documents reveal secretive influence of corporate cash on politics (Original Post) NWCorona Sep 2016 OP
If only this would even put a dent in the corruption.. mountain grammy Sep 2016 #1
Why would the court order the documents destroyed? Frustratedlady Sep 2016 #2
Same here! NWCorona Sep 2016 #3
good question mopinko Sep 2016 #4
Our three-tier justice system (n/t) William Seger Sep 2016 #5
The corruption is written into the laws. ronnie624 Sep 2016 #9
Probably because most judges have atleast been hip deep in taking and cstanleytech Sep 2016 #10
Kick and comment ewagner Sep 2016 #6
Yup! I'm so glad they are getting a taste of this. I just hope it magnifies NWCorona Sep 2016 #7
And a reading of "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer turbinetree Sep 2016 #8
"secretive influence of corporate cash on politics"? LakeArenal Sep 2016 #11
So then where are these e-mails? Ligyron Sep 2016 #12
There are links in the article and in left margin lutefisk Sep 2016 #13
Thank you, Citizens United Blue_Tires Sep 2016 #14
I am sorry LOCKING as analysis (good analyisis and improtant , but still analysis) etherealtruth Sep 2016 #15

mountain grammy

(26,568 posts)
1. If only this would even put a dent in the corruption..
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 09:04 AM
Sep 2016

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
2. Why would the court order the documents destroyed?
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 09:32 AM
Sep 2016

I hope something comes of this.

NWCorona

(8,541 posts)
3. Same here!
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 09:34 AM
Sep 2016

mopinko

(69,804 posts)
4. good question
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 09:37 AM
Sep 2016

cant say as i have ever heard such a thing.

William Seger

(10,742 posts)
5. Our three-tier justice system (n/t)
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 10:10 AM
Sep 2016

ronnie624

(5,764 posts)
9. The corruption is written into the laws.
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 10:47 AM
Sep 2016

The bribery is probably all technically legal.

The article mentions the pervasive influence of money over the "democratic process", but anyone should be able to see that a quasi-legal system of bribery is inconsistent with democratic principles.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
10. Probably because most judges have atleast been hip deep in taking and
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 10:59 AM
Sep 2016

soliciting money at one time or another throughout their career and are essentially covering their own ass.

ewagner

(18,964 posts)
6. Kick and comment
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 10:16 AM
Sep 2016

....this Guardian article sheds important light on the web of corruption that is the Wisconsin Republican Party...

The Repubs OWN all three branches of government and control (via advertising $$$) a good chunk of the media...

breaking this stranglehold on the State cannot be done from within anymore ...it needs the U.S. Supreme court.

NWCorona

(8,541 posts)
7. Yup! I'm so glad they are getting a taste of this. I just hope it magnifies
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 10:27 AM
Sep 2016

turbinetree

(24,632 posts)
8. And a reading of "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 10:41 AM
Sep 2016

pretty much explains two "boys" and there foundations and how they have now expanded into the university system to expand that wonk message.

And just think Walker and his state run cronies of girls and boys in all three branches of government eviscerated the accountability board, just so the public can't hold this criminal accountable, and then the "court" of the state is really corrupt. This speaks volumes as why there should be public financing for running for an office, at both the state and local and federal level

LakeArenal

(28,713 posts)
11. "secretive influence of corporate cash on politics"?
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 11:24 AM
Sep 2016

Ummm....not so secret.. Should say, proof of influence of corporate cash on politics.

Ligyron

(7,592 posts)
12. So then where are these e-mails?
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 11:29 AM
Sep 2016

The Guardian mentions in the article that they exist - all 1500 pages. So where can we read some of them?

OTOH, maybe they just got them and haven't read through them yet to find the juicy ones.

lutefisk

(3,974 posts)
13. There are links in the article and in left margin
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 11:49 AM
Sep 2016
Here are some emails as linked in the body of the article.

Here is the main document link from the article: LINK

There are plenty of juicy ones...

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
14. Thank you, Citizens United
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 12:24 PM
Sep 2016

Naturally, the Guardian couldn't resist taking a subtle anti-Hillary shot in the third graf

etherealtruth

(22,165 posts)
15. I am sorry LOCKING as analysis (good analyisis and improtant , but still analysis)
Wed Sep 14, 2016, 02:11 PM
Sep 2016
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