TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026  ·  EST. 2026 NewsPressPodcastsGriftersBriefingsRoguesPutin WatchTrump RipoffCountdownDumbassSpaceXMerchSearchAdvertise
Investigating Power · The Day's Essential Reporting
GRIFTERS.
The accountability ledger. The conduct, who did it, and how it maps to the law. Every entry sourced, dated, and reviewed by a human before it posts.
105 on the board
OPINION / ANALYSIS: These entries describe conduct and our opinion on how it maps to the law. They are commentary, not allegations of criminal charges.
OPINION / ANALYSIS
Analysis

Nazira Haji Zada

family matriarch

Nazira Haji Zada supported her family's ISIS-inspired plot to commit a mass shooting on Election Day 2024. She signed a contract to sell the family home, helped liquidate family assets to fund the attack, and purchased one-way airfare to Afghanistan for herself and her children before the planned attack.

The Justice Department filed its first-ever case in the Alien Terrorist Removal Court against a 47-year-old Afghan matriarch accused of bankrolling her family's failed Election Day shooting plot.

U.S. Department of Justice · 2026 →
Michael Stewart · former CEO of Access DX Laboratory
Stewart, as CEO of Access DX Laboratory, paid kickbacks to marketers in return for patient referrals for genetic testing, used unbundled billing codes, paid…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Efrain Zuniga-Garcia · stash house operator; member of international alien smuggling organization
Between November 2020 and September 2023, Zuniga-Garcia operated a stash house in Monterrey, Mexico as part of a vast international alien smuggling…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Rahsontanohstha Delormier · boat driver for human smuggling organization
Delormier piloted boats transporting undocumented aliens across the St. Lawrence River from Canada into New York as part of a human smuggling conspiracy. On…
Guilty Plea2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Elias Shabazz
Shabazz posed as a romantic partner, then used physical violence, sexual assault, and psychological coercion to force a victim into commercial sex work. He…
Convicted2026U.S. Department of Justice →
John R. Bolton, II · National Security Advisor (April 2018–September 2019)
Bolton incorporated highly sensitive classified information, including TOP SECRET and Sensitive Compartmented Information, into personal diary entries while…
Guilty Plea2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Alexander Iniguez Mercado
Mercado was an administrator and member of Signal messaging groups used to plan a violent attack on a UFC event at the White House. After an FBI agent called…
Indicted2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Marterrio Armstrong
On November 24, 2024, Armstrong and an accomplice approached nine construction workers at gunpoint, threatened them, and robbed them of wallets, cell phones,…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Carlton Lenard Adams
Adams maintained a stock of 78 fighting dogs at three properties in Alabama, keeping them in conditions of extreme neglect and injury. He possessed…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Cortez Hollis · Owner and operator of Hollis Tax Time, a tax preparation business
Hollis owned and operated a tax preparation business where he prepared false tax returns for clients by claiming fictitious business losses they did not…
Convicted2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Regina Durkin
Durkin conspired with others to file fourteen fraudulent tax return claims to the IRS seeking over $7.7 million in refunds based on COVID-19 employee…
Guilty Plea2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Carlos Javier Padron
Padron deployed malware known as Ploutus onto ATMs across the United States to force unauthorized cash withdrawals as part of a transnational criminal…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Larry Wilson
Wilson participated in armed robberies and methamphetamine distribution as part of Young Mob, a Memphis gang. In June 2024, he and co-conspirators robbed…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Mario Flores
From 2015 to 2022, Flores conspired to operate shell companies that ran an unlicensed check-cashing service, cashing approximately $89 million in checks from…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Robert Craig
Craig used encrypted chat applications to share and discuss obscene videos of monkeys being tortured and sexually abused. The videos included depictions of…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Mingran Wang · founder and investment manager of Greenroots Capital Management
Wang orchestrated a spoofing scheme from 2021 through 2024, placing over 3,000 non-bona fide orders across multiple brokerage accounts with intent to cancel…
Guilty Plea2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Andrew Dominguez
Dominguez attempted to entice three minors to produce sexually explicit material in 2013, 2014, and 2023. He distributed child sexual abuse material videos…
Indicted2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Ygor Fokin Saviolli
Saviolli provided upfront funds to facilitate a sophisticated money laundering organization operating across the United States and multiple countries, and…
Guilty Plea2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Samuel Flores de Dios
Between February and March 2025, Flores de Dios brought a minor victim under 13 to his residence in Fredericksburg, Virginia, sexually abused her on multiple…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Seth Herrera · Specialist, U.S. Army
Herrera, a former Army soldier, pleaded guilty to accumulating tens of thousands of CSAM files via encrypted apps and the dark web, participating in hundreds…
Guilty Plea2026U.S. Department of Justice →
The Chemours Company · manufacturer of PFAS chemicals
Chemours discharged PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or 'forever chemicals') into the Ohio River, Cape Fear River, and Delaware River in violation…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Nejlai Mitchell · owner of tax return preparation business
Mitchell owned and operated a tax return preparation business and, from April 2022 through May 2023, conspired with seven employees to file false tax returns…
Guilty Plea2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Rouzbeh Ross Haghighat · board member of a publicly traded company
Haghighat, a board director at a biopharmaceutical company, obtained material nonpublic information about another company's proposed $3.2 billion acquisition.…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Benjamin Hanil Song · Leader of North Texas Antifa Cell
Benjamin Hanil Song led a North Texas Antifa cell that attacked the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas on July 4, 2025, armed with firearms,…
Convicted2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Huione Group · Cambodia-based corporate conglomerate
Subsidiaries of the Huione Group allegedly operated Huione Guarantee, which ran Telegram channels facilitating the sale of stolen financial data, malware…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
William Lee Spartacus Falkner; Jordan W. Rincker
Falkner allegedly conspired to attack a UFC event at the White House using explosive-laden drones to force attendees toward sniper positions. Rincker…
Charged2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Michael Ron David Kadar
In early 2017, Kadar made multiple threatening calls to Jewish Community Centers throughout Florida relaying bomb and active shooter threats to facilities…
Indicted2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Inspectors general / watchdog removals · Trump administration; IGs
Public Citizen described IG firings/replacements as watchdog wipeout weakening fraud/waste/abuse oversight.
Analysis2025citizen.org →
Independent agencies executive order · White House; independent agencies
Executive order asserted White House control over independent agencies such as FCC/FTC/SEC.
Analysis2025politico.com →
Office of Government Ethics / David Huitema · Trump; OGE director
Trump removed Senate-confirmed OGE director David Huitema early in five-year term.
Analysis2025politico.com →
Stephen Feinberg / Pentagon · Deputy Defense Secretary; Cerberus/private equity
Reporting raised concerns about private-equity influence over Pentagon procurement and associates’ defense interests.
Analysis2026theguardian.com →
Corporate appointees / regulated industries · Trump appointees
Public Citizen tracker alleges many appointees came from companies/lobbying shops in industries they regulate.
Analysis2024citizen.org →
xAI data center / NAACP suit · xAI; MZX Tech; NAACP
Associated Press reported DOJ sought dismissal of suit alleging unpermitted gas turbines and pollution near homes/schools.
Analysis2026apnews.com →
DOJ / xAI pollution lawsuit · DOJ; Elon Musk; xAI
Trump DOJ intervened seeking dismissal of NAACP Clean Air Act case against Musk’s xAI data center.
Analysis2026theguardian.com →
Howard Lutnick / Tesla endorsement · Commerce Secretary; Tesla; former firm
POGO requested ethics investigation after Lutnick publicly urged buying Tesla stock while former firm run by his children reportedly held shares.
Analysis2025s3.amazonaws.com →
Tesla White House showcase · Trump; Musk; Tesla
White House Tesla showcase raised ethics concerns about using presidential office/property to promote Musk’s company.
Analysis2025abcnews.go.com →
FAA / Starlink terminals · FAA; SpaceX/Starlink; Musk
Senator Markey raised concerns about FAA deployment/testing of Starlink terminals amid Musk conflict.
Analysis2025markey.senate.gov →
Starlink / rural broadband funds · SpaceX/Starlink; Commerce Department
Policy change made Starlink eligible to apply for major rural broadband funding while Musk held government role.
Analysis2025scrippsnews.com →
DOGE staff / Musk companies · DOGE personnel; former/current Musk employees
ProPublica found DOGE included many staff tied to Musk companies while reshaping agencies affecting those industries.
Analysis2025propublica.org →
Elon Musk companies / federal exposure · Musk; Tesla; SpaceX; Neuralink
Senate Democrats estimated Musk companies faced major legal/regulatory exposure across agencies DOGE could influence.
Analysis2025theguardian.com →
Elon Musk / DOGE · Billionaire adviser; federal cost-cutting role
Musk had direct business interest in many agencies/departments DOGE targeted.
Analysis2025citizen.org →
Executive Branch launch attendees · Cabinet officials; tech billionaires; Trump allies
Club launch drew cabinet secretaries and tech/crypto billionaires, amplifying access-for-money concerns.
Analysis2025nypost.com →
Executive Branch private club · Don Jr.; Omeed Malik; Witkoff sons; members
Trump-aligned invite-only club monetized proximity to MAGA officials, donors, tech and crypto elites.
Analysis2025axios.com →
Massad Boulos · Trump-connected adviser/family relation
Wyden/Garcia letter notes Boulos received payment for leveraging Trump ties to help recover assets seized by Saudi government.
Analysis2026finance.senate.gov →
Jared Kushner / Middle East fundraising · Trump son-in-law; envoy; investor
Wyden/Garcia investigated Kushner raising Middle East government money while negotiating U.S. foreign policy.
Analysis2026finance.senate.gov →
Jared Kushner / Affinity Partners · Trump son-in-law; private investor
Raskin letter alleged Kushner solicited Gulf money for private ventures while serving as special envoy.
Analysis2026truthout.org →
Jared Kushner / Affinity Partners · Trump son-in-law; special envoy; private equity
Kushner’s Affinity Partners received billions in Gulf funding while he served/was described as peace envoy or policy actor.
Analysis2026democrats-judiciary.house.gov →
Trump Organization international licensing · Trump business
Trump Organization licensed/announced brand projects across multiple countries since 2022, including Saudi-related deals.
Analysis2025bisnow.com →
Eric Trump / Somaliland / Israel · Trump son; foreign presidents/leaders
Eric Trump reportedly met Somaliland’s president at Davos to hear investment pitches; Israeli president also present.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →
Donald Trump Jr. / Saudi Arabia · Trump son; Saudi investment forum
Don Jr. spoke at Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s investment forum and promoted regional investment opportunities.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →
Eric Trump / Vietnam · Trump son; Vietnamese prime minister
Eric Trump appeared with Vietnam prime minister at groundbreaking for Trump development Vietnam had agreed to fast-track.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →
Eric Trump / Qatar · Trump son; Qatari minister; sovereign fund
Eric Trump appeared at signing for Trump development involving Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →
Donald Trump Jr. / Hungary · Trump son; Hungarian officials
Don Jr. met Hungary’s foreign minister as Trump Org looked at regional expansion.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →
Donald Trump Jr. / Serbia · Trump son; Serbian officials
Don Jr. met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic while Trump Org pursued Belgrade development.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →
Donald Trump Jr. / Eric Trump · President’s sons; Trump Organization executives
Trump sons met officials from eight foreign governments while Trump Org expanded aggressively abroad.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →
UFC Freedom 250 / USD1 · UFC; World Liberty Financial; White House
UFC event on White House lawn paid bonuses in USD1 stablecoin issued by Trump-linked World Liberty Financial.
Analysis2026theguardian.com →
Origin Protocol crypto summit at Mar-a-Lago · Crypto company; Trump property
Crypto summit at Mar-a-Lago sought relationship-building with Trump administration and inner circle while spending at Trump venue.
Analysis2025citizensforethics.org →
$TRUMP meme coin foreign/anonymous buyers · Trump; crypto purchasers
Pseudonymous crypto wallets allowed foreign or hidden buyers to enrich Trump-linked interests while seeking access.
Analysis2025theguardian.com →
$TRUMP meme coin / access dinner · Donald Trump; meme-coin buyers
Top buyers of Trump-branded meme coin were invited to private dinner/VIP access with the president.
Analysis2025forbes.com →
David Sacks · White House crypto/AI czar
Senators alleged Sacks managed a venture fund backed by Emirati money that invested in infrastructure behind USD1 while shaping crypto policy.
Analysis2025banking.senate.gov →
Steve Witkoff / Zach Witkoff / WLF · Special envoy; family crypto interests
Senior envoy Steve Witkoff retained financial interest in WLF while his son brokered UAE-backed USD1 deal, according to Warren/Slotkin.
Analysis2025banking.senate.gov →
USD1 / MGX / Binance · World Liberty Financial; UAE-backed MGX; Binance
UAE-backed fund planned to use World Liberty USD1 stablecoin for Binance stake purchase.
Analysis2025banking.senate.gov →
World Liberty Financial / UAE investors · Trump sons; UAE-linked investors
Trump-family crypto firm reportedly sold a 49% stake to Emirati-backed investors tied to UAE leadership shortly before inauguration.
Analysis2026washingtonpost.com →
World Liberty Financial · Trump family crypto company
Trump-linked crypto firm created direct financial exposure to federal crypto policy decisions.
Analysis2026qz.com →
Trump family digital asset schemes · Trump family; crypto ventures
House Oversight Democrats allege Trump family digital ventures produced large realized and unrealized gains tied to presidency.
Analysis2026oversightdemocrats.house.gov →
Qatar jet legal memo / DOJ / Pam Bondi · DOJ; Attorney General; foreign gift review
DOJ withheld legal memo reportedly approving Qatar jet acceptance; American Oversight sued for records.
Analysis2025americanoversight.org →
Qatar / Donald Trump · Foreign government; U.S. president
Qatar offered a Boeing 747-8 for use as Air Force One with later presidential-library transfer plan, raising constitutional foreign-gift concerns.
Analysis2025factcheck.org →
Trump Dubai golf club / sovereign-linked sponsors · Trump business; foreign-linked sponsors
Trump Dubai hosted an international shipping event with sponsors tied to Oman and Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds.
Analysis2025citizensforethics.org →
Saudi-backed LIV Golf / Trump properties · Foreign-government-linked sports venture; Trump venues
Saudi-backed LIV Golf events at Trump properties created foreign-government-linked revenue and prestige for Trump venues.
Analysis2025citizensforethics.org →
Donald Trump · President
Trump mentioned or promoted his own business properties while in office.
Analysis2025citizensforethics.org →
Special interests / political committees at Trump venues · Interest groups, PACs, political actors
Special-interest groups, political committees, and foreign governments held events at Trump properties, paying businesses tied to the president.
Analysis2025citizensforethics.org →
Foreign officials at Trump properties · Foreign officials; Trump business patrons
Foreign government officials visited Trump-owned properties while U.S. policy could affect those governments.
Analysis2025citizensforethics.org →
Donald Trump / Trump properties · President; private club/resort owner
Repeated presidential visits to personally owned properties, including golf courses, reinforcing government-funded exposure for private venues.
Analysis2025citizensforethics.org →
Donald Trump / Trump Organization · President; private business owner
Did not fully divest from private business empire while presidency created direct revenue and access conflicts.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →
City of Evanston, Illinois · municipal government
The U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division moved to intervene in a lawsuit challenging Evanston, Illinois's Local Reparations Restorative Housing…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Tycen C. Proper, Bryan Omar Roa, Michael Alan Thomas, Daniel K. Eskridge, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez
Five men are charged with conspiring to carry out a mass casualty attack targeting U.S. government officials and others at the Ultimate Fighting Championship…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Jesus Rauda-Avila · Member of Mexico-based drug trafficking organization
Jesus Rauda-Avila, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to import approximately 1,900 kilograms of…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Amir Bassiri · New York State Medicaid Director
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the New York Department of Health, Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri, and Public Partnerships LLC,…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Michael Hess · founder, Papa's House orphanage
Michael Hess, 73, of Davidson, North Carolina, has been indicted on charges of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor outside the United States…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN) — 15 members · Members and associates of a Minneapolis-based direct action group with antifa ties
Fifteen members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis-based group with antifa ties, have been indicted on federal charges including…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
OhioHealth Corporation
OhioHealth Corporation allegedly used its market power to impose contractual restrictions on commercial health insurers that prevented or discouraged them…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
William Steadman
William Steadman, a 35-year-old Juneau, Alaska man, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to production of child pornography for sexually…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Robert Bosch GmbH
Between September 2020 and September 2024, Robert Bosch GmbH, through two of its non-U.S. based subsidiaries, exported over $70 million worth of…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi
Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, a San Diego resident, was charged with five counts including conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, according to a…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Kenneth Joseph Coombs
Kenneth Joseph Coombs, a 58-year-old from Collinsville, Illinois, was charged via superseding indictment with eight counts of engaging in illicit sexual…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Kevin Hannah · CEO / Owner of Advanced Pathology Solutions PLLC
Advanced Pathology Solutions PLLC, APS MSO LLC, and owners Kevin Hannah, Donell Burkett, and Daniel Hunter Pledger agreed to pay 30 million dollars to settle…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Philip Taylor Sobash · physician
Philip Taylor Sobash, a physician from Austin, Texas, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually exploiting seven minors between 2017 and 2020.…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Scharmaine Lawson Baker · Licensed nurse practitioner and Medicare provider
Scharmaine Lawson Baker, a Louisiana nurse practitioner, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for causing over $12 million in false and fraudulent claims to…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Drew Holzlein
Drew Holzlein, 57, of Manchester, New Jersey, was sentenced to 350 months in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material on a dark web website from…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Heriberto Rodriguez; Mirian Chalas; Santo Escolastico Cuello; Mario Baiz Romero; Richard Odelis Vallegas Nunez; Miguel Diaz Matos; Mitul Patel; Santo Tejada Sanchez; Jennifer Ferran; Owen Landry; Yahaira Diaz Gomez; and others
Fifteen individuals, including eleven reportedly unlawfully present in the United States and four U.S. citizens, have been charged with defrauding multiple…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
LOGZONE Inc. · defense contractor
LOGZONE Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama agreed to pay $507,144 to resolve False Claims Act liability for allegedly failing to comply with cybersecurity…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Cherelle Parker · Mayor of Philadelphia
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia, Mayor Cherelle Parker, District Attorney Lawrence Krasner, and City Solicitor…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
Forrest Kendall Pemberton
Forrest Kendall Pemberton, 27, of Gainesville, faces federal hate crime and firearm charges for allegedly attempting a mass shooting on December 23, 2024, at…
Analysis2026U.S. Department of Justice →
State/local politicians in corruption cases · Trump; state/local officials
CREW says clemency extended to state/local politicians convicted of corruption charges.
Analysis2025citizensforethics.org →
Pardon market / wealthy defendants · Trump clemency seekers; allies/donors
Pattern of clemency for allies, donors and financial-crime defendants creates incentive to buy access or curry favor.
Analysis2025propublica.org →
George Santos · Former congressman
ProPublica reported Trump clemency favored allies, donors, culture-war figures and financial-crime defendants, including Santos context.
Analysis2025propublica.org →
Tom Homan · Border czar; Trump official
Washington Post reported Trump officials shut down a bribery probe involving Homan; administration said case lacked credible evidence/political.
Analysis2025washingtonpost.com →
Capital One / CFPB case dropped · Capital One; CFPB; Trump administration
Per House Oversight Democrats, after Capital One donated $1M to Trump's inaugural fund, the administration ended a CFPB case alleging the bank misled…
Analysis2025oversightdemocrats.house.gov →
Kash Patel / forced-labor-linked stock · FBI Director
Per House Oversight Democrats, Patel refused to divest significant holdings in a company controlling a Chinese fast-fashion firm accused of forced/child…
Analysis2025oversightdemocrats.house.gov →
Trump Family / WLFI Alt5 Sigma transaction · President's family crypto venture; Alt5 Sigma (public company)
Alt5 Sigma bought $1.5B in WLFI tokens in an Aug 2025 deal; the Trump family was reportedly entitled to ~$500M. Transaction heavily benefited the family while…
Analysis2025cnbc.com →
Turnberry / UK golf tournament pressure · President; UK government; Trump Turnberry resort
Per House Oversight Democrats, Trump reportedly pushed the UK government to host a major tournament at his Turnberry course during the PM's Feb 2025 White…
Analysis2025oversightdemocrats.house.gov →
Trump family / Kazakhstan tungsten project · President's family business interests; foreign project
Reported connections between family business interests and a major foreign tungsten project involving Kazakhstan, raising influence-peddling questions in a…
Analysis2026ft.com →
Trump administration / donor & ally benefits (pattern) · Administration; campaign donors and political allies
Executive actions, tariffs, regulations, and contracts that potentially reward donors and allies. Umbrella pattern row; specific instances tracked separately.
Analysis2025brennancenter.org →
Trump family / overall wealth increase · President's family (cumulative)
Crypto + real estate + other ventures drove multi-billion-dollar increases in family net-worth estimates during the second term, crypto the dominant driver.
Analysis2026pbs.org →
Overall pattern / White House + Trump family · Administration and family (systemic)
Combined pattern across crypto, foreign real estate, gifts, policy alignment, and associate overlaps creating repeated conflicts of interest.
Analysis2026citizensforethics.org →

A project of Parallax Advisory LLC.

The commentary and analysis on this page is constitutionally protected speech and opinion under the First Amendment.

No portion of this page may be used for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Parallax Advisory LLC and David B. Wheeler.

Anyone listed here who has not been convicted of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Muckrakers Daily
The morning accountability brief. One email a day. Free.
No spam. Never sold.