Kwame Kilpatrick

Feds Charge Ex-Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick Looted Nonprofit To Pay For Yoga Lessons, Summer Camp

Justin Elliott | June 23, 2010, 3:45PM

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick

Former Democratic Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who just last month was sentenced to at least 18 months in prison for probation violations in Michigan, has been slapped with 19 federal fraud and tax evasion charges in connection with a non-profit whose resources he allegedly raided for personal and campaign expenses.

Between 2003 and 2008, Kilpatrick allegedly received over $640,000 in income in the form of cash and expenses from the Kilpatrick Civic Fund, a non-profit he created to "contribute to the betterment of the lives of youth of Detroit" among other high-minded purposes.

Kilpatrick, who is already in prison for his state case and resigned as mayor amid scandal in 2008, allegedly used the money on the following:

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Ari Fleischer

The Return Of The Bush Flacks

Zachary Roth | March 12, 2010, 10:51AM

Clockwise from top left: Bush administration spokespeople Dan Bartlett, Dan Senor, Dana Perino and Ari Fleischer

For some of the Bush administration's most energetic spinners, it looks like it's finally safe to get back into the water.

OK, in truth, some of them never really got out. But we can't help noticing that in the last few weeks, several prominent spokespeople for the last administration have been back in the media spotlight, triggering memories of those halcyon early years of the century.

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Steve Buyer

Fore! Was Iffy Foundation A Vehicle To Support GOP Rep's Golf Habit?

Justin Elliott | October 22, 2009, 11:43AM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) has long been a passionate golfer. Last year, Golf Digest ranked the lawmaker 32nd, with a handicap of 5.6, on its list of the top 200 golfers in Washington.

Like many members of Congress, Buyer has a history of mixing business and pleasure on the golf course. Now, it looks like the financial dealings of a questionable foundation created by Buyer were even more golf-driven than previously known.

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Frontier Foundation

About Face: Buyer Admits Ties To Questionable Foundation, Posh Golf Junkets

Justin Elliott | October 19, 2009, 3:52PM

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) golfing in 2006

Last we checked, Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) was maintaining that he had nothing more than a casual connection to the Frontier Foundation, which has collected lots of money from industry groups seeking to curry favor with Buyer, spent a lot on travel, meals, and salary, but given out nothing for its stated purpose of helping students get through college.

Now, after several media outlets questioned the legitimacy of the setup, Buyer is pushing back and he has a totally new story: the foundation is his, after all, and his selfless efforts to help poor Indiana children are now the focus of "vicious and ugly" attacks.

Oh yeah, and even though everything is on the up-and-up, Buyer has decided to review the foundation's activities and potentially change how it operates.

But wait, there's more!

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