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After 2 Year Vote Fraud Investigation – FBI Swoops In, Arrests One-third of Toledo City Council


Reported By Adam Casalino | July 6, 2020

After 2 Year Vote Fraud Investigation – FBI Swoops In, Arrests One-third of Toledo City Council

What’s Happening:

President Trump made a major promise during his 2016 campaign to end corruption within the government, or to “drain the swamp.” It’s become so common for government officials to bend the law to benefit themselves, it almost seemed as if Americans were okay with it.

But since Trump took over the presidency—and appointed tough prosecutors and investigators within the DOJ—things began to happen. Over the last few years, we’ve learned about how the FBI has arrested leaders in state and local governments for various crimes (see the former mayor of Baltimore).

Now, we are learning about yet another major sting, involving 1/3 of the leadership of a major U.S. city:

The FBI on Tuesday arrested a local attorney and four members of the city council in Toledo, Ohio, for their alleged participation in a bribery and extortion scheme…

“As alleged in the Complaint, four Toledo City Council members and a local attorney have been engaged in a pay-to-play scheme involving bribes for Council votes,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said in a statement to Fox News Wednesday. “Maintaining the public’s trust in its elected officials is one of the Department of Justice’s core responsibilities.”

According to the charges, four members of Toledo’s city council, along with a local attorney, were given benefits in exchange for votes. The FBI is saying they accepted cash, checks, and other items of value from local business owners. All so they could influence these leaders’ votes.

It appears all too often politicians trade their influence to get rich quick. The temptation to abuse their power for monetary gain seems too great to resist. This happens so often on the local level, with repercussions felt across communities.

Citizens of Toledo should ask how many recent laws were passed because businesses were allegedly bribing these council members. One-third of the council is enough to sway close votes. Major legislation, which could have affected the lives of residents, might have been impacted because of this “pay-to-play” scheme.

Yet another question must be raised, in light of this news: how many more city council members, across the entire country, are engaged in similar schemes? If leaders from this Ohio town are doing it, what about leaders in larger cities like San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and more?

Such a development is a reminder to all Americans that our democracy must be defended and that only leaders who promise to protect law and order just be elected.

Key Takeaways:

  • FBI has charged 1/3 of Toledo’s city council of bribery and extortion.
  • The agency claims these leaders were running a “pay-for-play” scheme.
  • This situation highlights the ongoing concerns of corruption within our government.

Source: Fox News

Category:

Political

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This Story is Guaranteed to Grip Your Heart


By Steve Hartman CBS News February 28, 2014, 7:46 PM

Ohio 8-year-old turns $20 into priceless gift

TOLEDO, Ohio — At the Ohio Air National Guard base near Toledo, Lt. Col. Frank Dailey still can’t believe the honor recently bestowed upon him.

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Lt. Col. Frank Dailey
CBS News
“It’s incredible being recognized in such a manner,” he says.

It happened at a Cracker Barrel, of all places. As the security camera shows, Dailey entered the restaurant on Feb. 7 for an early lunch. At about the same time, 8-year-old Myles Eckert came in with his family.

Myles was very excited. He’d just found a $20 bill in the parking lot. He’d started thinking of what he could spend it on.

“I kind of wanted to get a video game, but then I decided not to,” Myles says.

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Myles Eckert
He changed his mind when he saw the guy in uniform.

“Because he was a soldier, and soldiers remind me of my dad,” Myles explains.

And so, with his dad in mind, Myles wrapped the $20 in a note that read, “Dear Soldier — my dad was a soldier. He’s in heaven now. I found this 20 dollars in the parking lot when we got here. We like to pay it forward in my family. It’s your lucky day! Thank you for your service. Myles Eckert, a gold star kid.”

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Myles wrapped the $20 in a note and gave it to Lt. Col. Frank Dailey.
Army Sgt. Andy Eckert was killed in Iraq, just five weeks after Myles was born. All the kid has ever had are pictures and dog tags, other people’s memories and his own imagination.

“I imagine him as a really nice person and somebody that would be really fun,” Myles says.

The dad he imagines must also love a good story. Because after lunch that day, Myles asked his mom, Tiffany, to make one more stop.

“He wanted to go see his dad,” Tiffany says. “And he wanted to go by himself that day.”

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Myles pays a visit to his dad.
She took a photo from the car. Follow the footsteps and you’ll see Myles standing there behind the flag, presumably telling his dad all about it. And whether heaven heard him or not, his good deed continues to impress here on earth.

“I look at it every day,” Dailey says of the note Myles gave him.

It turns out Myles gave him a bigger gift than $20.

“A lifetime direction, for sure,” Dailey says.

Dailey says he’s already given away that $20 and plans to do much more. He also hopes that little green Post-It will inspire other people across the country to give — to give as sincerely and dutifully as that father and son.

To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, email us.

SEE THE ACTUAL CBS BRAODCAST REPORT HERE; Black down arrow20 dollars

© 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Steve Hartman

Steve Hartman has been a CBS News correspondent since 1998, having served as a part-time correspondent for the previous two years.

Category:

Family

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