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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

What’s in the Ethics Report on George Santos?

What’s in the Ethics Report on George Santos?

The investigative subcommittee of the House Committee on Ethics released a 56-page report on Nov. 16 that found Rep. George Santos of New York “placed his desire for private gain above his duty to uphold the Constitution, federal law, and ethical principles.” Here we recap the findings of the ethics committee.

Meme Misleads on Menendez Case

Meme Misleads on Menendez Case

Q: Is Sen. Robert Menendez on trial — and was his co-defendant convicted on prostitution charges — as an online meme says?

A: No. Menendez was tried on corruption charges last year, but was not convicted. His co-defendant was found guilty of defrauding Medicare in an unrelated case.

Trump Distorts Facts on Collins, Hunter Indictments

Trump Distorts Facts on Collins, Hunter Indictments

President Donald Trump distorted the facts in a Labor Day tweet complaining about the Justice Department’s indictments last month of two of his earliest congressional allies, Reps. Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter Jr.

No New Charges for Maxine Waters

No New Charges for Maxine Waters

Q: Has Rep. Maxine Waters recently been “charged on 3 counts”?

A: No. The California Democrat was investigated for ethics violations following a 2008 meeting, but she was found to have broken no rules.

Q&A on Stormy Daniels’ Payment

Q&A on Stormy Daniels’ Payment

President Trump has acknowledged he reimbursed his personal attorney for the $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. But many questions remain about the payment and whether it may have run afoul of campaign finance or ethics laws.

A False ‘Corruption’ Claim

A False ‘Corruption’ Claim

In a TV ad, Donald Trump falsely claims that Hillary Clinton “handed over American uranium rights to the Russians” as part of a “pay-to-play” scheme to get “filthy rich.” Clinton did not have the authority to unilaterally approve that deal.

Another Arkansas Whopper

Another Arkansas Whopper

An ad from the Republican Governors Association claims that Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mike Ross of Arkansas got a “sweetheart deal” on the 2007 sale of his family-owned pharmacy. That’s not so.

Disgrace, Influence Peddling and Other Debate Charges

Disgrace, Influence Peddling and Other Debate Charges

Newt Gingrich complained that in one early burst at the first Florida debate, Mitt Romney said “at least four things that are false” about him. Now Gingrich has specified which claims he was talking about, and we’ve checked the evidence he promised he would — and did — post on his website.
We conclude that two were not false; one was (mostly); and one is a matter of interpretation. In all cases, the claims are in need of further explanation and context.

Misleading Claims in Obama’s First 2012 Spot

Misleading Claims in Obama’s First 2012 Spot

President Obama’s first 2012 campaign ad misleads on ethics, “clean-energy” jobs and U.S. dependence on oil imports. The spot uses outdated quotes from groups that said his record on ethics is “unprecedented” and that he “kept a promise to toughen ethics rules.” One of those same …

Attacks Against Gingrich: How Accurate?

Attacks Against Gingrich: How Accurate?

A pro-Romney group is savaging Newt Gingrich with TV ads and mailers to Iowa Republicans. Gingrich dismisses the attacks as “lies.” We find that some of the claims from Restore Our Future are indeed distorted, false or misleading. But several are also right on target.