Tina’s Story
Patricia Derges served as a Missouri state rep beginning in November 2020. BUT when she sold fake cures for Covid she swindled herself out of a job and into jail.

Hillary’s Story
Edwin Edwards served as Louisiana's governor on and off for nearly 25 years. BUT his unscrupulous wheelings and dealings took him from the bayou to a prison cell.

Sources
Tina's Story
KCUR
Missouri Rep. Patricia Derges convicted of multiple counts of health care fraud--by Dan Margolies

KSMU
Former MO lawmaker Tricia Derges is sentenced to 75 months in prison--by Michele Skalicky

Med Page Today
HCP Busted for Selling Fake Stem Cell Therapy--by Kristina Fiore

The New York Post
Missouri Rep. Tricia Derges resigns after $900K COVID clinic fraud scheme conviction--by Danielle Wallace

St. Louis Dispatch
Sentencing set for ex-Missouri lawmaker in medical fraud case--by Kurt Erickson

US Attorney's Office (Western District of Missouri)
Jury Convicts State Lawmaker of COVID-19 Fraud Scheme at Springfield Health Care Charity

US Treasury
About the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act

Photos
Patricia Derges--from Missouri House of Representatives via KCUR/NPR
Derges Ozark Valley Medical Clinic--from Google Maps via The New York Post

Hillary's Story
The Advocate
93-year-old Edwin Edwards left all of his assets to his 8-year-old son, according to handwritten will--by Tyler Bridges and Mark Ballard

Associated Press
Ex-Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards dies; knew power and prison--by Kevin McGill

Louisiana Secretary of State
Edwin Edwards

The New York Times
Edwin Edwards, Flamboyant Louisiana Governor, Is Dead at 93--by Robert D. McFadden

nola.com
The rise and fall of Gov. Edwin Edwards

NPR
Edwin Edwards, Ex-Louisiana Guv, Leaves Prison For Halfway House--by Frank James
Edwin Edwards: Governor, Convict, Reality TV Star — Congressman?--by Liz Halloran
Ex-Con, Future Congressman? Former Gov. Edwin Edwards Campaigns Again--by Debbie Elliot (Morning Edition)
Louisiana's Edwin Edwards May Be On His Last Political Stand--by Debbie Elliot (All Things Considered WLRN)

Photos
Edwin W. Edwards--from 1986 Northwestern State University Potpourri Yearbook via Wikipedia (CC0)
1991 Governor Race Bumper Sticker--photo by Chris Granger via The Advocate
Edwards, his wife Trina, and baby--screenshot via KLFY

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Tina’s Story
Hiram Monserrate moved quickly from the New York City Council to the New York State Senate. BUT it was his quick temper that led to his political demise.

Hillary’s Story
In 1963, two black men in Florida were wrongfully convicted of murder. BUT even when evidence clears them of the deed, racism and bigotry delayed commuting their sentence.

Sources
Tina's Story
Associated Press
NY Senate votes to expel convicted lawmaker

Daily Politics
Monserrate convicted of misdemeanor--by Bill Hammond

Gotham Gazette
Hiram Monserrate Has No Place in Elected Office--by Nydia Velazquez

New York Daily News
Bloomberg: Monserrate's Actions 'Disgraceful, Despicable, Deplorable'

The New York Observor (Politicker NY)
Mad-Dog Councilman Champions No Man's Land--by Katharine Jose

The New York Post
Dems say ex-con Monserrate has real shot to win old Council seat--by Michael Gartland and Carl Campanile

The New York State Senate
Hiram Monserrate

The New York Times
Monserrate Is Cleared of Felonies--by Ralph Blumenthal
Monserrate Gets 2 Years in Prison for Misusing City Funds--by Colin Moynihan
New York Senate Expels Monserrate Over Assault--by Jeremy W. Peters
Rallying Around a Politician Charged With Assault--by Anne Barnard

People Pill
Hiram Monserrate

Syracuse
State Sen. Hiram Monserrate partly acquitted in domestic abuse case--by The Associated Press

Vote Hiram Monserrate
About Page

Photos
Hiram Monserrate--New York State Senate (Public Domain)
Hiram Monserrate announcing return to Democratic caucus in NY Senate--by Austin512 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Hillary's Story
Death Penalty Information Center
The 13 other survivors and their stories--by Sydney P. Freedberg

Local 10 News
Black Florida man wrongly convicted of murder in 1960s dies at age 83--by Sanela Sabovic

The National Registry of Exonerations
Wilbert Lee

The New York Times
‘It's Over’ for 2 Wrongly Held 12 Years--by James T. Wooten

Orlando Sentinel
Pitts and Lee: For 25 years, denial of compensation shamed Florida

Sun Sentinel
Wilbert Lee, wrongly convicted of murder, dies at 83--by Howard Cohen

Wikipedia
Pitts and Lee v. Florida

Witness to Innocence
Freddie Lee Pitts (1937-2020)
Photos
Pitts (L) and Lee leaving a court hearing in 1969--from AP via The Sun Sentinel
Lee and Pitts leaving their second murder trial--via Florida Memory
Lee and Pitts at FL Legislature in 1998--Photo by Don Edgar/AP via The Sun Sentinel

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Hillary’s Story
US House Congressman for Illinois, Mel Reynolds, gained notoriety for his work on the Ways and Means committee, NAFTA, and gun control. BUT when he faced not one but two scandals, he tarnished his once polished political reputation.

Tina’s Story
US diplomat John Patterson served as a vice consul in Mexico after attending the Foreign Services training program. BUT when he was abducted, the FBI didn’t believe anything bad had really transpired; they were wrong.

Sources
Hillary's Story
ABC 7
Mel Reynolds blames South Side businessman for tax problems--by Sarah Schulte

NBC 5 Chicago
Ex-Congressman Mel Reynolds Taken Into Federal Custody

The New York Times
Accuser Tells Of Sex Acts By Lawmaker
Arrest Ordered for Twice-Convicted Ex-Congressman Mel Reynolds--by Richard Perez-Pena

Reuters
Ex-Illinois congressman sentenced to prison on tax charges--by Suzannah Gonzales

The State Journal Register
Former Illinois congressman Mel Reynolds indicted on tax evasion charges--by The Associated Press

Wikipedia
Mel Reynolds

Photos
Mel Reynolds--Public Domain via U.S. House of Representatives
Mel Reynolds in Jail in Zimbabwe--Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP

Tina's Story
Andra Patterson Art
Andra Patterson Information Page

Associated Press News
Ex-con Sentenced in Racer's Murder--by Michelle Rushlo

Association for Diplomatic Studies and Trainings
“Apparently I have been kidnapped” — The Death of a Vice Consul

The Atlantic
A KIDNAPPING GONE VERY WRONG

FBI
FBI Phoenix History

The Hall of Valor Project
Bobby Joe Keesee

Newser
Feds Doubted the Kidnapping Story. They Shouldn't Have--by Kate Seamons

The New York Times
Body of U.S. Aide Is Believed Found In North Mexico
Mexicans Expect Abducted US Aide to be Freed Soon
SKELETON IN MEXICO BELIEVED U.S. AIDE'S
U.S. and Mexicans Admit Confusion in Case of Consul
U. S. Officials Issue Appeal in Mexico On Missing Cansul
Wife of Abducted Consul Awaits Word

The Washington Post
FBI DETAILS BOAT RACER'S SHOOTING DEATH
REP. REYNOLDS'S ACCUSER TELLS JURY OF PAID SEX--By Edward Walsh
REYNOLDS INDICTED IN TEEN SEX SCANDAL--By Andrew Fegelman, Robert Becker, and Tribune Staff Writers

Wikipedia
Bobby Joe Keesee
John Patterson (diplomat)

Photos
John Patterson--screenshot from Washington Post via the Harold Weisberg Archive
Andra Anderson Today--photo via artist Andra Patterson Art website
Bobby Joe Keesee Arrested--screenshot from San Francisco Chronicle via the Harold Weisberg Archive

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Tina’s Story
In 2012, Tracie Hunter became the first black woman to serve as a juvenile court judge in Hamilton County, Ohio. BUT when evidence surfaces that she used her position to help her brother, jurors sit in judgment of her actions.

Hillary’s Story
Democrat David Wu earned his first congressional seat in 1998 and he supported science backed policies and advocated for human rights. BUT when events of his past come forward, a dark side of the congressman is revealed.

Sources
Tina's Story
Ballotpedia
Tracie Hunter

Cincinnati Business Courier
Here's why ex-judge Tracie Hunter is getting out of jail early--by Barrett J. Brunsman

Case Mine
Hunter V. Hamilton Cnty. bd. of Elections

Cincinnati Enquirer
Judge Tracie Hunter indicted on 8 felony counts--By Kimball Perry
Tracie Hunter could be refunded nearly $17,000 after appeals court ruling--by Kevin Grasha

The Cincinnati Herald
Tracie Hunter’s conviction is unlawful--by Stacy M. Brown

The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio case may set U.S. voting precedent

Fox 19 News
Ex-judge Tracie Hunter’s 6-year legal battle ends with probation being terminated--by Kevin Grasha
Hunter witness: Records given to judge's brother 'unethical,' refused to take them--by Jody Barr

LA Sentinel
'I am still storng, still standing' Trancie Hunter releaserd early from jail; seeks exoneration--by Dan Yount, The Cinnicinati Herald
Ohio State Sen. Cecil Thomas: Tracie Hunter’s Conviction is Unlawful--by Stacy M. Brown

Laws in Texas
Why Did Former Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter End Up in Jail?

WCPO Cincinnati 9
Tracie Hunter timeline: Conflict follows judge from election to trial to present

WHIO
Tracie Hunter, controversial former Juvenile Court judge, to get out early

Wikipedia
Hamilton County, Ohio

WLWT5 News
Judge Tracie Hunter's brother takes stand in her trial--by Brad Evans

WRTV
Former judge Tracie Hunter dragged from courtroom, ordered to serve six-month sentence--by WCPO staff

Photos
Tracie Hunter dragged out of court--screenshot from WLWT 5 via YouTube
Steven Hunter interview about sister, Judge Tracie Hunter--screenshot from Dr. Vanessa Enouch via YouTube
Tracie Hunter released from jail--screenshot from Cincinnati Fox 19 Tracie Hunter released from jail--screenshot from Cincinnati Fox 19

Hillary's Story
The Atlantic
It's Not Just the 18-Year-Old: A List of Disturbing Stuff David Wu's Done--by Elspeth Reeve

BuzzFeed News
The Strange Case Of The Congressman Who Resigned And Never Left--Kate Nocera

The Oregonian
Allegation of assault on woman in 1970s in college shadow U.S. Rep. David Wu
Rep. David Wu boxed in by ethics investigation, forced to resign after pressure from colleagues
Sources: Young woman accuses Oregon Rep. David Wu of aggressive, unwanted sexual encounter

Politico
Wu won't resign; Pelosi seeks probe--by Jonathan Allen and John Bresnahan

Roll Call
Pelosi Seeks Ethics Investigation of Wu--by Jessica Brady

Wikipedia
David Wu

Photos
David Wu--from Office of Representative via Public Domain

Support The Muck Podcast

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Support The Muck Podcast

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Support The Muck Podcast

For show notes and links to our sources, please click here.

Support The Muck Podcast