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

Support The Muck Podcast

Hillary's Story
Throughout his political career, Senator David Vitter championed conservative, family values agenda. But, when journalists highlight names from the DC Madam’s client list, his own morals are called into question.

Tina's Story
Tennessee’s 44th governor, Ray Blanton played an instrumental role in tax reform for the state and in building partnerships with foreign investors. But, in 1978, when suspicions surrounding Blanton’s questionable actions started to bubble to the surface, Tennessee didn’t know what the muck hit them.

Sources
Hillary's Story
Wikipedia
David Vitter
Wendy Vitter

New York Times
"Deripaska and Allies Could Benefit From Sanctions Deal, Document Shows"--Kenneth Vogel
"David Vitter’s Defeat in Louisiana Is a Lost Opportunity for Senate Democrats"--Carl Hulse

NPR
"Judicial Nominee Wendy Vitter Gets Tough Questions On Birth Control And Abortion"--video

Vice
"New Details on the Infamous DC Madam Scandal Emerge"--Jason Leopold

Mother Jones
"Here’s the Story Behind That Crazy Story About David Vitter Having a Love Child With a Prostitute"--Tim Murphy

The Advocate
"Once a reformer, David Vitter's now lobbying for Russian oligarch"--Stephanie Grace

Photos:
Britannica
Candidate Photo

Nola.com
Vitter and Wife

Wikipedia
Deborah Jeane Palfrey

Tina's Story
Sources
Wikipedia
Ray Blanton
Marie Ragghianti
Marie (film)
Adamsville, Tennessee

The Evening Independent
“The ‘Hillbilly’ Nixon”--Bill Rose

Tennessee Encyclopedia
Leonard Ray Blanton

Tennessean
“Donald Trump’s troubled presidency recalls Ray Blanton years”--GayNelle Doll
“How one of Tennessee's most dramatic political moments unfolded 40 years ago this week”--Joel Ebert

New York Times
“Blanton Grants Clemency To 52 Tennessee Convicts”--Special to The New York Times
“Goy. Blanton of Tennessee Is Replaced 3 Days Early in Pardons Dispute”--Howell Raines
“Senate Contest”--By George Vecsey
“Blanton’s Uncle Sentenced”--AP

UPI
“Ex-Blanton aides plead guilty in clemency-for-cash scandal”--Tom Humphrey

New Jersey Globe
“The ‘Pardon me, Ray’ Story”--David Wildstein

WKRN Nashville
“Turbulent Transition: The story behind the sudden swearing in of Lamar Alexander 40 years ago”--Hunter Patterson

AP
“Ray Blanton, 66, Ex-Governor Ousted in a Tennessee Scandal”--The Associated Press

Genius
Pardon Me, Ray Lyrics--Brian Christie

YouTube
Pardon Me, Ray Audio--Brian Christie, YouTube

The Knoxville Focus
Ray Blanton, Part 5--design

History Collection
Top Six Corrupt Politicians

Photos:
Wikipedia
Ray Blanton—via Library of Congress

Genius
Pardon Me, Ray Record--via Genius.com

Nashville Tennessean
Lamar Alexander Swearing In--via Nashville Tennessean

Support The Muck Podcast