Salvatore DiMasi ascended to power in politics, reaching the esteemed position of Speaker of the Massachusetts House. BUT his downfall came swiftly when corruption charges led to incarceration.

Sources
Hillary's Story
Boston Herald
Sal DiMasi, other federal cons can't be automatically blocked from Beacon Hill lobbying, SJC rules

CBS News
Former House Speaker Sal DiMasi Asks For 3-Year Sentence
Sal DiMasi Appeals Conviction, Sentence

Courthouse News Service
Corruption conviction is no bar to lobbying, ex-lawmaker tells Massachusetts high court--by Daniel Jackson

The Daily Free Press
Salvatore DiMasi will resign as Speaker

FBI Boston Division
Former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Lobbyist Convicted on Corruption Charges

The New York Times
Massachusetts: Ex-Speaker of House Is Indicted--by Katie Zezima

The Sun
Ex-Mass. Speaker Sal DiMasi, associates indicted

WBUR
Former Speaker DiMasi, 3 Associates Indicted On Federal Corruption Charges--by Lisa Tobin

Wikipedia
Salvatore DiMasi

Photos
Salvatore DiMasi--via Cape Cod Times
DiMasi on the Mass. House Floor--via Cape Cod Times
DiMasi after leaving prison--photo by Steven Senne via Seattle Times

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Hillary’s Story
As a US House Rep. Bob Livingston took an understated approach. BUT when he vies for the prominent Speaker of the House position, his undercover exploits come to light.

Tina’s Story
Joel Greenberg ran as a Trump-like figure who would stop corruption in Seminole County, FL. BUT when he misuses funds for a litany of illicit activities, he’s taxed with corruption and pays a hefty price.

Sources
Hillary's Story
The Advocate
Former Congressman Bob Livingston emerges as figure in Trump's Ukraine saga--by Elizabeth Crisp

KellyWurx
Rep. Bob Livingston Shocking Resignation--by KellyWurx via YouTube

NOLA.com
Bob Livingston, former Louisiana congressman, to publish political memoir--by Drew Broach

Washington Post
Larry Flynt, Investigative Pornographer--by Howard Kurtz

Livingston Rejected GOP Advice--by Eric Pianin
Livingston Quits as Speaker-Designate--by Eric Pianin

Wikipedia
Bob Livingston

Photos
Bob Livingston--photo by Dennis Cook/AP via Politico
Bob Livingston and his wife, Bonnie--photo by Matt Ross/Times-Picayune archive via NOLA.com
Bob Livingston Resigning on the US House Floor--via Washington Post
Larry Flynt--by Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

Tina's Story
ABC News
Matt Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg gets 11 years as probe into congressman stalls, sources say--by Will Steakin

Click Orlando
Bribery, fraud, sex: What we know about the cases Joel Greenberg is involved in--by Christie Zizo
Joel Greenberg admits to paying teen for sex, introducing her to other men, documents show--by Merris Badcock
Joel Greenberg’s estranged wife appears in Matt Gaetz rap video--by Mike DeForest

CNN
Joel Greenberg sentenced to 11 years after cooperating with federal probe into Matt Gaetz--by Marshall Cohen

Government Technology
Seminole County, Fla., Becomes First to Try Taking Payment by Bitcoin — Sort of--by Ben Miller

The New York Times
Former Gaetz Confidant Is Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison--by Eric Adelson and Michael S. Schmidt

Orlando Sentinel
Seminole Tax Collector Joel Greenberg didn't break law by pulling over speeding motorist, prosecutor says--by Martin Comas
Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg gives $3.5 million in consultant contracts, salaries to friends and associates--by Lauren Ritchie

Politico
The congressman and his wingman--by Marc Caputo

United States Attorney's Office
Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Micah Greenberg Pleads Guilty To Multiple Federal Offenses

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLEDISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
United States of America v. Joel Micah Greenberg

WESH 2
Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg to pay $1.8M in restitution

WFTV9
Joel Greenberg: Disgraced former Seminole County tax collector sentenced to 11 years--by Q McCray, James Tutten, and Sarah Wilson
Joel Greenberg: Former tax collector to pay Seminole County nearly $1.3M--by Jeff Levkulich and Sarah Wilson

Photos
Joel Greenberg--from Office of the Seminole County Tax Collector (Public Domain)
Sentencing of Greenberg--screenshot via Click Orlando
Gaetz, Greenberg, and DeSantis--from @tominahonen/Twitter via SportsKeeda

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Hillary’s Story
Representative David Byrd made a name for himself in local Tennessee politics and eventually gained a seat in the State House. BUT when allegations of abuse surface, his legacy is tarnished.

Tina’s Story
Prominent in Illinois politics since the 30s, Paul Powell eventually became Illinois secretary of state in 1964. BUT after his death in 1970, Powell’s dark secrets were revealed.

Sources
Hillary's Story
The Daily Beast
This Tennessee Republican Nearly Died From COVID. Now He’s Fighting Masks.--by Michael Daly

The Daily Herald
3 former players accuse Rep. David Byrd of sexual misconduct while they were teens--by ALANNA AUTLER

Mother Jones
A Tennessee Republican Accused of Sexual Misconduct With Underage Girls Just Said He Isn’t Running Again--Becca Andrews

Nashville Scene
David Byrd Will Run for Re-Election After All--by Stephen Elliot

Tennessee Lookout
Byrd takes oath of office after long COVID battle, brush with death--BY SAM STOCKARD

The Tennessean
After 8-month COVID-19 battle, GOP Rep. David Byrd urges vaccines, says they 'should not divide us'--by Natalie Allison
Resolution filed again to expel Rep. David Byrd from legislature over sexual assault allegations--by Natalie Allison
What to know about embattled Tennessee lawmaker David Byrd and the allegations against him--By Jon Garcia

Wikipedia
David Byrd (politician)

Photos
Tennessee House Rep. David Byrd--by Mark Humphrey/AP via Mother Jones
Byrd on House Floor after COVID-19 Recovery--by John Partipilo via Tennessee Lookout

Tina's Story
Chicago Tribune
From hero to bum in a flash: How an Illinois politician’s shoebox of money exposed the rot of corruption--by Ron Grossman
The ‘Shoebox Scandal,’ 50 years later: That time when the Illinois secretary of state died with $750,000 in cash in a hotel suite--By John O'Connor

Illinois State Library
Paul Powell

The New York Times
Mystery in Illinois: Millionaire Aide--by John Kifner

SangamonLink
Paul Powell shoebox scandal

Time
Paul Powell's Nest Egg

Wikipedia
Paul Powell (politican)

WMAY
December 30, 1970: Details Of Paul Powell’s Stash Revealed

WPSD Local 6
50 years later, Illinois' 'Shoebox Scandal' still amazes

Photos
Containers of Cash--screenshot from Chicago Tribune
Paul Powell, Speaker of the House of Illinois--photo by Abbie Rowe, via Public Domain

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

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Tina's Story
Mark Ciavarella served as judge for the Court of Common Pleas since 1995 where he developed a reputation for his harsh sentencing. But, when the FBI gets tipped off about accusations of nepotism and questionable sentencing of children, Ciavarella’s secret role in an alleged kids for cash scheme is revealed.

Hillary's Story
Throughout his political career, Newt Gingrich was known for his partisan battles that wreaked havoc in Congress. But, when he became Speaker of the House in 1995, he paved the way for the damaging slash and burn politics common today.

Tina's Sources
Wikimedia
Mark Ciavarella
Wilkes Barre
Michael Conahan
Kids for cash scandal

New York Times
“Suit Names 2 Judges Accused in a Kickback Case”--Ian Urbina
“Despite Red Flags About Judges, a Kickback Scheme Flourished”--Ian Urbina
Leaked State Audit--Bureau of Financial Operations, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, via New York Times
“Former Judge Is on Trial in ‘Cash for Kids’ Scheme”--JON HURDLE and SABRINA TAVERNISE

NPR
“Pa. Judge Sentenced To 28 Years In Massive Juvenile Justice Bribery Scandal”--Eyder Peralta

Pocono Record
“US Supreme Court again rejects former judge’s appeal”--Associated Press

Citizens’ Voice
“Feds decline to retry Ciavarella for racketeering”--James Halpin
ABC 16 WNEP: The News Station
“Some Convictions Against Former Judge Ciavarella Vacated”--Dave Bohman

All That’s Interesting
“Kids For Cash: When Judges Took Bribes To Dish Out Harsh Sentences To Juvenile Offenders”--Gina Dimuro

New York Post
“Corrupt ‘Kids for Cash’ judge ruined more than 2,000 lives”--Larry Getlen

Reuters (ROY-ters)
“Former judge sentenced to prison for ‘kids for cash’ scheme”--Dave Warner

Case Law
United States Court of Appeals,Third Circuit. UNITED STATES of America v. Mark CIAVARELLA, Jr., Appellant.

Washington Post
“Pa. judges accused of jailing kids for cash”--MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARYCLAIRE DALE

League of Women Voters
“Privatization of Prisons”--Ted Volskay

Juvenile Justice
“A Plot with a Scandal: A Closer Look at ‘Kids for Cash’ Documentary”

Our Campaigns
Mark A Ciavarella, Jr.

Courthouse News
“$4.75M Kids for Cash Settlement Approved”--Rose Bouboushian

Kids for Cash the Movie

Photo:
Wikimedia Commons
Mark Ciavarella Mug Shot via US Department of Justice

PennLive
Sandy Fonzo Confronts Ciavarello--Michael J Mullen via PennLive news site

All That’s Interesting
PA Child Care Facility--Matt Rourke, AP via All That’s Interesting

Hillary's Sources
Wikimedia
Contract with America

The Atlantic
"The Man Who Broke Politics"-- by McKay Coppins

Politico
"The Millennial's Guide to Newt Gingrich"--by Julia Ioffe

PBS Frontline
"The Long March of Newt Gingrich"--by Peter J. Boyer

The Daily Beast
"The Inside Story of How Newt Gingrich Single-Handedly Destroyed Congress"--by Timothy McNulty and Brendan McNulty

Photos
Wikimedia
Newt as Professor--by Andrew Hazlett

Stars Unfolded
Newt with Jackie--via Stars Unfolded

LA Times
Newt with Marianne--via La Times

National Review
Newt with Callista--Reuters photo, Jonathan Ernst via Politico

The Atlantic
Baby Newt Cartoon--Daily News via The Atlantic

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