public:cb_mirror:usaid_plunders_voters_in_shocking_bribery_scheme_txt_blogposts_30124
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USAID plunders voters in shocking bribery scheme
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Trump administration aren’t exactly on the best of terms.
| The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Trump administration aren’t exactly on the best of terms. Voters may recall that after President Donald Trump ordered a “90-day pause in United States foreign development assistance” at the start of his second term, the foreign aid agency emerged as an early contender for the DOGE chopping block. “With regards to the USAID stuff, I went over it with (the president) in detail and he agreed that we should shut it down,” said Elon Musk. In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed he was canceling “83% of the programs at USAID.” More recently, the department confirmed it plans to eliminate all overseas positions by the end of September, in what a former official called “definitely the final closing out.” The mainstream media-political establishment was horrified. “Killing U.S.A.I.D. Is a Win for Autocrats Everywhere,” The New York Times summarized in a headline. However, a recent shocking scandal underscores exactly why so many Americans distrust bloated government agencies in general and USAID in particular. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, a former USAID official and three corporate executives recently pled guilty “for their roles in a decade-long bribery scheme involving … over $550 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars.” Court documents reveal that Roderick Watson, a federal contracting officer for USAID, agreed in 2013 to begin receiving bribes from Flordia business owner Darryl Britt in exchange for Watson’s help receiving government contracts. “The defendants sought to enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers through bribery and fraud,” explained Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Anybody who cares about good and effective government should be concerned about the waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies, including USAID.” Over the years, Britt and two other colleagues, Walter Barnes and Paul Young, “regularly funneled bribes to Watson, including cash, laptops, thousands of dollars in tickets to a suite at an NBA game, a country club wedding, downpayments on two residential mortgages, cellular phones, and jobs for relatives.” Watson returned the favor by “manipulating” USAID to secure over $550 million in contracts for Britt’s businesses. In other words, you, the taxpayer, footed the bill while Watson pocketed extra cash, tickets to a professional sporting event, and a free wedding. This is nothing but a flagrant betrayal of the American people — and, unfortunately, it’s probably more common than we realize. “Watson was entrusted to serve the interests of the American people — not his own — and his criminal actions for his own personal gain undermine the integrity of our public institutions,” complained U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. “Public trust is a hallmark of our nation’s values, so corruption within a federal government agency is intolerable.” Fair enough. But let’s be honest: “public trust” in America is a dead and dying myth — an antiquated fantasy from a bygone era. The National Election Study has been polling Americans about their trust in Washington to do the right thing since 1958. Over the first several years of that survey, spanning the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson presidencies, trust remained surprisingly high (73-77%). However, it quickly began to fall, plummeting to 36% the year Nixon resigned. Although that number flatlined for the rest of the century and briefly peaked after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the share of Americans who say they trust the federal government has not climbed higher than 30% since 2007. We shouldn’t be surprised. USAID is one of many in a sea of government agencies bent on plundering taxpayers and squandering their money. Even before this scandal, Americans were already well acquainted with a federal authority that enriched itself at their expense. Trump may be keeping an eye on the problem, but not even shuttering USAID will fix it. Only through an Article V convention can we circumvent Congress, force our representatives to curb their monstrous appetites for spending, and constrain Washington to accept much-needed anti-corruption reforms. Until then, you might as well sign, seal, and personally deliver your hard-earned dollar to the DC graft and back-scratching machine. Who knows? It may end up in the next $550 million bribery scheme! If, however, you’re ready to rein in the federal government and make it accountable to the sovereign citizens of the states again, sign the COS petition below. # | PETITION_WIDGET{petition_tag:comms_blog_NA_06/17/2025_usaidplundersvotersinshockingbriberyscheme06172025;coalition_id:;anedot_url:} | # |
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| Created: | 2025-06-17 18:59 GMT |
| Updated: | 2025-06-24 07:00 GMT |
| Published: | 2025-06-17 19:00 GMT |
| Converted: | 2025-11-11 12:05 GMT |
| Change Author: | Jakob Fay |
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public/cb_mirror/usaid_plunders_voters_in_shocking_bribery_scheme_txt_blogposts_30124.txt · Last modified: 2025/11/11 12:05 by 127.0.0.1