Biggest Scandals Of The 2016 Republican Presidential Candidates

: 2016 : Presidenbial Candidabe SCANDALS Meel The REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES JEB BUSH DONALD TRUMP FORMER GOVERNOR, FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MOGUL SCANDAL: SCANDAL: Alleged election fraud Where do we begin? "Our country is in serious trouble. We don't have victories anymore. When was the last time anybody saw us beating, let's say, China in a trade deal? They kill us. I beat China all the time. All the time." DETAILS: In the 2000 runoff between George W. Bush and Al Gore, Florida's vote count was unclear, so the state did a recount. Then the case went to the Supreme Court, and Bush won out. IS IT A BIG DEAL? If you're not a fan of the "W," then absolutely. It was the recount that changed the course of modern U.S. history. And it just so happened to take place in the state governed by George W's brother. DETAILS: He's publicly attacked Megyn Kelly, Heidi Klum, Jorge Ramos, Obama, and almost all other 2016 presidential candidates. He's flung racial insults at almost every minority group. He's been accused of rape by his ex-wife. He's filed for bankruptcy four times. He tried to evict an elderly woman from her home. Shall we continue? SCANDAL: IS IT A BIG DEAL? Yes, if The Donald makes it past the primaries. Sending emails from a private account DETAILS: While serving as governor, Bush sent emails from a private account that contained information about military and security issues. RAND PAUL IS IT A BIG DEAL? U.S. SENATOR, KENTUCKY Not to the media. None of Bush's emails contained sensitive SCANDAL: or classified information, but it's ironic that he criticized Hillary for using her own private account while she was serving as Secretary of State. Alleged bribery "I think [the indictments are] at least suspiciously timed. Campaign finance rules are very complicated. There will be lawyers and accountants involved in this. They'll get it sorted out over time, I'm sure." SCANDAL: Possible ethics violation DETAILS: Operatives for Ron Paul (Rand Paul's father) allegedly concealed payment of more than $70,000 to then-lowa state senator Ken Sorenson if he endorsed Ron Paul's 2012 DETAILS: As Florida governor, Bush oversaw his state direct at least $1.7 billion of state workers' pension money to financial firms run by major donors to George W's re-election campaign. presidential campaign. IS IT A BIG DEAL? It's not really a surprise, considering Jeb's fraternal ties to the Oval Office. While these deals weren't illegal at the time they were made, it's possible that Jeb Bush's political actions were influenced by them. IS IT A BIG DEAL? Yes. Three political aides were indicted on federal charges. Two of those aides headed up Rand Paul's presidential super PAC. Now, they're taking a leave of absence. SCANDAL: Plagiarism SCANDAL: Mistake on voter registration form "What we are going to do from here forward, if it will make people leave me the hell alone, is we're going to do them like college papers. We're going to try to put out footnotes." DETAILS: Jeb listed himself as "Hispanic" on a 2009 voter registration form. DETAILS: IS IT A BIG DEAL? No. He called it an "honest mistake," and he's since changed his race to "White." For his book, Government Bullies, Paul pulled passages (without footnotes) from articles issued by conservative think tanks. He's also accused of plagiarizing Wikipedia articles in multiple speeches. IS IT A BIG DEAL? It is for journalists. The Washington Times pulled Paul's once-weekly opinion column. Hopefully, now Paul will try to put out footnotes. CHRIS CHRISTIE GOVERNOR, NEW JERSEY SCANDAL: Bridgegate SCOTT WALKER "Let's not pretend that it's because of the gravity of the issue. It's because I am a national fiqure and anything like this will be GOVERNOR, WISCONSIN written about a lot now." SCANDAL: Alleged illegal campaign activity DETAILS: Christie's allies were accused of conspiring to close busy traffic lanes on the George Washington Bridge. They allegedly did it to cause major traffic in Fort Lee, a New Jersey city whose mayor didn't endorse Christie during his bid for reelection as governor. "These [Democrats] are naysayers who want things bad to happen in Wisconsin, so they are going to be circlin again today... They're going to do what they've done in the past which is over-hype things, and politically they're going to be disappointed." IS IT A BIG DEAL? DETAILS: It's no Watergate, but it might cost Christie at the GOP pri- maries. Although Christie denied knowing about the lane closures when they happened, two of his former staff mem- bers were indicted with nine counts of conspiracy and fraud. A third individual pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy against civil rights. While Walker served as Milwaukee County executive, over 27,000 pages of emails suggest that his staff used government time to coordinate with campaign staffers during Walker's 2010 gubernatorial campaign. IS IT A BIG DEAL? Yep. Investigations led to six criminal convictions of Walk- er's former aides and allies, including embezzlement, money laundering, and conducting political business on county time. BEN CARSON RETIRED NEUROSURGEON SCANDAL: Alleged illegal coordination of money SCANDAL: Making controversial remarks about Obamacare, abortion, and homosexuality. DETAILS: Walker was accused of illegally coordinating money from outside groups, so he could finance his recall campaign in 2011-12. (Walker was reelected after the recall.) DETAILS: He said Obamacare was the "'the worst thing that's happened in this nation since slavery." He also said he is "totally opposed to killing babies," and he "absolutely" believes homosexuality is a choice. IS IT A BIG DEAL? Not really. The case was dropped, but it won't help his image. IS IT A BIG DEAL? Depends on your stance on Obamacare, abortion, and homosexuality. RICK PERRY | DROPPED OUT OF RACE FORMER GOVERNOR, TEXAS SCANDAL: Alleged plagiarism SCANDAL: Alleged abuse of power DETAILS: "I will not allow this attack on our system of government to stand. I'm going to fight this injustice with every fiber of my being, and we will prevail. We will prevail because we're standing for the rule of law." Carson is accused of plagiarizing sections of his 2012 bestseller, America The Beautiful. IS IT A BIG DEAL? Not really. Carson apologized for missing citations in his book. But considering Carson is also a university professor, he should know better. DETAILS: After serving time for a drunk driving conviction, a Texas District Attorney refused to resign. Perry is accused of threatening - and then carrying out his threat – to veto $7.5 million from the Public Integrity Unit (a division of the DA which, ironically, investigates criminal activity in state government). CARLY FIORINA IS IT A BIG DEAL? Perry doesn't think so. But a grand jury investigation indicted Perry on two felony charges of abuse of official power and coercion of a public servant. (The second count has been dismissed.) If Perry is convicted, he could serve time in prison. FORMER CEO, HEWLETT PACKARD SCANDAL: Sketchy track record as CEO DETAILS: Fiorina claims her business experience makes her a qualified leader. However, during her time as CEO, HP fired 30,000 employees and outsourced thousands of jobs. In 2005, she was even forced to resign. MARCO RUBIO U.S. SENATOR, FLORIDA IS IT A BIG DEAL? Yes, if her HP legacy reflects her stance job creation. SCANDAL: Sketchy money management DETAILS: Despite past financial struggles, Rubio has very expensive taste. (He's splurged on an $80,000 speedboat and a lease on a $50,000 Audi.) He also charged tens of thousands of dollars of personal expenses to the GOP credit card. LINDSEY GRAHAM U.S. SENATOR, SOUTH CAROLINA SCANDAL: Rumors about his sexuality IS IT A BIG DEAL? Maybe, if personal spending habits reflect his view on the federal budget. In his 2012 memoir, Rubio confessed he has a "lack of bookkeeping skills." DETAILS: Graham has never been married, and he's been called gay by other politicians and talk-show hosts. IS IT A BIG DEAL? To be single? No, but it would be unusual. If he were elected, Graham would be the third bachelor president. It's a bigger deal to have his sexuality questioned in the media. SCANDAL: Alleged nepotism DETAILS: Rubio has employed many of his relatives, including his wife and mother-in-law. He also bought (and then foreclosed on) a house with ex-Congressman David Rivera, who was accused of financial corruption and nepotism. BOBBY JINDAL IS IT A BIG DEAL? Not really. Rubio wasn't involved in Rivera's scandals. He just needs to find better friends. GOVERNOR, LOUISIANA SCANDAL: Receiving favors DETAILS: A charity, run by his wife, received almost $1 million in donations from large corporations that are regulated by state governments. TED CRUZ U.S. SENATOR, TEXAS IS IT A BIG DEAL? Maybe, since he could have given political favors in return for the donations. But no one seems to care, since Jindal is a bottom contender in the polls. SCANDAL: Accused of causing a government shutdown "It seems that there is nothing the media likes to cover more than disagreements among Republicans, and apparently some senators are content to fuel those stories with anonymous quotes." JOHN KASICH DETAILS: Cruz attempted to defund Obamacare during budget negotiations in 2013. Those negotiations resulted in the first federal government shutdown in 17 years. GOVERNOR, OHIO SCANDAL: Poor approval rating as governor IS IT A BIG DEAL? Maybe, if you were a government employee at the time. While many Republican senators blamed Cruz for the shut- down, his fierce anti-Obamacare stance is common among DETAILS: Ohio is not a fan of Kasich. He's known for his temper, for expanding Medicaid under Obamacare (in a Republican state), and for signing a law tightening union restrictions (that a public vote overturned). GOP candidates. SCANDAL: IS IT A BIG DEAL? If Ohio doesn't like Kasich, will America? Not born on U.S. soil DETAILS: Cruz was born in Canada, to an American mother and Cuban-born father. RICK SANTORUM IS IT A BIG DEAL? FORMER U.S. SENATOR, PENNSYLVANIA Not anymore. His parents are American citizens, and so is he. But to avoid any more criticism, Cruz claims he's renounced his Canadian citizenship. SCANDAL: Living out of state DETAILS: In 2004, Santorum and his family moved to Virginia after being elected as a Pennsylvania senator. (But he still claimed residence in Pennsylvania.) MIKE HUCKABEE FORMER GOVERNOR, ARKANSAS IS IT A BIG DEAL? SCANDAL: It's a minor scandal. Besides, people care more about where he stands on social issues. Ties to the Duggar family "Josh's actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, 'inexcusable, but that doesn't mean 'unforgivable."... Good people make mistakes and do regrettable and even disgusting things." JIM GILMORE GOVERNOR, OHIO DETAILS: Huckabee has pledged support to the Duggar family, even after Josh Duggar's sex scandal surfaced. SCANDAL: No notable scandals IS IT A BIG DEAL? If you don't think Josh is "forgivable," then yes. SCANDAL: GEORGE PATAKI Alleged nepotism FORMER GOVERNOR, NEW YORK SCANDAL: DETAILS: Huckabee held $400,000 worth of PAC money to pay family members, instead of using it to fundraise for Republican candidates. No notable scandals IS IT A BIG DEAL? It's not big news. Besides, Rubio, Webb, Bush, and Clinton are all accused of some form of nepotism. 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