TV Show: The Dark Money Game
Season: Miniseries
Type: tvepisode
Overview: When a powerful political lobbyist is found shot to death, his apparent suicide highlights a bizarre turn in Ohio's largest public corruption case accidentally uncovered by federal investigators that was nearly concealed by loose super PAC campaign financing rules.
Episode Number: 1
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The Ohio House Speaker is linked to a secret $61 million slush fund used to secure political power and repay corporate donors with a billion-dollar corporate bailout at the expense of Ohio taxpayers, as uncovered by FBI wiretap recordings in the episode.
The apparent suicide of a powerful political lobbyist leads FBI investigators to uncover a bizarre turn in Ohio's largest public corruption case involving loose super PAC campaign financing rules, which then unravels the $61 million slush fund conspiracy.
FBI wiretaps capture lobbyists and politicians discussing the scheme, revealing their belief that they can legally bribe due to the Citizens United ruling, and exposing the FirstEnergy $60 million slush fund used to defraud the Ohio public and boost a politician's fortunes.
Key participants include journalist Jane Mayer, former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, former FBI agent Jeffrey Williams, and assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Glatfelter, who provide insights into the legal, investigative, and journalistic aspects of the corruption case.
The FBI originally was investigating a gambling matter when they stumbled upon the corruption scheme involving lobbyists and politicians discussing the slush fund and pay-to-play activities, which led to the broader investigation into Ohio's public corruption.