Why Is Cuban Facing a Fine When Martha Faced the Slammer?
With Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban facing civil insider-trading charges (PDF) from the SEC, we got to wondering what it takes for securities fraud to become a crime.
The short answer: It depends on the prosecutor.
The SEC does not have authority to bring criminal charges -- it can only refer allegations to law enforcement. Then prosecutors decide whether to pursue a criminal case.
Prosecutors can be swayed by how egregious the allegations are or how much money is involved.
And they are more likely to target people who should … more…
What Happens if Felon-Senator Stevens Wins?
Updated 5:45 p.m.
Senator and convicted felon Ted Stevens (R-AK) is holding on to a slim lead in his bid for re-election. As we noted a … more…
Does Stevens’ Conviction Disqualify Him from the Senate?
Today, a jury convicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) today on felony charges that he made false financial statements about gifts he received … more…
A Visual Guide to the Nominees’ Speeches
The vice presidential debate is tonight, and as always, there will be plenty of statements that deserve scrutiny. The speeches at the … more…
The Regulators Who Saw Crisis Coming
Long before the financial crisis claimed headlines, U.S. regulators and law enforcement officials had begun sounding alarms about … more…
What Are the Rules on Presidential Campaign Financing, Anyway?
With the presidential campaign entering the final stretch, we thought we'd dig into what rules govern how the candidates can raise money, … more…
Does Palin Really ‘Command’ Alaska’s National Guard?
The McCain campaign has made much of Gov. Sarah Palin's role as commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard.
A spokesman claimed, now … more…
How to Boot a Mayor
Breaking Update: The Free Press is reporting that Kilpatrick is expected to plead guilty tomorrow morning.
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm … more…
What Rules Govern Spending by Big Biz and Lobbyists at the Conventions?
We're trying out a new feature called Decoder, in which we answer questions about accountability stories in the news. If you have a … more…
