Whoever said politics was boring was wrong—it’s anything but dull! There are many stories that have both outraged & shocked the public – including operations gone wrong. And let’s not forget all that sleazy behavior behind closed doors! With that in mind, here are 10 of the most scandalous political cover-ups of this century.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels.
The Not-So-Weapons of Mass Destruction
In 2003, the US prepared to invade Iraq with claims that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction. Well, it turns out that those weapons weren’t real. Despite the Bush administration’s firm stance, later investigations showed the intel was shaky at best and this led to a lot of criticism over why we went to war in the first place.
NSA Playing Big Brother
In 2013, Edward Snowden dropped a bombshell that the NSA was eavesdropping on…well, everyone—Americans and people abroad. This massive surveillance program included phone calls, texts & emails – leading to a global debate on privacy. Maybe, just maybe, we’re not as alone as we think when we’re online.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Guns, Money & Secrets
The 1980s had its own blockbuster scandal when it was revealed that the U.S. had secretly sold arms to Iran. They had used the profits to help rebels in Nicaragua. The whole operation was seriously complicated, involving secret deals & a lot of government officials trying to cover their tracks. But they weren’t able to do it in time.
Tracing The Cartels
Between 2006 and 2011, the ATF thought it’d be a good idea to allow illegal guns into Mexico. Why? Because they wanted to trace them back to drug cartels. Spoiler alert—it wasn’t a good idea. Many guns went missing and some were used in crimes, including the tragic killing of a US Border Patrol agent.
Waiting on the Truth
In 2014, it emerged that the Department of Veterans Affairs was playing with the numbers & hid the real wait times for vets who needed medical care. It was a scandal that revealed some of the most serious issues within the VA. Eventually, it led to resignations & a push to fix how we manage veterans’ healthcare.
Facebook’s Oopsie
2018 brought us the news that Cambridge Analytica had millions of Facebook users’ data—but without their say-so. They used this info to target voters in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This led to a huge debate about privacy & data security. After all, how much should social media know about us?
Rich People’s Secrets
The Panama Papers, a massive collection of documents, leaked in 2016. They showed the world how the rich & powerful use offshore tax havens to stash their cash, which resulted in numerous resignations. It also led to global conversations about wealth & fairness—and not for the very first time.
A Dirty Affair
Uncovered in 2014, Operation Car Wash was a jaw-dropping corruption scandal in Brazil involving billions in bribes & kickbacks. High-ranking politicians and business moguls were caught in the web—including ex-presidents. Essentially, it was like a soap opera of greed and power on a huge scale.
The Rob Porter White House Controversy
In 2018, Rob Porter, one of President Trump’s top aides, was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Reports surfaced of past allegations of domestic abuse from two of his ex-wives. There was plenty of public outcry & questions about how much the White House knew—and why he was still in a position of such influence.
The Scott Pruitt EPA Scandals
Remember Scott Pruitt? He was the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who liked to live large on the taxpayer’s dime. This includes first-class flights & a $43,000 soundproof phone booth in his office (because who doesn’t need one of those?). After the news came to light, he resigned in 2018.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Read More:
