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Conflicts of Interest - C'est Vrai

C'est Vrai

Conflicts of Interest and Regulator Events

Les conflits d'intérêts

Transactions personnelles et influence indue

Self-Dealing and Undue Influence

C'est Vrai proäctively discloses all conflicts of interests and regulator events that are tracked in our proprietary database in an effort to promote greater Government transparency and official accountability.

Our independence allows us to link relationships to reports or allegations of corruption, self-dealing, and undue influence.

We connect the dots. For each category, we list a recent Top 10.

Conflicts of Interest

  • Jasmine Sheppard, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development

    The Eric Adams administration apparently created a six-figure salary job for the wife of a member of the mayor's inner circle. Details of the hire had been kept under wraps for approx. two years.
  • Manhattan Community Board 5, Samir Lavingia

    Community Boards have jurisdiction over zoning issues, and Samir Lavingia "works professionally as campaign coordinator for Open New York," a pro-development group, according to a report published by The City, a news Web site.
  • Lauren Pisciotta, Kanye West

    Lauren Pisciotta has sued Kanye West for sexual harassment and wrongful termination, according to legal filings obtained by various media outlets. She had reportedly worked as his assistant for two years.
  • Will Lewis, The Washington Post

    According to CNN, Will Lewis reportedly "tried to kill story about his involvement in UK hacking scandal," raising questions about his commitment to journalism ethics, independence, and impartiality.
  • Aaron Hall, Sean Combs

    Rap singer P. Diddy was accused of taking turns with R&B singer Aaron Hall with having sex with two women, allegedly against their will.
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Osama Abu Irshaid

    The Virginia State Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into whether "the organization may have used funds raised for impermissible purposes under state law, including benefitting or providing support to terrorist organizations," according to a press release.
  • Mitsui Fudosan America, 50 Hudson Yards

    According to e-mails obtained by Gothamist, New York City Hall prioritised the fire safety inspection of 50 Hudson Yards at the expense of other buildings, requiring FDNY to abandon their inspection work on schools and housing.
  • Oxford Properties, 50 Hudson Yards

    According to e-mails obtained by Gothamist, New York City Hall prioritised the fire safety inspection of 50 Hudson Yards at the expense of other buildings, requiring FDNY to abandon their inspection work on schools and housing.
  • Related Companies L.P. (The), 50 Hudson Yards

    According to e-mails obtained by Gothamist, New York City Hall prioritised the fire safety inspection of 50 Hudson Yards at the expense of other buildings, requiring FDNY to abandon their inspection work on schools and housing.
  • Winnie Greco, Office of the Mayor of the City of New York

    Winnie Grego was accused of : (i). giving a job in the Adams administration in exchange for receiving renovation work on her home, and (ii) asking for donations in exchange for access to City Hall, according to an investigative report published by The City and quoted by other news outlets.

Regulator Events

  • Lauren Chen, Tenet Media, Liam Donovan

    The Government accused two RT employees to covertly finance and direct Tenet Media. As a result, Tenet Media published social media videos with commentary in somewhat alignment with the publicly stated goals of the Government of Russia and RT — "to amplify domestic divisions in the United States," according to the Government. When the Indictment was handed down, neither Tenet Media nor its co-founders were charged with crimes.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Robert Gault, Midtown North Precinct

    Federal Agents requested the cellphone of Deputy Inspector Robert Gault in connection with a reported probe into possible misconduct by NYPD commissioner Edward Caban's family members.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Raul Pintos, New York Police Department

    On Sept. 4, 2024, the F.B.I. reportedly raided the homes of several close allies to Mayor Eric Adams (D-New York City). The phone of Raul Pintos was reportedly seized. No criminal charges have been filed, yet.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Timothy Pearson, New York City Economic Development Corporation

    On Sept. 4, 2024, the F.B.I. raided the home of Timothy Pearson. No charges have been filed, yet.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Sheena Wright, Office of the Mayor of the City of New York

    On Sept. 4, 2024, the F.B.I. searched the homes of several members of the inner circle of Mayor Eric Adams (D-New York City). The searches represented the deepest incursion, yet, by Federal Law Enforcement Officials into Mayor Adams' closest allies, Gothamist reported. No one has been charged with crimes, yet.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Carl C. Icahn, Icahn Enterprises L.P.

    Carl Icahn and Icahn Enterprises L.P. agreed to pay a total of $2 million in civil penalties to settle the SEC's charges of failure to disclose the pledging of company securities as collateral for billions of dollars in personal loans, CNN reported.
    U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Yongchul Kim, Robert P. Burke, Meghan Messenger

    The Government announced in May 2024 that all three individuals were arrested "on charges related to their alleged roles in a bribery scheme that involved a U.S. government contract."
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia
  • Evan Gershkovich, The Wall Street Journal

    Evan Gershkovich was allegedly arrested by agents of the FSB on charges of spying, it has been reported.
    Federal Security Service
  • Cenk Öcal, Rana Abbasova

    A former Turkish Airlines executive was reported to have coördinated with an aide to Mayor Eric Adams (D) to provide the mayor with at least some upgrades on air travel, according to a report published by The New York Times. This is reportedly part of the larger Federal investigation into Mayor Adams' campaign finance activities.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Winnie Greco, Eric Adams 2021

    Federal Law Enforcement Agents conducted searches of two Bronx properties owned by a top adviser to Mayor Eric Adams (D-New York City).
    FBI New York Field Office