THREAD: chess cheating scandal

PRISON SCANDAL Shocks West Virginia: Female Inmates at Risk

01 November 2024 — A troubling incident at a West Virginia work release center highlights the growing issue of sexual misconduct in prisons. April Youst, an incarcerated woman, accused correctional officer James Widen of inappropriate behavior during a late-night encounter in the facility’s laundry room. She filed a police complaint eight years ago, but the case remains unresolved as it slowly moves through the court system.

Widen has pleaded not guilty to the charges and claims he was set up, maintaining his innocence throughout the ordeal. Despite his denial, Youst’s allegations point to a broader trend affecting female prisoners nationwide. Reports of sexual violence against women by correctional staff have surged recently, raising concerns about accountability and justice within prison systems.

Female inmates are often vulnerable targets for such misconduct due to their increasing numbers behind bars for nonviolent offenses, many related to drugs. Unfortunately, accusers frequently face retaliation while those accused often escape significant consequences. This pattern underscores systemic issues that demand urgent attention from authorities and policymakers alike.

METROPOLITAN POLICE Scandal: Officer’s Alleged Extremist Links Exposed

19 October 2024 — Ruby Begum, a 29-year-old police officer of Bangladeshi heritage, is facing a misconduct hearing for allegedly breaking professional standards. The hearing will examine claims that Begum posted “discriminatory and/or offensive comments” on Twitter and possibly misled the vetting process when joining the Metropolitan Police in 2016.

The allegations suggest she failed to disclose ties with a female Jihadi in Syria and showed an interest in extremist teachings. Once praised as a role model during anti-lockdown protests, Begum was put on restricted duties in 2021 and fully suspended by 2022.

Begum’s controversial tweets include remarks about Israel, non-Muslims, and historical events like the September 11th attacks. While some messages were posted before her police service, others continued until at least 2019.

This case is embarrassing for London’s Metropolitan Police as it exposes potential failures in their recruitment process amid other recent scandals involving officers within their ranks.

FORMER NHS Psychologist Escapes Jail After Child Grooming Scandal

04 October 2024 — Dr. Ross Canade, once a lead psychologist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, received a 12-month suspended sentence for attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming. He also got six months suspended for trying to engage in sexual conversation with a minor. Despite these convictions, Dr. Canade remains a registered psychologist without any restrictions from the regulator.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Dr. Canade can still practice, raising alarm due to his past work with children. His sentences will only be enforced if he reoffends, leading to automatic imprisonment. The Tavistock clinic suspended and later fired him after police investigated his actions on Grindr, where he was caught by fake profiles posing as teenage boys.

Dr. Canade planned to meet what he thought was a 15-year-old boy for sex but was stopped by vigilantes known as “paedophile hunters.” These groups often conduct sting operations despite the UK government’s stance against vigilantism due to its illegal nature. However, many prosecutions of sex offenders are made possible through these efforts in practice.;

LABOUR PARTY Surges Amid UK Election Betting Scandal

29 June 2024 — The U.K. general election on July 4 is approaching, with the Labour Party expected to defeat Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives. Polls indicate Labour leader Keir Starmer will likely form the next government.

The Conservative campaign has struggled, facing allegations of election betting involving figures close to Sunak. This scandal has further dampened their already lackluster efforts.

In the U.K., the prime minister decides election dates, unlike fixed schedules in countries like the U.S. This unique system has led to a market for predicting election dates and outcomes.

Police officers and Conservative insiders are under investigation for their involvement in this betting scandal, adding another layer of controversy as over 50 countries prepare for elections in 2024.

CONSERVATIVE Officials in HOT Water Over Election Betting Scandal

23 June 2024 — Nick Mason is the fourth Conservative official to be investigated by the U.K.’s Gambling Commission for allegedly betting on election timing before the date was announced. Dozens of bets with potential winnings worth thousands of pounds are under scrutiny.

Two other Conservative candidates, Laura Saunders and Craig Williams, are also being investigated. Tony Lee, Saunders’ husband and Conservative director of campaigning, has taken a leave of absence amid similar allegations.

The scandal comes just two weeks before the national election, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s party. Sunak expressed anger over the allegations and stated that lawbreakers should be expelled from the party.

Saunders has pledged full cooperation with investigators. Williams served as Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary in addition to being a candidate.

DEADLY NHS Scandal: 3,000 Lives Lost to HIV and Hepatitis

20 May 2024 — A scandal involving Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) has led to the deaths of around 3,000 people from HIV and hepatitis infections. The report is expected to criticize pharmaceutical companies, medical practitioners, civil servants, and politicians. Many involved have already passed away due to the passage of time.

The scandal could result in a massive compensation bill for the British government. Tireless campaigners exposed the scale of this tragedy, which might have remained hidden otherwise. Jason Evans, whose father died from infected blood plasma in 1993, played a key role in establishing the inquiry in 2017 under Prime Minister Theresa May.

Infected blood transfusions during the 1970s and 1980s exposed thousands to hepatitis and HIV. Evans hopes that with Monday’s report release, he and countless others can find some closure after decades of suffering and loss.

NPR BIAS Scandal: Calls for Defunding Surge as Political Imbalance Revealed**

18 April 2024 — Senator Marsha Blackburn aligns with former President Trump, advocating for the defunding of NPR due to perceived bias. This push gains momentum following the resignation of NPR editor Uri Berliner, who exposed a stark political imbalance within the organization’s Washington, DC office. Berliner disclosed that among 87 registered voters at NPR, not one is a registered Republican.

NPR’s chief news executive Edith Chapin contested these allegations, asserting the network’s dedication to nuanced and inclusive reporting. Despite this defense, Senator Blackburn condemned NPR for its lack of conservative representation and scrutinized the justification for funding it with taxpayer dollars.

Uri Berliner, while opposing defunding efforts and commending his colleagues’ integrity, resigned amid concerns over media impartiality. He expressed his hope that NPR would maintain its commitment to significant journalism amidst ongoing debates about its political orientation.

This controversy spotlights broader issues regarding media bias and taxpayer funding in public broadcasting sectors, questioning whether public funds should support organizations perceived as politically skewed.

UK MP’S SHOCKING Scandal: Trapped in a Honeytrap

08 April 2024 — William Wragg, a prominent figure in the UK Parliament, has confessed to leaking fellow members’ contact details following a blackmail scheme. He was ensnared by a scammer on a gay dating app after sharing personal photos with someone he thought was trustworthy. This ordeal left him feeling “scared” and “manipulated,” according to his own words.

Nigel Farage blasted Wragg’s actions as “unforgivable” on social media, underlining the serious breach of trust involved. The scandal has ignited debates over personal behavior and security protocols for public officials. Treasury minister Gareth Davies recommended that affected parties report to the police, acknowledging Wragg’s apology but emphasizing the seriousness of his error.

The tactic employed to blackmail Wragg is identified as “spear phishing,” an advanced form of cyber-attack designed to filch sensitive data by pretending to be reliable sources. This event highlights the escalating menace of cyber scams aimed at high-profile individuals and their potential risks to national safety.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities facing those in power and underscores the importance of stringent security measures and personal vigilance in safeguarding against such threats.

ITALY’S Meloni Demands Justice Over Deepfake Porn Scandal

22 March 2024 — Giorgia Meloni, the leader of Italy’s Brothers of Italy party, is seeking justice after falling victim to a degrading deepfake pornography scandal. She has demanded €100,000 ($108,250) in damages following the discovery of explicit videos featuring her likeness online.

These disturbing videos were reportedly crafted by a father-son duo from Sassari, Italy back in 2020 before Meloni ascended to the prime minister’s office. The two are now facing serious accusations of defamation and video manipulation — they allegedly replaced the face of a porn actress with that of Meloni and subsequently published this content on an American website.

The offensive material was recently unearthed by Meloni’s team leading to an immediate filing of a complaint. According to Italian law, defamation can be treated as a criminal offense and carries potential sentencing. The Italian Prime Minister is scheduled to testify in court on July 2nd about this shocking incident.

“The compensation I have requested will be donated to charity,” stated Meloni’s attorney as reported by la Repubblica.

SENATE SCANDAL: Staffer Dismissed After Shocking Footage Surfaces

17 December 2023 — A scandal has erupted in the Senate. Breitbart News recently exposed footage of a staffer, Aidan Maese-Czeropski, involved in explicit sexual acts within a Senate hearing room. This room is typically used for significant events like Supreme Court nominations.

The implicated staffer was part of Sen. Ben Cardin’s (D-MD) office and has been let go since the incident. After his dismissal, Cardin’s office released a brief statement: “We will not comment further on this personnel issue.”

In reaction to the controversy, Maese-Czeropski posted a statement on LinkedIn blaming the backlash on homophobia. He admitted that some past actions may have shown poor judgment but insisted he would never disrespect his workplace.

Maese-Czeropski also stated that any attempts to distort his actions are false and declared intentions to explore legal avenues concerning these issues.

OBERLIN College DUMPS Former Iran Official Amid Shocking Mass Murder Scandal

12 December 2023 — Ohio’s Oberlin College has dismissed Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, a former Iranian official and religion professor. This decision comes after a persistent three-year campaign by Iranian Americans. They were outraged by Mahallati’s alleged involvement in the cover-up of the mass execution of at least 5,000 Iranian political prisoners in 1988.

Mahallati was also scrutinized by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. He was accused of harassing Jewish students and supporting Hamas, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and EU. On November 28, Oberlin College spokesperson Andrea Simakis confirmed that Mahallati had been put on indefinite administrative leave.

In less than four weeks, Oberlin College removed all traces of Mahallati from its website. This included his profile and a fact sheet that allegedly downplayed his reported crimes against humanity, antisemitism, and genocidal rhetoric targeting Iran’s Baha’i community. His nameplate was also removed from his office door — another signal pointing to the college’s disassociation with him.

This move is seen as an acknowledgment by Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar that her defense for Mahallati over three years was unsustainable. The administration has been dealing with various controversies involving Mahallati

FORMER Minister Glenys Kinnock’s LEGACY: A Life of Service and Scandal at 79

04 December 2023 — Glenys Kinnock, a former British cabinet minister and European Parliament member, has died at age 79. She passed away in her London residence on Sunday after a six-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Kinnock’s journey from schoolteacher to influential politician was marked by her service as a cabinet minister under ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. She gained recognition for her relentless fight against poverty and hunger in Africa and beyond.

Despite her achievements, Kinnock’s political career was not devoid of scandal. During her time in Brussels, she found herself entangled in an allowance controversy involving several European Parliament members.

These members were accused of signing in daily to collect a hefty £175 allowance before swiftly exiting the premises. The scandal cast a shadow over Kinnock’s otherwise commendable political career.

ULTRA-MARATHONER Disqualified: Scottish Runner’s Cheating Scandal Unravels, Blames ‘Miscommunication’

17 November 2023 — Scottish ultra-marathon runner Joasia Zakrzewski has been banned from racing for a year by UK Athletics. This decision came after she was found to have cheated during the GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool 50-mile race on April 7, 2023.

Zakrzewski was initially awarded third place in the race. However, officials later discovered inconsistencies in her performance data. It showed that she completed one mile of the race in a mere 1:40 minutes — an impossible feat, leading to her disqualification and subsequent ban.

The runner claimed it was all a “miscommunication.” She stated that due to severe leg pain, she accepted a ride from a friend intending to withdraw from the race at the next checkpoint. Despite this intention, Zakrzewski decided to continue non-competitively and accepted the third-place medal upon finishing.

UKRAINE’S Defense Shake-Up: Zelenskyy UNVEILS Umerov as New Leader Amid WAR Scandal

04 September 2023 — In a significant turn of events, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declared a leadership overhaul in the Defense Ministry on Sunday. The incumbent, Oleksii Reznikov, will step aside, making way for Rustem Umerov, a notable Crimean Tatar politician. This change comes after “more than 550 days of full-scale war”.

President Zelenskyy highlighted the necessity for “new approaches” and “different formats of interaction” with the military and society as the driving factors behind the leadership change. Umerov, who currently presides over Ukraine’s State Property Fund, is a familiar figure to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament. He has played a pivotal role in evacuating citizens from territories under Russian control.

The leadership transition comes amidst a cloud of scrutiny over the Defense Ministry’s procurement practices. Investigative journalists exposed that military jackets were being bought at an exorbitant $86 per unit, a stark contrast from the customary $29 price tag.

UKRAINE’S DEFENSE Leadership Revamped Amid Expensive Military Jacket Scandal

04 September 2023 — In a recent announcement, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the replacement of Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov with Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar lawmaker. This leadership transition follows Reznikov’s tenure of “over 550 days of full-blown conflict” and a scandal involving inflated prices for military jackets.

Umerov, formerly at the helm of the State Property Fund of Ukraine, has been instrumental in prisoner swaps and evacuations of civilians from occupied territories. His diplomatic contributions extend to negotiations with Russia over a United Nations-backed grain agreement.

The jacket controversy came to light when investigative journalists disclosed that the Defense Ministry had procured materials at thrice their usual cost. Instead of winter jackets, summer ones were purchased at an exorbitant $86 per unit compared to the supplier’s quoted price of $29.

Zelenskyy’s revelation came on the heels of a Russian drone strike on a Ukrainian port that led to two people being hospitalized. The U.S. Department of Defense chose not to comment on this shift in leadership.