Virologist Charged with Campaign Fraud

The Virologist - who worked on biodefense vaccines - made illegal campaign contributions; the Senator got the virologist $19.6 million starting in 2004, and another $1.3 million last year. It's how our system works - dysfunctionally. ...Instead of making a big deal about catching a few players one-by-one, how 'bout we change the stupid system?

[url=South Carolina Virologist Charged With Illegal Campaign Contributions, Grant Fraud[/url]

A virologist who worked on biodefense vaccines and was active in South Carolina politics has been charged with making illegal campaign contributions and using research grants to defraud the U.S. government. Jian-Yun Dong of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston was named in two federal indictments filed 5 months ago and released this week by the U.S. district court in Charleston. Two biotech companies launched and directed by Dong (who is also known as John Dong)—GenPhar and a spinoff called Vaxima, both in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina—are named as part of a fraud.

Virologist Charged with Campaign Fraud

Jian-Yun “John” Dong, a virologist at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, was charged with trying to make illegal campaign contributions upwards of $30,000 to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. He is also accused of using government funds awarded to his company GenPhar for lobbying, travel, and other activities excluded by the grants.

According to reports by The Post and Courier, Senator Graham helped GenPhar secure $19.6 million starting in 2004, and an additional $1.3 million earmark last year for the company’s research on dengue fever and the Ebola and Marburg viruses. Dong allegedly used $3.6 million of that money for personal expenses and travel.

Shouldn't Graham be charged also? Graham took the bribe to secure the funding for the company. Graham shouldn't walk away from this scott free because he's just as guilty as the person that paid the bribe.

Originally posted by buster2010
Shouldn't Graham be charged also? Graham took the bribe to secure the funding for the company. Graham shouldn't walk away from this scott free because he's just as guilty as the person that paid the bribe.

Perhaps.

But then look at all the democrats you'd lose out of the senate for accepting bribes to vote for obamacare. Start with Ben Nelson from Nebraska ...

Actually, I say throw them all out. Anyone who takes a bribe or peddles influence.

I agree with both of you - thanks for posting.

Graham should be charged too - they ALL should be thrown out. And of course, we should change the bleeping system that supports and encourages the behavior.

...Can't believe I didn't post the first link. Here it is (too late to edit):

South Carolina Virologist Charged With Illegal Campaign Contributions, Grant Fraud