I think I have figured out why every Democrat isn’t being prosecuted for corruption. We just don’t have enough prosecutors to go around. But, sooner or later, I’m sure we’ll get to them all.
The latest one to be indicted is powerful LA Democrat City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, one of the most powerful Democrats in Southern California and a very close friend of Barack Obama. He has been hit with a 20 count indictment.
He is accused of conspiring with a USC dean, mail and wire fraud, and taking bribes that benefited himself and his son, Sebastian, who is a former Democratic Assemblyman in the state legislature.
The Los Angeles Daily News reported:
“The 20-count indictment filed in Los Angeles federal court alleges that Ridley-Thomas conspired with Marilyn Louise Flynn, who agreed to provide Ridley-Thomas’ relative with graduate school admission, a full-tuition scholarship, a paid professorship, and a mechanism to funnel Ridley-Thomas campaign funds through the university to a nonprofit to be operated by the family member.”
“In exchange, the 35-page indictment alleges, Ridley-Thomas supported contracts involving the School of Social Work, including contracts to provide services to the county Department of Children and Family Services and Probation Department, as well as an amendment to a contract with the Department of Mental Health that would bring the school millions of dollars in new revenue.”
“The corrupt activities alleged in the indictment were facilitated by a major university’s high-ranking administrator whose desire for funding apparently trumped notions of integrity and fair play. Public corruption cases are among the most important matters we pursue, and we will continue to investigate and prosecute whenever public officials and others entrusted with taxpayer funds break the law.”
Flynn, now 83-years-old, was dean for 21 years when USC’s social work program evolved into a mammoth program that eventually became the biggest in the world.
She was removed from her position in 2018.
BREAKING: The 35-pg, 20-count Federal Grand Jury Indictment against Mark Ridley-Thomas and University of Southern California School of Social Work Dean Marilyn Louise Flynn alleges Conspiracy, Bribery Concerning Programs, Receiving Federal Funds and Honest Services & Mail Fraud pic.twitter.com/ux1D0TF5af
— Andrew Blankstein (@anblanx) October 14, 2021
The indictment refers to Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, 34, as “MRT Relative 1.” His alleged crimes were committed in 2017 and 2018, when Ridley-Thomas, 66, was a member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who has long-running feuds with Ridley-Thomas says that this is a good example of why the group that investigates corruption must be kept separate from those in power who can cover up their own crimes.
