Conviction in ex-congressman freezer cash case comes after botched Ted Stevens prosecution

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A jury handed federal prosecutors a victory in finding an ex-congressman guilty of bribery, racketeering and other charges, four months after a corruption conviction against former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was tossed aside in an embarrassing blow to the Justice Department.

10 charged in corruption case against NYC labor union that endorsed Bloomberg re-election bid

NEW YORK — The leader of a powerful labor union that recently endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his re-election campaign was charged Wednesday with taking bribes from contractors who were scheming to cut labor costs.

10 charged in corruption case against NY labor union that endorsed Bloomberg re-election bid

NEW YORK — The FBI has arrested the leader of a powerful New York labor union that recently endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his re-election campaign.

Jury convicts former La. congressman Jefferson of 11 of 16 counts in freezer cash bribe case

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A former Louisiana congressman accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes was convicted in federal court Wednesday in a case in which agents famously found $90,000 stashed in his freezer.

Clinton criticizes Kenya corruption, says Africa trade cannot grow without improved democracy

NAIROBI, Kenya — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Kenya on Wednesday for rampant graft and corruption as she made the case that business and trade across Africa cannot grow without good governance and solid democracy.

Clinton criticizes Kenya forsays business in Africa cannot grow without improved democracy

NAIROBI, Kenya — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Kenya on Wednesday for rampant graft and corruption as she made the case that business and trade across Africa cannot grow without good governance and solid democracy.

Israel’s foreign minister says he’ll resign if he is formally charged with corruption

JERUSALEM — Israel’s ultranationalist foreign minister promised Monday to step down if he is charged after police recommended that he be indicted for a string of alleged corruption offenses.

Canadian judge denies German businessman’s bid for injunction to halt extradition

TORONTO — A Canadian judge has denied a German-Canadian businessman’s request for an injunction to stop his imminent extradition to Germany.

2 indicted for allegedly trying to bribe US officer with $1 million to win Afghanistan project

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury has indicted two men for allegedly trying to bribe a U.S. Army contracting official with $1 million to win a road construction project in Afghanistan, the Justice Department said Thursday.

2 indicted for allegedly trying to bribe a US Army contractor with $1 million

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury has indicted two men for allegedly trying to bribe a U.S. Army contracting official with $1 million to win a road construction project in Afghanistan.

NJ gov: Hoboken neophyte mayor under federal corruption cloud will resign within 24 hours

TRENTON, N.J. — A northern New Jersey mayor who was arrested on federal corruption charges after just three weeks in office is expected to resign soon, Gov. Jon Corzine said Thursday.

Judge portrayed in ‘Ghosts of Mississippi’ pleads guilty to obstruction for lying to FBI agent

ABERDEEN, Miss. — A Mississippi judge known for prosecuting a white supremacist decades after a civil rights-era killing has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for lying to an FBI agent investigating corruption.

Informant in NJ public corruption probe legally gave nearly $190K to political campaigns

TRENTON, N.J. — Before he helped the government snare dozens of New Jersey public officials by offering bribes, the FBI’s informant in a corruption case was a prolific on-the-books campaign donor, giving roughly $190,000 to high-level candidates over an eight-year span.

Reformer in southern China seeks to battle corruption, revamp economy

GUANGZHOU, China — One of Wang Yang’s favorite slogans is “Free your thinking,” and many believe the economic reformer will soon be one of China’s top leaders unless he stumbles on his current job: running Guangdong — the nation’s richest province.

Jury to begin deciding whether ex-congressman Jefferson is guilty of taking $400,000 in bribes

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Ex-congressman William Jefferson was a political rock star in west Africa who was willing to wield his influence for financial benefit, but that is not a crime, his defense lawyer told a jury Wednesday.

Former official with US consulate in Toronto sentenced to one year in visa bribery scheme

WASHINGTON — A former official at the U.S. consulate in Toronto was sentenced to a year in prison Wednesday for expediting visas in exchange for gifts of jewelry and trips with exotic dancers.

Professor seeking federal research funding didn’t reveal ties to device maker Medtronic

WASHINGTON — A Medtronic consultant failed to disclose that he was working for the medical device manufacturer, even while asking Congress for funding to research the company’s treatments for soldiers wounded in combat, according to an influential Republican Senator.

Prosecutors say $90,000 found in freezer was only the latest bribery scheme by ex-congressman

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Prosecutors say the $90,000 cash found in the freezer of a former Louisiana congressman was just the most recent bribe money he’d received.

Swiss prosecutors examine complaint linked to US claim of bribery in tax evasion matter

BERN, Switzerland — Swiss prosecutors are examining allegations that a high-ranking Swiss tax official received a $45,000 bribe in exchange for providing sensitive information to an American who has now pleaded guilty to tax evasion in the U.S., a Swiss official said Wednesday.

Mining giant BHP Billiton agrees with some customers to cut price of iron ore

SYDNEY — BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest mining company, said Wednesday it has agreed to sell 23 percent of its contracted iron ore at a one-third discount to last year’s prices.

Political consultant arrested in NJ corruption probe found dead in his apartment

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A political consultant who was one of 44 people arrested last week in New Jersey’s massive political corruption scandal has been found dead in his apartment.

Attorney: ‘Ghosts of Mississippi’ judge Bobby DeLaughter to plead guilty to lying to FBI agent

JACKSON, Miss. — A Mississippi judge known for successfully prosecuting a white supremacist decades after a civil rights-era killing will plead guilty to lying to an FBI agent investigating judicial corruption, the judge’s attorney said Tuesday.

Judge chides former NJ senator for giving up his impartiality, sentences him to 4 years

TRENTON, N.J. — A former New Jersey state senator convicted of bribery and pension fraud has been sentenced to four years in federal prison.

NJ governor calls scale of corruption ‘outrageous’ as 3 mayors among those arrested in sweep

NEWARK, N.J. — Officials are decrying political corruption in New Jersey after more than 40 people, among them rabbis and elected officeholders, were arrested in an investigation in which some were accused of laundering tens of millions of dollars and of black-market trafficking of kidneys and fake Gucci handbags.

Closing arguments near in bribery trial of ex-congressman accused of hiding cash in freezer

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Defense lawyers for a former Louisiana congressman accused of taking bribes and found with $90,000 in cash in his freezer presented their side to a federal jury Thursday in a matter of hours.

NJ community affairs commissioner steps down after governor asks for his resignation

NEWARK, N.J. — A member of the New Jersey governor’s cabinet has resigned amid a sweeping corruption investigation that has ensnared three mayors, two state legislators and several rabbis.

Feds arrest mayors of 3 NJ cities, 2 lawmakers, several rabbis in broad corruption sweep

NEWARK, N.J. — An investigation into the sale of black-market kidneys and fake Gucci handbags evolved into a sweeping probe of political corruption in New Jersey, ensnaring more than 40 people Thursday, including three mayors, two state lawmakers and several rabbis.

Attorney says Former La. congressman Jefferson not expected to testify at his bribery trial

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A former Louisiana congressman accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes will not testify in his defense at his bribery trial, his lawyer said Wednesday.

AP IMPACT: From Andes to Argentina, Mexican drug cartels expand, operate in 47 countries

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemalan drug boss Juan Jose “Juancho” Leon was summoned by Mexican traffickers for what he was told was business. Instead, dozens of attackers ambushed his entourage with grenades and assault rifles, killing Leon and 10 others in a brazen demonstration of power.

Rio Tinto says allegations of bribery against employees in China are ‘without foundation’

ADELAIDE, Australia — Bribery allegations against four Rio Tinto Ltd. employees detained in China are “wholly without foundation,” the mining giant said Friday, as Australia continued to press Beijing for details of a case that is straining ties between the two nations.