Profiles in Corruption Book Summary - Profiles in Corruption Book explained in key points
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Profiles in Corruption summary

Peter Schweizer

Abuse of Power by America’s Progressive Elite

3.3 (68 ratings)
24 mins
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    Profiles in Corruption
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    Kamala Harris leverages her friendships with powerful people to gain power for herself and cover up their misdemeanors.

    Kamala Harris, California’s current junior Senator, is sometimes referred to as the “female Barack Obama.” Superficially, it’s easy to see why, with her confident, charismatic persona and mixed-race background.

    Prior to her Senate career, Harris was best known for serving two terms as California’s Attorney General. And while she claims that her success comes down to her grit, determination, and skill as a lawyer, her rise to prominence actually depended heavily on favors from a corrupt California political machine.

    Here’s the key message: Kamala Harris leverages her friendships with powerful people to gain power for herself and cover up their misdemeanors.

    In 1994, Kamala Harris began dating a politician named Willie Brown. At the time, Brown was the Speaker of the State Assembly of California. The relationship led to a number of favors for Harris, including new political appointments and big boosts to her paycheck.

    In 2000, Brown became the Mayor of San Francisco. Just three years later, he leveraged his wealth – and the labor of his supporters and employees – to help Harris get elected as San Francisco District Attorney.

    And Brown’s help didn’t stop there. Perhaps his greatest gift to Harris was his long list of political connections. These included supporters, donors, and sponsors who would help boost Harris’s various campaigns and fill her coffers. In return, she’d help them out when they got into trouble.

    Throughout her tenure as attorney general, Harris showed her willingness to be tough on issues like violent crime and the environment. However, when a political supporter of hers was involved in a case, she became curiously silent. One of the most disturbing instances of Harris’ selective prosecution was a child abuse scandal involving the Catholic church.

    From 2002 to 2003, stories of child abuse and molestation began spreading from Rome to the United States. Eventually, the scandal made its way to San Francisco, California. There, Harris’s predecessor, Terence Hallinan, began pursuing legal cases against the San Francisco Archdiocese. The Archdiocese eventually – and with a great deal of reluctance – provided Hallinan with internal records of abuse complaints spanning seventy-five years.

    When Harris took office as D.A., she inherited the case from Hallinan. The problem? While Harris was conducting her campaign prior to the election, donations from the Catholic Church and its lawyers flowed towards her in unprecedented amounts..

    Though victims’ groups urged Harris to release the records and expose the names of the alleged abusers, which would help encourage more victims to come out, Harris refused. Even more damning? She never pursued a single documented case against an abusive priest during her time as D.A.

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    What is Profiles in Corruption about?

    Profiles in Corruption (2020) challenges us to question and confront the moral integrity of the politicians at the forefront of the modern progressive movement in America. Derived from a range of sources, from financial reports to corporate documentation, eight profiles of the biggest names in left-wing politics tell us a harrowing story of illicit exchanges, cover-ups, and double-crosses.

    Best quote from Profiles in Corruption

    From that beginning, Joes political career was a family affair.

    —Peter Schweizer
    example alt text

    Who should read Profiles in Corruption?

    • Americans concerned about the integrity of Democratic politicians
    • Truth-seekers who want to know what goes on behind Washington’s closed doors
    • Fans of political intrigue

    About the Author

    Peter Schweizer is an investigative journalist, political consultant, and senior editor-at-large of Breitbart News. He is a five-time New York Times bestselling author whose former titles include Secret Empires and Clinton Cash, which prompted an FBI investigation into the money flowing to the Clinton Foundation.

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