Daily Briefs

Levin Center at Wayne Law launches podcast series on oversight


The Levin Center at Wayne Law on Wednesday launched a new podcast titled “Oversight Matters,” with a unique focus on legislative oversight. Host Ben Eikey embarks on a behind-the-scenes look at important legislative oversight and investigations by both state legislatures and Congress and the community involved in such work. You will hear personal stories and learn how legislators and their staffs uncover waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs as well as the facts behind important public policy reforms. You’ll also hear how bipartisanship can strengthen the value of oversight and foster constructive debate in our democracy.

Episode One, Part One features former congressional investigative staff directors Elise Bean and Linda Gustitus discussing their experiences with a wide range of oversight efforts – from credit card company abuses to money laundering.  Specific topics include the operations of the Social Security Disability Program, misleading sweepstakes solicitations, and tax dodging schemes using offshore and Swiss bank accounts.  Throughout the podcast, listeners will hear about the necessary role oversight plays in our legislatures and how legislative investigators follow the facts to help make government accountable. This podcast is available now on the Levin Center’s website at https://law.wayne.edu/levin-center/oversight-matters as well as Apple, Spotify, Google, and anywhere else one receives quality podcasts.

 

Former Macomb County prosecutor pleads guilty to obstruction
 

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) — A former suburban Detroit prosecutor pleaded guilty Wednesday to obstructing justice in an investigation of how he spent campaign donations.

Eric Smith, who was Macomb County prosecutor for nearly 16 years, admitted that he attempted to get three people, including two assistant prosecutors, to make false statements about his use of campaign cash.

“I fully accept responsibility for my actions,” Smith told the judge. “I acted alone. I acted for my own benefit.”

Between 2012 and 2020, Smith conducted two fraud schemes to steal approximately $75,000 in cash from his political campaign for personal expenses, federal investigators said.

Smith, a Democrat, quit office last March after he was charged in state court with embezzlement and other crimes related to a different scheme to use money from drunken driving cases, bad check cases and assets forfeited in drug crimes. That case is pending.


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