Sharpe James: "One Day You're the Bird ...

Top Scandalous Politicians

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
  His administration has been plagued by scandals such as perjury, lawsuits and most recently, marital infidelity with a member of his staff. Elected at age 31, Kilpatrick became the city's youngest and first African-American mayor. However, calls for his impending resignation still ring out.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Former Arlington, Oregon mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist
  Hoping to enhance her social profile, Gronquist stirred up controversy when racy photos of her were posted on MySpace. After she refused to apologize to images she claims were taken for a fitness contest, she later lost her position in office after a community revote.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Tom DeLay
  A prominent member of the Republican Party, Delay was the House Majority Leader from 2003-2005. In 2005, he stepped down from his post after a grand jury from Texas indicted him on criminal charges that he had conspired to violate campaign finance laws during that period.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Mark Foley
  Foley was a Republican member of the House of Representatives, known for his firm stance against child abuse and exploitation. However, he was forced resign from Congress in 2006 after it was discovered that he sent sexually explicitemails and text messages to teenage boys who were currently serving or had served as Congressional pages. Foley, a Roman Catholic, returned to Florida where he promptly checked into a rehab center for treatment of alcoholism and mental illness. The state of Florida had considered charges again, but in the end he faced no criminal charges.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Strom Thurmond
  Thurmond was elected South Carolinas governor in 1946 and always supported segregation laws. But in the 1970s, he actually endorsed racial integration and hired some African-Americans to his staff. The irony here is that shortlyafter Thurmonds death on June 26, 2003, Essie Mae Washington-Williams, who is African-American, publicly revealed that she was Strom Thurmonds illegitimate daughter. The Thurmond family later acknowleged her as well.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Former Newark, NJ Mayor Sharpe James
  He tarnished his 20-year record with the city by being indicted on 25 counts that include mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. The first of his two federal corruption trials is currently underway in this one he is accused of selling city properties at a discount to a traveling companion who is also indicted in this case. In the second trial, the married James is accused of taking several other women on lavish trips using Newark funds.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Lewis (Scooter) Libby
  Libby was a former assistant to President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney resigned from his post in 2005 after his indictment on federal obstruction of and perjury charges from a grand jury investigation intoa CIA identity leak known as the 'Plame Affair.' Plame believes her identity was revealed by the Bush Administration in retaliation for her husband's criticism of the Iraq War. Libby was convicted of these charges and sentenced to 30 months in prison.Hewas also made to pay a 250 thousand dollar fine. However, he was granted clemency from President Bush.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Former CT governor John Rowland
  Once touted as a possible candidate for president, former Republican Governor of Connecticut, John Rowland's fall from grace is well-documented. He was the first Republican Governor to be elected for more than one term and the first Governor in general to win three elections. In 2003, rumors began circulating about Roland doing business with contractors for deals on the side, buying property for inflated prices, took gifts from subordinates in state government,and that he took partial ownership in businesses immediately before they were granted state contracts. Rowland resigned in 2004 and was sentenced on March 18, 2005, in New Haven, Connecticut to one year and one day in prison, four months house arrest, three years probation and community service.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Senator Larry Craig
  When the news came out about Republican Senator Larry Craig's bizarre bathroom escapade, the media spotlight was all over him. According to an FBI agent, the Senator tapped his shoe under a stall until it touched his and then reach his open palm under the divider for unspecific purposes. The Senator was arrested and after initially pleading guilty, he would go on and attempt to rescind his guilty plea. But it doesn't end there, In December 2007, eight gay men came forward to the Idaho Statesman newspaper alleging either sexual encounters with Craig, or attempts by Craig to engage in sexual encounters. Craig remains in office but says he will not attempt to run for reelection.

• Top Scandalous Politicians

  Former NJ Governor Jim Mcgreevey
  In office for only two years, NJ Governor Jim McGreevey would resign his post in 2004 due to an extramarital affair. The kicker though was that the affair was with one of his male aides, making McGreevey the first admittedly gay governor in American history. The story made huge headlines as he proclaimed in a press conference, "I am a gay American."