Chuck Blazer, a former member of FIFA Executive Committee, revealed in previously sealed testimony that he and others accepted bribes to secure bids for the 1998 World Cups hosted respectively by France and South Africa.
Blazer’s testimony was part of a guilty plea in New York’s Eastern District. It was offered by Blazer in November 2013. This testimony came a day after FIFA president Sepp Bledler announced that he would be stepping down. US authorities indicted nine FIFA officials and five businessmen last week on racketeering conspiracy, corruption and other charges.
Blazer testified that he had arranged with others in 1992 to facilitate the payment of a bribe as part of the selection of the 1998 host nation for the World Cup. “I and others accepted bribes or kickbacks beginning in 1993 and continuing into the 2000s. This was in connection with the broadcast rights to the 1996, 1998 and 2000 Gold Cups.
“Beginning around 2004 and continuing throughout 2011, I and other FIFA executives agreed to accept bribes as part of the selection South Africa as the host country for the 2010 World Cup.”
Blazer, 70 years old, served as a member of FIFA’s executive committee from 1997 to 2013 and as CONCACAF secretary-general from 1990 until 2011.
Last week, US investigators revealed that Blazer had pled guilty to 10 federal charges, including fraud and racketeering.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a New York congresswoman, was falsely accused at a recent town hall held in her congressional district. This is a bogus claim that has been repeatedly disproven and circulated on dubious social media platforms and websites since she took office.
The congresswoman’s claims that she has a net worth in excess of $29 million and is the owner of one of the most expensive homes in the world continue to be unproven. However, her critics claim her denial to be evidence of a conspiracy theory to protect her wealth and power.
The most recent financial disclosure forms of Ms Ocasio Cortez from 2021 showed that she had between $3,003 to $45,000 in assets, which included a pension plan.
According to her disclosures, she had $1,001 to $15,000 in a checking and brokerage account and $1,001 to $15,000 in a retirement plan.
She is paid $174,000. An annual salary as a member of Congress. She also rents apartments in New York City and Washington DC as a member of Congress.
Statements from the US Department of Education show that she owes $15,000 to $50,000 in federally backed student loan debts.
After obtaining her undergraduate degree from Boston University in 2007, she stated repeatedly that she owes more than $17,000 in student loan debts. (The annual tuition at the university for the 2022-2023 school years is $61,050. This does not include accommodation and textbooks.
She wrote that she doesn’t trade or own individual stocks and accepts no corporate money for my campaign. “I live solely off my congressional pay (which requires me to pay [two] rents out-of-pocket),” she said on Twitter.
She stated that “all of this information is publicly disclosed” and added that she is enrolled as a Thrift Savings Plan, just like other federal workers. This plan offers similar savings and tax benefits to 401k plans offered by private companies.
False claims about her earnings, net worth, and income persist, including an article still in existence on CAknowledge.com, which falsely lists Congresswoman’s assets. This includes five cars and luxury yachts, none of these vehicles exist.
Many of the online false claims have been attributed to the website. It has made previously unsubstantiated claims regarding Jen Psaki and other prominent US officials.
According to archived captures, the article was originally titled “Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Net Worth (Forbes), Assets Salary Cars House”, but it was changed in August 2022 to remove “Forbes”.
Forbes spokesperson told USA Today and Reuters both that Forbes “hasn’t reported on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s net worth.”
CAknowledge.com also publishes similar dubious search engine optimized information dumps about high-profile figures’ alleged net worth without providing sources. Cloudfare hosts the website, which appears to be located in India. It is not possible to identify its owner.
The Independent requested comments from the listed “CEO” and founder of the website.
According to OpenSecrets analysis, the lawmaker ranks among the most poor members of Congress. The median net worth of senators and representatives is approximately $1m.
With nearly $260m of net assets, Rick Scott, a Florida Republican Senator, is the richest member of Congress.