Scandals involving elected officials have long shaped public discourse on leadership and ethics in American politics. These incidents, often tied to sexual or romantic relationships, have persisted throughout history, with public figures facing scrutiny for extramarital affairs, illicit relationships, and related misconduct. Such scandals frequently draw significant attention and spark debates about trust and accountability.
Here are some famous incidents from history that highlight scandals involving elected officials tied to sex, conspiracy, and fraud:
LaToya Cantrell, elected New Orleans’ first female mayor in 2018 after serving on the city council, led post-Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in Broadmoor. Jeffrey Vappie, a 25-year NOPD veteran, joined her protection team in 2021. Both were married during their alleged relationship.
A federal grand jury indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell on August 15, 2025, on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and making false statements.
Prosecutors alleged that Cantrell engaged in a romantic relationship with her bodyguard, Vappie, and used over $70,000 in city funds to cover personal trips and meetings, including stays at hotels and vineyards.
The indictment cited over 15,000 WhatsApp messages between Cantrell and Vappie, which included efforts to delete evidence and harass a citizen. Vappie faced similar charges in the indictment.
The investigation began in 2023, during which both Cantrell and Vappie lied about their relationship. Federal authorities also charged two of Cantrell’s associates with bribery, wire fraud, and false statements in related cases. The indictment marked the first against a sitting New Orleans mayor and prompted calls for Cantrell's resignation from city council members and community leaders.
Bill Clinton, 42nd U.S. President from 1993 to 2001 and former Arkansas governor, led during economic prosperity. Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, later became an anti-cyberbullying advocate. Their affair occurred while Clinton was married to Hillary Clinton.
President Clinton conducted a sexual relationship with Lewinsky from 1995 to 1997. The relationship involved oral sex in the Oval Office and other areas of the White House.
Clinton denied the affair under oath during a deposition in the Paula Jones lawsuit, leading to perjury charges. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr investigated the matter, and Lewinsky provided a dress with DNA evidence. Clinton stated on television on January 26, 1998, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky."
Between November 1995 and March 1997, Lewinsky had nine sexual encounters with Clinton. Lewinsky confided in coworker Linda Tripp, who recorded their conversations, which became key evidence.
The House of Representatives impeached Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in December 1998. The Senate acquitted him in February 1999. The scandal consumed media attention in 1998, shifted focus to presidential ethics, and led Clinton to publicly apologize for misleading the public and his family.
See Also: How the Romance Between an Intern and the President Unravelled: The Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal
Mark Sanford, South Carolina governor from 2003 to 2011 and former U.S. Representative, was a Republican presidential hopeful. María Belén Chapur, an Argentine journalist, met Sanford in 2001. Their affair persisted despite Sanford’s marriage to Jenny Sanford.
South Carolina Governor Sanford disappeared for six days in June 2009, claiming that he hiked the Appalachian Trail. Sanford visited his mistress, Chapur, in Argentina. Emails between Sanford and Chapur surfaced, confirming the extramarital affair.
Sanford admitted the relationship in a press conference, stating his wife and family knew about the affair for five months and that he and his wife, Jenny Sanford, separated. Jenny Sanford filed for divorce in December 2009. Sanford used state funds for travel to meet Chapur, including business-class flights and hotel stays.
The state legislature censured Sanford for misusing public funds on trips. The scandal ended his potential 2012 presidential run. Sanford resigned his leadership post in the Republican Governors Association but finished his term as governor. He later won a congressional seat in 2013, though the scandal limited his national political prospects.
Eliot Spitzer, New York governor from 2007 to 2008 and attorney general from 1999 to 2006, prosecuted corruption cases. The Emperors Club VIP was a high-end prostitution service. Spitzer was married to Silda Wall Spitzer during the scandal.
In one of the notable scandals, New York Governor Spitzer patronized the Emperors Club VIP prostitution ring as "Client 9." Federal investigators uncovered wire transfers and arrangements for encounters, including one in Washington, D.C., on February 13, 2008. Spitzer spent up to $80,000 on services over several years, using cash and wire transfers to maintain secrecy. As New York Attorney General, Spitzer prosecuted similar prostitution rings, adding to the public interest in his case.
Spitzer resigned from office on March 17, 2008, three days after the New York Times reported the story. Federal authorities charged the ring's operators, leading to convictions. The scandal ended Spitzer's political career, though he attempted comebacks as a CNN host and in a 2013 run for New York City comptroller, which he lost.
John Edwards, U.S. Senator from North Carolina from 1999 to 2005, ran for president in 2004 and 2008. Rielle Hunter, a campaign videographer, worked for Edwards in 2006. Edwards was married to Elizabeth Edwards, who battled cancer during the affair.
Scandals involving elected officials can derail campaigns, as evidenced by former Senator Edwards, who engaged in an extramarital affair with Hunter during his 2008 presidential campaign. Edwards fathered a child, Quinn Hunter, with Hunter while his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, received cancer treatment. Donors provided nearly $1 million to conceal the affair and support Hunter, with funds funnelled through intermediaries to cover living expenses. Edwards denied the affair and paternity initially, claiming a campaign aide fathered the child, but admitted both in 2010.
A federal grand jury indicted Edwards on campaign finance violations for misusing donor funds. A jury acquitted him on one count and deadlocked on others in 2012, leading to a mistrial. The scandal ended his presidential bid, destroyed his marriage, and halted his political career.
Anthony Weiner, U.S. Representative from 1999 to 2011, was a New York Democrat known for progressive advocacy. Huma Abedin, his wife, was a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton. Their marriage faced strain from Weiner’s actions.
Congressman Weiner sent explicit photos and messages to women via social media. In 2011, Weiner tweeted a lewd image publicly and lied, claiming his account was hacked. Additional sexting incidents emerged in 2013 during his New York City mayoral campaign, under the alias "Carlos Danger." In 2016, authorities investigated Weiner for sexting a 15-year-old girl, uncovering thousands of messages and images on his devices.
Weiner resigned from Congress in June 2011. He lost the 2013 mayoral race, finishing with less than 5% of the vote. A court sentenced him to 21 months in prison in 2017 for the offense involving the minor. The scandals ended his marriage to Abedin and his political career.
David Vitter, Louisiana Senator from 2005 to 2017 and House member from 1999 to 2004, was a conservative Republican. Deborah Jeane Palfrey ran the "D.C. Madam" prostitution service.
Scandals involving elected officials often resurface, as seen when Senator Vitter's phone number appeared in records of the "D.C. Madam" prostitution service run by Palfrey. Vitter admitted to using the service in July 2007, issuing a public apology for a "serious sin." Palfrey’s records showed multiple calls from Vitter to the service between 1999 and 2001, while he served in the House of Representatives.
Vitter retained his Senate seat and won re-election in 2010. The scandal resurfaced during his 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial campaign, with opponents highlighting it in advertisements, contributing to his loss in the runoff election.
Matt Gaetz, U.S. Representative from Florida since 2017, was a vocal conservative and Trump ally. Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector, was Gaetz’s associate. Gaetz was unmarried during the allegations.
Representative Gaetz paid women for sex on multiple occasions, including a 17-year-old, according to a House Ethics Committee report released in December 2024. The committee found evidence of Gaetz using illegal drugs, including ecstasy, and making payments via Venmo for sexual encounters and drug-fueled parties. Federal investigators examined sex trafficking allegations, focusing on Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to related charges in 2021.
The Department of Justice closed its investigation without charges in 2023. Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general in November 2024 and resigned from Congress shortly after. The report disrupted his involvement in political transitions, including his role in the Trump administration transition.
Andrew Cuomo, the 56th Governor of New York, served from 2011 until his resignation in 2021. He was previously New York’s attorney general and U.S. secretary of housing and urban development.
Governor Andrew Cuomo faced allegations from multiple women who accused him of sexual harassment, including unwelcome touching, kissing, and suggestive remarks. The allegations surfaced in late 2020 and early 2021, with 11 women ultimately coming forward. An investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James concluded in August 2021 that Cuomo had harassed several women in violation of state and federal laws.
Cuomo denied wrongdoing but faced mounting pressure from political leaders, including President Joe Biden, to resign. On August 10, 2021, Cuomo announced his resignation, effective later that month, to avoid impeachment proceedings. His resignation marked a dramatic fall for a governor once considered a potential presidential contender.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer, ran as an independent presidential candidate in 2024. Olivia Nuzzi was a political journalist for New York Magazine. Kennedy was married to actress Cheryl Hines during the relationship.
Scandals involving elected officials extend to candidates, as seen with independent presidential candidate Kennedy, who engaged in a personal relationship with Nuzzi. Nuzzi sent nude photos and explicit messages to Kennedy over several months, beginning after she profiled him for New York Magazine in November 2023. The relationship involved frequent digital communication, described as intense and personal, though they met in person only once.
New York Magazine parted ways with Nuzzi in October 2024 after an investigation found no bias in her reporting but confirmed the conflict of interest. The scandal affected Kennedy's marriage, with his wife, Cheryl Hines, addressing divorce rumors in 2025. It prompted discussions on journalistic ethics and strained Kennedy’s personal and campaign relationships.
These scandals involving elected officials demonstrate how personal misconduct can lead to legal, professional, and personal consequences. They often result in resignations, legal battles, or damaged careers, while sparking public debates about trust, ethics, and accountability in leadership. Each case, from financial misconduct to extramarital affairs, highlights the challenges public figures face in maintaining their roles amidst intense scrutiny. [Rh/Eth/VS]
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