crime

We the People recently launched a petition asking the White House to look into alleged political bribery involving exiled Russian businessman, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The petition claims he donated large amounts of money to U.S. Congress to condemn the “politically-motivated arrest, detention, and sentencing of Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev.” The petition will receive a response from the White House. The petition claims that as a result of the bill, relations between Russia and the United States experienced negative repercussions. After all, Khodorkovsky and Russian President Vladimir Putin share a relationship riddled with friction. Khodorkovsky spoke out against Putin at... Read More >

Police work is a difficult, dangerous profession. Pretty much everyone agrees with that, but when cops make a mistake, the stakes – both in life and public relations – can be very high. Trust is shattered as those who people assume will protect them are in the news showing they can be all too human. A Tragic Mistake in Stockbridge, Georgia Authorities arrived at a home to serve a warrant. As they entered the home, cops encountered 63-year-old William Powell. In the altercation that followed, Powell was shot by police. He later died at Atlanta Medical Center. At some point... Read More >

Katt Williams has been arrested and faces yet another crisis PR situation. The edgy comic with a rabid fan following known for describing himself as a pimp as well as with language we cannot publish here is once again allowing his life to mimic his onstage persona. Williams was arraigned last week for allegedly threatening to kill his bodyguard during an attack inside his home near Atlanta. Read that again. Dude threatened to kill the guy he pays to keep other people from killing him. Strange? You better believe it. But this is not Williams’ first rodeo. More on that... Read More >

The Intercept – the online magazine created by Ebay’s founder – whose editors include Glenn Greenwald, published an expose this month on the Saudi Arabian PR machine (which can be read here). Certainly over the years there have been those who have tried to buy the U.S. Government and their good will. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seems to be making a further bid do so so. Almost as soon as bombs and attacks were launched against Yemen by Saudi forces recently, Saudi Arabia launched another blitz campaign – this time in the political arena. Qorvis Communications, operating as a... Read More >

The Memphis Police Department is searching for a firm to assist them with a marketing campaign in order to increase recruitment to the city’s finest.   The RFP seems to seek a kindler, gentler, smarter recruiter – instead of focusing on brute strength.  They seek “qualified applicants who are centered with honesty, loyalty, pride, respect, strength, and courage.” They are looking to create a multi-channel, cost-effective, media campaign that reinforces MPD’s recruiting efforts, and “strengthens the image and interest, not only for law enforcement, but for a career path with the Memphis Police Department (MPD).” The RFP notes that, “The common... Read More >

The latest emission scandal by Volkswagen severely crippled the company’s growth, shaken the trust of investors, consumers, and, as this article posits, leaves the entire brand of Volkswagen threatened. These are dark days for the company but also a opportunity for to rebrand the company with a new green initiative and more corporate oversight. Four PR firms have been retained to work on the project – led by German firm Hering Schuppener as lead PR counsel, with Finsbury in London and Kekst & Edelman handling North America. The Scandal Last month Volkswagen admitted to rigging 1.8 commercial vehicles with software... Read More >

Lobbying firms are busy – no matter who is in power. Whether you deem their work as manipulation, oligarchical or “good business,” the fact remains that lobbying firms do not simply represent campaigns or clients in one business or legal context - they actually view the legal landscape of the community as a malleable thing, as a material good that is simply means to any paying clientele’s end. In some cases (e.g. Holland and Knight), a firm actually creates new literary milieus by holding essay competitions for minorities, and thereby alters the linguistic landscape of the nation. That being said,... Read More >

White collar crime is high-profile: universally treated as scandals, breaches of the law occurring in the business world’s upper echelons, and subject to a high degree of attention and scrutiny by the media. Often portrayed in a negative light by major news outlets, those charged with white collar crimes appear guilty to the public well before a verdict is ever reached in the courtroom. As such, it’s become common practice for the legal defense team to include public relations firms handling media crews cashing in on an individual’s bruised reputations. This is a niche specialization, one demanding sensitivity and tact.... Read More >

“If anyone wants to linger over my physique – well, let them have their fun.” - Mara Carfagna Mara Carfagna first came on the scene when she participated in the 1997 Miss Italy contest – she finished in 6th place. In 2001, she received her degree in law from the University of Salerno – her thesis was on information law and broadcasting systems. That combination makes perfect sense for this beautiful, smart, and enterprising politician. She worked in television for Mediaset – a company controlled by Silvio Berlusconi’s family. Berlusconi served as the Italian Prime Minister for three separate terms... Read More >

Everything is public on a grand scale and very little escapes commentary in some form or other.  So when it comes to the justice system and how defendants – or potential defendants - approach cases, it’s not surprising for PR firms to join the fray. In cases such as convicted murderer Richard Glossip facing execution this month in Oklahoma City, the new defense team, Don R. Knight of Colorado held a press conference. There, they informed the public they have new evidence that the key witness and convicted killer lied during Glossip’s trial and has since bragged about it to... Read More >