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The United States Agency for International Development has become embroiled in a significant bribery scandal. This development comes as the agency faced scrutiny following cuts instituted by the DOGE administration, which Democrats claimed would jeopardize aid to impoverished nations.
A federal contracting officer, alongside three businessmen, recently pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme highlighted by the Department of Justice as part of a $550 million bribery operation. This was reported by Fox News’ Chief Washington Correspondent Mike Emanuel on Friday.
According to a press release from the DOJ, Roderick Watson, a 57-year-old USAID contracting officer, accepted bribes over the course of his tenure. His guilty plea was for charges related to bribing a public official.
The DOJ details that Watson began selling influence in 2013, with contractors such as Walter Barnes, the owner of Vistant, and Darryl Britt, who heads Apprio, orchestrating bribery payments through subcontractor Paul Young to obscure their actions.
During this illicit scheme, Barnes and Britt reportedly provided significant bribes to Watson. These bribes included cash payouts, tickets for NBA games, a lavish country club wedding, down payments on residential mortgages, and gifts to family members. Notably, the bribes often employed complex methods to hide their true nature, such as electronic bank transfers that misrepresented Watson’s role on payroll, the use of shell companies, and fraudulent invoices. The collective value of these illicit payments exceeded approximately $1 million.
In November 2023, Vistant was awarded a joint contract valued at up to $800 million. This contract aimed to tackle root causes of irregular migration from Central America to the United States, a critical issue highlighted by President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris during their administration.
However, this contract faced cancellation shortly after it was awarded. USAID issued a notice that Vistant would be excluded from government contracts, citing a lack of business integrity. Subsequently, the company pursued legal action against the government for its exclusion and succeeded in regaining its contract a year later, along with a $10,000 compensation.
Sean Bottary, Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations at USAID, declared that corruption within government programs is unacceptable. He emphasized that Watson had misused his position, while federal contractors engaged in a blatant pay-to-play scheme. USAID-OIG remains committed to eradicating fraud and corruption within U.S. foreign assistance programs. This incident underscores their dedication to revealing criminal activities, particularly bribery schemes utilized by those entrusted with awarding government contracts.
The efforts by the DOGE administration to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government were epitomized by the drastic cuts applied to USAID’s funding. This resulted in an overall reduction of 83%, with vital programs being transferred to the State Department.
The agency faced further controversy when its website went offline on February 3, and personnel access to its headquarters was revoked. Employees were placed on administrative leave as the repercussions of the funding cuts were felt throughout the organization.
Amidst this upheaval, USAID received backlash for its questionable funding allocations. For instance, $1.5 million was directed toward a program designed to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in workplaces in Serbia, while another $70,000 was allocated for a DEI musical production in Ireland.
Moreover, investigations during the DOGE administration uncovered alarming revelations regarding U.S. funds reaching terror-linked groups. Reports indicated that finances earmarked for such programs fully funded educational opportunities for al-Qaeda affiliates, including notorious terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki.
As USAID faced dismantling, many Democrats and media commentators voiced strong opposition to the funding cuts. Critics argued that these reductions would harm vulnerable populations globally. Even figures like U2’s Bono spoke out, alleging that the cuts could lead to over 300,000 deaths.
In early February, several House and Senate Democrats staged protests outside USAID’s headquarters in response to the sweeping layoffs and funding eliminations that accompanied the restructuring efforts.
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, made a statement reflecting the widespread concern regarding malfeasance in government agencies, including USAID. He stated that diligence in preventing waste, fraud, and abuse is essential for maintaining effective governance.
The unfolding bribery scandal significantly tarnishes the reputation of USAID, an agency already wrestling with public perception amid drastic cuts. It raises crucial questions about oversight and accountability in federal programs designed to assist those in need.
This report includes contributions from Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Rachel Wolf.
