Bass Tied to Federal Corruption Case over $95k USC Scholarship

Breitbart News reports that far-Left Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) is increasingly tied to a federal corruption case involving the University of Southern California (USC), which allegedly gave Bass and another politician’s daughter a scholarship in return for support for legislation to secure funding.

Bass won the June 7 mayoral primary in Los Angeles and will face businessman Republican-turned-Democrat Rick Caruso.

Bass received a $95,000 scholarship — while serving in Congress — to pursue a part-time graduate degree at USC. An official at the school allegedly hoped Bass would back legislation to fund the school’s social work program. The USC official, Marilyn Flynn, was indicted, along with local City Council member and power broker Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Bass obtained permission from Congress to receive the scholarship, but did not list it on campaign financial disclosures for years. Now, she is increasingly tied to the case against Flynn, though federal officials say she is not a target. The Los Angeles Times notes:

By awarding free tuition to Bass in 2011, Flynn hoped to obtain the congresswoman’s assistance in passing coveted legislation, prosecutors wrote in a July court filing. Bass later sponsored a bill in Congress that would have expanded USC’s and other private universities’ access to federal funding for social work — “just as defendant Flynn wanted,” the filing states.

…

“At present and based on the evidence obtained to date, Rep. Bass is not a target or a subject of our office’s investigation,” said Thom Mrozek, director of media relations for the U.S. attorney’s office in L.A.

But with Flynn and Ridley-Thomas on trial in November, the circumstances of Bass’ free master’s degree could become an increasingly contested part of the case. In June, Flynn’s lawyers subpoenaed USC for correspondence pertaining to Bass’ scholarship and any honors or benefits given to the congresswoman, according to a copy of the subpoena filed last month.