RUFUS - House Speaker Gretchen LeWolf is now under investigation for potential money laundering that was uncovered during a broader money laundering and drug trafficking investigation launched by the Federal Crimes Investigative Service, who uncovered major money laundering under one of LeWolf's business ventures, LeWolf Private Financial Institute. The Speaker, is accused of knowingly and willfully allowing money to be transferred into the LPFI accounts, and then dispersed throughout the country.
"Today we announced that House Speaker Gretchen LeWolf has been named as a co-defendant in a money laundering scheme," said FCIS Director Barry Wilkenson. "We found that she had knowingly and willingly allowed the funds to be transferred into her financial institute's bank accounts. She should have known that all of this was going on as she has access to company financial records. She is complicit in this crime and she will be held accountable for allowing these illegal transactions to happen."
The agency said that it would likely push federal charges against the House Speaker, and would focus on ensuring that her actions directly allowed the money laundering to occur. A federal court is set to hear the case against LeWolf Private Financial Institute(LPFI). LeWolf is also likely to face a Senate Judiciary Committee, who will investigate LeWolf's involvement in the money laundering, but says that it may be referred to a House Judiciary Committee panel for further investigation.
"LeWolf continues to defy House rules and is allowed to keep her job," said Representative Richard Sanchez. "Any other member of the House accused of significant crimes would be forced to resign or face an expulsion vote, and that is something that needs to happen now. She violated federal law, and is still in power, and that is something that needs to change. We look forward to the FCIS's findings in this case and I know the agency will uncover the truth."
President Jay Laylin says he won't get involved in the presumptions and accusations of the case but did say he will follow the trial as it unfolds. The President who is set to meet with House Speaker Gretchen LeWolf on December 31. But if she is found to have participated in money laundering, and is found to have knowingly and willfully participated in money laundering, as the charges suggest, she could not only be booted from the Speaker's chair, but she could be kicked out of the House, or forced to resign from office.
"The charges against the Speaker are very serious and her best bet now is to keep quiet about the ongoing case," said Rasha Ali, the Speaker's personal attorney. "While we work out the charges and details of this case, we are committed to proving her innocence, and we will continue to provide updates when and wherever possible. That is all we are going to say about the case at this time."
The investigation has been ongoing since December 1, 2024, when suspicious activity was reported on several of the company's SARs, that were automatically sent to the fraud department. They were then flagged again and referred to the FCIS for investigation. The FCIS directed agents to pull the LPFI's financial and income records as well as fund transfer records and served warrants for all company records, regardless of its use.