FACT CHECK: Did Treasury Department Employee Expose Government Corruption?
A post shared on Facebook purports Shannon Corless, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Intelligence and Analysis in the U.S. Department of Treasury, turned herself in.
Verdict: False
The claim stems from a satirical website. There is no evidence that Corless has been arrested.
Fact Check:
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that she sees no sign of recession in the near future, adding the economy had “solid growth this quarter,” according to a recent interview with CNN. The department further announced Series I bonds would be at a 6.89 percent-rate for the next six months, CNBC reported.
The Facebook post purports Corless surrendered herself to authorities and disclosed information about systematic corruption at the federal level. The posts goes on to claim Corless admitted to participating in an embezzlement scheme that laundered money to “Leftist” organizations.
“Treasury Department employee Shannon Corless–convinced she was the target of a military surveillance operation–and her lawyer walked through the front door to JAG’s investigative offices in Pensacola, Florida,” the post reads. “Where she confessed to participating in an embezzlement scheme by which taxpayer dollars were laundered and distributed to Leftist organizations such as Antifa and Black Lives Matters.”
This claim is baseless. There are no credible news reports suggesting that Corless has been taken into custody or that she turned over any information regarding government corruption. There has been no press release from the Department of Treasury or any announcement on their social media accounts confirming this claim.
The post stems from an Oct. 30 article on the Real Raw News website. The site’s “about us” page identifies itself as containing “humor, parody, and satire.” (RELATED: Was Brian Stelter Convicted Of Child Molestation?)
Check Your Fact has contacted the U.S. Navy for comment on the allegations and will update this piece if a response is provided.
Check Your Fact recently debunked a viral post that also stemmed from Real Raw News. The post claimed, former President Donald Trump called his ex-wife Ivana’s death “highly suspicious.”