Mon, May 12
3 minute readPublished: Monday, May 12, 2025 at 4:00 am
This Day in History: Guinta's Campaign Loan, Albright's Sanctions, and More
On this day in history, May 12th, a variety of significant events unfolded across the decades. Let's take a look at some of the most noteworthy:
**Political Scandals and Controversies:**
In 2015, Representative Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) agreed to repay a hefty $355,000 campaign loan deemed illegal by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). This settlement, reached after years of denying any wrongdoing, also included a $15,000 fine. This news highlights the ongoing scrutiny of campaign finance regulations and the consequences of violating them.
Looking back further, in 1996, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made a controversial statement on *60 Minutes* regarding the impact of sanctions on Iraq. She acknowledged the devastating effect on Iraqi children, stating that the death of 500,000 children was "a very hard choice, but the price is worth it." This statement sparked significant debate about the ethics and effectiveness of international sanctions.
**Other Notable Events:**
* **1987:** Oliver North's efforts to fund the Contras suffered a setback when a $10 million contribution was lost due to an incorrect Swiss bank account number.
* **1984:** A controversial statement was made by Philip Abrams, HUD Undersecretary under Ronald Reagan, who claimed that Hispanics lived in crowded homes due to cultural preference, not poverty.
* **1975:** Khmer Rouge naval forces seized the U.S. container ship Mayaguez and its crew off the coast of Cambodia.
* **1960:** The remains of SSgt. Guy E. Shelley were discovered in the Sahara Desert, 17 years after his plane crashed.
* **1958:** Future Defense Secretary Robert McNamara suggested that cabbage and broccoli could protect Americans from atomic fallout.
* **1947:** Winnie Ruth Judd, known as the "Trunk Murderess," made her third escape from the Arizona State Insane Hospital.
* **1937:** Comedian George Carlin was born.
* **1916:** James Connolly, a leader of the Easter Uprising, was executed by firing squad in a chair due to his injuries.
This snapshot of May 12th throughout history offers a glimpse into the diverse events that have shaped our world, from political scandals to cultural moments.
Keywords:
Frank Guinta, campaign finance, FEC, Madeleine Albright, sanctions, Iraq, Oliver North, Contras, Khmer Rouge, Mayaguez, George Carlin, James Connolly, history, news, events, political, controversy, scandal, May 12th, this day in history