Extortion How Politicians Extract Your Money, Buy Votes, and Line Their Own Pockets

"Schweizer names guilty parties . . . He exposes powerful figures in politics, law firms, and corporations." — ForbesWashington is no longer about lawmaking, it's about moneymakingConventional wisdom holds that Washington is broken because outside special interests bribe politicians. The reverse is true: politicians have developed a new set of brass-knuckle legislative tactics designed to extort wealthy industries and donors into forking over big donations — cash that lawmakers often funnel into the pockets of their friends and family.Inside this best-selling bombshell of a book, Schweizer reveals the exorbitant secret "fees" each political party charges politicians for top committee assignments; how fourteen members of Congress bagged hundreds of thousands of dollars using a little-known self-loan loophole; how politicians use PACs to bankroll lavish lifestyles; and much more. Washington's extortion racket has gone unreported — until now.