We watch the debates and listen to the stump speeches, but what about the facts they don't want us to know? Instant Checkmate has gathered the most infamous scandals about each 2016 presidential candidate. Make sure you know who you're voting for! Want to see what's floating around the internet about your past? Run a background check on InstantCheckmate.com today!

1. 2016 PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE SCANDALS

2. Everyone Loves A Scandal…
Especially When It’s About The
Future Leader Of The Free World

3. If someone dug into your past,
they’d probably find a skeleton
or two, right?

4. But if you’re running for the
Oval Office —
know that there are people who
dedicate their lives to finding
dirt on you.

5. Let’s take a look into what this
year’s presidential candidates
don’t want you to know!

6. Copy-heavy
content goes here.

7. Bernie Sanders
Scandal: His political stance
“I don’t have a Super PAC. I’m one of the few presidential candidates that does not,
because frankly, I do not support the agenda of corporate America or the billionaire
class. I don’t want their money.”

8. Details: He’s an independent and (and self-described “democratic socialist”), and he’s
running as a Democrat.
Is it a big deal?Yes, if his politics are too left-wing for you.

9. Scandal: Making controversial statements
Details: In a 1972 newspaper column, Sanders wrote a passage about men and
women’s sexual fantasies, including rape. He was also criticized for appearing to
defendVeterans Affairs after CNN reported that at least 40 veterans died while
waiting for care at a PhoenixVA hospital.

10. after CNN reported that at least 40 veterans died while waiting for care at a
PhoenixVA hospital.
Is it a big deal?Yes, especially if you already think Sanders’ socialist stance also makes
him a Communist.

11. Hillary Clinton
Scandal: Sending sensitive emails from a private email account
“I’m trying to be as transparent as possible.That’s why people are reading the
contents of the emails that are being released. It’s why I’ve turned over my server.
It’s why I will testify.”

12. Details: Clinton used a private email server, instead of a government email server, to
conduct business as Secretary of State. She claims none of her emails contained
classified information at the time she sent or received them. She also deleted more
than 30,000 “personal” emails from the server before handing it over for
investigation.

13. Is it a big deal? Use of a personal email address to run government business is not
banned outright by the State Department, but it’s definitely discouraged. People
aren’t happy that she used a

14. private server, and they’re really not happy that she cherry-picked which emails to
turn over for review.
Also, the scandal is a big deal on the national security front.The FBI and State
department are investigating the contents of her private server and emails. So far,
it’s been revealed

15. So far, it’s been revealed that 400 of her emails have been retroactively classified,
and that her email account was targeted by cyber attacks from China, South Korea,
and Germany. Since the investigation is ongoing, we’ll have to wait and see how
badly the findings hurt her campaign.

16. Scandal: Benghazi attacks
Details: On Sept. 11, 2012, a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed
after an attack on the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Clinton and the Obama

17. administration were questioned about alleged security failures that failed to
prevent the attacks.
Is it a big deal? After a two-year investigation, Clinton was cleared of any
wrongdoing. However, no presidential candidate wants to be

18. held responsible for a national tragedy.The scandal has added plenty of fuel to anti-
Hillary sentiments.

19. Scandal:Allegedly receiving illegal donations
Details:The Clinton Foundation confirmed it received as much as $26.4 million in
previously unreported payments from universities, corporations, and foreign
governments. Some

20. of the payments were made while Clinton served as Secretary of State.
Is it a big deal? It could be. Clinton Foundation officials claim the money was filed as
"revenue" (for speeches made by the Clintons),

21. not as donations. "Revenue" or not, the big question is this: did any of the money
influence Clinton's decisions at the State Department?

22. Scandal: Putting former aides on the Clinton Foundation's bankroll
Details: Sydney Blumenthal was a top aide to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Hillary tried to
hire Blumenthal when she was

23. Secretary of State, but Obama’s aides refused her request. Still, Clinton sought his
informal counsel while he collected a paycheck from the Clinton Foundation.
Huma Abedin, one of Hillary Clinton’s longest-serving aides, changed her status to
"special government employee" so

24. she could work at a consulting firm run by Bill Clinton's former counselor.Abedin
was also paid during that time by the Clinton Foundation.
Is it a big deal? At the very least, it reveals a potential conflict of interest. If

25. Hillary was elected president, would she be influenced by her connections to the
Clinton Foundation?

26. Details: He’s an independent and (and self-described “democratic socialist”), and he’s
running as a Democrat.
Is it a big deal?Yes, if his politics are too left-wing for you.

27. Donald Trump
Scandal:Where do we begin?
“Our country is in serious trouble.We don’t have victories anymore … When was
the last time anybody saw us beating, let’s say, China in a trade deal? They kill us. I
beat China all the time.All the time.”

28. Details: He’s publicly attacked Megyn Kelly, Heidi Klum, Jorge Ramos, Obama, and
almost all other 2016 presidential candidates. He’s flung racial insults at almost
every minority group. He’s been accused of rape by his ex-wife. He’s filed

29. for bankruptcy four times. He tried to evict an elderly woman from her home. Shall
we continue?
Is it a big deal?Yes, if the Donald makes it past the primaries.

30. Marco Rubio
Scandal: Sketchy money management
Details: Despite past financial struggles, Rubio has very expensive taste. (He’s
splurged on an $80,000 speedboat and a lease on a $50,000 Audi.) He also charged
tens of thousands of

31. dollars of personal expenses to the GOP credit card.
Is it a big deal? Maybe, if personal spending habits reflect his view on the federal
budget. In his 2012 memoir, Rubio confessed he has a “lack of bookkeeping skills.”

32. Scandal:Alleged nepotism
Details: Rubio has employed many of his relatives, including his wife and mother-in-
law. He also bought (and then foreclosed on) a house with ex-Congressman David
Rivera,who was

33. accused of financial corruption and nepotism.
Is it a big deal? Not really. Rubio wasn’t involved in Rivera’s scandals. He just needs
to find better friends.

34. Ted Cruz
Scandal:Accused of causing a government shutdown
“It seems that there is nothing the media likes to cover more than disagreements
among Republicans, and apparently some senators are content to fuel those stores
with anonymous quotes.”

35. Details: Cruz attempted to defund Obamacare during budget negotiations in 2013.
Those negotiations resulted in the first federal government shutdown in 17 years.
Is it a big deal?

36. Maybe, if you were a government employee at the time.While many Republican
senators blamed Cruz for the shutdown, his fierce anti-Obamacare stance is
common among GOP candidates.

37. Scandal Not born on U.S. soil
Details: Cruz was born in Canada to an American mother and Cuban-born father.

38. Is it a big deal? Not anymore. His parents are American citizens, and so is he. But to
avoid any more criticism, Cruz claims he’s renounced his Canadian citizenship.

39. John Kasich
Scandal: Poor approval rating as governor
Details: Ohio is not a fan of Kasich. He’s known for his temper, for expanding
Medicaid under Obamacare in a Republican state, and for signing a law tightening
union restrictions

40. (that a public vote overturned).
Is it a big deal? If Ohio doesn’t like Kasich, will America?

41. WHAT WOULD BE UNCOVERED
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