Barbara bessolo

@KColbertReport 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

INDIANA INDIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION The Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s foundation is showing no signs of shutting down — spending almost $500,000 last year despite indications from leaders that the entity was on its way out. “As we see if we’ll need it as a tool, it’s going to be fully transparent,” Gov. Mike Braun told reporters Wednesday, after leading a meeting of the IEDC’s board of directors. “(That) doesn’t mean that we’ll necessarily get rid of all of it. We’re going to look at it, to see what makes sense,” he added. The IEDC is a quasi-public state agency with a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit subsidiary: the foundation. They share the same staff and 11-member board. Braun said the state still needs an entity “to run expenses through … because we’re going to be reaching out” to push Indiana as a business destination — “just not like it was before.” The foundation came under heavy scrutiny for its secretive approach to donations and spending during former Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration. Last April, Braun called out the foundation for not filing six years of required audited financial reports with the State Budget Committee. Two weeks later, they were available online. The reports revealed that, from fiscal years 2019 through 2024, the foundation spent more than $13 million. About $11 million went to travel, meals and entertainment, $2 million for administration, $300,000 for “other” spending and $200,000 for sponsorships, according to a Capital Chronicle analysis. “Whether it’s the foundation, whether it’s in your general expense report, we’re going to be spending less. It’s going to be targeted,” Braun said. “There aren’t going to be big foreign escapades. It’s going to be focused on getting the job done.” Foundation remains active The foundation spent nearly $500,000 in 2025, as of November, Chief Administrative Officer Alison Grand said during a Wednesday afternoon committee meeting. That’s although Commerce Secretary and agency CEO David Adam wrote that the foundation had “ceased accepting new contributions” and was “moving toward wind-down” in an October note to Braun — when he was sending the governor a forensic analysis of IEDC and foundation activities. The report flagged eye-popping nonprofit spending on international trips from 2022 through 2024. Braun promised an “audit” last April following an explosive Hannah News report on one of IEDC’s partners. At the time, Adams said the foundation would not “expend any additional dollars at this point.” As of November, about $290,000 was spent on events, $130,000 on travel, $70,000 on administration and $1,000 on bank fees, according to slides presented in the IEDC’s Audit and Finance committee. “These investments enable Indiana to participate in major conferences and engagements that elevate the state’s visibility, attract investment and deepen relationships across key industries,” Grand said, adding that IEDC is also working on initiatives that broaden Indiana’s global reach and partnerships. The agency will co-host the annual Midwest U.S. Japan Conference, in collaboration with the Japan-America Society of Indiana, for instance. It hasn’t been held in Indiana for more than 20 years, Grand said. IEDC is also partnering with Indy Chamber on site selector engagement events and with the Indiana Economic Development Association to co-sponsor participation and exhibitor space at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, which promotes foreign business investment into the U.S. The foundation didn’t receive any contributions in 2025, as of November. Instead, it derived $100,000 in income though registrations and sponsorships, and about $8,000 in interest. Its previous donors have not been disclosed for years, since lawmakers required the foundation to redact donor names out of public records when they request anonymity. The audited financial reports disclosed almost $12 million in donations from fiscal years 2019 through 2024 but didn’t reveal the donors. A webpage for the foundation identifies the state’s “big five” investor-owned utilities as “contributors.” IEDC’s board also approved an event and expense policy for the foundation. The entity can only support events, travel and more to advance the state’s economic development mission. The policy also prohibits personal or political expenditures. Spending must be “reasonable, properly documented and approved,” according to the committee slide deck. FINISH THE DAMN AUDIT! @MicahBeckwith @LGMicahBeckwith @GovBraun @Trevor4indiana @RBagsbyIndiana @RobMKendall @SenatorBanks @Jim_Banks @wrtv @NWINews

@KColbertReport @RobMKendall Audit: fec.gov/resources/cms-…

Interesting. A conflict of interest with Braun's family company was highlighted since his campaign. @RobMKendall WASHINGTON, D.C. – An audit from the Federal Election Commission raises questions about Sen. Mike Braun’s (R-Indiana) campaign finances. The draft report, which is not final, alleges numerous errors in funding reports as well as millions in prohibited loans during his 2018 Senate run. The 57-page report from the FEC alleges more than $8.5 million in “apparent prohibited loans and lines of credit” were given to Sen. Braun’s Senate campaign. That includes two checks totaling $1.5 million dollars from Meyer Distributing, a company Braun founded and ran before serving in the Senate. fox59.com/indianapolitic…

@KColbertReport Best meme, it's called "Braun yada yada"

@AndrewIrelandIN I'll help you fight if you tell me what you are going to do about concretely about the Chinese investment in the IEDC. Otherwise, I hear blah blah blah blah blah Less words and more action. Show you are worth it.

🚨 I’ve started an email newsletter with updates on what I’m working on and what you can do to help me fight. Sign up at irelandforindiana.com

Another Indiana Republican comes out against BlackRock’s acquisition of AES - and goes one step further to advocate for local ownership of utilities.

Indiana ratepayers deserve a locally (non-municipality) owned energy company. My statement is below. indianasenaterepublicans.com/statement-from…

@FreemanForIndy My favorite prosecutor. @FreemanForIndy, these are the same people as Vision Fleet. It's CICP and its AES donations. Now called Central Indiana yada yada yada yada.

Billionaire Peter Thiel,who helped fund Donald Trump’s first run for president, is ramping up his engagement with federal politics again after sitting out the 2024 election cycle bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Eli Lilly in Lebanon Indiana received sweet #IEDC benefits at the cost of tax payers with the anticipation of creating jobs for #Hoosiers. #Lilly had more than 60 H-1B foreign workers in less than 3 months of 2026 and ranked 2nd in the state for H-1Bs. uscis.gov/tools/reports-…

@GovBraun I guess one attendant is better than zero.

More AEDs mean more people are ready to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency. Thank you Bolt for the Heart for helping place thousands of these devices across Indiana.

STUDENTS: RUN AWAY AS FAR AS YOU CAN These neurolness steal your IP for a living. @barbarabessolo/note/p-191076075?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=2hnppj" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">substack.com/@barbarabessol…

Reliable, high-quality internet helps students learn, patients access care, businesses grow, and rural communities compete. We're leading on expanding service to Hoosiers who need it.

@AndrewIrelandIN @KColbertReport That is insane.

🚨 Indiana Congressmen Andre Carson and Frank Mrvan both voted NO to deporting illegals who commit welfare fraud. Exhibit 1001 that Indiana should have redistricted

@GovBraun @AGToddRokita @tmhuston @SenFadyQaddoura @eddelaney86 @PhilGiaQuinta A diaper it is.

@GovBraun, little do you know, there are many more like me. @AGToddRokita I think he needs a lawyer because the IEDC is avoiding presenting itself in the lawsuit that will open the so-called transparent books. Or a diaper. @tmhuston @SenFadyQaddoura @eddelaney86 @PhilGiaQuinta @jdford4congress

Indiana’s economic development strategy continues to pay dividends for Hoosiers, creating new high-wage, high-growth career opportunities while reducing the burden of these jobs on taxpayers. In addition to creating new jobs, we are delivering on our promise to encourage regional strategy and decision making and to lift up entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The **Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)** is not currently under a formal criminal investigation or facing active probes for fraud/corruption based on available public reporting as of mid-March 2026. However, it has faced significant scrutiny, audits, and calls for further investigation in recent years, particularly stemming from 2025 events. ### Key Developments - In 2025, then-newly elected **Gov. Mike Braun** commissioned an independent forensic audit/review of the IEDC (covering operations from 2022–2024) amid concerns over transparency, conflicts of interest, and potential misuse of funds. This was conducted by FTI Consulting and released in October 2025. - The 127-page report identified **45 findings and observations**, including gaps in governance, inadequate policies, undisclosed conflicts of interest (e.g., 30 entities where IEDC board members/employees had potential conflicts while receiving funds), no-bid contracts, questionable spending (e.g., lavish travel funded by anonymous donors), and risks of favoritism/misuse of public funds. - Importantly, the audit found **no evidence of criminal wrongdoing** or allegations of fraud/corruption. It highlighted systemic issues like lack of oversight but noted ongoing reforms by the IEDC under Braun's administration. - Some findings were shared with the Indiana Office of the Inspector General for potential ethics review, but no criminal referrals or charges resulted from this. - Media coverage (e.g., from IndyStar, WTHR, Indiana Capital Chronicle, Axios Indianapolis) described the audit as exposing "big problems," "lackluster oversight," and "potential for favoritism," but consistently reported no criminal findings. - In early 2026, Democratic state Rep. **Ed DeLaney** introduced a House resolution (and later an amendment) to form a select committee for a formal legislative investigation into the IEDC's practices, transparency, and potential corruption (including ties to projects like LEAP). This was defeated or blocked by Republican leadership in the House, with some reports noting it was briefly listed as adopted before being reversed. No such committee was established. - There have been related civil actions, including a March 2026 lawsuit by an Indiana tech business against the IEDC and affiliates (alleging issues like IP theft or improper dealings), but this is a private civil matter, not a government-led criminal investigation. - Public discussions on X (formerly Twitter) and opinion pieces have accused the IEDC of fraud, money laundering, or self-dealing, but these appear to be unsubstantiated claims or calls for accountability rather than evidence of ongoing official investigations. In summary: A major independent audit occurred in 2025 with no criminal findings, and legislative efforts for deeper probes in 2026 failed to advance. The IEDC has undergone reforms under Gov. Braun to address the audit's concerns, but no active criminal investigation appears to be underway. For the most current status, check official sources like the IEDC website, Indiana government announcements, or recent news from outlets like IndyStar or WTHR.

@KaraBoutU2 @BBessolo @KColbertReport @GovBraun @RobMKendall @KaraKenney6 @Indy_reporter_ @kayla_dwyer17 @TruthRenagade @Hoosier_truth @nkellyIN @DisrespectedThe @Carawieneke @VicWesseler @SenFadyQaddoura @tmhuston When you audit yourself: "Ain't nothin to see here folks. Move along"

THE IEDC IS A BIG FAT BUBBLE FULL OF NOTHING @GovBraun coward. @KColbertReport @RobMKendall @KaraBoutU2 @KaraKenney6 @Indy_reporter_ @TheRoostercrow @kayla_dwyer17 @TruthRenagade @Hoosier_truth @nkellyIN @DisrespectedThe @Carawieneke @VicWesseler @SenFadyQaddoura @tmhuston @jstewartIndy @LauraMiers

@KColbertReport It's a bubble.

INDIANA 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻