Four Global Scandals Fueled by Cold, Hard Cash

For all the drama around the Trump administration’s response to Russia’s hacking of the U.S. election, a certain classic element of the spy drama is missing. Because all the action has been taken place online, there’s been no handover of suitcases full of cash. What fun is uncovering a ring of corruption if you can’t bust open a Walter White-style storage locker full of bills? Well, if American drama has you let down this season, then feel free to look abroad, where cash is king in several ongoing scandals.

Cash is at the root of Qatar’s big diplomatic crisis

Donald Trump joined the diplomatic fray in Persian Gulf dust-up Wednesday, that he backed the move led by, Saudi officials were reportedly upset at a massive ransom payment made by the Qatari government to rescue a group of royals who had been kidnapped in Iraq. Some of the roughly $1 billion in payoffs went to Iranian security officials and al-Qaeda affiliates, neither of which are particular friends of the Saudis. But when you’re delivering payments to terrorists, apparently Venmo won’t do. The money was reportedly passed on using the time-honored delivery method of suitcases full of cash.