The Franklin Scandal: A Story of Powerbrokers, Child Abuse & Betrayal

by Nick Bryant

A chilling exposé of corporate corruption and government cover-ups, this account of a nationwide child-trafficking and pedophilia ring in the United States tells a sordid tale of corruption in high places. The scandal originally surfaced during an investigation into Omaha, Nebraska's failed Franklin Federal Credit Union and took the author beyond the Midwest and ultimately to Washington, DC. Implicating businessmen, senators, major media corporations, the CIA, and even the venerable Boys Town organization, this extensively researched report includes firsthand interviews with key witnesses and explores a controversy that has received scant media attention.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Conspiracy Theories, Politics, Crime, Audiobook

650 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR

Reviews

[Sir Michael Röhm · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's all so heartbreaking and horribly true. Every person interested in the United States government, the Bush family, the CIA, or "Satanic Panic" needs to read this.

It continues with #pizzagate nowadays. The players change, but not "the game."

May God save us.

[Marjo Rollin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for all of America. I first learned of the scandal after watching a documentary on Netflix entitled "Who Took Johnny." The documentary fascinated me because I remember the Johnny Gosch case, even though I was a young person myself at the time of his abduction. In the documentary, Paul Bonacci claims to assisted in the abduction. Further research, led me to "The Franklin Scandal."

The first reason this story intrigues me, it involves Omaha, NE which is two and a half hours from my hometown, in the heart of the Midwest. The scandal involves the powerful and innocent children from dysfunctional backgrounds. It involves Boys Town, a place that all of us children growing up in the Midwest were threatened to be sent to if we didn't shape up. Once you start this book, you will not be able to put it down. The stories from those who were hurt are heartbreaking but what disturbs me more is the cover-up by the various police and legal institutions, we are told are there to "protect and serve us." The story also involves media outlets that helped with the cover-up. I can not even entertain that this happened in the United States but Mr. Bryant did his homework and it is a comprehensive documentary on the sad and disturbing scandal where injustices are abound.

As Santayana wrote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." As Americans, we hear a lot about the slant of media and many of us have seen it. We as a society need more news outlets that handle investigative reporting and do not bow to the powers that may be. We need more people like Mr. Bryant, Gary Caradori and Alisha Owen. We need people who stand up against injustice and cover up, even at the expense of self and family. I urge everyone to pick up this book!

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely devastating. Bryant is a profession journalist, but after deciding to do an article on the infamous Franklin scandal, no editors would take his story. As his research is top notch, and he presents a load of documentation to prove that Larry King et al. WERE involved in the rape, torture, selling, and murder of children (with strong indications of CIA involvement for purposes of blackmail), the only possible reason besides government intervention is the fact that people do not WANT to believe this sort of thing happens. But as Bryant makes clear, it does. This was honestly the most depressing and frustrating book I've ever read. The injustice that was done to the victims is unimaginable, while the perpetrators were fully supported (except for a couple fall-guys: Larry King, who did time for his financial crimes, and Peter Citron, for some 'minor' sex crimes). The fact that similar stories have been exposed in Belguim, Chile, Portugal, the UK, France, and elsewhere only makes it more disturbing.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important pieces of investigative journalism in the past decade is also one of the best written.
An extremely well researched, sourced and written chronicle of the cover-up of a pedophile ring involving key members of the national political scene, understanding this book is key understanding how things now operate in Washington and international politics: Severely compromised politicians with perverse sexual interests are blackmailed by sinister forces to do their bidding. It's a harsh truth to face, but when you're done reading this amazing non-fiction book, you will understand how it is true.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need a drink, no multiple drinks after that one. This is a much more thorough look at the events than Decamps book about the fall of the franklin credit union and the terrible shit that was discovered. If you want a dark look into the lengths the rich and powerful go to to hide their awful actions this is a must read. Order a bottle of whiskey with it.

[Gator · Rating 5 out of 5]

Umm..... hmmm.... well....... 😳 where do we start with this one ? The Franklin Scandal by Nick Byrant was published in 2009 , and a decade after publication this investigative power house has <30 reviews; what an absolute travesty that is.

"The problem of the Pathocracy seems to be so vast and complex; it is certainly intimidating. Fortunately, the solutions are relatively simple. It begins with education and non-participation. Ignorance is the key that keeps the Pathocracy afloat. It's truly this easy. An awake populace can choose to stop holding the pyramid above their shoulders by refusing to oil the gears of the machine. We need to collectively move our money out of big banks, support local enterprise over the multinationals, and be courageously vocal about the truth."

I was led to this book because I began traveling down a rabbit hole a few books ago and here I sit thinking about how to pull off selling this book to anyone thinking about reading it. On one hand you have the official narrative which is tried and tested and beat to death over an ignorant public’s head, and then there are narratives like Mr. Bryant’s that spin any grounded person around to the point of being nauseous. The tales told are so divorced from your average persons ( I am average ) reality that at first the red pill is hard to swallow , but with enough grit and determination you can do it and get it down. Open your eyes and take a look , these pedophile rings don’t stop here in Bryant’s book in Nebraska, they are national, they are global, then & now. After finishing multiple documentaries about this subject and this book I’ve tried endlessly to find information to Further educate myself on the matter only to find that most of the information in regards to the people like Lawrence E. King, Paul Bonacci’s America’s Most Wanted episode, and things as such have been scrubbed from the majority of average internet sites, they are nowhere to be found. (I will have to dive deeper into the web for this information and videos that I seek but so far an average search turns up nothing at all. I am looking for Kings Bio, is he alive is he dead , where is he ? Bonacci’s AMW video , anyone have it saved ? Please share)

I got to give major credit to the author Nick Bryant , he did an absolutely outstanding job investigating this topic and gathering Corroborating evidence to support much of the story he told and much of what guys like John DeCamp and Gary Caradori have told before him. RIP Gary your work was not in vain, it lives on. The stories in this book Are lingering in my minds eye, the tales will never fade they have already led to other rabbit holes, some even more dangerous and fresh than Franklin. This book if read and reviewed like Harry Potter would lead to a revolution, however 10 years in and we are at <30 reviews , so it’s safe to say that incidents like this will continue on uninterrupted (for the most part) because we as a people are to distracted by nonsense to pay attention to what’s really happening around us.

Do yourself a big favor , read this book.

P.S. Caradori’s plane crash was NOT an accident!

P.S.S. “EPSTEIN DIDN’T KILL HIMSELF.”

[Henry Vinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Nick investigated this scandal for years and reported the facts.

[Spookyboo Puddleglum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read expose on the truth of human trafficking, abuse, and corruption in all levels of government and society. I'm not a good enough writer to explain the importance of this story. The truth is that this goes on, and yes, even in America.

[Derrick Lough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm thankful for Nick Bryant's work on this. He really opened my eyes to the darkness in this world. I've never been so horrified that I had to put down a story until I found this. The media and elites love us to focus on skin color, gender and sexual preference to divide us against eachother as a distraction, but the reality is that at the top of our world's elite there is a network of darkness that seeps its way into and infects every institution. Many doubt how so many people could keep a secret so big. Humans can't keep secrets so this story must not be true. Well those deniers have no clue what it is like to be a part of a powerful influential network that gives you nearly every financial and material comfort you could ever want while also holding you to secrecy through sexual blackmail of the worst kind. A trap where someone could be listening or watching you at any time. Where an occult joined together through the torture and rape of children to ensure they are all forever bonded with eachother in the darkest act that most humans could never dream of. Like a secret fraternity for the elite. The only difference is to turn your back or disobey this group means incredible suffering and death. They don't believe in love; they don't believe in truth; and they see people outside of their order of sociopaths as lesser beings to use however they like. They arrogantly believe that any one of us can easily be silenced permanently.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently heard Noreen Gosch speak on Iowa Public Radio. There is a new documentary out, regarding her son Johnny Gosch, who disappeared while delivering newspapers as a boy in Des Moines. The film is only in limited release (I hope to see it this weekend in Des Moines!) I heard Noreen reference this book, in her interview on IPR. What she said was so compelling, that I had to read it. Yes Virginia, there is an Evil that is under our radar, stretching from Smalltown U.S.A. to the rich and powerful in Washington, D.C. - it's called child prostitution. Because of the decades-long cover-up of this, it's grown like a virus. We can only hope that Noreen's efforts to bring this to light (for over 30 years!) will be the start to end this corruption.

[Benita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow is all I can say. I was a kid at that time growing up in that area. I'm heartbroken that it took place at all but also that it took place in my home town. What a cover up. Shame on you who did it! My heart aches for the kid victims. The book was long but it needed to be. I think the author did a good job portraying this event.

[Brent Cope · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really hard read, it's very well written, but the subject matter is truly disturbing. Without a background understanding in psychopathy, especially how they behave sexually, its difficult to grasp the seriousness of the subject matter.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Kill one man and silence one hundred.” In Caradori’s case, it was kill one man and his child and silence hundreds.

I didn't expect to give this book 5 stars, but it has truly shaken me to the core. Through years of painstaking research, author Nick Bryant does tremendous job sifting through official reports, government documents, affidavits, along with interviewing key players to put together this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction, Scandal-esque history.

I was a young adult when the Franklin Credit Union, Larry King and the whole cast of characters were in the news, and then suddenly evaporated, disappearing from our collective memories. Why? And how? Is it all just too terrible to believe that this kind of thing went on — or worse, probably continues to go on, with no retribution? Why wouldn't these appalling networks continue through the upper echelons of society, with people turning a blind eye or too afraid to speak out for fear of reprisal.

I’m not a big backer of conspiracy theories per se. But who draws the line between what is or isn’t labeled a conspiracy? Who benefits from covering up stories like this? And why does the foster care system continue limping along for years and years with nary a solution? Why do children continue to disappear, to get trafficked or worse? Brilliant and innovative thinkers have solved other large-scale problems, but never this one.

Reading this book left me shocked, outraged and absolutely stunned with the awe-inspiring miscarriage of justice exhibited — paraded before the eyes of the American people. Author Nick Bryant does a thorough job of laying out the facts to paint the most dismal picture of corruption and cover-up in the government, media, FBI, the courts. The book is a massive, overwhelming recounting of events that every Nebraskan (and every American) should be aware of. Bryant sums it up in the Epilogue:

The Franklin story is a cautionary warning for America—not only does it provide a glimpse at a stratum of government corruption that is opaque and unfathomable to the majority of Americans, it also demonstrates that the government, together with the media, have the potential to spin fictions into facts and facts into fictions.

[Hari Brandl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extremely well organized and surprisingly well written book, covering an enormous amount of research, and the author has given us massive amounts of further resources to investigate on our own (I, for one, will NOT be making use of these documents, affidavits, reports, etc., but there are over 100 of them reproduced in the book and 4 more pages of references by title). Because there is so much information it takes a long time to read, but is worth it. Also, because so many people in its pages have been hurt so deeply and probably incurably, it is powerfully heart wrenching.

Which makes the fact that there probably will be no conclusion, no punishment for any of the alleged perpetrators a gigantic pity. No justice for the victims and their families, because 1) of the deep pockets and political influence of those who allegedly did the injuring, but, 2) more importantly, because the alleged victims were so damaged and vulnerable even before falling into the hands of these fiends, and made more powerless by drugs, physical abuse, sexual abuse, preexisting emotional illnesses, etc. Juries have been reluctant to trust their memories or their testimony.

I'm not sure there is more I can say, but the book needs to be read.

[Johnny Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picks up the evidence and data that John DeCamp laid out and further opens up more documentation, data, and solid evidence. The sheer amount of documentation on this subject far outweighs the evidence needed in a court of law to gain a 'Guilty' ruling. This book helped me explain to many of my friends and family members regarding a subject that is usually dismissed without investigation or even a cursory Google search. John DeCamp and Nick Bryant should be commended.

[Tracylyndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why the Pentagon needs to be besieged with three million shamans with sage bombs and a few thousand exorcists in tow.

[Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the US (and Israel) focuses on The Epstein Files, a story of abuse and exploitation of countless young women, many of us will look back over the nation's past and recall other stories JUST LIKE THIS where the abuse has covered up, swept under the rug for far too long by those in power for fear of "bring down the house." From Universities to Churches to Corporations, we all know these stories by now, right? But do you know about the Franklin Scandal? I didn't.

This scandal began in Nebraska, the heartland of the US; the bland, ultra-moral, Mid-west. And it all started in a Credit Union. What begins as a money scandal escalates into a child porn ring that is so horrifying it will shock and sicken you. Children being exploited in order to blackmail and contain certain VIP, not just in Nebraska, but soon it spreads all the way to DC. If this sounds familiar that's because it should. This depravity has been going on for a very long time and because WE, as citizens, continue to ignore the much larger picture - depraved men in our government, banks and corporations - it never will end.

This book is incredibly well researched and even better written. It took me ages to read it because I was fact checking everything that was said and, literally, every single thing is verifiable which, again, is horrifying! I've been reading some eye opening books over the summer, some of which I would like to un-read and get out of my head. Still, I recommend that ALL Americans read them, this one included because we must educated ourselves on what is going on around us. I don't care what your political ideology is - I'm not blue or red - I just care about this nation and I hope you do too.

[Lulabelle42]

It's hard to rate this book.

The subject matter is definitely horrific but something people should know about.

The actual presentation is atrocious and you'd be better off just reading trial transcripts. SO much hearsay. "She said that he said that she said," is very hard to follow. And the vast cast of characters is hard to follow.

The facts are that there was a cult, called "the Finders" who were convicted of child trafficking in the 1980s/1990s. There were, and persist, allegations that the The Finders were actually a CIA front for creating blackmail material to be used by the CIA. Reports released by the DC Metro Police and the US Customs Service indicate investigations were dropped at the request of the CIA. [The CIA claims that a CIA front company employed one of the Finders as a civilian accountant and asked the matter be kept private.]

Two men in suits were at a park in Tallahassee Florida with six children who appeared dirty, hungry and neglected. The Tallahassee police investigated and the two men were charged with child neglect. The children' s behavior indicated likely sexual abuse, and there were several witnesses who testified to the children living outside, and being engaged in satanic or cult behavior. Eventually nothing could be proven by the police and the mothers of the children retrieved them, with Tallahassee dropping the charges for lack of evidence.

I'm still not certain how this ties into the Franklin scandal, other than some odd coincidences.

The Franklin Scandal began with the implosion of the Franklin Credit Union of Nebraska. As an FDIC Insured bank auditors were sent to investigate. To everyone's shock the credit union was missing $36 million dollars. A very substantial amount for a small, local to Nebraska bank to have mislaid.

The president of Franklin is alleged to have run a child trafficking ring that included people high in the US government. One of the alleged victims was charged with perjury and found guilty, although it seems she was merely guilty of being promiscuous and not necessarily of perjury.

The president was indicted over embezzlement for the $36 million. He was the chair of George Bush Sr.'s election campaign. There are publicly available photos of King with a procession of high-level Republican legislators.

There was a foster care investigation, which I'm still not sure how it connects to the child abuse, into a well-known local family.

The allegations appear to be that foster families, and Boys Town, allowed children to be taken by wealthy men for abuse. Some of the alleged survivors claim to have been flown around the United States, and nearly all mention a luxury apartment complex, the Twin Towers, in Lincoln.

This all wrapped up in the mid-90s and the author is investigating in the 2010s. An ice cold story, right?

Except he's stopped and harassed by the Nebraska State Police, who are alleged by the purported victims to have pressured them to change their stories to exonerate these powerful individuals. Several of the purported victims recanted their stories after meeting with Nebraska State Police. One after riding to the courthouse with an attorney who would represent him and without his counsel present. [sidenote: That's a violation of his constitutional rights.]

It feels like a coverup. Mostly because evidence was destroyed, or not taken at all. The entire things just feels off.

Suffice it to say I am no clearer on what happened now that before I began. I love a good coverup [I'm on an Iran-Contra book now] but this doesn't have a resolution. There's no proof of a coverup. There's nothing more than circumstantial evidence of an organized child trafficking ring. And after most of the parties recanted there's no evidence except for one purported victim's testimony.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very hard to rate this book. I think it is so important this scandal and abuse of power is written about but it is very hard to read that these things actually happened and are probably still going on and being covered up by people we should be able to trust. The book itself is very long and very repetitive and at times very hard to follow.

[Larry Ggggggggggggggggggggggggg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Franklin Scandal is fascinating to me because it’s one of the darkest political stories in the history of this country and no one knows about it or seems to remember it. This book is really well researched and put together in a way that the names don’t become too much and the stories don’t get confusing which I think is tough to do with this story

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://thehighersidechats.com/nick-br...

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, people are ruined, killed, and their souls stripped of humanity, and these disgusting men and women thrive. after reading what is done I need several showers. .

[Henry Jorge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was shocking, I think everyone needs to read this and learn about it because this is still happening right now! But some parts were very slow, and very in depth but I understand that the author wanted all the details in here.

[Gabrielle Angelino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of info woven into crazy and not-so-crazy conspiracies alike.

[Joel]

Audiobook

Good reminder that there is a non-zero amount of very rich and powerful satanic pedophiles who face minimal, if any, consequences for destroying thousands of people and a system that allows this situation to exist must be utterly destroyed, not reformed.

[Derek Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devastating read about the failures of our government to protect children and instead protect the powerful

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

As more and more former child sex trafficking victims relate their stories, the more undeniable this system of satanic pedophilia and control becomes.

Omaha's Larry King is the Jeffrey Epstein of the 1980s. These high level traffickers keep showing up and we keep ignoring those common threads. Denial offers freedom from responsibility. It also allows evil to continue devouring our children.

Nick Bryant exhaustively researched his book and used primary sources. Really well done.

It will be a great day for humanity when people get it. When they realize this is real and thousands of survivors are not lying. Declaring it can't be that serious if major news outlets aren't covering it in length, while defending the neutrality and honesty of these same major outlets will have you chasing your tail for many years to come.

Caradori Notes
https://nick-mail.net/marginalia/nebr...

Nick Bryant Interview on DID
https://news.isst-d.org/an-interview-...

State vs. Owen
https://law.justia.com/cases/nebraska...

News Coverage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d8Ms...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldbWz...

[Daniel Gaddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't finish the book, but I feel I should get credit for reading over half of it given the incredible emotional toll it put on me. Bryant is obviously a dogged investigative reporter, who's done fine work. The problem is, even if half of the stuff in the book is true, people at several major institutions covered up a massive child prostitution and pornography ring. That's hard for a lot of people to believe. And there's no real smoking gun in this book, so for me, it was just insanely frustrating.

[Judith Haran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been an important book, but unfortunately it's drowning in unnecessary details. The story could have been presented in fewer pages, far more succinctly. I gave up after about 150 pgs. Just too much repetition. I felt like I needed to take notes just to keep track of all of the people who showed up. It was worse than a Russian novel. Too bad, because there are too few books on this topic.

[Andrei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough, layered and at times captivating. However, a lot of the information needs to be confirmed by looking through the sources on your own to really confirm the belief that many of the events in this book happened. The other downside is that it tends to be repetitive once it's main point becomes stated.