CBS News Investigates

09/14/2021

Harassing texts. Unwanted deliveries. Fake bomb threats that bring police to the door. Inside the tactics cybercriminals use to get social media users to surrender their accounts

A CBS News investigation uncovered a growing criminal enterprise where innocent social media users are threatened and harassed for their handles, in one case, fatally. David Begnaud talks to the victims, their families, and a federal official who explains how difficult it is to catch these digital criminals.

Coveted usernames can fetch up thousands on online marketplaces. Cybercriminals are targeting users to get them.

09/10/2021

Former Army attorney on military's domestic violence crisis

In part four of our CBS News investigation into domestic violence in the military, a former Army attorney says the crisis has only compounded after 20 years of war.

In part four of a CBS News investigation into domestic violence in the military, a former Army attorney said the crisis has only compounded after 20 years of war. Norah O'Donnell has more.

09/08/2021

CBS News investigates claims that the U.S. military ignored reports of domestic violence within its ranks

In part three of our two-year CBS News investigation of domestic violence in the military, an advocate who's worked with hundreds of victims says resources offered by the Pentagon aren't enough and the consequences are dire.

Watch "CBS News investigates claims that the U.S. military ignored reports of domestic violence within its ranks", a CBSN video on CBSNews.com. View more CBSN videos and watch CBSN, a live news stream featuring original CBS News reporting.

09/08/2021

One woman reported domestic violence to the Air Force. This is how its investigation unfolded.

In part two of our series on domestic violence in the military, we hear from a woman who says the military didn't keep her safe after she reported domestic violence to the Air Force. Instead, she says, they promoted her partner.

Emily Brearley says the military didn't keep her safe — they promoted her partner instead.

09/07/2021

Combating domestic violence in the military

A new, two-year long CBS News investigation reveals the Defense Department is dealing with another crisis on the homefront: domestic violence. In part one of our series, Norah O'Donnell speaks with survivors who say the problem is pervasive and they feel the issue has been overlooked.

A new, two-year long CBS News investigation reveals the defense department is dealing with another crisis on the homefront, domestic violence. Norah O'Donnell speaks with survivors who say the problem is pervasive and they feel the issue has been overlooked.

08/02/2021

National animal welfare nonprofit ASPCA faces spending criticism

A CBS News investigation is raising questions about spending by the national animal welfare nonprofit ASPCA.

A CBS News investigation is raising questions about spending by the national animal welfare nonprofit ASPCA. Chief investigative correspondent Jim Axelrod reports.

07/06/2021

A building under construction next to Champlain Tower offered $400,000 amid complaints from the now-collapsed condo

The developers of a luxury building next to Champlain Towers South proposed a payment of $400,000 to the association for the now-collapsed condo in exchange for expanded construction hours, a commitment to never publicly oppose the project or the developer, and an agreement to release the developers from all liability, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News.

Developers made their offer when residents of the now-destroyed condo raised concerns about "shaking" and debris coming from the new building's construction.

07/06/2021

In a new lawsuit, more than 30 women accuse Pornhub of profiting from videos posted without their consent

Pornhub markets itself as a mainstream site for adult content and says it yields 130 million users each day — more than Netflix or Amazon. In a new lawsuit filed Thursday, more than 30 women accuse the company of profiting from videos posted without their consent. CBS News investigates.

An underage girl's private video for her high school boyfriend. A woman's alleged rape while drugged by her husband. The lawsuit alleges Pornhub exploited nonconsensual video uploads — including child abuse imagery — for profit.

05/04/2021

Navy SEALs tell CBS News "lawless" members plague teams with criminality, drug abuse and profiteering

CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge spoke with more than a dozen people in the SEAL community, including current and former SEALs, on the condition of anonymity. They told her that while the vast majority of their fellow SEALs serve honorably, there is a corrupt element in their brotherhood.

Current and former SEALs tell CBS News how and why they believe the elite unit has "taken a wrong turn," leading to criminality, drug use and exploitation.

05/04/2021

Matt Gaetz trip to Bahamas is part of federal probe into sex trafficking, sources say

CBS News has learned that investigators are looking into a trip Congressman Matt Gaetz took to the Bahamas with a hand surgeon and marijuana entrepreneur. Major Garrett reports.

Investigators are trying to determine if escorts were illegally trafficked for the purpose of sex with the congressman, sources say.

02/23/2021

Virginia man arrested during U.S. Capitol assault is "brainwashed," daughter says

More than 200 people have been arrested in the seven weeks since the Capitol riot. But little is still known about them as individuals and how exactly they were radicalized. Ben Tracy talks to a Virginia woman struggling with her father's role at the Capitol as she tries to repair a relationship torn apart by politics.

Doug Sweet is among at least 238 people charged for their alleged roles in the riot.

02/09/2021

Former Robinhood workers detail complaints about customer service

A CBS News investigation found that the stock trading app Robinhood has long drawn complaints about its customer service. Former employees described a pattern of ineffective support: customer service agents without qualifications to offer financial advice, licensed brokers too busy to help and pleas from customers that went unanswered. The employees' descriptions echo concerns raised in a lawsuit filed Monday by the family of Alex Kearns, the 20-year-old college student who took his own life last June mistakenly believing he owed hundreds of thousands of dollars for stock market losses on his Robinhood account.

A CBS News investigation revealed complaints from users about Robinhood's customer service. Tony Dokoupil reports.

02/09/2021

Alex Kearns died thinking he owed hundreds of thousands for stock market losses on Robinhood. His parents have sued over his suicide.

The family of a young man who died thinking he owed hundreds of thousands for stock market losses is planning to sue the stock trading app Robinhood. Dan and Dorothy Kearns accuse the company of targeting unsophisticated traders like their 20-year-old son Alex.

In the wrongful death suit, Alex Kearns' parents accuse the company of targeting unsophisticated traders like their son.

01/27/2021

Veterans in "disbelief" over executive order on toxic military base

In one of his last acts as commander-in-chief, President Trump signed an executive order that recognizes sick veterans who passed through a toxic military base after 9/11 known as K2. The move follows a 6-month CBS News investigation into toxic conditions at the base.

In one of his last acts as commander-in-chief, President Trump signed an executive order that recognizes sick veterans who passed through a toxic military base after 9/11 known as K2. Catherine Herridge reports.

01/05/2021

"An inherent conflict of interest": State medical boards often fail to discipline doctors who hurt their patients

A year-long CBS News investigation has found that the system of state medical boards responsible for disciplining doctors who repeatedly injure their patients often fails to discipline those doctors, leaving the public in the dark.

Doctors may have multiple malpractice claims without facing consequences from a state board.

12/09/2020

"Totally unacceptable": Army secretary condemns command climate, says Fort Hood report "will change the Army"

In an exclusive interview, "CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell sat down with Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy to discuss the firings and changes following a probe at Fort Hood, as well as the year-and-a-half long investigation by CBS News into sexual assault within the U.S. military.

The "CBS Evening News'' spoke with Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy in an exclusive interview Monday.

12/03/2020

VA, Defense Department under new pressure to help ailing veterans who served at toxic Uzbek base

Hundreds of service members have come forward after a CBS News investigation revealed new evidence of toxic material at a remote base used after 9/11. Now, nearly 2,500 service members report rare cancers or other illnesses they believe are linked to their deployments.

While nearly 2,500 current and former service members have now reported rare cancers or other illnesses they believe are linked to their deployments, officials aren't acknowledging a link between K2 and illness.

12/01/2020

Organizations viewed by SPLC as hate groups receive financial benefits from federal government

The FBI's most recent statistics on hate crimes, released this month, show a rise in hate crimes and the deadliest year on record. A CBS News investigation uncovered that more than 90 groups, perceived by some as hate groups, are registered with the IRS as tax-exempt organizations.

The FBI's most recent statistics on hate crimes, released this month, show a rise in hate crimes and the deadliest year on record. a CBS News investigation uncovered that more than 90 groups, perceived by some as hate groups, are registered with the IRS as tax-exempt organizations. CBS News senior i...

11/19/2020

Pentagon whistleblowers say they were fired or suspended for reporting sexual assault cover-ups: "People are afraid"

More than 15 years ago, the Department of Defense created a sexual assault program to support victims and increase accountability, but three women hired to work for the program say it is not doing enough. Norah O'Donnell spoke with these whistleblowers about the problems they've witnessed and how they are impacting survivors for the final part of our four-part series on sexual assault in the military.

"I think the breadth and the depth of the problem is so large that they really don't want the general public to understand that they don't have it under control," one whistleblower said.

11/19/2020

Military's system to combat sexual assault is broken, survivors say: "It's so much bigger than it seems"

Over the course of a year-and-a-half investigation, CBS News spoke to nearly two dozen sexual assault survivors from all branches of the military who say their allegations were brushed aside and they were retaliated against for reporting their assaults. Watch part three of of our four-part series on sexual assault in the military:

Sexual assault survivors said their allegations were brushed aside and they were retaliated against for reporting their assaults.

11/18/2020

"They took her soul": Army did "nothing" for soldier who reported sexual assault, mom says

For more than a decade, the Pentagon has vowed to eradicate sexual assault from its ranks, but some service members say it has not been enough. In part two of CBS News’ four-part series on sexual assault in the military, Norah O’Donnell speaks to the mother of an army staff sergeant who says the military’s handling of her daughter’s sexual assault led to her death.

Morgan Robinson died by suicide after she was allegedly sexually assaulted a second time while serving in the military.

11/18/2020

Parents of soldier who died by suicide after sexual assaults call out "complete failure of the Army"

In part one of CBS News' series on sexual assault in the military, Norah O'Donnell spoke with the parents of a soldier who say the military failed their daughter after she was sexually assaulted while serving abroad, and that those failures ultimately led to her death.

After requesting an expedited transfer from Camp Casey in South Korea, Nicole Burnham faced harassment for reporting her assaults.

11/16/2020

Norah O'Donnell Reports: Sexual Assault in the Military

Coming this week on the CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell and CBS This Morning.

11/12/2020

Whistleblower: VA failed to properly assess hundreds of veterans for traumatic brain injuries

A whistleblower speaking out for the first time says that the New Orleans VA failed to properly assess more than 1,500 veterans for traumatic brain injuries. He says the consequences were deadly and claims the VA tried to cover it up. CBS News investigates.

Speaking exclusively to CBS News, a whistleblower described how the New Orleans Veterans Affairs dramatically underdiagnosed TBI, leading decorated veterans to be denied treatment with tragic results.

10/11/2020

Former Black special agents say FBI's culture is "not conducive to minorities"

Over the last several months, CBS News spoke with more than two dozen current and former Black FBI agents, all of whom described some sort of racial discrimination while in the agency. They describe long-standing problems at every level: the FBI's failed attempts to recruit more Black agents, the disproportionate weeding out of Black applicants during the training process, and how White managers tend to only promote individuals who look like themselves.

Agents say there's a new sense of urgency to solve the FBI's diversity problem after a summer of protests about racial justice and alleged police misconduct.

09/21/2020

Scammers find weak spot in unemployment benefits during pandemic: "It's a perfect storm"

A hastily-enacted government program designed to help unemployed Americans through the pandemic is facing a growing problem with fraud, potentially tying up millions of dollars and keeping it from people who need it most. CBS News investigates.

The PUA program is a lifeline for millions, but according to Pennsylvania's attorney general, also "open season" for "fraudsters."

08/05/2020

Factory worker's death highlights debate over GOP-backed coronavirus liability shield

Senate Republicans say they won't pass a COVID-19 relief bill without legal liability protections for businesses. It comes at a time when essential workers across the country are accusing employers of failing to keep them safe. A CBS News investigation found one company where workers say the consequences were fatal.

Mike Jackson was working a mandatory overtime shift at a Wisconsin engine plant in May when a co-worker saw him slumped over at his station.

07/24/2020

Decorated combat vet who died highlights pandemic's effect on mental health

Rory Hamill was a father of three and a decorated combat veteran in the Marines. Hamill lost his life not at war — but in a growing mental health crisis that's being made worse by the deadliest public health crisis in a century.

Marine Corporal Rory Hamill lost his life not at war — but in a growing mental health crisis that's being made worse by the deadliest public health crisis​ in a century.