I recently read in “50 Things You’re Not Supposed to Know” Volume 2 that George Washington supposedly embezzled government funds while serving as our 1st president. Is this true? I was wondering if anyone else had researched this further.
in 1757 Washington was accused of defrauding funds from the war effort during the French and Indian War. I have no idea whether that was true, but that is all I could dig up
from http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/gw/time.html
It’s possible they had in mind the book George Washington’s Expense Account, which apparently reproduces GW’s army financial records with modern commentary that seems somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
Washington did know how to play the system: he served as general for expenses only, and put billed everything to Congress, earning more money than if he had been on salary. His expense account was real – Marvin Kitman (the world’s best TV critic, BTW) merely reprinted it with commentary. Washington’s expenses for the war were over $160,000.
Later, when elected president, Washington also offered to work for expenses. Congress said no deal and paid him a salary.