"Some of them are flagrant violations of the state's contribution limits, " said NYPIRG researcher Bill Mahoney, citing what the group said were 278 improper corporate donations.

WSJ: Correction: Campaign finance story

Specifically addressing the issue of improper retirement payments, the interagency working group of Inspectors General and CFO staff meet regularly to hone in on this area of waste.

WHITEHOUSE: Moving Aggressively on Improper Payments

"Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Denmark's Nicklas Bendtner for improper conduct (Law four of the Laws of the Game) at the UEFA EURO 2012 Group B match against Portugal in Lviv on Wednesday 13 June, " said a UEFA statement.

CNN: Bendtner's underwear gets UEFA's knickers in a twist

"UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against S.S. Lazio for the improper conduct of the club's supporters (racist behavior) during the UEFA Europa League group stage match on Thursday 20 September between Tottenham Hotspur FC and the Italian side, " read a UEFA statement.

CNN: Football: UEFA to take action against Lazio

But the group's policy director, John Wonderlich, maintained there were plenty of other abuses involving improper behavior by officeholders that had yet to be exposed.

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According to court records filed in the latest case, in 2005 and 2006 Mr Vance and Mr Ertel were working in Iraq for Shield Group Security, a privately-held security company, when they became suspicious the company was making improper payments to Iraqi officials in exchange for influence, and that its employees were engaged in illicit weapons-trafficking and other illegal activity.

BBC: Donald Rumsfeld