noun

dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.

the journalist who wants to expose corruption in high places

dishonesty,dishonest dealings,unscrupulousness,deceit,deception,duplicity,double-dealing,fraud,fraudulence,misconduct,lawbreaking,crime,criminality,delinquency,wrongdoing,villainy,bribery,bribing,subornation,venality,graft,extortion,jobbery,profiteering,payola,crookedness,shadiness,sleaze,palm-greasing,malfeasance,misfeasance,knavery,malversation