List of scandals with "-gate" suffix

The suffix -gate derives from the Watergate scandal of the United States in the early 1970s, which resulted in the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon. The word "Watergate" is derived from the Watergate Complex, where the scandal started. On June 17, 1972, agents of the Nixon White House and the Nixon reelection campaign were arrested while breaking into the office of the Democratic National Committee, which at the time was located in the Watergate Complex (a combination of residences and offices located near the Potomac River) in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the next two years, the scandal grew from what initially appeared to be a relatively small and inconsequential event to become one of the biggest political controversies in U.S. history. Since the Watergate scandal, the media has on occasion referred to social or political scandals by adding the suffix "-gate" to one of the key words used to describe the scandal. This new label has sometimes stuck but often a new name is used. The process is known as -gate construction.^[1] The first such naming after "Watergate" was the French "Winegate". 'Wine' being similar to 'water' in composition, it was an easy pun to make. But this set a structural precedent in time for "Koreagate".

Widely recognized scandals with a -gate suffix

• Attorneygate — controversy surrounding the dismissal of eight United States Attorneys allegedly for reasons of political ideology
• Baftagate — Controversy surrounding votes at the 1991 BAFTA television awards.
• Bandargate — a political scandal in Bahrain surrounding attempts by government officials to rig the parliamentary elections and politically marginalize the Shia population.
• Billygate — U.S. President Jimmy Carter's brother, Billy Carter, legally represented the Libyan government as a foreign agent. ^[2]
• Bertiegate -- Controversy surrounding Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach of Ireland, receiving money from a speaking engagement while Minister for Finance.
• Camillagate — tape of a telephone conversation between Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker-Bowles ^[3]
• Cheriegate — concerning Cherie Blair's association with Carole Caplin, and through her to the convicted fraudster Peter Foster. ^[4]
• Chinagate (also "Campaign finance scandal") — China allegedly attempted to funnel campaign funds to the Democratic Party of the United States during the 1996 elections in exchange for atomic bomb plans.
• Closetgate — The Los Angeles Times coined this term in reference to the controversy that erupted following the broadcast of the South Park episode, Trapped in the Closet, a satirical attack on the Church of Scientology and some of its famous adherents, such as Tom Cruise.
• Coingate — the mishandling of Ohio government funds entrusted to Republican operatives, involving rare coin funds ^[5]
• Fajitagate — In November 2002, three off-duty San Francisco police officers allegedly assaulted two civilians over a bag of steak fajitas (which were mistaken as drugs), leading to the arrest of the Chief of Police.
• Filegate — The illegal possession and scrutiny of 300-900 FBI files by the Clinton Administration without the file's subject's permission.
• Foleygate — in which senior Republican leadership allegedly covered-up instances of Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) exhanging sexually explicit instant messages with under-age pages.
• Gerstmanngate — Scandal over the controversial firing of Gamespot employee Jeff Gerstmann
• Gonzalesgate - See Attorneygate.
• Grannygate — a scandal in rugby league involving New Zealand players and their family history. The term was most recently invoked in the 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations series, where New Zealand was penalised for fielding former Queensland hooker Nathan Fien.
• Hookergate — The US Cunningham Scandal in which defense contractors paid bribes to members of Congress and officials in the US Defense Department, in return for political favors in the form of federal contracts.
• Irangate or Contragate (usually referred to as the Iran-Contra Affair) — The Reagan Administration sold weapons to Iran and diverted the proceeds to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. ^[6]
• Iraqgate — A Finnish scandal involving the leaking of secret documents to Anneli Jäätteenmäki, which helped bring down Paavo Lipponen's government. Later, it also brought down Jäätteenmäki’s government.
• Katrinagate (also "FEMAgate") — used by people who disapproved of government response to Hurricane Katrina.
• Kazakhgate — scandal surrounding James Giffen, an American businessman and former advisor of Nazarbayev, the president of Kazakhstan, who paid $78 million in bribes to high-level Kazakhstani officials to secure the oil contracts for Western companies in the 1990s.
• Kremlingate — The diversion of $4.8 billion in funds from the IMF to Russia by Bank Menatep, owned by Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
• Kobegate — Accusations of rape in a Colorado hotel against Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant that almost ruined his pro-basketball career.
• Macacagate — referring to the controversial speech by Virginia Senator George Allen on August 11, 2006; and its aftermath.
• Marthagate — The 2002 investigation of television and magazine celebrity Martha Stewart for alleged insider trading, after selling 3,928 shares of ImClone Systems on December 27, 2001.
• Memogate - involving Dan Rather and faulty reporting on 60 Minutes of George W. Bush's questionable service record.
• Monicagate, Lewinskygate, Tailgate, or Sexgate ("Zippergate", "the Lewinsky scandal") — named after Monica Lewinsky who had an "inappropriate relationship" with the then-US President Bill Clinton.
• Muldergate — South African political scandal of the late 1970s in which funds were clandestinely diverted by defence minister Connie Mulder for overseas propaganda in support of the apartheid regime. The scandal brought about the downfall of BJ Vorster.
• Muppetgate — Sri Lankan batsman Marvan Atapattu labels the Sri Lanka selectors as "Muppets, led by a joker." during the 1st Test vs Australia, November 2007.
• Nipplegate — Justin Timberlake reveals Janet Jackson's nipple during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII. Called "teatgate" by Jon Stewart.
• Paragate — Proof that many top officials of Colombia's president Alvaro Uribe's Administration are or were being involved with paramilitary groups bent on steering the government to fit their needs started to surface.
• Plamegate (also "Leakgate", "CIA leak scandal", "Plame affair") — the revealing, by Robert Novak, of the name of Valerie Plame. Lewis Libby allegedly leaked to the media the identity of a covert CIA agent who worked on WMDs, in retaliation for her husband, Joseph C. Wilson, criticizing George W. Bush's justification for the invasion of Iraq. Some critics of the CIA leak grand jury investigation have referred to it as Nadagate. (Listed also in: Political scandals of the United States as a "federal-level scandal.")
• Rathergate (also "Memogate") — Faxed copies of forged memos, that were presented on 60 Minutes in 2004, claimed President George W. Bush was derelict in his duty in the Texas Air National Guard in 1972.
• Reutersgate — The controversy over Reuters photographer Adnan Hajj manipulating news photos with Photoshop.
• Rinkagate — A 1976 scandal in which Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the UK Liberal Party, lost his position and his seat in Parliament after being accused of involvement in an unsuccessful attempt to murder an alleged former gay lover. Thorpe was eventually acquitted, but the scandal and an unrelated personal illness ended his career. "Rinka" refers to a Great Dane that was killed in the attack.
• Skategate — An international sports scandal involving figure skating judging at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
• Shawinigate — A 1999 Canadian scandal involving then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's profiting from real estate deals in his home riding of Shawinigan, Quebec
• Sirengate — a 2006 controversy in the Australian rules football match at Aurora Stadium where the final siren was not heard by an umpire, leading to an investigation and a reversal of result.
• Squidgygate/Dianagate — tape of a telephone conversation between Diana, Princess of Wales and a male friend.
• Stormontgate — a British spy reveals himself to be spying on Sinn Féin.
• Spygate -- Allegations of espionage in Formula 1 racing carried out by members of the McLaren team
• Spygate -- 2007 National Football League scandal in which the New England Patriots were caught illegally videotaping signals in a September game against the New York Jets.
• Travelgate — the 1993 firings of White House Travel Office employees at the start of the Clinton administration.
• Teatgate (see nipplegate).
• Troopergate — the allegations by two Arkansas state troopers that they arranged sexual liaisons for then-governor Bill Clinton.
• Tunagate - a 1985 political scandal in Canada involving large quantities of possibly spoiled tuna which were sold to the public.
• Videogate - the New England Patriots' 09 September 2007 use of video equipment to steal defensive signals, for which coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 by the NFL.^[7]

Less well-known scandals with a -gate suffix, or scandals that are in dispute of having a -gate suffix

• Aquagate — a mass panic that occurred on January 31, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts regarding LED advertisements for the Adult Swim show Aqua Teen Hunger Force that were mistaken as bombs. Coined by the G4 Network.
• Ashleegate — a scandal involving singer Ashlee Simpson, who was caught lip synching during a performance on Saturday Night Live in October 2004 when her vocal track started playing before she had raised the microphone to her mouth.^{[8][9][10][11]}
• Bananagate — 1975 scandal, in which Oswaldo López Arellano, President of Honduras, accepted a $1.2m bribe from US firm United Brands to halve the banana export levy
• Bibigate — scandal with Bibi or Benyamin Netanyahu
• Bingogate — the use of charity funds for political purposes by the ruling New Democratic Party in British Columbia^[12].
• Blobbygate — applied to a dispute between Noel Edmonds and Lancaster City Council over the failure of a theme park; refers to Mr. Blobby, an Edmonds character.
• Ciscogate — Michael Lynn's presentation at the 2005 Black Hat Briefings on a Cisco IOS security vulnerability and the related controversy.
• Clockgate — The 2001 University of Michigan and Michigan State University football game ^[13].
• Corngate — The accidental release of genetically modified corn in New Zealand ^[14].
• Debategate — Acquisition of Jimmy Carter's briefing books by Ronald Reagan's team before the presidential debates during the 1980 campaign.^[15]
• Fettesgate — a major scandal concerning the Lothian and Borders Police force in the 1990s, from its Fettes headquarters near Fettes College in Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Fourgate - a term used by Sky Sports News presenter Ian Payne to describe an incident in which four anonymous England rugby players criticised coach Brian Ashton after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
• Funeralgate — the name given to a scandal involving George W. Bush and family campaign contributor Robert Waltrip, owner of Service Corporation International, the largest funeral home company in the world.
• Gannongate — United States President George W. Bush's White House scandal involving free press conference passes for conservative James Dale Guckert under the false pseudonym Jeff Gannon ^[16]
• Ginjigate - When the TCT member Ginji was accused of cheating by Chairman of the International Quiz Commission, Mr. Kevin Ashman.
• Garbagegate — a 2005 scandal in San Jose, California, involving Mayor Ron Gonzales, and an under-the-table deal with the Norcal garbage company.
• Gloriagate ,^[17]
• Grannygate - an incident in which Republic of Ireland footballer Stephen Ireland lied about the deaths of both his grandmothers in order to miss a match against Slovakia, while in fact the reason was that his partner had suffered a miscarriage.
• Gropegate — Numerous scandals in which celebrities are alleged to have groped women while working on, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christian Slater and Harlan Ellison.
• Iggygate - a controversy involving talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres and a dog (named Iggy) she adopted through a pet adoption agency, only to give it to another family, violating the adoption agreement.
• Jellygate - An incident during a test cricket match in July 2007 between India and England in which jelly beans were found to have been left scattered along the wicket. ^[18]
• Jerezgate — the controversial accident between Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher at the last race of the 1997 Formula One season
• Jowellgate — David Mills (lawyer), the husband of Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport received £340,000 from Silvio Berlusconi.
• Koreagate — South Korean businessman Tongsun Park's shady dealings with certain members of Congress (1976).^[19]
• Leijongate — computer espionage carried out by Liberal People's Party (Sweden)
• Lexusgate — Top financial officer of Hong Kong, Antony Leung purchased a Lexus right before a luxury car tax hike was announced. {^[20]
• Maletagate - scandal in Argentina involving a Venezuelan businessmen flying in 800000 dollars undeclared in company of high officials from the Argentine and Venezuelan governments.
• Monklandsgate — scandal in Monklands, Scotland over allegations of sectarianism spending discrepancies between Protestant Airdrie and Catholic Coatbridge.
• Nannygate — a scandal involving British Cabinet member David Blunkett fast tracking a visa application for his family's nanny^[21]
• Nannygate — noncitizen domestic help for U.S. attorney general nominees. Also the name of a scandal involving former New York City Police Chief Bernard Kerik
• Nannygate — including the Swedish trade minister Maria Borelius and culture minister Cecilia Stegö Chilo who both hired live-in nannies without paying taxes^[22][23].
• Officegate — the investigation into Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish's decision to sub-let his constituency office (while still an MP), for which he was receiving full Westminster parliamentary expenses, without notifying Parliament, resulting in his resignation. {^[24]
• Oilgate — the alleged use of PetroSA funds for African National Congress election campaigns ^[25]
• Orlengate — corruption scandal in Poland ^[26]
• Paintergate — New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark signed the back to a painting that she did not paint that was to be sold at auction for charity.
• Pardongate — President Clinton's presidential pardons ^[27]
• Pemexgate — scandal in Mexico dealing with funds from PEMEX the national oil company
• Phonegate — used for multiple scandals: in Minnesota in the early 1990s, New Hampshire in 2002, and Macedonia in 2004
• Rascassegate — An incident in the 2006 Formula One season where Michael Schumacher stopped his car on the Rascasse corner during Qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, blocking his main championship rival, Fernando Alonso.
• Rinkagate — the scandal surrounding the attempts to silence Norman Scott who said he had a sexual affair with Liberal party leader Jeremy Thorpe. In an apparent attempt to frighten him, Scott's dog Rinka was shot by a hitman.
• Rubbergate — alternate name for scandal in which members of the United States House of Representatives knowingly wrote overdrafts that were honored without penalty.
• Riogate — The minor brouhaha associated with George Bush re-election campaign materials being printed in Brazil in 1992.
• Rywingate — a recent scandal in Poland, named after Lew Rywin who, on July 22, 2002, demanded a 17.5 million USD bribe from Adam Michnik (Gazeta Wyborcza) claiming that he was sent by the then Prime Minister of Poland, Leszek Miller.
• Sharongate — the fictional scandal on television's EastEnders relating to the love triangle between Grant, Sharon, and Phil. ^[28]
• Shawinigate — scandal over former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's alleged conflict-of-interest in real estate in his riding.
• Shot in the Face Gate — Alternate name given to the controversy surrounding Vice President Dick Cheney's shooting of Republican lawyer Harry Whittington during a quail-hunting trip in February 2006 and the suspected cover up. (See Dick Cheney hunting incident.)
• Sirengate — the controversial finish and result of an Australian Football League game
• Skategate — the scandal over the pairs figure skating results of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where a judge was apparently bribed to fix the outcome. The case went on for nearly two weeks before joint gold medals were granted.
• Sponsorgate — The Canadian sponsorship scandal.
• Squatgate — Malaysian lock-up detainee abuse scandal.
• Squidgygate — The pre-1990 phone conversations between the United Kingdom's Diana, Princess of Wales, and James Gilbey, a close friend, and to the controversy surrounding how those conversations were recorded.
• Stormontgate — scandal involving an alleged Provisional IRA spy ring in Parliament Buildings, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
• Strippergate — Seattle City Council members Heidi Wills and Judy Nicastro vote for rezoning a strip club parking lot in exchange for unethical donations. ^[29]
• Strippergate - A scandal in Canberra, Australia in which the Deputy Secretary of State Welfare attempted to hire a exotic dancer for a retirement party held in the Capital Building.
• Strippergate — A scandal in Canada in 2004 with the Minister of Immigration Judy Sgro accused of granting a visa to a Romanian exotic dancer who worked for her campaign during the 2004 federal election.
• Strippergate — San Diego City Council Members Michael Zucchet and Ralph Inzunza were, in 2005, convicted of accepting bribes from a strip club owner in a scheme to get the "no-touch" laws in San Diegan strip clubs repealed. The case was referred to with this name by at least one local television news station in San Diego.
• Surro-Gate - Episode from American Dad's third season in which Francine becomes a surrogate mother to gay couple Greg and Terry's daughter.
• Svengate — ^[30]
• Tapegate — A Canadian scandal in which Conservative Member of Parliament Gurmant Grewal taped conversations with High Profile Liberals. ^[31]
• Toallagate — A scandal that occurred in Mexico in 2001 involving the cost of bathroom towels (4,430 pesos, roughly 400 U.S. dollars) for Los Pinos, the official residence of the President of Mexico.
• Travelgate — ^[32]
• Wheatgate — Scandal involving AWB Limited payments to the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein that were in contravention of the United Nations Oil-for-Food programme

Notes & References