Montana senator Thomas J. Walsh, a Democrat, suddenly announced to the public that he had evidence of Albert Furr, the US Interior Minister, accepting bribes and secretly leasing the Teapot Dome and Elk Hills oil fields to the Sinclair Oil Corporation and Pan American Petroleum Company.
The news came so unexpectedly that almost at the same time Thomas Walsh made the disclosure, the entire Democratic Party began to attack the Republican Party.
They pointed the finger directly at President Harding, insinuating to the public that the true puppet master behind the whole affair was Harding; without him, Albert Furr would not have had the audacity nor the means to do so.
After all, the responsibility for the Teapot Dome and Elk Hills oil fields was originally in the hands of the Navy, but after Harding took office, he transferred this responsibility to Albert Furr!
