PBS Newshour with Gwen Ifill: TI-USA’s Shruti Shah discusses the implications of the Panama Papers scandal and calls for reforms in the U.S.. (Video) (TI-USA Quoted)
April 4, 2016PBS Newshour with Gwen Ifill: TI-USA’s Shruti Shah discusses the implications of the Panama Papers scandal and calls for reforms in the U.S..
After massive ‘Panama Papers’ document leak, rich and powerful around the world deny wrongdoing (Los Angeles Times)
April 4, 2016Documents from a Panamanian law firm obtained by several international news outlets appear to show how the global political and business elite — and maybe drug traffickers — have mounted complex systems to hide money in offshore accounts. Companies can incorporate in the U.S. without revealing sources of money.”It’s not just the Virgin Islands and Panama where kleptocrats and criminals go to launder their illicit wealth,” said Shruti Shah, vice president of Transparency’s U.S. chapter. Read more
It’s time to unmask mystery political donors
March 24, 2016Bipartisan legislation introduced last month would require the collection of the names of the ultimate beneficial owners of any company incorporated in the United States. The ownership information should be public to close the loophole that allows political donors to hide their identities. Read More.
U.S. Implementation of the EITI – Good Progress, But Needs Improvement (The Global Anti-corruption Blog)
December 16, 2015The recently published U.S. EITI report covers payments made and received in 2013. There is much valuable information in both the report as well as the EITI website. The report also provides detailed information on natural resource extraction governance at the federal, state, and tribal levels on the size of the extractive sector (in terms of economic output and employment), as well as a valuable assessment of the revenue sustainability in 12 resource-dependent counties. That said, there are a couple of important respects in which the report falls short. Read more
Why We Should Be Excited About SDG 16
October 1, 2015On September 25th, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs identify development priorities and set measurable targets for progress that are to be met by 2030. Its Goal 16 — which seeks to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies, includes (among other governance-related targets) significant reductions in illicit financial flows, progress on the recovery and return of stolen assets, and substantial reductions in corruption and bribery – fills the lacuna that the SDGs’ predecessor Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) had. Read More.
Are settlements a deterrent or a dodge? (FCPA Blog)
September 16, 2015The DOJ has unveiled new guidance to federal prosecutors about bringing criminal cases against individuals in instances of corporate wrongdoing. However, to truly deter wrongdoing, one needs effective enforcement directed at both corporations and individuals. If enforcement action is directed only at corporations, company officers and employees under pressure to meet performance targets will not have a meaningful incentive to refrain from improper conduct. Read more
Corporate Prosecutions: Individual Liability is Essential
September 14, 2015The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unveiled new guidance to federal prosecutors about bringing criminal cases against individuals in instances of corporate wrongdoing. The memo states that if a corporation wishes to resolve its own criminal charges and receive any credit for cooperation, it must provide the DOJ with all relevant facts relating to the individuals responsible for the misconduct. Read More
Co-written by Angela McClellan, Senior Global Advocacy Coordinator at Transparency International Secretariat and editor of Can justice be achieved through settlements?
Washington DC, Prince George’s County Maryland, and Arlington Virginia: How Transparent are Their Municipal Contracting Processes?
August 4, 2015What are your kids eating at school? Is your trash being picked up regularly? In what condition are your parks? Municipal procurement is where taxpayers most closely see how their money is being spent. This spring, TI-USA and students from the American University School of International Service monitored 21 procurements in Washington DC, Prince George’s County Maryland, and Arlington Virginia using TI-USA’s Civil Society Procurement Monitoring Tool. Read More
World Bank Adopts Key Transparency International Goals in New Procurement Policies
July 31, 2015The World Bank funds 1,800 procurement projects to the tune of US$42 billion in 172 countries, often in challenging environments. It is therefore important to have strong measures to counter corruption. Last week, the Bank announced a new procurement framework that includes many of the recommendations and suggestions Transparency International and Transparency International – USA have been advocating. Read More
107 groups urge World Bank to end anonymity in public procurement (FCPA Blog)
June 9, 2015Transparency International-USA along with Transparency International, Global Witness, the Open Contracting Partnership, Oxfam, Save the Children and 101 other organizations sent a letter to the World Bank Monday asking the Bank to collect and disclose the identity of all legal entity bidders on Bank-financed contracts. Read more