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Follow the Money

Posted on by Shruti Shah

DOJ Is investigating Whether U.S. Payoffs to Iraqi Officials Opened the Door for ISIS. Read more

Charges in Panama Papers Probe Shine Light on ‘Enablers’

Posted on by Shruti Shah

Charges announced last week against four people with ties to defunct Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca & Co. demonstrate how professional service providers potentially can enable abuse of the financial system, observers say. Read more, here.

“This may be just the beginning.” U.S. unveils first criminal charges over Panama Papers

Posted on by Shruti Shah

Nearly three years after the publication of a massive leak of secret offshore shell-company documents known as the Panama Papers, U.S. prosecutors announced criminal charges Tuesday against four people, including a former top lawyer for Mossack  Fonseca & Co., the Panamanian firm that helped dictators, drug lords and the ultra-wealthy hide their cash. Read more, here.

How did Tuesday’s election influence the S.W.A.M.P. index?

Posted on by Shruti Shah

While much of the focus on the mid-term elections was on who got elected, there were significant results regarding how candidates get elected and the ethics rules to which they are subject once in office. Read more

What is the S.W.A.M.P. Index telling us about state ethics agencies? (FCPA Blog)

Posted on by Shruti Shah

 

Two weeks ago the Coalition for Integrity released the S.W.A.M.P. Index, which ranks and scores all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia based on the laws governing ethics and transparency in the executive and legislative branches. I am very encouraged by the response to the index and the questions we have already received. Our hope is that voters demand commitments to address the shortcomings in their state’s legal framework as identified in our report. The results are not only essential to a voter’s understanding of their state’s ethics agencies, but also to current and future elected-officials so they understand how their state’s legal framework compares to those in other states and can work towards plugging loopholes. Read More

Introducing the Coalition for Integrity’s S.W.A.M.P. Index (FCPA Blog)

Posted on by Shruti Shah

 

After a summer of hard work, I am pleased to present Coalition for Integrity’s Index of States With Anti-Corruption Measures for Public officials (S.W.A.M.P.).  As the 2018 elections approach, we want voters to understand the “state of ethics” in their state so that they can better evaluate candidate platforms, demand improvements in their state’s legal framework and judge proposed reforms.  State officials can see how their state’s ethics framework compares to those in other states and these officials also have access to a description of best practices to draw from. Read More

Coalition for Integrity Releases States With Anti-Corruption Measures for Public officials (S.W.A.M.P.) Index

Posted on by Shruti Shah

 

Today, Coalition for Integrity released its States With Anti-Corruption Measures for Public officials (S.W.A.M.P.) Index which sheds light on the surprising lack of coherent, consistent statutes and regulations that exist in states to protect the public. The index shows there is need for improvement everywhere.  The relative performance of states should be a wake-up call for citizens and voters. Read here