Financial Transparency Coalition

Raymond W. Baker, the director of Task Force member Global Financial Integrity, has written a letter to Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R - WI) warning him against introducing legislation to weaken the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The letter, which has received coverage from The Wall Street Journal and Just Anti-Corruption suggests there will be political ramifications to for the Congressman should he follow through with his promise to introduce legislation to ammend the nation's flagship anti-corruption law. Just Anti-Corruption (subscription required) reports:

It pains me to report that The Economist published a shoddy piece of journalism today on the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.   The article can be read in full here. Heather Lowe, Legal Counsel and Director of Government Affairs at Global Financial Integrity, has responded to the article by publishing the following comment on The Economist's website:

I am quite surprised by both the tenor and lack of critical analysis in this particular piece. It is important that Economist readers understand the following:

WASHINGTON, DC – Comparable to the dogged pursuit of Al Capone by Eliot Ness, “Chasing Madoff” is the compelling story of Harry Markopolos and his team of investigator's ten-year struggle to expose the truth behind the infamous Bernie Madoff scandal. Over the course of a decade, Markopolos pieced together a chain of white-collar crooks including international bankers, lieutenants, and henchmen, linked to Madoff’s devestating Ponzi scheme. As the investigation deepened, the danger posed to Markopolis and his team grew. Finding himself trapped in a web of deceit and intimidation, the once unassuming Boston securities analyst turned vigilante investigator...

WASHINGTON, DC – Global Financial Integrity’s Legal Counsel and Director of Government Affairs, Heather Lowe, will deliver remarks at the Brazilian Council of Economic and Social Development’s International Seminar on Fiscal Justice on Wednesday, August 10, 2011. Ms. Lowe’s remarks will be part of the seminar’s fiscal policy, productivity and competitiveness panel.