October 21st, 2011
Yesterday I switched on the radio in my car and heard a familiar phrase. Just as I started listening, NPR had just started reading a story on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and the recent efforts by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to amend the law. Feeling excited, I turned up my dial.
The Chamber’s basic argument is that the FCPA, the flagship U.S.legislation that makes it illegal to bribe a foreign official, is too cumbersome on U.S. businesses. For months now, the Chamber has been lobbying to weaken the FCPA and has even retained former U.S. Attorney...
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July 20th, 2011
The News Corp. phone-hacking and bribery scandal has developed quickly, every day bringing more stories of investigations, arrests, or
pie-wielding British comics. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the tide of details and lose track of the big issues. In the United States, the investigation has taken an interesting turn, casting a foul light on lobbying efforts to undermine American anti-bribery legislation.
On July 15, the Department of Justice confirmed an investigation into the News Corp. scandal. In addition to investigating up to 4,000 alleged incidents of phone hacking, it appears that News Corp. bribed British police officers....
