Public Corruption Update
Periodically Whitecaps links readers to the Internal Revenue Service’s Examples of Public Corruption Crimes Investigations, a report updated quarterly. The IRS is not the only federal law enforcement agency involved in public corruption crimes investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also has a prominent role in public corruption investigations.
Some news accounts have suggested that the FBI has reassigned many special agents from public corruption investigations to counterterrorism activities. Recently in San Francisco, Attorney General Michael Mukasey sought to comfort citizens and afflict corrupt officials by renewing his pledge to pursue public corruption. His comments were reported in an Associated Press story in USA Today headlined Mukasey vows corruption crackdown.
The US Department of Justice posted a press release dated Thursday, March 27, 2008. It was titled Fact Sheet: the Department of Justice Public Corruption Efforts. This press release includes both statistical data and anecdotal case studies. It explains the DoJ’s role in public corruption investigations, both foreign and domestic. (Note: The press release refers to the FCPA but doesn't explain the acronym. It is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.)
It would be a mistake to conclude that the IRS and the FBI do not work cooperatively on public corruption crimes investigations. Both agencies have unique and important jurisdictions and assets that make it much more efficient to team up on these investigations.
Some news accounts have suggested that the FBI has reassigned many special agents from public corruption investigations to counterterrorism activities. Recently in San Francisco, Attorney General Michael Mukasey sought to comfort citizens and afflict corrupt officials by renewing his pledge to pursue public corruption. His comments were reported in an Associated Press story in USA Today headlined Mukasey vows corruption crackdown.
The US Department of Justice posted a press release dated Thursday, March 27, 2008. It was titled Fact Sheet: the Department of Justice Public Corruption Efforts. This press release includes both statistical data and anecdotal case studies. It explains the DoJ’s role in public corruption investigations, both foreign and domestic. (Note: The press release refers to the FCPA but doesn't explain the acronym. It is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.)
It would be a mistake to conclude that the IRS and the FBI do not work cooperatively on public corruption crimes investigations. Both agencies have unique and important jurisdictions and assets that make it much more efficient to team up on these investigations.
posted by Bill McCrory | 9:29 AM
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