New Caucus Will Lead Fight Against Global Corruption
TI-US Welcomes Bipartisan Caucus
A Media Statement from the U.S. Office of Transparency International
June 10, 2021
Today, a bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives will launch the Congressional Caucus against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy at a virtual kickoff event. The new Caucus will focus on fighting global corruption and "kleptocracy," an authoritarian governance model in which foreign officials use corruption strategically to maintain their power and grow their influence in key regions and countries around the world. The founding chairs and vice-chairs are Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and John Curtis (R-UT), and Bill Keating (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), respectively.
The U.S. Office of Transparency International recently released a comprehensive plan to combat global corruption, and Transparency International has documented a rise in authoritarianism globally in the wake of the pandemic.
Transparency International’s U.S. Office issued the following statement on the launch of the Congressional Caucus against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy:
U.S. leadership is critical in the fight against the growing threats of corruption and kleptocracy around the globe. The Congressional Caucus against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy is a clear recognition of the importance, power, and influence of a bipartisan U.S. effort in combating global corruption.
Corrupt leaders have been capitalizing on the pandemic, resulting in real-world consequences for all those in need of urgent aid. Stolen and misappropriated relief funding, harsh crackdowns on pandemic reporting in the media, and attempts to appropriate or dismantle democratic and rule-of-law institutions are all features of foreign corruption today.
New landmark anti-corruption legislation passed by Congress on January 1st demonstrates that the growing concerns raised by global corruption crosses the political and ideological spectrum. We applaud the bipartisan nature of the Caucus and look forward to working closely with the Caucus on an ambitious global and domestic anti-corruption agenda.
We also want to recognize the Caucus Chairs and Vice-Chairs—Representatives Malinowski, Curtis, Keating, and Fitzpatrick—for their leadership in taking on this fight.
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Transparency International is the world’s largest coalition against corruption. We give voices to victims and witnesses of corruption, and work with governments, businesses, and citizens to stop the abuse of entrusted power. In collaboration with national chapters in more than 100 countries, we are leading the fight to turn our vision of a world free from corruption into reality.
Our U.S. office focuses on stemming the harms caused by illicit finance, strengthening political integrity, and promoting a positive U.S. role in global anti-corruption initiatives. Through a combination of research, advocacy, and policy, we engage with stakeholders to increase public understanding of corruption and hold institutions and individuals accountable.
Related Resources
- Register to attend the virtual launch event
- Combating Global Corruption: A Bipartisan Plan
- Will the Legacy of COVID-19 Include Increased Authoritarianism?
Media Contact
Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy, Transparency International U.S. Office
Telephone: +1 614-668-0258
Email: sgreytak@transparency.org
Twitter: @TransparencyUSA