TI-USA is the U.S. chapter of Transparency International (TI), the Berlin-based non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1993 to curb corruption in international transactions.  Through its network of chapters in over 90 countries, TI encourages governments to implement effective anti-corruption laws and policies, promotes reform through international organizations and raises public awareness.

NEW TI Index Finds No Diminution in Worldwide Corruption

September 23, 2008

Transparency International has released their 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). You can read more about it here, or visit the CPI website here.

UN Adopts Resolution Supporting Transparency in Extractive Sector

September 15, 2008

For details, click here.

A Wall Street Journal article reports on the widening investigation of bribery allegations against French engineering giant Alstom SA and against corporate compliance official.

September 13, 2008

For details, see the Wall Street Journal story.

US 'No safe haven policy' garners praise and inspires Tanzania

September 12, 2008

For details, click here.

Department of Interior Inspector General's reports find wide-ranging ethics violations

September 11, 2008

For details, see the Washington Post story.

Former Halliburton Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charges

September 4, 2008

A former Halliburton subsidiary executive pleaded guilty to conspiring to pay $182 million in bribes to Nigerian government officials to obtain contracts worth over $6 billion to build a liquefied natural gas terminal.  Albert J. Stanley, former chief executive of KBR, faces seven years in prison and a payment of $10.8 million in restitution in a plea agreement reached yesterday.   KBR—an engineering, construction, and services company—was a wholly-owned subsidiary of oilfield services company Halliburton until 2007. KBR was working in consortium with three companies from Japan, France and Italy.

According to the Justice Department, the seven-year prison term is the longest sentence to date for an individual accused of violating the FCPA. “Today’s plea demonstrates that corporate executives who bribe foreign government officials in return for lucrative business deals can expect to face prosecution,” said Matthew Friedrich, an acting assistant attorney general.

For details, see the Wall Street Journal and New York Times stories.

UPDATE: See follow up story in the Wall Street Journal.

UK House of Lords Decision Deals Blow to OECD Anti-Bribery Convention

August 5, 2008

In a serious setback for enforcement of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, the UK House of Lords overturned the UK High Court's April 2008 ruling that the Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) acted unlawfully when terminating an investigation into allegations of bribery by BAE Systems in connection with an arms deals with Saudi Arabia. 

In a decision handed down on July 30th, the five members of the Lords considering the case upheld the SFO's discretion to halt the investigation based on the belief that Saudi cooperation on intelligence was crucial to the UK’s ability to prevent terror attacks and protect the safety of UK citizens.  Because the SFO decision was found lawful under UK law, the House of Lords did not interpret Article 5 of the OECD Convention, which prohibits consideration of national economic interest or the potential effect on relations with another state to influence decisions whether to investigate or prosecute.

This ruling contrasts sharply with the High Court's determination that the SFO's decision represented an "abject surrender" to pressure from a foreign government.  To prevent future abuse, TI will urge the OECD Working Group to publish authoritative guidance on Article 5.

For additional information, please see the TI (UK) press release. 

"The House of Lords has indeed impaired the integrity of Britain's anti-corruption commitment.  I trust that the OECD Working Group will respond effectively."
John T. Noonan, Jr., Senior Judge, United States Coourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

TI-USA Applauds G8 Accountability Report - July 3, 2008

• TI-USA Response to G8 Accountability Report
• G8 Accountability Report

TI G8 Progress Report Assesses Action on Key Anti-Corruption Commitments

July 3, 2008

• G8 Progress Report Press Release
• 2nd Annual G8 Progress Report

TI Global Corruption Report 2008: Corruption in the Water Sector - June 26, 2008

• TI-USA launch at CSIS

TI Releases 4th Annual OECD Report Card - June 24, 2008

• Progress Report 2008:  Enforcement of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials

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Transparency International-USA

Our Mission

TI-USA, the US chapter of Transparency International, strives to eliminate bribery, extortion and other corrupt acts, and to increase transparency, integrity and accountability in both government and the private sector at home and abroad.

Our Strategy

Coalition building:  TI-USA mobilizes action working in cooperation with the US Government, private sector, professional associations, international organizations, media and other non-profit organizations. 

Global connections: TI-USA cooperates with the TI Secretariat in Berlin on the international agenda and with TI national chapters in over 100 countries with in-depth knowledge and local approaches to reform.

US Leadership:  Through its Board of Directors, Advisory Council and an extensive network of corporate supporters, NGO colleagues and volunteer professionals, TI-USA:

• Encourages the US Government to continue its leadership role in battling global corruption, through high-level policy engagement, technical assistance, and the financial resources needed to achieve practical results;
• Strives for benchmark performance in the US and consistent standards globally; and
• Provides substantive expertise and practical guidance to the US Government, international institutions and the private sector, directly and through publications, conferences, and the media.