The White House recently released this fact sheet titled “U.S. Achievements in the Global Fight Against Corruption.”

This post fact checks the fact sheet and highlights the false claims in it. 

Among other things, the fact sheet highlights “enforcing our bans on foreign bribery and money-laundering – and pressing other countries to do the same.” and states:

“To enable honest companies to compete overseas, the United States upheld its commitments under the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention by enforcing its foreign bribery and related laws and working with partners to monitor other countries’ progress in implementing the Convention, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024. Since the start of the Administration, DOJ has imposed more than $3.5 billion in total monetary sanctions under the Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA) in 16 corporate resolutions, and announced charges against more than 70 individuals.”

News flash. 

It’s the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act.

Minor point perhaps, but when highlighting “U.S. achievements in the global fight against corruption” get the name of the law right. 

Moreover the assertion that “since start of the Administration, DOJ has imposed more than $3.5 billion in total monetary sanctions under the Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA) in 16 corporate resolutions, and announced charges against more than 70 individuals” is FALSE.

Since the start of the Biden administration (Jan. 20, 2021 through October 15, 2024 – the day prior to the White House release), there have been 19 corporate FCPA enforcement actions with total settlement amounts equaling approximately $1.64 billion. 

The difference between $3.5 billion and 1.64 billion is hardly a rounding error, but a massive difference. 

Moreover, during this same time period there have not been announced FCPA charges against more than 70 individuals. 

Rather, the number is 33 individuals charged with FCPA charges between January 20, 2021 and October 15, 2024.

Again, the difference between 33 and 70 is hardly a rounding error, but a massive difference.

The White House fact sheet next asserts that “the Securities and Exchange Commission continued civil enforcement of the FCPA, with approximately $1 billion in total monetary sanctions in 22 corporate resolutions, spanning conduct in 24 countries, since the start of the Administration.”

Between January 20, 2021 and October 15, 2024, there have been 22 corporate SEC FCPA enforcement actions, however the settlement amounts have totaled approximately $762 million – not $1 billion.

The White House fact sheet next states that the “DOJ is also enforcing the recently enacted Foreign Extortion Prevention Act, which criminalizes demands for bribes by foreign officials from U.S. companies and others.”

That is interesting.

There has been a DOJ FEPA enforcement action? 

Where is it?