Luxe suites and salted ducks: can posh gifts buy foreign influence in America?

Source:Financial Times Date:03Oct2024

Does a bear shit in the woods?

In just 12 months, criminal cases have been filed against senior Democratic senator Bob Menendez, who was convicted this summer of accepting gold bars and cash to act on behalf of Egypt; Linda Sun, a former aide to two New York governors who allegedly did China’s bidding in exchange for favourable treatment for her husband’s seafood business; and Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst and security official who prosecutors claim was gathering information for South Korea, accepting sweeteners including a $2,845 Dolce & Gabbana coat.

And last week, federal prosecutors in New York filed their most explosive foreign bribery case in recent years — indicting mayor Eric Adams for allegedly helping the Turkish government in exchange for campaign donations and business-class flights, hotel suites and other travel-related gifts.