In today’s issue: U.S. Department of Justice reportedly joins Operation Car Wash. President’s health leaves the government with no guidance. One week in, 15% of senators change parties.
U.S. reportedly joins Operation Car Wash
A Houston-based oil trader who worked with Petrobras and some of the world’s largest commodity companies is reportedly cooperating in a corruption investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. It would be the first confirmation that American investigators have joined Operation Car Wash — which has toppled presidents in two countries and jailed over 130 Latin American politicians since its launch, in 2014.
Authorities say oil trader Rodrigo Berkowitz was involved in a scheme in which commodity companies — such as Vitol SA, Glencore PLC, and Trafigura AG — paid millions of dollars in bribes to Petrobras executives. The three sector giants paid at least USD 31m over a six-year span to secure advantages in deals, according to Brazilian prosecutors.
The DoJ will look into U.S. branches of the involved companies, as well as the funds used for bribes that were transferred through the American and European banking systems. The scheme could be investigated under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and could be a boost to Op. Car...