A new US law allows the United States to prosecute foreign officials who accept bribes. The Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) was signed into law in December by President Joe Biden.
Supporters of the law see it as a way to make the fight against corruption a priority. But legal experts note that foreign policy considerations could still hamper prosecutions, also highlighting the likely reluctance of governments to extradite their accused officials in question. The annual Corruption Perceptions Index, released Tuesday by Transparency International, shows that two-thirds of countries are below 50 due, among other ills, to underpaid law enforcement.