Corporate Influence Peddling

Corporate influence peddling occurs when corporate agents or their designees use their influence with persons in political authority to obtain favors or preferential treatment for their corporations, usually in return for payment. Within the United States, examples of corporate influence peddling include illegal campaign contributions to office seekers and domestic commercial bribery, both of which have a long and sordid history. Corporations have also made payments to foreign government officials in order to obtain or to retain business, reduce political risks, avoid harassment, reduce taxes, and induce official action. Innovative payment methods were justified as normal practices in the country where the business was being transacted. It was realized that such practices might invoke opprobrium at home, so elaborate concealment strategies were established to hide ...