Courtesy of Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates

It’s great to be here today with so many people involved in the fight against international corruption.  The diversity of this crowd – which includes folks from the public and private sector, from the United States and abroad, and from many different industries – demonstrates both the wide scope and the deep impact of our anti-corruption effort.

I’ve spent much of my professional career at the Department of Justice.  During my time as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to prosecute and supervise a wide variety of cases, from drug trafficking to corporate fraud to domestic terrorism.  But I’ve always had a particular focus on corruption matters.  Early in my career in Atlanta, when I served as the chief of our Fraud and Political Corruption Section, I saw the corrosive impact of corruption – from big-city mayors pocketing government funds to small-town officials peddling their influence to the highest bidder.  The damage caused by this type of illegal activity is real and significant.  It undermines the public’s faith in our democratic institutions.  It gives a bad name to the vast majority of public servants who care deeply about doing what’s right.  And by allowing decisions to be made based on personal greed rather than public benefit, corruption deprives our citizens of their right to good, effective governance. Continue reading →