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THE U.S. JUST BANNED ANONYMOUS SHELL COMPANIES https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/us/politics/senate-override-trump-defense-bill.html
Pardon the all-caps, but the Senate's veto override today means that the U.S. A) just eliminated the primary building block in America's transformation into an offshore haven, and B) passed the most sweeping counter-kleptocracy reforms in decadesâpotentially ever.
Incredible news, and an incredible way to start 2021. What a moment. https://twitter.com/cjcmichel/status/1345094740258250753
Huge boost to American credibility in the fight against modern kleptocracy. Huge blow to those who'd turned to the U.S. time and again for their laundering needs, and those U.S. states that had transformed into money laundering havens of their own.
Just phenomenal news.
Just phenomenal news.
Again, this is a massive testament to all those who exposed the rot these anonymous shell companies led to, especially the journalists who exposed the laundering networks and civil society activists pressuring legislators to make this change (when it seemed next to impossible).
The fight against anonymity, and these American kleptocratic building blocks, is hardly over. Trusts, real estate, private equity, hedge funds, art houses, auction houses... much work remains.
But today is absolutely a day to celebrate. https://twitter.com/cjcmichel/status/1345094740258250753
But today is absolutely a day to celebrate. https://twitter.com/cjcmichel/status/1345094740258250753
One other thing: This was not only a clear rebuke to Trump (and the first veto override!), but it was absolutely a bipartisan endeavor. The legislation banning shell companies couldn't have been passed without a broad, broad base of support and stakeholders, across the aisle.
Shameless self-plug, but if you're interested in how the anonymous American shell company industry first developed, and how it helped transform the U.S. into money laundering nirvanaâwhy today is such a huge dealâyou can pre-order my book here: https://twitter.com/cjcmichel/status/1344326053565751297
Statement from Transparency International U.S. ( @transparencyUSA) on today's landmark passage:
'This is the first significant update to our anti-money laundering laws in twenty years, and one of the most important anti-corruption measures ever passed by the U.S. Congress.'
'This is the first significant update to our anti-money laundering laws in twenty years, and one of the most important anti-corruption measures ever passed by the U.S. Congress.'
This is exactly right from Josh. Today's legislation is the biggest US anti-money laundering move *at least* since the Patriot Act. Given the magnitude of crimes anonymous US shell companies are involved in, it could end up being the most important ever. https://twitter.com/JoshRudes/status/1345098386173808640
Banning anonymous U.S. shell companies is obviously huge, huge newsâbut it's not the only anti-corruption/counter-kleptocracy win today. For example: https://twitter.com/apmassaro3/status/1345113941639368706
'Itâs a huge step forward in fighting illicit finance at home and around the globe.' https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-passes-historic-anti-corruption-legislation-that-effectively-bans-anonymous-shell-companies-b1781380.html
Yesterday's move to ban anonymous U.S. shell companies was a massive counter-kleptocracy victory, and is a huge boost for all that remains to be doneâsome of which I laid out here for the new Biden administration: https://newrepublic.com/article/160461/biden-foreign-corruption-make-kleptocrats-fear-america
Banning anonymous U.S. shell companies is 'the single most important step we could have taken to better protect our financial system from abuse.' https://www.wsj.com/articles/defense-bill-override-paves-way-for-overhaul-of-anti-money-laundering-rules-11609542221
