Author
Frank Vogl
Frank Vogl is co-founder of Transparency International and author of “The Enablers – How the West Supports Kleptocrats and Corruption-Endangering Our Democracy”
[Washington D.C., United States]
Frank Vogl is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University teaching a graduate course in “Corruption, Conflict Resolution and Security.”
Mr. Vogl is an Individual Member of Transparency International, having served as the organization’s first Vice Chair in its first decade from 1993. He is a co-founder and former Board Chair of the Partnership for Transparency Fund.
He serves as a member of the International Council of the New Israel Fund and of the Advisory Council of the United Nations Association of the Greater Washington Area. A former spokesman for the World Bank, Mr. Vogl was previously the international economics correspondent for the Times of London.
He is the author of many articles and books, and lectures extensively on global ethics and corruption. Some of his recent works include “The Enablers – How the West Supports Kleptocrats and Corruption-Endangering Our Democracy” (Roman and Littlefield) and “Waging War on Corruption: Inside the Movement Fighting the Abuse of Power”
Follow him @frankvogl
“Corruption” group on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/anticorruptioninfo/
Articles by Frank Vogl
The Trump Era of Crony Capitalism
The United States is entering an extraordinary – indeed a mad – era of crony capitalism.
December 4, 2024
Trump Means To Weaponize the Justice Department
Trump means what he says. If elected, he will weaponize Justice to jail his enemies and will empower the police to use violence.
October 11, 2024
U.S. Presidents Granted a License to Steal
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling may encourage grand corruption.
July 15, 2024
Remembering the Dead: We Must Do More
World Press Freedom Day and the legacy of Daphne Caruana Galizia reminds us of the urgency of fighting corruption and supporting civil society activists.
May 4, 2024
Navalny’s Death and the Continuing Global Fight Against the Power of Corruption
The murder of Alexei Navalny is a wake-up call to provide more support to valiant campaigners fighting against corruption.
February 17, 2024
Cryptocurrencies Soar, Governments Lose
The rise of cryptocurrencies reflects the public's loss of trust in governments and the global financial system.
January 13, 2024
Blowing Up Trump’s Brand and Finances
Who are you going to believe – Trump or your own eyes?
October 2, 2023
Switzerland To Act Against Dirty Cash?
Swiss authorities say they want to stop their banks laundering the cash of tax-evading tycoons, international gangsters and oligarchs. But a heavy dose of skepticism is needed.
September 12, 2023
Absolute Poverty Rises Amid Debt Distress and Corruption
New humanitarian approaches are vital instead of IMF austerity.
August 7, 2023
Corruption: The Global Killing Machine
Corruption so often reflects extraordinary greed and an unquenchable lust for power. If unchecked, it also produces death on a vast scale.
June 6, 2023
Sanctions Enforcement Is Urgent To Cripple Russia
So far the sanctions are not hurting the Russian economy, Russia’s leaders and oligarchs.
March 10, 2023
Trump: The Big Lie and the Big Rip-Off
How Donald Trump scammed his supporters to pocket hundreds of millions.
January 18, 2023
Is Trump Above the Law?
What sets democracy apart from autocracy is that no citizen is above the law.
November 23, 2022
Democracy In America Is On the Line
Donald Trump’s prime strategy is to undermine the U.S. system of justice – and make lots of money for himself in the process.
August 15, 2022
Zelensky’s Next Headache: Money
Ukraine needs billions to run Its government. As its economy dives, its budget spending soars. The global community needs to step up.
April 26, 2022
Bringing Russian Oligarchs to Justice
Why we need to worry that the current zeal of Western authorities to go after the Russian oligarchs will decline over time.
April 6, 2022
Can Russia’s Oligarchs Be Brought to Justice?
Only if we fight the corruption coming from the Kremlin and its coterie of oligarchs in earnest do the Russian people have a fair chance for a decent future.
March 29, 2022
Mr. Johnson, What Will the UK Do on Russia?
How serious is the UK government’s determination to act very firmly against Russian business interests in view of Putin’s constant transgressions?
February 22, 2022
Countering Authoritarianism: The Very Essence of Freedom
Looking ahead to 2022, three Nobel Prize winners have one uniting message for all of us: All around the world, we must fight much harder for freedom.
January 1, 2022
Confronting the Kleptocrats? Contain Their Western(!) Financial Managers
The governments participating in the November 2021 Biden Summit should hit the authoritarians where it hurts them the most – in their wallets.
October 27, 2021
Will Donald Trump Be Criminally Prosecuted?
Cyrus Vance, Manhattan’s District Attorney, is gunning hard to finally get Trump.
June 28, 2021
The Biden Administration’s Anti-Corruption Agenda
Will key European leaders join Biden’s approach on fighting kleptocratic regimes, whether Russia, China, Iran or Turkey?
June 21, 2021
Africa: Time for Truth-Telling?
Can U.S. President Joe Biden challenge human rights and corruption abuses at the June G7 Summit in Cornwall?
June 9, 2021
Can the Pope End Corruption?
Pope Francis is taking all the right steps to end the deep-rooted corruption in the Vatican. Will he be successful?
May 6, 2021
Covid, Greed and the Super Rich
While Covid-19 has taken a terrible financial toll on millions, thousands have profited like never before!
April 28, 2021
Is Democracy in Decline Globally?
Corruption and debt darken the global outlook for democracy.
February 21, 2021
Promoting the Most Important Anti-Corruption Action in a Generation
Kleptocrats and Oligarchs Beware!
January 2, 2021
US: Systematically Hollowing Out Democracy
U.S. political campaigns are one vast, sprawling political slush fund, designed to create a money-based web of post-election dependencies that is vast and largely impenetrable.
November 16, 2020
Goldman Sachs Got Caught
Goldman Sachs has to deal with unprecedented punishment for bribery.
November 10, 2020
The Post-Pandemic Crisis: What Happens Next?
The failure of multilateral strategic decision-making in these COVID times has been led by the Trump Administration and its bizarre attacks on international institutions.
October 26, 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Titan on Values and the 2020 Election Risks
A personal perspective from an American Jew at a truly momentous time in U.S. history.
September 20, 2020
Two Bombshell Legal Surprises on the Eve of the US Election?
Two very different political clocks are ticking on the calendars of public prosecutors that could influence the 2020 US election. One has Republicans worried, the other the Democrats.
August 10, 2020
Trump and Corruption: Who Cares in the Time of COVID?
The Art of Undermining, or: How easily U.S. President Donald Trump gets away with corruption.
July 12, 2020
COVID 19: Assessing the Global Corruption Fallout
Corruption is bad today, but bound to get worse. Governments’ response to the COVID 19 pandemic amplifies the opportunities for abuse.
June 17, 2020
Argentina: Greed, Bonds, COVID and Your Cash
Argentina has defaulted on its debts, again. Will the IMF and investors be merciful?
May 25, 2020
March 23, 2020: The Day the US Economy Did Not Crash
The day when Fed Chairman Jerome Powell rode in to rescue financial markets to prevent their complete freezing up could have entered our history books as another global mega-crash.
May 14, 2020
What Does Putin Have on Trump?
A rare moment of bipartisanship of today’s hyper-partisan Washington -- and what it means for Russia, President Trump and holding clean elections on November 3.
April 30, 2020
Trump’s Total Control of Vast Virus-Aid Fund
It used to be said that beggars can’t be choosers. That obviously no longer applies in the United States of today. Corporations set the terms of their bailouts.
March 30, 2020
Time to Write Deutsche Bank’s Obituary?
Deutsche Bank, once the powerhouse of the German economy, is being battered ever harder by the fallout from ferocious crises, with no safe harbor in sight.
March 13, 2020
Trump’s Sense of “Justice”: Ever More Troubling
Forget the idea of the U.S. separation of powers. Donald Trump is annexing the entire U.S. justice system.
February 20, 2020
Bribery: The Driving Force Behind Middle Eastern Arms Sales
Corruption runs rampant in U.S. arms deals in the Middle East.
January 22, 2020
Trump, the Incomparable Arms Salesman
Right after Iran’s Soleimani was killed, the Saudis arrived at the White House.
January 21, 2020
US Tech Transfer: First to China, Now to the Middle East
The shortsightedness of the United States in allowing arms production facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE is unbelievable.
January 20, 2020
Prince Charles, UK Jews and Corbyn/Labour’s Anti-Semitism
The Labour anti-Semitism story may spin on. Will some of Corbyn’s Labour Party friends now start to quietly assert that they lost the election because of the Jews?
December 23, 2019
Giuliani’s Deceitful Ukraine Business Web
The way in which US officials collaborated with shady characters abroad to turn foreign policy into a personal business should leave anyone speechless.
December 3, 2019
Romania’s Anti-Corruption Progress
The battle against authoritarianism engulfs much of Eastern and Central Europe. Romania may emerge as a beacon of democratic hope.
November 21, 2019
Testing Zelensky: New Hopes for Ukraine
Trump’s clumsy efforts to bully Zelensky have weakened both the U.S. and the Ukrainian leaders, while playing into Russian hands.
October 28, 2019
Donald Trump: The Art of the “Self-Shakedown”
The man who has advertised himself for “The Art of the Deal” now engages in a mafia-style shake down on himself!
October 9, 2019
Dateline South Sudan: Grand Corruption’s Partners
World leaders dare not ignore today’s grand corruption.
September 21, 2019
Argentina: Heading for Financial and Political Mayhem
Argentina’s voters, foreign institutional investors and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) never seem to learn from previous calamities.
September 19, 2019
2020 and the Art of Hunting Trump
It's not about impeachment, but very much about investigating relentlessly.
September 16, 2019
Donald Trump and the Guns of August 2019
The U.S. President stokes resentment and hate speech wherever and however he can.
August 13, 2019
Reagan´s Executor: Trump and the ‘Complacent State’
There is something positively Lenin-esque in the Republicans´endeavor to slay the “monster” of the U.S. federal government. No wonder Putin loves Trump so much.
August 12, 2019
An Anti-Corruption Legend Has Died
The remarkable life of Robert Morgenthau – legendary anti-corruption enforcer.
July 28, 2019
Lagarde’s Leadership Should Not Be Underrated
The scope of central banking has expanded significantly in recent years. The former IMF boss is well prepared for those challenges.
July 23, 2019
The G20 Summit: Trump and Putin
Putin will likely meet Trump at the G20 summit in Osaka. Will their financial ties be the subject of their discussions?
June 28, 2019
US Voters: Fed Up with Corruption
Trust in the U.S. federal government is at an all time low. Democratic presidential candidates will need to convince voters that they understand their concerns.
May 26, 2019
EU Needed Now to Lead on Press Protection
The U.S. is no longer the active leader in promoting press freedom as a vital pillar of democracy. The EU ought to fill this space.
May 6, 2019
Is Any Democracy Safe from Russian Sabotage?
Robert Mueller's clear-cut warning to everyone who cares about democracy.
April 24, 2019
Mueller Report Fuels Still More Investigations
Trump’s fury will rise as the hunt for a smoking gun continues.
April 20, 2019
Are the World Bank and IMF Failing the World?
Amidst Trump administration flame-throwing, top experts worry about the ability of the main multilateral institutions safeguarding the global economy.
April 13, 2019
Trump Triumphant – for Now at Least
Trump feels that he has been vindicated by the Mueller report. But a host of other investigations into his past activities are going forward.
March 26, 2019
Watergate and Trump – Then and Now
Nixon resigned knowing that if he didn’t he would be impeached. It’s hard to imagine Trump ever resigning, no matter what the evidence.
March 7, 2019
The Consigliere Rats on the Don
Cohen goes for Trump – and it was not pretty. Democrats show their inquisitive skills.
February 28, 2019
US Vs. Trump: The Evidence Mounts and Mounts
The United States has entered constitutional crisis territory.
February 20, 2019
Schiff Against Trump: Let the Congressional Investigations Begin
President Trump dismisses Adam Schiff as a political hack pursuing the politics of revenge. But he may find him to be his worst nightmare.
February 7, 2019
The Double-Standard Raised by the Corruption Perception Index
Some of the countries that do best in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index are where kleptocrats place their dirty cash.
January 30, 2019
US: How to Combat Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing?
The continuing hijacking of the global financial system by terrorist organizations and organized crime must be stopped.
January 28, 2019
Washington Is Reeling over New Reports of FBI Case
Is President Donald Trump a Russian agent?
January 14, 2019
Brexit: A Cultural Morphology
How the deep forces of British history, from royalism and classism to nationalism and imperialism, combined to trigger the Brexit moment.
January 8, 2019
Will Bad Bankers Ever Be Punished?
What can be done to rein in the prevailing culture of greed at leading global banks?
December 22, 2018
Iran etc.: Launch Sanctions and You Trigger Corruption
New U.S. Treasury investigation spotlights Russians, Syrians and Iranians.
November 27, 2018
The Decline and Fall of Donald Trump
The array of investigations centering on president Trump will dominate Washington politics for the foreseeable future.
November 21, 2018
When Murdering Journalists Becomes Commonplace
It is time to be far more forceful in defending reporters and activists who serve the public and monitor the powerful.
October 27, 2018
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, Again and Again…
Latin America’s third-largest economy and its ongoing tale of economic crisis, political turmoil – and, of course, corruption.
October 1, 2018
Paul Manafort’s Europe Connection
Former European leaders took secret cash for their engagement in Ukraine. Will that have consequences?
September 19, 2018
Catapulting White Collar Crime into the Center of American Politics
Bankers get a free pass; Cohen and Manafort thought they had impunity; Senator Warren pushes anti-corruption law; White House accused of blocking investigations into student loan fraud by banks.
August 31, 2018
The Noose Around Trump’s Neck Is Tightening
It is possible that Manafort and Cohen have information relating to money trails between the Trump Organization and Russian businessmen, including ones with close ties to the Kremlin.
August 23, 2018
US: Drain the Swamp? Forget It!
The rot needs to stop if public trust in government, already at a low, is to be restored. But the prospects for constructive reforms are poor.
August 15, 2018
Trump’s Trial Risks Rise Big-Time
The courts move to the center of the U.S. political debate.
August 2, 2018
What Does Putin Have on Trump?
For the sake of U.S. national security, it’s high time for Donald Trump to release all his tax returns in full. Otherwise, the calls that he is in Russia’s pocket will only grow louder.
July 19, 2018
Brothers in Power: Trump and Netanyahu
The Binyamin and Donald show threatens to undermine, perhaps irredeemably, the institutions of democracy in Israel and the United States.
July 5, 2018
A Rare US Victory for Business and Justice
U.S. Judge Richard J. Leon’s ruling to allow the AT&T and Time Warner merger has sent a clear message: There are still law enforcement officers who refuse to be cowed by Trump.
June 15, 2018
How the World Bank Mismanaged the Reconstruction of Afghanistan
Vast inflows of donor cash, intended to bring about reconstruction, may instead have added significantly to Afghanistan’s corruption problems.
May 17, 2018
Malaysia: Democracy Won, But Will Justice Prevail?
The outgoing prime minister Najib Razak is already plotting right now to divide his opponents -- and thereby escape justice.
May 12, 2018
The IMF Wakes Up to Fight Graft
The IMF finally realizes that assigning priority to anti-corruption is not a choice but a necessity. It is now deemed a “macro-critical” issue.
April 30, 2018
Holocaust Ignorance: Today’s Dangers
There must be a new urgency to ensuring that people everywhere understand the horrors of the past and the dangers of today’s authoritarian trends.
April 22, 2018
Holocaust Ignorance: Today’s Dangers
There must be a new urgency to ensuring that people everywhere understand the horrors of the past and the dangers of today’s authoritarian trends.
April 22, 2018
No Impunity! When Presidents Go to Jail
South Korea's and Brazil's former Presidents are being jailed for corruption. South Africa's ex-leader appears to be next.
April 8, 2018
Trump’s Washington: Drowning In Conflicts of Interest?
Not a single Congressional Committee is looking into the abuse and utter mockery that is being made of official U.S. government ethics rules.
March 27, 2018
The Afghan Quagmire: Corruption Persists
Corruption and the lack of the rule of law is a fundamental cause of the Afghan debacle.
March 18, 2018
Trump’s Budget Priorities: Crimes Against Humanity?
President Trump’s proposed budget highlights the increasing White House determination to find military solutions to the world’s ills.
February 19, 2018
Wall Street Impunity: Why Kleptocrats Love America
Those at the top of Wall Street finance know that what they do may be wrong – but not necessarily illegal. And so they carry on, under the “watchful” eye of US authorities.
January 25, 2018
Trump Pushes for American Authoritarianism – With Success
At the end of Trump’s first year in office, the U.S. faces graver challenges than in many generations.
January 22, 2018
Corruption: The Root of Much Human Evil
Decent nations appear helpless against the spread of corruption. Their own elites keep promoting the racket.
December 22, 2017
When the Saudis Need Cash
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to sell shares in state-owned oil giant Aramco to fund the grandiose reinvention of Saudi Arabia.
November 23, 2017
Russia Connection: Is Trump Having Sleepless Nights?
U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is determined to go after Washington’s dark money pools.
November 20, 2017
Anti-Corruption: Saudis Use China’s Playbook
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is playing the corruption card to strengthen his control over the country.
November 12, 2017
Beyond Harvey Weinstein: Sextortion Around the Globe
Sextortion – the demand for sexual favors by powerful men – is especially prevalent in poor countries. It is the least investigated form of corruption in the world.
November 1, 2017
Pakistan: Booting Out Sharif
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif being kicked out of office for corruption is a triumph for transparency and justice.
July 29, 2017
Brazil: A Fallen Hero and the Start of a New Era?
Lula’s sentence is a signal to all of Latin America that justice can prevail. From Mexico to the tip of Argentina, corruption has pervaded politics for decades. Now is the time to fix it for good.
July 13, 2017
Trump’s Systematic Strategy to Abuse Power
Trump tramples on law enforcement in ways commonly associated only with dictatorships.
June 27, 2017
The Worst Human Crisis Since World War Two
America turns its back on the world's starving - will the G20 come to the rescue?
June 18, 2017
Trump and Russia: Just Follow the Money
The G7 summit communiqué surprisingly contains a direct and troublesome admonition for US President Donald Trump.
May 30, 2017
Africa: A Massive Tragedy That Could Be Avoided
The issue of the intense connection between corruption and violence fails to secure the attention it deserves.
April 29, 2017
Trump’s Era of Disorder
The U.S. President is challenging the U.S. constitutional provisions designed to prevent the abuse of public office.
April 1, 2017
Trump Delivers for His Wall Street Pals
Wall Street rejoices as tough U.S. prosecutors are fired and rules abandoned.
March 16, 2017
Fake News: Trump and Netanyahu
We need fact-checkers now, more than ever. But are they a real deterrence to politicians who lie?
March 2, 2017
U.S. Democracy For Sale: Just Ask Sheldon
Sheldon Adelson is the personification of money in American politics today. Perversely, nothing that he has done is illegal.
February 20, 2017
Trump and Corporate Secrecy: Welcome to the Dark Age
The U.S. Congress and Trump’s cabinet bring joy to the kleptocrats in Africa, Latin America and elsewhere.
February 8, 2017
Deutsche Bank’s Culture Wars
Deutsche Bank has become the poster boy for money laundering.
February 5, 2017
The U.S. Government and the Major Banks: Justice for Sale at the Bazaar
To date, not a single top banker has been put on trial, let alone sent to prison, for the frauds perpetrated by the institutions they lead.
December 29, 2016
Big Money Entanglements for Trump’s Nominees
Will the tangled finances of vastly wealthy leaders of the US administration become a possible cause for corruption concerns?
December 21, 2016
Corruption in Trump’s America
The election of Donald Trump could spell disaster for anti-corruption efforts in the U.S. and abroad.
November 21, 2016
US: Corruption Unchained
It’s becoming ever harder to go after corrupt politicians and lobbyists in the United States.
September 13, 2016
Beyond Dilma: The New Era of Anti-Corruption Enforcement
The Brazilian President’s removal from office will send shockwaves across Latin America, and possibly beyond.
September 3, 2016
US: Bankers No Longer Too Big to Jail?
U.S. politicians in surprising agreement to end impunity for bankers.
July 29, 2016
National Governments: Corrupted Systematically?
Breaking the ties between organized crime and official corruption.
June 14, 2016
Trump: Business Corruption and a “Horrible Law”
Five steps U.S. corporations should take to create a fairer society in the age of globalization.
May 16, 2016
Jail the Corrupt! No More Impunity
From Brazil to Macedonia, from Iceland to Guatemala, public prosecutors are going after corrupt top politicians on an unprecedented scale.
May 6, 2016
A New Era of U.S. Small Manufacturing Dawning?
The man who coined the term "emerging markets" now foresees a great future for "rustbelt" cities.
May 4, 2016
The “Panama Papers” Are About Criminals
It is high time for U.S., U.K. and Swiss justice authorities to act.
April 12, 2016
Cleaning Up the World: End Dirty Money
Any attempt to end money laundering will be staunchly opposed by vested interests.
April 4, 2016
Brazil’s and South Africa’s Watergate Moment
What happens when judges fight corrupt political leaders?
March 23, 2016
FIFA and Company: The New Mafia?
Can we clean up corruption in major sports around the world?
February 28, 2016
Mark Wolf: Judge on a Global Mission
Campaign grows for an International Anti-Corruption Court.
February 8, 2016
High Time for a Western Oil Strategy
Yes, we can boost global security and good governance.
January 26, 2016
The Fight Against Corruption: On the Home Stretch?
Why September 2015 matters much in the global battle on routing out corruption.
September 1, 2015
The Liberation of Bergen-Belsen: A Survivor Remembers
70 years later, a survivor of the atrocities of WWII recalls her experience.
April 12, 2015
Latin America’s Real Corruption Crisis
The outflows of illicit cash from Latin America are a staggering tax on its citizens.
March 27, 2015
The Mounting Global Challenges of Rampant Corruption
Only a united front against corruption can bring about its end.
March 19, 2015
Afghanistan’s Bitter Future
The consequences of the lengthy failure of the United States to address Afghan corruption.
December 27, 2014
The Hard Facts of Global Corruption
Action rarely follows rhetoric when it comes to global corruption.
December 5, 2014
China’s Battle Against Corruption Gets Serious
China’s Xi follows anti-corruption textbook, but still has a way to go.
July 30, 2014
Speaking Truth to African Power
What can be done to reduce rampant corruption with resources revenue in Africa?
August 11, 2013
Natural Resources, Natural Corruption?
How can transparency help end the fleecing of resource-rich countries by their corrupt leaders?
October 3, 2012
America in Afghanistan: Lessons from Iraq (Part II)
What lessons does the United States need to learn from Iraq so as not to waste taxpayer money in Afghanistan?
March 31, 2009
America in Iraq: Lessons for Afghanistan (Part I)
Will the reconstruction mistakes made in Iraq be avoided by the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan?
March 30, 2009