Re: Elon Musk's secret talks with Putin

On Mon, 28 Oct 2024 04:08:52 -0000 (UTC), Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

But something
doesn't feel right about this sudden 'breaking' story.

His income is tied to his behavior....seeking out new markets is
nothing new under the sun.

AI Overview

Bribery has been a part of American history since the Gilded Age, when
wealthy business interests bribed politicians to receive favorable
treatment. Some examples of bribery in the United States include:

The Central Pacific Railroad
    Between 1875 and 1885, the railroad spent $500,000 annually on
bribes to public officials.

Union Pacific Railroad
Executives formed a sham construction company to pocket overcharges on
the Transcontinental Railroad. They also bribed congressmen with
company shares to ensure votes in their favor.


Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
In 2008, Teva and its Russian subsidiary paid $519 million to the US
government for bribery in Russia, Ukraine, and Mexico.


Siemens AG
In 2008, Siemens paid $1.6 billion in fines to settle charges of
paying $16 million to the president of Argentina to secure a contract.

BAE Systems
In 2010, BAE pleaded guilty and paid a $400 million fine.
Sculptor Capital Management
In 2016, Sculptor paid $412 million to resolve charges of paying
bribes to government officials in Africa.


Ng Lap Seng
In 2017, Ng Lap Seng was convicted of paying bribes and gratuities to
United Nations ambassadors.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) was passed in 1977 to prevent
corrupt payments to foreign government officials. Some recent
companies that have been charged with FCPA violations include:

    Albemarle Corporation
    Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
    3M Company
    Grupo Aval
    Gartner, Inc.
    Koninklijke Philips N.V