Attorney general signals tighter rule enforcement for businesses

The era of Attorney General Jeff Sessions is just getting underway, and it’s still anyone’s guess how that will truly affect the law of the land. Many of the headlines have referenced his stated focus on violent crime and tightening the immigration and deportation system, but that may not be all that Sessions has in mind. Recently, he spoke out about the need to reign in white collar crime as well.

Many pundits have speculated that questionable or outright illegal business practices may get more, not less, latitude under Sessions because of President Trump’s many business ties. However, Sessions spoke directly to those fears recently, stating that dishonest business practices must be fairly punished because, “these kinds of frauds are always paid for by innocent people.”

Sessions also claims that one of his major focuses will be enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which essentially restricts and punishes companies who attempt to bribe foreign interests in order to win lucrative contracts. How all these intentions will play out still remains to be seen.

Of course, in business matters, the line between legal and illegal is not always clear. It is important to consult with high-quality legal counsel to ensure that your business practices do not place you in undue jeopardy.

In any case, it does seem that many practices in domestic and foreign business may soon receive extra scrutiny, meaning more white-collar charges throughout many sectors. If you are charged with a white-collar crime, it is always important to obtain representation to defend your career and reputation. With strong, dedicated legal counsel, you can ensure that your business is treated fairly, while your rights and privileges remain protected.

Source: Los Angeles Times, “Sessions: We’ll go after white-collar criminals too,” Joseph Tanfani, April 24, 2017

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