Trump Signs Executive Order: YS Jagan Safe!

The new President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, has been signing executive orders at a rapid pace. He has once again taken significant action by abolishing the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

In an executive order signed on Monday, Trump paused the enforcement of the federal law concerning the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

This law pertains to the Foreign Bribery Control Act, which makes it a crime for U.S. businesses to bribe foreign officials. Incidentally, this is the same act under which Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been charged.

While signing the order, Trump stated that the law puts U.S. companies at a disadvantage on the global stage. Furthermore, he directed newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately halt all actions taken under the FCPA. This includes the prosecution of American individuals and companies that the Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged with bribing foreign government officials to gain business in other countries.

Earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice had noted that Gautam Adani and a high-ranking official in the Andhra Pradesh government (Jagan was the Chief Minister at the time) were involved in a bribery scandal concerning a power supply deal.

While it was expected that U.S. federal enforcement agencies would take strict action on this case—potentially putting Jagan in legal trouble if he were involved—Trump’s new executive order comes as a relief to him.