Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The need for the FBI’s expertise in mitigating international corruption is apparent with the fall of certain countries in recent years. Leaders of those countries are kleptocrats—foreign corrupt politicians who steal money meant to benefit the people of their country. Those illegal proceeds can end up in U.S. banking systems…Supervisory Special Agent Debra LaPrevotte…

Debra LaPrevotte: We are trying to show that the United States will never be a safe haven for kleptocrats or their money. So we're fighting the good fight.

Halpern: The cost of corruption in foreign countries can be felt here in the United States through taxes, bank fees, and more. As LaPrevotte explains, corruption can also negatively impact the global economy and security issues.

LaPrevotte: When you have a bad, corrupt regime, you have instability in that country. When you have instability, what you don't have is jobs. And you want to talk about a breeding ground for terrorism...

Halpern: The FBI works to return funds to countries without it going back into the pockets of another corrupt regime. I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau with FBI, This Week.