Why The Justice Department Fails To Prosecute Executives

In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, there was widespread public outrage over the fact that no top executives were prosecuted for their role in the collapse of the economy. This book examines the reasons why the Justice Department has been so reluctant to prosecute executives, and argues that this reluctance is a major factor in the continuing problem of corporate crime.

The Revolving Door Between The Justice Department And Corporate America

One of the main reasons why the Justice Department is reluctant to prosecute executives is because there is a revolving door between the two institutions. Many former Justice Department officials go on to work for corporations, and many former corporate executives go on to work for the Justice Department. This revolving door creates a cozy relationship between the two institutions, and it makes it difficult for the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute corporations and their executives.

For example, Lanny Breuer, who was the head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division from 2009 to 2015, went on to work for the law firm Covington & Burling, which represents many large corporations. Sally Yates, who was the Deputy Attorney General from 2015 to 2017, went on to work for the law firm King & Spalding, which also represents many large corporations.

The Chickenshit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives

by Jesse Eisinger

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1858 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	401 pages

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The revolving door between the Justice Department and corporate America creates a conflict of interest that makes it difficult for the Justice Department to do its job. When former Justice Department officials go to work for corporations, they may be reluctant to investigate and prosecute their former colleagues. And when former corporate executives go to work for the Justice Department, they may be reluctant to investigate and prosecute their former employers.

The Lack Of Political Will To Prosecute Executives

Another reason why the Justice Department is reluctant to prosecute executives is because there is a lack of political will to do so. Politicians are often reluctant to prosecute executives because they fear that it will hurt the economy. They also fear that it will alienate their corporate donors.

For example, in 2014, the Justice Department announced that it would not prosecute any of the executives of the bank HSBC for their role in the bank's money laundering scandal. This decision was made despite the fact that HSBC had laundered billions of dollars for drug cartels and other criminal organizations.

The Justice Department's decision not to prosecute the HSBC executives was widely criticized by law enforcement officials and consumer advocates. However, the decision was supported by many politicians, who argued that prosecuting the executives would have hurt the economy.

The lack of political will to prosecute executives is a major obstacle to the Justice Department's ability to do its job. When politicians are unwilling to prosecute executives, it sends a message to corporations that they can break the law with impunity.

The Complexity Of Corporate Crime

Another reason why the Justice Department is reluctant to prosecute executives is because corporate crime is often complex and difficult to prove. In many cases, it is difficult to determine which executives were responsible for the crime, and it is difficult to gather enough evidence to convict them.

For example, the financial crisis of 2008 was caused by a complex series of events involving many different financial institutions. It was difficult to determine which executives were responsible for the crisis, and it was difficult to gather enough evidence to convict them.

The complexity of corporate crime makes it difficult for the Justice Department to prosecute executives. However, this does not mean that the Justice Department should give up on prosecuting executives. It simply means that the Justice Department needs to be more creative in its investigations and prosecutions.

The Need For Reform

The Justice Department's failure to prosecute executives is a major problem that needs to be addressed. The revolving door between the Justice Department and corporate America, the lack of political will to prosecute executives, and the complexity of corporate crime all contribute to the problem.

There are a number of things that can be done to address this problem. First, the Justice Department needs to create a firewall between itself and corporate America. This would prevent former Justice Department officials from going to work for corporations, and it would prevent former corporate executives from going to work for the Justice Department.

Second, the Justice Department needs to make it a priority to prosecute executives. This would send a message to corporations that they cannot break the law with impunity.

Third, the Justice Department needs to be more creative in its investigations and prosecutions of corporate crime. This would help to overcome the challenges posed by the complexity of corporate crime.

The Justice Department's failure to prosecute executives is a serious problem that has led to a decline in the rule of law. It is time for the Justice Department to take action to address this problem.

The Chickenshit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives

by Jesse Eisinger

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1858 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	401 pages

FREE