Trump Dissolves Team Focused on Russian Billionaires' Investigations
The United States Justice Department, under the administration of President Donald Trump, has announced the disbanding of Task Force KleptoCapture. This task force, launched during the tenure of Democratic President Joe Biden, was established to enforce sanctions against Russian oligarchs and target those close to the Kremlin.
The disbanding is part of a broader shift in focus and funding, with the department now prioritizing the combating of drug cartels and international gangs. This move comes after Trump designated many such groups as terrorist organizations, as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.
The task force had been successful in its efforts, seizing nearly $700 million in assets from Russian oligarchs and charging over 70 individuals for violations related to sanctions and export controls against Russia. Notable seizures include yachts belonging to sanctioned oligarchs Suleiman Kerimov and Viktor Vekselberg.
The task force also brought indictments against aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska and TV tycoon Konstantin Malofeyev for alleged sanctions busting.
The disbanding of Task Force KleptoCapture, along with the disbanding of key sanction enforcement units such as the Corporate Enforcement Unit and the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, reflects a pattern of deprioritizing these sanctions enforcement programs under the Trump Justice Department.
The shift also implicates enforcement of the U.S. foreign bribery law, known as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. With the task force disbanded, the unit enforcing this law will now prioritize bribery investigations related to cartels.
The changes will be in effect for at least 90 days and could be renewed or made permanent, according to the directive. Prosecutors assigned to the task force will return to their previous posts.
The disbanding of Task Force KleptoCapture has been seen as a signaling less commitment to countering Russian oligarchs and undermining coordinated sanctions efforts. The move reflects the Trump administration's unwillingness to aggressively fight the financial systems enabling Kremlin allies to hide wealth, as well as related issues such as money laundering and tax evasion.
The decision to disband the task force has been met with criticism, particularly in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Biden Justice Department formed Task Force KleptoCapture as an inter-agency effort, aiming to freeze and seize yachts, jets, and other luxury properties linked to Kremlin-connected figures. The task force's disbanding under the Trump Justice Department marks a significant departure from this bipartisan effort to counter Kremlin influence via economic measures.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Madonna urges Pope Leo XIV to aide starving children in Gaza
- China Accuses Thai Art Exhibition of Falsifying Views on Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong Policies
- Indigenous Activist Arrested in Guatemala After Demanding Resignation of Prosecutor in 2023
