From foreign investments in meme coins, to gifts of gold bars and luxury jets, to pardons for convicted drug traffickers, to human rights abuses and war crimes, the institutions and principles of U.S. foreign policy have been under assault from corruption, greed, and graft. Americans can no longer trust that their government is putting them first. Violators of both parties have largely enjoyed impunity, which undermines confidence in our democracy. Lawmakers need to act now to rebuild and revitalize systems of accountability to deter future abuses and hold bad actors responsible for the damage that has already been done. This panel will discuss key risks and implications of future corruption, strategies for developing and enacting an oversight agenda, and tactics for raising public awareness.
Speakers: 1. Rep. Joaquin Castro, (TX-20) 2. Casey Michel, Director, Combating Kleptocracy Program 3. Sarah Yager, Washington Director, Human Rights Watch
Moderator: Ishaan Tharoor, Contributer, The New Yorker
Monday May 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT Mt. Vernon
