Embassy Events

DCM Silverman Speaks about Citizen Rights and Powers in Public Corruption Cases

According to Deputy Chief of Mission Lawrence R. Silverman in his remarks to the Via Juris Conference, “Public Control of Public Power,” the American experience has shown that successful investigation and prosecution of corrupt activities can do much to change public perception of corruption. Mr. Silverman, who spoke at the November 19 conference, cited the example of action against Enron leaders as helping to preserve confidence in the larger financial system, rather than threaten it. In a system where rule of law prevails, the people can control public servants through many mechanisms: in the U.S., these include elections, impeachment of public officials, oversight by the legislature, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Citizens Groups, Legal Aid, The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), investigative journalism and inspectors general in all government bureaucracies. Even though there are systems in place to fight corruption, prosecutors need better tools to detect and prosecute public corruption. He concluded by saying that in the fight against corruption, the government needs the public as much as the public needs the government. He offered the Embassy's help in inviting Slovak-Americans with background in this field to share their experience here.