First published 2018
Peter Schweizer tackles a new form of political corruption that dwarfs traditional scandals. Where politicians once stuffed cash in freezers, their families now secure multibillion-dollar equity arrangements through international connections. Schweizer documents how Chinese banks can hire relatives of American politicians and offer exclusive investment opportunities to their inner circles, while US banks face strict prohibitions on similar practices abroad. He examines questionable transactions involving the Trump children alongside largely ignored deals connected to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Mitch McConnell. The author reveals how political families have adopted practices common worldwide, where the children of powerful figures prosper through their parents' influence rather than business acumen. Some prominent American political dynasties have already accumulated hundreds of millions through these methods. Schweizer provides detailed research into these shadowy financial networks and offers solutions for creating more transparent governance.
Genres: business, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: America, China, United States
Period: 21st-century
318 pages · Hardcover · Harper