Leaks take their first scalp.
Curious to see if/when they go after more sensitive/powerful Western interests. Seems like so far the articles have gone after fairly easy targets.
Curious to see if/when they go after more sensitive/powerful Western interests. Seems like so far the articles have gone after fairly easy targets.
They're being careful. There are legitimate reasons for running these shell corps and (accidental) libel will throw all their accusations in to question.
> When asked about the lack of Americans in the original release, the German newspaper’s editor responded mysteriously: "Just wait for what is coming next."
I am patiently waiting with a bucket of popcorn.
We may see something eventually. But it has also been pointed out that U.S. laws give wealthy individuals fewer reasons to form companies in Panama. It is possible to form entities with secret owners under U.S. law, with a little effort. So the primary reason for Americans to go offshore may be tax-related, for which Panama would not normally be the jurisdiction of choice.
See: http://fusion.net/story/287671/americans-panama-papers-trove...
http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/07/27/157499893/episo...
http://www.npr.org/2016/04/05/473139196/panama-papers-leak-i...
This may mean that, though there are fewer Americans named in these files than one might expect, their dealings might be shadier, on average, than other nationalities'.
Why would that be of worthy entertainment value? Shouldn't you be hoping the exact opposite, that very few or no Americans are involved (and insert any replacement country, as the same should go for all nations)?
Everyone knows there are corrupt Americans. It's a fact. We're well past the fantasy land of universally ethical citizens. The debate isn't whether there are corrupt Americans, the question is who.
Mob bosses? Trust-fund baby tax evaders? Wall Street hedge funds? Big-Oil CEOs? Ex-military defense contractors? Politicians? I don't know, but some of them better get jailed to discourage others from gaming the system.
And it's entertaining when a big criminal gets caught and punished, especially when the public strongly suspected them but lacked the concrete evidence (like Al Capone).
He's also still rich as fuck and very powerful within the country.