A long-standing bribery case involving FIFA has been dismissed by a federal judge after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) indicated that the case no longer aligns with the current administration’s priorities. The decision marks a significant shift in focus for the DOJ under President Donald Trump’s second term, emphasizing national security and organized crime over corruption cases.
Background of the Case
The case, which began with charges filed in 2015, involved allegations of a bribery scheme that spanned over two decades and reached the highest levels of FIFA, the global governing body for soccer. The charges initially targeted 14 defendants and led to significant upheaval within FIFA, including the resignation of top officials.
Joseph Nocella, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, appeared in court to explain the DOJ’s decision to drop the case against Hernan Lopez, a former executive at 21st Century Fox, and Full Play Group, an Argentine sports marketing company. Both were accused of bribing soccer officials to secure media and broadcast rights. Despite previous convictions, the DOJ requested the dismissal of the indictment, a move that surprised many in the legal community.
DOJ’s Shift in Priorities
Nocella stated in court that the DOJ’s resources are now focused on issues such as terrorism, threats to national security, drug and human trafficking, and gang-related activities. This case marks the second high-profile bribery case the DOJ has dropped during Trump’s second term, following the withdrawal of charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams last year.
The decision to dismiss the case has been met with mixed reactions. While some see it as a pragmatic shift in priorities, others view it as a retreat from holding powerful entities accountable for corruption. The DOJ emphasized that the dismissal is specific to this case and does not affect other convictions or guilty pleas related to the FIFA scandal.
After the court’s decision, Hernan Lopez expressed relief, stating, “Six years later a case they never should have started is finally over.” The case had been a point of pride for federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, highlighting the complexities and challenges of prosecuting international corruption cases.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
