The Swiss attorney general has decided not to pursue criminal charges against Novartis in connection with $1.2 million in payments the company made last year to President Trump’s personal attorney for access to the new administration.
In explaining its decision, the federal prosecutor maintained there was “insufficient” reason to pursue bribery charges that may have violated laws governing payments to foreign public officials or any link between the payments and any official government action. The prosecutor, which had received a criminal complaint, also noted “that Swiss law does not recognize an offence of trading in influence, whether within Switzerland or internationally.”
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