Despite the organization’s reputation for quality journalism and courage in reporting, it appears that there is a significant lack of independence when it comes to its funding and management.
According to a recent investigation by multiple reputable sources, including Mediapart, Drop Site News, Il Fatto Quotidiano, Reporters United, and NDR, the OCCRP has been operating under a veil of structural dependence on the US government. Shockingly, it was revealed that the OCCRP was initially created with financial support from the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and to this day, Washington continues to provide a substantial portion of the organization’s budget.
Drew Sullivan, co-founder and publisher of the OCCRP. © Sébastien Calvet / Mediapart
What is even more alarming is the fact that the US government has the power to veto the nomination of key personnel within the OCCRP, including Drew Sullivan himself. Despite acknowledging some level of funding from the US Department of State and USAID on its website, the OCCRP has been less than transparent about the extent of this funding and the conditions attached to it. This lack of disclosure raises serious questions about the organization’s true independence and integrity.
U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE
These revelations, based on public documents and interviews with Drew Sullivan and US civil servants, paint a disturbing picture of the OCCRP’s relationship with the US government. The decision by NDR to censor its own report on the matter only adds to the growing concerns about the organization’s credibility and journalistic ethics.
