Despots and oligarchs have many means to meddle in American politics

AS WELL AS the colourful details of corruption on a grand scale—the gold bars, the cash stashed in boots and jackets—a particular point stood out during the conviction in July of Bob Menendez, then the senior Democratic senator for New Jersey, on charges including bribery and fraud. He was also found guilty of acting as a foreign agent, passing information to Egypt and Qatar and using his sway as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (Mr Menendez maintains his innocence and has vowed to “aggressively” appeal all charges.) The industry of foreign influence in American politics had expanded into the top echelons of Congress.