Breuer downplays Las Vegas connection in bribery case

Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer on Tuesday made it clear Las Vegas was merely a bit player in the round up of 21 business executives in connection with an FBI undercover sting.

The business officials represented military and law enforcement equipment companies. They thought they were hustling business with the defense minister of an African nation when they made bribe offers, according to the indictments. They are charged with violating the 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits American businesses from obtaining or retaining business through the use of bribery of government officials.

“Las Vegas, obviously, is a convention center for lots and lots of industries, and there’s nothing more that can be taken from it than that,” Breuer said during a media conference call in the wake of the unsealing of the indictments.

The Las Vegas economy is in such bad shape, some creative marketing mind from the casino industry should put Breuer on retainer to have all government stings and arrests here. Hey, at least the government's checks will clear.