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Release Date Set For Info On 200,000 ‘Panama Papers’ Companies

Chuck Ross Investigative Reporter
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A journalism group announced on Tuesday that next month it will publish a searchable database with the names of more than 200,000 offshore companies linked to the Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca, in the so-called Panama Papers.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) says it will publish the Panama Papers information on May 9 in what it is calling the “largest-ever release of secret offshore companies and the people behind them.”

Earlier this month, ICIJ and other other journalism organizations began publishing reports based on offshore companies set up by Mossack Fonseca.

So far, reports based on the records — which show companies set up in tax havens like the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Bahamas — have created a minor international splash. British Prime Minister David Cameron suffered embarrassment after it was discovered that his late father had invested heavily in offshore companies. Russian oligarchs with close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin were also implicated in the release.

Bill and Hillary Clinton have also been loosely linked to the papers. A Russian bank with relationships to companies that used offshore accounts set up through Mossack Fonseca has hired the U.S. lobbying firm, Podesta Group. One of the co-founders of the firm — John Podesta — is Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman. His brother, Tony Podesta, currently runs the firm and is a major fundraiser for Clinton’s campaign.

Several other Clinton associates, including Frank Giustra, a Canadian mining magnate and major Clinton Foundation donor, are also implicated in the documents. (RELATED: More Clinton Connections Emerge In Panama Papers)

According to ICIJ, next month’s release will include information “about companies, trusts, foundations and funds incorporated in 21 tax havens, from Hong Kong to Nevada in the United States.”

The database will not include all of the information from the Panama Papers, according to ICIJ. Instead, the release will include basic information about the secret corporations.

“When the data is released, users will be able to search and visualize the networks around thousands of offshore entities, including, when possible, Mossack Fonseca’s internal records of the company’s true owners,” ICIJ writes.

The release will not include bank account records or details of financial transactions. Emails, passports and telephone numbers will also not be included.

ICIJ says it will continue to publish stories based upon the more detailed information.

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