Wal-Mart Stores Inc hit back on Wednesday against suggestions that its lobbyists tried to scale back a US anti-bribery law while the company was aware it may have violated the law.
The company said it “never lobbied on” possible changes to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the law that makes it a crime for US companies to pay bribes overseas.
Wal-Mart played down its presence on the boards of lobbying organisations that are critical of how the anti-bribery law is enforced. Businesses have increasingly agitated against the law in recent years, saying it is vague.
“Simply because Wal-Mart is a member of an organisation does not mean we agree with every position they take,” spokesman David Tovar said.
The statement was issued as a split emerged among lawmakers on whether they should probe Wal-Mart for how it juggled the criminal and political dimensions of allegations that its Mexico unit paid bribes in violation of the law. Prosecutors are investigating the alleged bribes.