A Shift in Federal Priorities
A federal judge in Brooklyn has dismissed the bribery charges against former Fox executive Hernan Lopez, concluding that the case no longer fit the priorities of the Trump administration.
Lopez, who was convicted in 2023 for funneling payments to secure broadcasting rights for major soccer tournaments, had faced a potential prison term before the court's decision.
The dismissal reflects a broader shift in which the administration has placed domestic and foreign terrorism, national security and human trafficking above corporate corruption investigations.
Speaking after the ruling, Lopez said he felt a deep sense of relief, asserting that the prosecution should never have been brought in the first place.
The judge emphasized that her decision was independent of an earlier acquittal on related charges, stating that the new request was grounded in the government's changed focus.
FIFA welcomed the move, noting that the dismissal would not impact other convictions in the sweeping soccer‑corruption case and highlighting its ongoing partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice to root out graft.
The agency also pointed out that more than $200 million has been repatriated to FIFA and allied organizations to fund community‑development projects across the Caribbean and South America.