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Pandora Papers: tax avoidance revelations prompt outraged denials | Pandora papers | The Guardian

The Pandora Papers’ revelations prompted an avalanche of international reaction on Monday, ranging from solemn government pledges to clamp down on tax avoidance to outraged denials and a few cries of “old news”.

The leak published on Sunday by the Guardian and other global media partners revealed the leading role played by the US in the offshore industry, including in the state of South Dakota. It also showcased the use of offshore secrecy jurisdictions by world leaders past and present, as well as other politicians and top public officials.

The Biden administration said it would “crack down on the unfair schemes that give big corporations a leg up” in the wake of the Pandora disclosures. “It’s time to deal in hardworking Americans and ensure the super-wealthy pay their fair share,” the White House said in a tweet.

In Moscow, the Kremlin insisted there was nothing to see, despite the fact that several of Vladimir Putin’s friends and associates – including an alleged former lover – appeared in the data. Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesperson, said the leak was made up of “unsubstantiated claims”.

Peskov said no hidden wealth was found among Putin’s inner circle, despite the leak suggesting the opposite. “What catches the eye is which country is the world’s largest lagoon. This, of course, is the US,” Peskov said at a daily press briefing in Moscow.  …