| | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | With Daniel Lippman SENATORS PRESS GARLAND ON BROOKINGS' FARA COMPLIANCE: Four of the top Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are pressing the Justice Department to determine whether the Brookings Institution has complied with FARA requirements stemming from the think tank's since-ended partnership with the Qatari government to establish an outpost in Doha. — In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday, Judiciary ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) asked Garland to provide more information on the think tank's registration obligations and its past interactions with DOJ's FARA Unit. — The letter, of course, comes amid a federal probe into whether former Brookings President and retired Marine Gen. John Allen, who resigned in June, illegally lobbied on Qatar's behalf while a fellow at the venerated think tank. — The lawmakers cited the Brookings Doha Center's establishing documents, which my POLITICO Magazine colleague Michael Schaffer obtained earlier this summer , and which revealed Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs scored "a notable degree of contractual prerogatives for a government over a proudly independent organization" in exchange for its initial $5 million investment in the venture. — The agreement stipulated "regular" consultations with the foreign ministry and the submission of an annual budget and programming agenda for the center, with changes requiring sign-off by the ministry. In doing so, the senators argued, "the State of Qatar was able to exercise control, directly and indirectly, over the Center via the funding scheme. This structure places the Brookings Institution squarely within the definition of an 'agent of a foreign principal'" set out by the FARA statute. — The letter contends that the Doha Center does not fall under the FARA exemption for "bona fide religious, scholastic, academic or scientific pursuits or of the fine arts" that many think tanks claim, and also asserts that the center's activities meet FARA's definition of "political activities." — The senators asked Garland to outline what steps the department has taken to assess whether Brookings or its affiliates or any other think tanks should be required to register under FARA; whether DOJ has sent Brookings or its affiliates a letter of inquiry or letter of determination relating to their Qatar relationship; and whether Brookings or its affiliates have sought an advisory opinion from the FARA Unit on the matter. In a statement, a spokesperson for Brookings reiterated that the think tank's policies "prohibit activities that would require registration under FARA." — "In line with its commitment to fostering independent research to solve society's problems, Brookings's policies on independence and integrity prohibit outside parties from compromising the independence of our scholars' research," the spokesperson said. "Brookings's donor procedures further make clear that Brookings retains independence in our work and that donors — whether foreign or domestic — cannot exercise control of our activities." — Ben Freeman, a Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft research fellow who studies foreign influence, told PI the lawmakers' letter makes "a very compelling case that the FARA unit, at the very least, should have taken steps to assess whether Brookings should have registered under FARA for work connected to its now disbanded Doha Center," which he noted is a "gray area" for FARA enforcement. — That said, "I would not at all be surprised if the FARA unit was taking a hard look at Brookings," he added, pointing to an advisory opinion released late last week that Freeman argues in a new piece and says "indicates that think tanks may be under the FARA microscope more than ever before" — and may not end well for the think tanks. Good afternoon and welcome to PI. It may be recess, but we're still around — let us know what's going on out there: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
| | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | WHERE K STREET'S WYOMING PRIMARY MONEY WENT IS HEADED NOW: That was quick. Mere hours after Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) conceded defeat in her primary on Tuesday, the congresswoman already took the first step in her pivot toward grander political ambitions, converting her campaign account into a leadership PAC, Insider's Sinéad Baker, Dave Levinthal and Oma Seddiq report. — "The FEC document, which was filed at 2:01 a.m. ET Wednesday, also showed that Cheney had changed her House campaign committee, 'Liz Cheney for Wyoming,' to a leadership PAC named 'The Great Task.'" A Cheney spokesperson told Playbook this morning that following her defeat Cheney "will be launching an organization to educate the American people about the ongoing threat to our Republic, and to mobilize a unified effort to oppose any Donald Trump campaign for president." — According to Insider, the switch will allow Cheney to "bankroll her travel, make political contributions, and as nonpartisan research organization OpenSecrets notes, 'fund expenses that are ineligible to be paid by campaign committees or congressional offices.'" She amassed a war chest of more than $7 million by the campaign's closing weeks. Leadership PACs also, of course, have the added benefit of a $5,000 contribution limit for individuals that resets each year, rather than each election, allowing Cheney to continue raising money. HARRIS TAPS FORMER NAB LOBBYIST AS HILL LIAISON: Grisella Martinez has joined Vice President Kamala Harris' office as her director of legislative affairs, per Legistorm. Martinez was most recently chief of staff to Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who endorsed Harris' 2020 presidential bid and served as the campaign's national security chair. Before joining Gallego's office last spring, Martinez was at the National Association of Broadcasters, where she served as vice president of government relations at the trade group for four years. AMERICA RISING OUSTS LEADER OVER CHENEY HELP: The New York Times' Shane Goldmacher revealed that Jeff Larson, a longtime Republican party official, was asked to step down from his role as chair of the GOP opposition research group America Rising after it was revealed that he was involved in efforts to boost Cheney . "Not long after Axios reported his involvement, Mr. Larson was asked to step down … according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Mr. Larson is no longer chairman," per Goldmacher. HOW BILL GATES HELPED SWAY MANCHIN: Bill Gates had been laying the groundwork for years to cultivate the relationship with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) that he deployed to become one of Democrats' closers on the historic climate legislation that became law yesterday, the billionaire philanthropist told Bloomberg's Akshat Rathi and Jennifer Dlouhy. — "As he revealed to Bloomberg Green, he has quietly lobbied Manchin and other senators, starting before President Joe Biden had won the White House, in anticipation of a rare moment in which heavy federal spending might be secured for the clean-energy transition." — "Those discussions gave him reason to believe the senator from West Virginia would come through for the climate — and he was willing to continue pressing the case himself until the very end. 'The last month people felt like, OK, we tried, we're done, it failed,' Gates said. 'I believed it was a unique opportunity.' So he tapped into a relationship with Manchin that he'd cultivated for at least three years. 'We were able to talk even at a time when he felt people weren't listening.'" — "Few had any idea at this time that talks remained open at all. In addition to Gates, an ad hoc group of quiet Manchin influencers sprang into action just when climate legislation seemed out of reach."
| | | — Eric Fryer is now the manager for grassroots and the PAC at the U.S. Travel Association. He was most recently the government affairs director for the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. — Trent Morse is now campaign manager for Tudor Dixon's Michigan gubernatorial campaign. He most recently was a senior associate at Ballard Partners and is a Trump HHS, HUD and DOT alum. — Cody Sargent will be press secretary for Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). He currently is a director in the public affairs practice at PLUS Communications. — Patrick Finnegan is now director for government affairs at Micron Technology . He most recently was director for federal government affairs at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. — Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield has joined Higher Learning Associates as managing director of policy and research. She most recently was senior director of policy and advocacy at the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University. — Carl Meacham is joining FTI Consulting as a managing director for strategic comms. He previously led PhRMA's commercial diplomacy and advocacy efforts for Latin America, Canada and Europe and is an Uber alum. — Trenton Kennedy is now leading policy communications at Chainalysis. He previously was on the policy comms team at Twitter. — Charles Joughin is now director of executive and corporate comms at The Walt Disney Co. He previously was managing director of public affairs at the First Five Years Fund. — Cory Bullock is joining Tenable as senior manager of global government affairs. He was previously a policy and legislative adviser at USAID. — Sara Akbar is now director for government affairs with intelligence company Recorded Future. She most recently was senior director for government relations and public affairs at Interos and is a Wilson Center and Oracle alum.
| | | 2022 Founders Committee (Sens. Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, Rep. Ted Budd, Blake Masters for Senate, Team Herschel, Inc, Schmitt for Senate, Laxalt for Senate, JD Vance for Senate Inc., Doctor Oz for Senate, Smiley for Washington Inc.) 314 Action Impact Slate 2022 (314 ACTION FUND, Sen. Mark Kelly, Caraveo for Congress, Eric Sorensen for Illinois, Tony Vargas for Congress, Jamie for Oregon) Cruz 25 for 22 Victory Fund (Sens. Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Reps. Mayra Flores, Ashley Hinson, Yvette Herrell , Jobs, Freedom, And Security Pac, Amanda Adkins for Congress, Scott Baugh for Congress, Bognet for Congress, Eric Burlison for Congress, Eli Crane for Congress, Monica for Congress, Cassy for Congress, John Gibbs for Congress, Inc., Hageman for Wyoming, Bo Hines for Congress, Lauf for Il-11, Karoline for Congress, Friends of Mccormick, Iowans for Zach Nunn, Andy Ogles for Congress, Pekau for Congress, Committee To Elect Sam Peters, Robertson for Congress, Yesli Vega for Virginia, Committee To Elect Jennifer-Ruth Green, Becker for Congress) Levy Victory (LEORA LEVY FOR U.S. SENATE, INC., NRSC) MIKE ERICKSON VICTORY FUND (Mike Erickson for Congress, Advance Oregon, NRCC) Virginia Congressional Victory Fund (Yesli Vega for Virginia, Kiggans for Congress)
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| | New Lobbying Registrations | | Alpine Group Partners, LLC.: Blue Sky Infrastructure, LLC
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Carlyle Investment Management L.L.C
Broydrick & Associates: Tessara (Pty) Ltd.
Government Counsel, LLC: Akorn, Inc.
Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, P.C.: Hall Render 340B Collaborative (Informal Coalition Of Hospitals And Providers)
Hyzon Motors: Hyzon Motors
Ml Strategies, LLC: Charleston Hospitality Group
Monument Advocacy: Genomatica
Monument Advocacy: Iproov Inc.
Monument Advocacy: Panasonic Corporation Of North America
Monument Advocacy: Powdr
Monument Advocacy: Talitrix
Monument Advocacy: The National Wildlife Federation Action Fund
The Cormac Group, LLC: Encina Communications Corporation
Venable LLP: Applied Intuition, Inc.
Williams And Jensen, Pllc: Maus & Hoffman
| | New Lobbying Terminations | | Way Forward Strategies, LLC: Minderoo Foundation Limited As Trustee For The Minderoo Foundation Trust
Wyman Associates: American Pipeline Contractors Association
Wyman Associates: Power And Communications Contractors Association | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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