| | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | | | With Daniel Lippman MICHEL LEGAL SAGA TAKES ANOTHER TWIST: Hollywood attorney David Kenner, who led former Fugees rapper Pras Michel’s unsuccessful legal defense last year against campaign finance and foreign agent charges, is on the hot seat once again as court filings unsealed this morning revealed that Kenner plans to plead guilty to leaking grand jury materials to the press ahead of Michel’s trial last year. — Kenner “has agreed to accept responsibility for violating the Court’s protective order” barring disclosure of grand jury materials that eventually made their way into a pair of “defense-oriented” articles published last year, prosecutors said in today’s filing and an initial complaint from April 2023. — “In a show of gamesmanship seeking to influence public opinion and bias potential jurors in favor of the defendant, the defense has disclosed for publication swaths of sensitive internal Goverment (sic) records, including grand jury exhibits and testimony” that had been turned over to Michel’s defense during discovery for the trial prosecutors alleged last year, pointing to photos published in the article featuring a sticker identifying them as grand jury exhibits. The charge carries up to six months behind bars. — It’s the latest blow for Kenner, who was grilled by Michel’s new attorneys earlier this month during a hearing about the rapper’s bid for a new trial after being convicted by a jury last spring — which Michel argues is warranted because of Kenner’s incompetence. — The hearing, which took place over two days in federal court in D.C., included an admission from a lawyer who worked with Kenner on the case that Kenner had been unfamiliar with FARA initially and that language generated by an artificial intelligence program — including a factual error — made it into the closing statement Kenner gave at trial. Kenner himself conceded that there had been missteps in his preparation for the trial, though he blamed budget constraints that trace back to Michel. — "Unfortunately, former attorney David Kenner failed at every turn to competently represent Pras over the course of this lengthy legal battle,” Michel spokesperson Erica Dumas said in a statement.
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: CREDIT UNIONS & COMMUNITY BANKS IN All 50 STATES OPPOSE THE DURBIN-MARSHALL CREDIT CARD BILL: Local credit unions and community banks serve an essential role in supporting Main Street. So, when 9,600+ credit unions and community banks throughout the country oppose the Durbin-Marshall credit card bill, Congress should pay attention. Durbin-Marshall lines the pockets of corporate mega-stores by shifting costs and risks to credit unions, community banks, and their 135 million customers. Click here to learn more. | | | Happy Thursday and welcome to PI. Send lobbying tips: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on the platform formerly known as Twitter: @caitlinoprysko. HILL & KNOWLTON TO MERGE WITH BCW: Behemoth public affairs conglomerate WPP is consolidating two of its biggest communications firms, Hill & Knowlton and BCW. The combined firm will become Burson, and will have more than 6,000 employees across 43 markets worldwide. Current BCW global CEO Corey duBrowa will become global CEO of Burson and Hill & Knowlton global chair and CEO AnnaMaria DeSalva will be Burson’s global chair. MEHLMAN PROMOTES 2 TO PARTNER: Mehlman Consulting is growing its partnership by two, promoting Democratic lobbyists Nichole Distefano and Paul Thornell from principals. The move will bring more balance to the ideological makeup of the firm’s partners, which Thornell said in an interview is a wise move, given that “the slim House and Senate majorities will more likely than not continue.” — “Having a couple of new voices within the partnership of the firm, to help grow the firm and guide the firm into what is the uncertain future of … Capitol Hill and lobbying, I think will be incredibly important,” added Distefano. ANNALS OF DARK MONEY: “When a Chinese balloon outfitted with surveillance equipment drifted across US skies in early 2023, it set off a nationwide panic about espionage. One opinion essay in Newsweek argued that electronic spying was far broader than most people realized, drawing a parallel between the device floating above Montana and the glut of Chinese-made Lenovo computers in American government offices,” Bloomberg’s Brody Ford writes. — “The author, retired US Army General James ‘Spider’ Marks, suggested those computers were sending data to the Chinese Communist Party, and advocated for legislation that could ban them. One study he cited was from a research and advocacy group where he serves as a principal.” — “The group, China Tech Threat (CTT), tallied how much US government agencies spend on equipment from Lenovo, which counts the Chinese government as a significant indirect shareholder. But it made no mention of the money Dell Technologies Inc., one of Lenovo’s biggest competitors, has spent to fund CTT.” — “CTT is far from the only voice raising alarm about Chinese technology, a rare area of bipartisan agreement in Washington. … But CTT also promotes policies that would be beneficial to its sponsors without disclosing their involvement, and puts more focus on Lenovo than most tech policy experts” without implicating companies afraid of potential “backlash from China, a major manufacturing center and consumer market.” — “While CTT presents as a standalone organization, it is actually a project of DCI Group, a public affairs and consulting firm with a history of ‘astroturfing,’ the technique of disguising corporate messaging as grassroots advocacy, according to people familiar with the matter and documents viewed by Bloomberg Businessweek. DCI’s clients have included Dell and Micron.” FOSSIL FUEL GROUPS SWING BACK AT LNG PAUSE: Nearly three dozen trade groups representing the oil and gas industry ripped the Biden administration’s plans to pause new natural gas projects to review their effects on climate change and environmental health, contending the move would be a “major mistake.” — “The geopolitical and climate benefits of American energy exports cannot be maintained with a regulatory regime that moves at the whims of political pressure,” groups including the American Exploration & Production Council, American Petroleum Institute, Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote in a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm last night. — The pause could be announced as soon as Friday, our Ben Lefebvre reports, and is expected to last up to 15 months. The industry associations lauded the role U.S. LNG exports have played in helping Europe decrease its reliance on Russian oil since the beginning of the war in Ukraine and noted the U.S. is now the world’s top exporter of natural gas. — But going ahead with a review of new projects — a decision environmentalists have cheered — “would only bolster Russian influence and undercut President Biden’s own commitment to supply our allies with reliable energy, undermining American credibility and threatening American jobs,” the industry warned. Delaying new export terminals from going online may also spur “quickly developing nations — specifically in Asia — to abandon plans to reduce emissions and increase coal consumption,” the groups added.
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MORE PROBLEMS FOR NO LABELS: “For months, the centrist group No Labels has stockpiled cash and diligently worked to secure ballot access for a potential third-party presidential bid, striking fear among allies of President Joe Biden that the effort could siphon away votes and hand the White House to Donald Trump,” The Associated Press’ Brian Slodysko and Jonathan J. Cooper report.
— “Now, with a rematch between Biden and Trump looking likely, two Democratic-aligned groups this week filed campaign finance complaints, hoping to crimp No Labels’ pipeline of campaign cash and force the group to follow the same rules as formal political parties.” — “The complaints, filed by the groups End Citizens United and Accountable.US, are part of a broader Democratic effort to ramp up legal scrutiny and elicit public scorn for No Labels as it teases a possible White House run by an as-of-yet unannounced ticket that many Democrats worry will play electoral spoiler.” — “In a statement, No Labels on Wednesday disputed any suggestion that the group had done anything improper and dismissed the complaints as part of a ‘coordinated conspiracy to subvert No Labels’ ballot access and limit Americans’ choices.’” — “If the Democrat-aligned groups are successful, No Labels would not only be compelled to register as a formal political party with the Federal Election Commission, but it would also have its tax-exempt status revoked, be forced to abide by the same donation amount limits as other political parties and be required to reveal its big-money donors.” But “that’s a big if.”
| | | | — D.J. Koessler is launching Koessler Strategies, a boutique digital agency for Democratic candidates, causes, companies and cultural figures. He most recently led digital at Climate Power and is a Pete Buttigieg and Hillary Clinton alum. — Cheryle Tucker is joining Parsons Corp. as a senior director of global government relations focused on its global transportation and infrastructure business. Tucker has been on the Hill since 1999, most recently serving as the staff director for the House Transportation Highways and Transit Subcommittee following stints on House Approps, Senate Budget and the Transportation Department. — Geoff Burgan is now comms director for the Commerce Department’s CHIPS for America program. He most recently was communications director for the Democratic Attorneys General Association, and is an Ed Markey and Biden campaign alum. — David Eiselsberg is now vice president of government affairs at Prudential Financial Inc. He most recently was senior director for tax policy at the National Association of Manufacturers. — Paris Kissel has launched a new public relations firm, bekind comms. She previously was at New Heights Communications, and is a Qorvis, Spitfire and Levick alum. — Mark Kroto is now head of federal sales at Weights & Biases. He previously was at Deloitte. — Matthew Deal is now senior policy director for regulatory at the Coalition for Community Solar Access, Morning Energy reports. He previously was senior manager of regulatory policy at ChargePoint. — Former FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly is joining The Free State Foundation as an adjunct senior fellow, per Morning Tech. — Lindsay Stern has been promoted to attorney and policy manager at INCOMPAS. — BGR Group is opening an office in Atlanta, led by state and local practice co-head William Crozer and vice president and managing director Labriah Lee Holt. The firm has also promoted Robin Colwell, Dan Greenwood and Fred Turner as principals. — Koray Rosati and Jacqueline Duran are joining the Progressive Policy Institute as congressional communications and policy fellows, respectively, to be placed in the office of the New Democrat Coalition. Rosati was previously a communications assistant for Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) and Duran was previously a staff assistant for Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.). — DoorDash's Keith Fernandez, Microsoft's Jose De La Cruz and Progressive Policy Institute's Sarah Paden have been named as part of the new class of Presidential Leadership Scholars.
| | | | JOIN 1/31 FOR A TALK ON THE RACE TO SOLVE ALZHEIMER’S: Breakthrough drugs and treatments are giving new hope for slowing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. But if that progress slows, the societal and economic cost to the U.S. could be high. Join POLITICO, alongside lawmakers, official and experts, on Jan. 31 to discuss a path forward for better collaboration among health systems, industry and government. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | | BRANDON GILL VICTORY FUND (Brandon Gill for Texas, Texas Values PAC) LONESTAR VICTORY FUND (Sen. John Cornyn, Alamo PAC, NRSC, R Senate PAC) TEAM MORENO (Bernie Moreno for Senate, NRSC, Ohio Republican Party State Central & Executive Committee, Best At Bringing Entrepreneurial Results Never Imagined Or Envisioned PAC) Vallejo Allred Victory Fund (Rep. Colin Allred, Michelle Vallejo for Congress)
| | | Don't Stop Get It Get It (PAC) Elevate America PAC (Super PAC) Find Out PAC (Hybrid PAC) Primrose Advocacy Council (PAC) Right for America (Super PAC)
| | New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS | | Big Fire Law & Policy Group, LLP: Mesa Grande Band Of Mission Indians Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. Campco Research Ltd.: Campco Research Ltd. Cfm Strategic Communications (Conkling Fiskum & Mccormick): City Of Wilsonville Cogent Strategies LLC: Urban Libraries Council Global Infrastructure Investor Association: Global Infrastructure Investor Association Grayrobinson Pa: Anchor Labs, Inc. Hannegan Landau Poersch & Rosenbaum Advocacy, LLC: Ati, Inc. Hannegan Landau Poersch & Rosenbaum Advocacy, LLC: Fuelcell Energy, Inc. Johnston Group, LLC: Olympic Medical Center Keystone Strategic Consulting, LLC: Pennsylvania Association For The Blind Kit Bond Strategies: Greater St. Louis, Inc. Manatos & Manatos: Pp Prodaljavame Promianata ("Pp") - Bulgaria Manatos & Manatos: Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc Manatt, Phelps, And Phillips: Institute For Responsive Government Mcdermott+Consulting LLC: Consumer Technology Association Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Figg Bridge Engineers, Inc. Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Webmyers Construction Moran Global Strategies, Inc.: Dynamis, Inc. Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, P.C.: Visionserve Alliance S-3 Group: Health Supply US The Consilio Group: Wel-Fab Williams And Jensen, Pllc: Recora
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: CREDIT UNIONS & COMMUNITY BANKS IN All 50 STATES OPPOSE THE DURBIN-MARSHALL CREDIT CARD BILL: The Durbin-Marshall credit card bill would create new government mandates on credit cards that would put consumer data and access to credit at risk. The bill would benefit corporate mega-stores, like Walmart and Target, at the expense of Main Street and the 135 million Americans who rely on credit unions and community banks. The threat of Durbin-Marshall to small financial institutions is so clear that 9,600+ credit unions and community banks in America are opposed to the bill. They also see through the so-called “carve out” for smaller banks which is a hoax to try and buy their support. Their message to Congress is simple: on behalf of credit unions and community banks in all 50 states, commit to actively opposing the Durbin-Marshall credit card bill. Click here to learn more. | | | | | New Lobbying Terminations | | Lot Sixteen LLC: Proterial America Ltd. Mr. Daniel Smith: Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Zipline International Inc.: Zipline International Inc.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes. | | | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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