WASHINGTON (AP) – Forty lobbyists with ties to President Donald Trump helped clients obtain more than $ 10 billion in federal aid against the coronavirus, including five former administration officials whose work potentially violates the ethics policy of Trump, according to a report.
Lobbyists identified Monday by watchdog group Public Citizen worked on Trump’s executive branch, served on his campaign, were on the committee that raised money for the opening holidays, or were part of his presidential transition. Many are donors to Trump’s campaigns, and some are prolific fundraisers for his reelection.
They include Brian Ballard, who served in the transition, is the chairman of finance for the Republican National Committee and has raised more than $ 1 million for Trump’s fundraising committees. He was hired in March by Laundrylux, a provider of commercial laundry machines, after the Department of Homeland Security released a guide that did not list laundries as essential businesses that could remain open during the shutdown. A week later, the administration released a new guide that adds laundries to the list.
Dave Urban, Trump’s adviser and confidant, has raised more than $ 2.3 million in lobbying fees this year. The leading firm, American Continental Group, represents 15 companies, including Walgreens and the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, on coronavirus issues.
Trump pledged to crack down on Washington’s influence peddling with a campaign “drain the swamp” mantra. But during his administration, the lobbying industry has flourished, a trend that intensified once Congress passed more than $ 3.6 billion in coronavirus stimulation.
While the money is meant to be a lifesaver for a nation whose economy has been hit by the pandemic, it also fueled a family lobbying bonanza.
“The swamp is alive and well in Washington, DC,” said Mike Tanglis, one of the report’s authors. “These booms (lobbying) these people are having, you can really attribute them to their connection to Trump.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Shortly after Trump took office, he issued an executive order prohibiting former administration officials from putting pressure on the agency or office where they were previously employed, for a period of five years. Another section of the order prohibits lobbying the administration by former political appointees for the rest of Trump’s time in office.
However, five lobbyists who were former administration officials have done exactly that during the coronavirus lobbying boom:
– Courtney Lawrence was a former deputy assistant secretary for legislation in the Department of Health and Human Services in 2017 and 2018. She became a lobbyist for Cigna in 2018 and is part of a team that has lobbied HHS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Services and at least two other agencies. Cigna did not respond to a request for comment.
– Shannon McGahn, the wife of former White House attorney Don McGahn, worked in 2017 and 2018 as a counselor to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. She then joined the National Association of Real Estate Agents as its main lobbyist and is featured in the disclosures as part of a team that has lobbied both houses of Congress, plus six agencies, including the Treasury Department. The real estate association did not respond to a request for comment.
– Jordan Stoick is the vice president of government relations for the National Manufacturers Association. Stoick’s biography on the NAM website indicates that he is “NAM’s chief lobbyist in Washington,” where he began working after serving as a senior adviser to the Treasury Department. The revelations indicate that Stoick and his colleagues put pressure on both houses of Congress plus at least five executive branches. agencies, including the Treasury.
“NAM carefully adheres to legal and ethical standards governing lobbying, including ensuring that its employees comply with all applicable prohibitions to contact their former employers,” said Linda Kelly, the organization’s general counsel, at a statement.
– Geoffrey Burr joined the Brownstein Hyatt firm after serving as chief of staff for Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. The firm’s lobbying disclosure for the first quarter of 2020 includes Burr on a list of lobbyists who contacted the White House and Congress on coronavirus-related issues on behalf of McDonald’s.
– Emily Felder joined Brownstein Hyatt after leaving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where she worked in the legislative office. Felder is featured in a first quarter 2020 disclosure that shows she was part of a team that lobbied Congress and the White House.
A spokeswoman for the firm said both Felder and Burr comply with the Trump administration’s ethics rules, which limit their lobbying before the House and Senate.
“We are confident that our lobbyists comply with all lobbying rules and applicable prohibitions and did not violate their promise by the Trump Administration,” spokeswoman Lara Day said in a statement.
Craig Holman of Public Citizen, who is a registered lobbyist, said the group intends to file ethics complaints with the White House. But he is not optimistic that they will lead to anything. Last year, it filed more than 30 complaints, all of which were ignored or rejected.
“There does not appear to be anyone who is enforcing the executive order,” Holman said.
