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Your weekly newsletter on money in politics.
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October 3rd, 2019
This week in money-in-politics
New Report: 'Shadow lobbying' in Trump's Washington
[link removed] operatives and lobbyists continue to take spins through the revolving door between government and the private sector under President Donald Trump's watch, despite his pledge to "drain the swamp."
And without action from Congress to change lobbying rules, undisclosed lobbying activities are still running rampant, an OpenSecrets analysis indicates.
When an individual engages in advocacy to influence public policy but does not register as a lobbyist, it's typically referred to as "shadow lobbying."
In this report, OpenSecrets looks into several aspects of unreported lobbying and advocacy.
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** Amid impeachment inquiry, Democrats can’t keep up with multi-million dollar spending by Trump allies
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The impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump took center stage last week and helped both parties rake in millions of dollars. While the president’s campaign and his political allies countered the inquiry with a rain of anti-impeachment ads, Democrats appear more reserved on the ad front. House Democrats overwhelmingly supported the inquiry, which came amid growing criticism over Trump’s July phone call with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky. Read more ([link removed])
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** Saudi Arabia ramped up multi-million foreign influence operation after Khashoggi’s death
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Foreign influence and lobbying spending targeting the United States on behalf of Saudi Arabia’s interests has grown precipitously in the year since the death of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. In the year since Khashoggi’s death, Saudi interests have poured more than $27 million into influence operations disclosed in Foreign Agent Registration Act filings. Read More ([link removed])
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** Former AG Michael Mukasey set to lobby for Iranian dissident group
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As U.S.-Iran tensions escalate, Iran’s domestic opposition group is courting allies in the U.S in hope to replace the current authoritarian Iranian regime. Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, who served under President George W. Bush, registered last week as a foreign agent lobbying pro bono for the National Council of Resistance of Iran, a major Iranian dissident group pushing to topple the country’s current administration. Read More ([link removed])
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Despite Trump’s distaste, ‘unofficial’ pro-Trump groups continue to raise cash in his name
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Stephen Cory set up his first pro-President Donald Trump billboards a few days ago. Printed in bold blue-and-red font, the billboards called for America-first healthcare and foreign war prevention. The ads are part of a “billboard campaign” Cory helped launch for America First Victory Fund, a new super PAC. The group also promised donors a chance to win “exclusive rewards,” details of which are still in the works.
The name of the group resembles America First Action Inc., the only Trump campaign-approved super PAC raising money to support the president’s re-election. The name is also similar to Trump Victory Fund, a mysterious group which the Trump team disavowed earlier this month for falsely associating itself with the president.
Trump’s victory in 2016 was boosted by a group of super PACs and tax-exempt organizations fundraising in his name, even though the then-presidential candidate appeared to loathe them.
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OpenSecrets in the News
See where we've been cited by media outlets around the nation this week.
* ** Impeachment inquiry: Who are the diplomats Congress wants to testify? (NBC) ([link removed])
House Democrats leading an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump have called on five State Department officials to appear before their committees - at least one of whom is a long-time political donor.
* ** Ditmas Park resident launches primary challenge to Rep. Clarke (Brooklyn Daily Eagle) ([link removed])
A longtime Democratic House member is getting a challenge from within her own party. U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke's challenger states her reliance on PAC money is evidence that she is beholden to special interests.
* ** Buttigieg, Sanders Rake in Cash While Struggling in Polls (Bloomberg) ([link removed])
"Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders are the top fundraisers of the 2020 Democratic race so far. It’s not helping them catch on with voters."
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