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The Interior Department Inspector General released findings of an investigation into whether former Trump Interior Secretary David Bernhardt violated the Lobbying Disclosure Act by working for California’s Westlands Water District, a former client of his, during the Trump transition—after he had deregistered as a federal lobbyist.
The investigation revealed that while Bernhardt did continue to advise Westlands during the transition, it could not prove that Bernhardt violated federal lobbying laws regarding his former client. However, the investigation itself was stonewalled by Bernhardt, who canceled a scheduled in-person interview the night before, and refused to participate in the investigation or meet with investigators without special conditions.
"Once again, David Bernhardt has shown who he truly is—a swamp creature who thinks the rules don’t apply to him. By refusing to cooperate with yet another investigation into his ethical lapses, Bernhardt continues to sully his own reputation, as well as the reputation of his law firm and its clients," said Center for Western Priorities' deputy director Aaron Weiss.
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A robust land base is the foundation of tribal sovereignty, and self determination lands from [within] the geographic reach of our jurisdiction supports our tribal population. It is the basis of our economy, and provides an irreplaceable forum for our cultural vitality, practices.”
