Rep. Chip Roy is calling on the Department of Justice to require that Saudi-backed LIV Golf register as a foreign agent.
In a letter sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday, the Texas Republican argued that the new league, which has spent millions swaying PGA stars to join, may be in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which mandates foreign entities engaged in the political realm to disclose their affiliations with foreign principals.
Roy has been vocal in his criticisms of the human rights abuses that have taken place in Saudi Arabia. Roy argues that LIV could be used as a backchannel to increase its leverage against the United States. President Joe Biden is set to visit Saudi Arabia in the coming days after a trip to Israel.
“As the DOJ knows, foreign governments who hire lobbying, consulting, public relations, and marketing firms are required to register with the federal government under FARA statutes,” Roy wrote. “This ensures that the federal government and the public are aware of these relationships, activities, and the financial compensation associated with foreign governments operating in the U.S. By that definition, LIV Golf and its affiliated entities must be examined to see if they have violated FARA laws and procedures by not registering with the Department of Justice.”
‘WHORES AND HAS-BEENS’: GOP REP. CHIP ROY BLASTS GOLFERS IN SAUDI-BACKED EVENT
Roy, first elected to the House in 2018, noted that LIV Golf has been open about hiring PR firms to help build its brand and status, arguing that similar entities have had to register in the past and the league should be no exception. Roy also highlighted LIV golfers’ and executives’ responses when pressed by the media on funding coming from those who may be affiliated with human rights violations. Roy contends that the responses “have been taken straight from the Saudi script.”
“We know the golfers, the events management companies, and the golf courses involved. FARA requires that those entities register with the DOJ because they are acting directly or indirectly on behalf of a foreign principal, including as a ‘public relations counsel, publicity agent, information service employee, or political consultant,’” Roy said.
PGA TOUR SAYS DOJ IS INVESTIGATING IT RELATED TO OPPOSING SAUDI-BACKED LIV GOLF
Since LIV Golf’s launch, the PGA has suspended and spoken out against more than a dozen players, including Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Phil Mickelson, Kevin Na, Ian Poulter, Patrick Reed, and Lee Westwood, who agreed to come on board with the tour offering purses that exceed $25 million.
Roy asserted that the tournaments slated to take place in the U.S. warranted a DOJ investigation and called for a congressional briefing on the matter.
“With more tournaments scheduled in the United States, the United States Congress and the American people deserve to know the depth and breadth of Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented political and public relations activities through its LIV Golf entity,” he said.
“I respectfully request that you immediately review LIV Golf, Ltd., and its potential violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) and that you provide a briefing to Members of Congress on this inquiry prior to LIV Golf’s next scheduled American tournament, which is to be held on July 29, 2022 at Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey.”
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The DOJ announced Monday that it is investigating the PGA Tour over allegations of anti-competitive practices after suspending 17 of its players for participating in LIV Golf in June.
