Joe Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent who has backed Republicans, has found friends in yet another party: the ruling Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China.
The former “conscience of the Senate” has been hired to represent China’s ZTE telecommunications company, which is basically a front organization for Chinese intelligence services. ZTE is under pressure in light of overdue U.S. government efforts to prevent it from entrenching a stronger position in the U.S. economy. With the U.S. now in a new cold war with Beijing, no former U.S. official, let alone a foreign policy hawk like Lieberman, should be serving ZTE.
While Lieberman will reportedly register as a lobbyist (he has to, legally), he claims that he isn’t actually going to lobby. Instead, Lieberman says, “I’m really supposed to be listening and asking questions.”
Pardon our skepticism. Politico reports that Lieberman has already “made a bunch of phone calls and visited Capitol Hill twice in the last two weeks to meet with members of Congress who have spoken out against ZTE or are leaders of relevant committees.” Let’s be clear, when you are paying former members of Congress to ask “questions” on your behalf, you expect your questions to navigate the halls of power. Here, the questioner is far more important than the question itself.
Still, Lieberman isn’t alone in being a former public servant to monetize his public service for a foreign power. Retired Gen. Michael Flynn, with the stars on his lapels, went to work for Turkey. Former Sen. Norm Coleman became a Saudi agent, as did his erstwhile colleagues Trent Lott and John Breaux.
Lawmakers becoming lobbyists is corrosive. Lawmakers becoming foreign agents is corrupt. Many foreign agents realize how unsavory it is, which is probably why the likes of Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, and Tony Podesta failed to disclose their work for foreign governments in a timely manner.
Perhaps Congress should impose stricter rules on ex-lawmakers becoming foreign agents. In any event, Congress and the Trump administration can take a first step today to stop this unsavory practice: When Lieberman comes calling, tell him to buzz off.
